Environment
Needed: West End Bikeways
The City of Toronto, along with the Toronto Cyclists Union, is soliciting ideas from west end cyclers, to help deal with "a 'black hole' in the bikeway network in the downtown west-side." The area in question is bounded by Bloor and the Gardiner, from Keele (Parkside) to Bathurst.
It's not often the west end is pointed to as the area in need of development, but due to street car tracks on the east-west arteries, disjointed local streets, and railways, there is a shortage of safe routes for those counting on pedal-power.
I've lived within the boundaries named in this call for submissions less than a year, but I have been struck often by just how many cyclists there are, and been frustrated myself when I want to head out on two wheels without feeling constantly pinched, squeezed or otherwise crushed.
Enter the much-maligned Bike Plan. Despite whatever failings there have been to date, this latest call claims that each submission will be considered, but regardless, if a substantive project can be completed in the 2009-10 target timeframe, it would be a big help to the neighbourhood.
I'm willing to play along; I also won't get my hopes up, lest they get crushed like those dreaming of Annette's bike lanes.
Submissions can come as text or visuals; use a Google map, the bike map, hand drawings or whatever else comes to mind to articulate - in no more than 300 words - a bikeway plan for the area. Submissions are due November 5th.
My first thoughts? Formally join, with bike lanes, the disjointed suggested neighbourhood route that connects Harbord Street with High Park. Ensure bike lanes are a part of the Roncesvalles rebuild. And continue the bike lane on Strachan to Trinity Bellwoods and then on Dundas to Ossington or Dovercourt and up to Bloor.
Full Cycling Map
I Bike TO's Google Map
Photo by blogTO Flickr pooler mishkaoutofcontrol.
Discussion
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Let's be realistic here; where would the cars go? It's just not an option to say "OK -- no more cars here".. people will not stop driving because of it and there will be much illegal parking, etc.
I'm not of the belief bike lanes are safer either. All the numbers point to significant increases in accidents for cyclists (except for side-swiping, which is statisically far less common than other accidents) and it's not hard to see why. Bike lanes encourage cyclists to pass on the right past cars signalling right turns. Dangerous, and against the standard rules of the road (pass on left!), the car driver will simply not be able to see you. The lanes are painted with a dashed line so I suppose in theory cars are supposed to pull all the way to the right to make the turn, but they don't, and mis-informed cyclists screaming at them for pulling into the lane to make a right doesn't help.
I'm personally happiest with a situation line on Queen St; I cycle it every day from Jameson to Yonge, and I think its a pretty good setup. Car-width left lane, wider right lane. During non-rush hour the leftmost edge of the right lane is a de-facto bike lane, but with far less of the right-turn shenanigans that a real bike lane. Could do with being a bit wider though.
If we build our roads with wide right lanes, I think that statistics will demonstrate them safer, but I'm aware that bike lanes give people a [false] sense of security. Me, I feel like I'm playing russian roulette riding in one.
Couldn't agree with you more for Dundas and Queen. Only the dumb drivers end up taking these routes anyways, any car drivers who know what they are doing will take Richmond and Adelaide for an east west route.
Car traffic does not move on Queen and it just gets in the way of all of the bicycle traffic. Get rid of the on-street parking on Queen and Dundas. There are plenty of surface lots in the area.
Stop sacrificing convenience for safety. Build the damn bike lanes already!