Ward 18 Cycle Toronto

Bike Month is in full swing right now and many of us from Ward18 took part in the Book Ride!  The ride made 4 stops where we were introduced to local authors and their books. The ride started under sunny blue skies but half way through the ride the clouds rolled in and we were caught in a thunderstorm! Luckily our 3rd stop was under a nice overhang and we got the author’s from the last stop to come meet us at this dry location. For more info and great writeups on this ride check out: • Dandyhorse

March 11, 2015

Donna Cowan of DIGIN organized a meeting for local residents with Metrolinx to hear about the plans for grade separation of the Barrie GO line at the Davenport Diamond (where the GO tracks cross the CN/CP line just north-west of the Dupont-Lansdowne intersection). The grade separation is planned as part of Metrolinx’s Regional Express Rail (GO train service expansion), and more specifically to support 15-minute all-day service to Barrie. Meeting participants included representatives from:

DIGIN Community Group

Davenport Neighbourhood Association

Cycle Toronto Ward 18

Clean Train Coalition

Councillor Ana Bailão’s staff

MPP Cristina Martins’ staff

MP Andrew Cash’s staff

15- 20 residents (DIGIN kept a list).

Map source Toronto Star

The project (highlights):

Metrolinx staff (Manuel Pedrosa and two others) presented the plans for the rail bridge.

The north-south GO track would start to rise just north of Bloor, reaching its apex just north of Dupont, and descending to ground level before St. Clair.

Construction will take 2 years.

Metrolinx has already investigated, and rejected, a tunnel option that would mean 4-5 years of construction, much higher costs, and lengthy road closures (Bloor, Dupont, Davenport, St. Clair).

 The purpose of this meeting is to solicit community input on the elements they would like to see included in improvements to the land under and around the elevated rail line.

There is no set budget for community improvements as they are still seeking input on what the project would look like.

Metrolinx noted that they now have a “Design Excellence Committee,” including actual designers (as opposed to engineers), who will have a say in how infrastructure is built.

It is not known yet which body (City, Metrolinx, a potential “Friends of the Railbridge” organization, etc.) will maintain the land under the bridge.

Residents’ reactions (highlights):

Metrolinx has already decided on the “over” (bridge) option and discarded too soon the “under” (tunnel) option. Earlier consultations in 2009 (before the project was postponed) showed that residents clearly preferred a tunnel. Why is this consultation not about the two options?

The bridge will be a large eyesore and no one was told about it in advance. The people who have bought homes in the new condo building at Dupont & Lansdowne will be staring at a bridge straight out of their bedroom windows.

The tracks will be 8.5 metres above ground. The likely addition of noise-walls means the structure will tower 13.5 metres, or 4 storeys, over the ground. What will be the aesthetic impact on our neighbourhood?

This plan is not consistent with the City’s secondary plan for Davenport Village (PDF).

This plan will disrupt the Junction Triangle Traffic Management Planning project.

Residents are still feeling burned about the noise wall consultations and the lack of a timeline to convert diesel trains to electric. All that RER means to local residents is more pollution.

Residents have noted in the Star article that Metrolinx has no funding for the community benefit projects they are proposing for the area. They want Metrolinx to put up some money early as a gesture of good faith.

If a bridge has to be built, residents want to see Metrolinx make this project “great.” Let’s design a beautiful bridge and useful spaces for communities underneath it.

Residents want to see renderings of what the bridge will look like at different points, e.g., at Wallace, Dupont, etc.

Cycling/active transportation considerations:

Metrolinx is aware of the opportunities to connect any new active transportation corridors with the West Toronto Railpath and the Green Line.

Cycle Toronto Ward 18 representatives noted that a north-south rail trail along the CN tracks was promised in the 2001 Toronto Bike Plan. The Davenport Diamond project should include a north-south cycling route that would help to kick-start this rail trail and connect central Toronto to the Finch Hydro Corridor and York University.

Residents were supportive of suggestions to improve active transportation corridors (east-west and north-south).

Metrolinx responded that there was certainly an opportunity to look at both east-west local connections and a north-south cycling corridor under the new bridge.

The consultation process:

Metrolinx plans to set up a 36-person community panel that will meet for four Saturdays plus one evening between April and June to discuss how to use the repurposed land under the proposed bridge.

Author, broadcaster, and Jane’s Walk co-founder Jane Farrow, now with public consultation firm MASS LBP, has been hired by Metrolinx to help facilitate the community process.

Next Metrolinx community meeting is April 1 with BIG on Bloor/Bloordale BIA: http://www.junctiontriangle.ca/node/2450

May 13 will be the date for a major public consultation meeting (Details TBA).

Cycle Toronto Ward 18 will be monitoring this process closely and intervening whenever possible to promote high-quality active transportation infrastructure as part of the project. If you would like to get involved, please email us at [email protected].

Further reading

Recent background: http://www.junctiontriangle.ca/DavenportDiamond (includes more deep background via links)

http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/transportation/2015/03/07/metrolinx-convenes-resident-panel-ahead-of-next-big-build.html

Older (from 2009-10): http://transit.toronto.on.ca/archives/weblog/2009/05/02-davenport_.shtml

http://railroadedbymetrolinx.blogspot.ca/2010/02/we-need-heroes-in-davenport-diamond.html

Ward 18 All Candidates Meeting on Sustainable Transportation

Possibly the one and only all candidates' meeting for Ward 18 City Councillor has been finalized!

Join Ward 18 City Council Candidates to discuss:

Safe bike infrastructure 

TTC Service, Fares and Funding 

Safe sidewalks and intersections 

Traffic flow and congestion 

WHEN: Wednesday, October 8th, 2014

TIME:  6:30pm - 8:30pm

WHERE:  Bloor Gladstone Public Library  1101 Bloor Street West- Public Meeting Room Submit your questions via [email protected]

On July 7, we posted about delays in installing the Council-approved bikeway on Argyle-Florence between Shaw Street (in Ward 19) and Brock Avenue (in Ward 18). We would like to share an update with you.

On July 22, a representative of our group had a follow-up meeting with Councillor Bailão, the City Cycling Unit, the Toronto District School Board, the Vice-Principal of Alexander Muir Gladstone PS, and parent stakeholders. Everyone present was supportive of cycling and the installation of the bikeway, but there are some details to work out.

Based on complaints to the Councillor’s Office, there are also broader traffic issues around the school that need to be addressed. For instance, the staggered start- and end-times for different grades increases the time that parents in motor vehicles wait outside the school if they have more than one child. This increases congestion on Waterloo. The use of Waterloo as a drop-off zone is currently prohibited, given the stopping/parking restrictions in that location.

Councillor Bailão has asked the City Cycling Unit to investigate and estimate the cost of three options for linking the bikeway from the Waterloo/Gladstone intersection to Florence/Dufferin.

Options:

Change the one-way system and parking restrictions around the school (Waterloo, Stonehouse):

Free up space for the cycling contra-flow on Waterloo.

Create a legal space for motor vehicle drop-offs/pick-ups outside the school.

Further consultation with residents on Waterloo and Stonehouse would be required.

Install the contra-flow bike lane as planned (north side of Waterloo), add a motor vehicle drop-off zone:

There is a strip of City-owned land on Waterloo that could be used for a drop-off zone if the curb line was changed and the street widened.

Pathway improvements north of the school:

Leave Waterloo as-is and route cyclists around the north side of the school, improving the paved trail.

Add a short stretch of contra-flow bike lane on Gladstone.

Remember that this route was planned as a “side-street” route, safe for cyclists of all ages who do not feel comfortable on arterials. No option will be considered that forces cyclists to mix with motor vehicle traffic on Dufferin Street. There may be a short stretch of multi-use pathway parallel to Dufferin on the east side.

In all options, a safe, signalized bike crossing at Dufferin will be needed.

Reducing motor vehicle congestion on Waterloo is one reason Cycle Toronto Ward 18 would like to start a Bike/Walk-to-School Program at AMG/The Grove. It’s also good for kids’ health! If you’re interested in getting involved, please contact [email protected].

The route

The City of Toronto is moving ahead this season with the installation of yellow ‘contra-flow’ bike lanes on the Argyle-Florence route between Shaw Street and Brock Avenue.

A posted speed limit reduction to 30 km/h has been taken to Toronto Community Council by local area councillors for Argyle Street. A posted speed limit reduction will also be pursued by councillors for Florence, Gladstone and Waterloo.

The route will connect the Shaw Street bike route with the planned Brock entrance to the West Toronto Railpath southern extension.

This route already sees heavy cycling use in both directions despite the one-way signage.

The signed bike route with contra-flow sections will improve the safety of residents and encourage more people to cycle to school, work, and play.

Installation schedule

Most of the route will be installed this summer/fall: Argyle Street/Shaw Street to Waterloo Ave./Gladstone Ave., and Florence Street from Dufferin Street to Brock Ave.

o   See the Google map.

Installation of the route on the block where the Alexander Muir/Gladstone and The Grove schools are located will take longer as the City is considering a two-way bike path on the east side of Dufferin to allow cyclists to cross safely at a bike crossing next to the Florence Street pedestrian crossing. This requires moving a large planter on City property at the edge of the school grounds.

Further consultation with school stakeholders is also required to ensure concerns about traffic safety are addressed. The City is working closely with its partners on the project to ensure that the route is safe for all modes of transportation, especially for children.

  Working in partnership

The City is engaging with the Toronto District School Board (TDSB), the schools’ parent councils, and Cycle Toronto Ward 18 to ensure that the bikeway provides safety to cycling traffic, including children, while allowing motor vehicle traffic to circulate during school pick-up and drop-off times.

Opportunities for further engagement by school stakeholders regarding the details of the installation will be publicized shortly.

Cycle Toronto Ward 18 is interested in working with AMG/The Grove families to start a Bike/Walk-to-School Program to encourage physical activity and environmentally-friendly transportation. Please contact [email protected] for details.

  Background

The Argyle-Florence bikeway was approved by City Council in 2009 as part of the West End Bikeways Project.

Following clarification from the Province in 2013 that contra-flow bike lanes were legal, the bikeway was planned for installation in 2014.

Christina Bouchard, Cycling & Infrastructure, City of Toronto, led a walk-through of the route with Ward 18 and 19 cyclists in March 2013 and identified several design challenges, including the connection from Waterloo Ave. across Dufferin Street to Florence Street.

Councillors Ana Bailão (Ward 18) and Mike Layton (Ward 19) hosted a public consultation on the route on February 27, 2014.

 On March 24, 2014, Councillor Bailão met with Karen Sitarek, the Principal of Alexander Muir/Gladstone School, along with Christina Bouchard, Cycling & Infrastructure, to discuss the Argyle bike route as well as transportation opportunities concerning the school and local cycling traffic.

Photos from last week's Polka Ride! Lots of polka dots and happy cyclists.

For amazing photos, please visit Dandyhorse Magazine's writeup!

We had perfect weather (not too hot and not too cold) and great company for our 2nd Annual Custard Tart Ride.

Liz and I (Hyedie) aren't the best at using social media for its instantaneous capabilities, but luckily for us there were many on the ride who were. Here are some of the live-tweets from our tour of yummy Ward 18 bakeries:

About to kick off @W18Cycle bakery tour w @Lizjsutherland & crew. Great turnout! #custardride pic.twitter.com/Onq2CSZG8f

— Alex Mazer (@alexmazer) June 14, 2014

The #CustardRide is now at Through Being Cool at Bloor & Lansdowne! #BikeTO pic.twitter.com/jwsjXCjT4M

— Robert Zaichkowski (@RZaichkowski) June 14, 2014

we need more cycling champions at city hall! @alexmazer @W18Cycle #custardride pic.twitter.com/CpauVa0OwL

— Josh Wise (@joshuawise) June 14, 2014

Rute from Alcoa Bakery shared this great group pic from our #custardride today! #bikemonth pic.twitter.com/GMJy4OfKVh

— Cycle Toronto Ward18 (@W18Cycle) June 15, 2014

Last Friday, June 6th we held our first Bike Month event, the West End Community Garden Ride. We lucked out with great weather and had a lovely bunch of cyclists join us.

Here is a recap of our ride in photo essay format:

Geoff Bercarich, our ride leader, with Community Garden Ride participants just before we set off from Dufferin Grove.

  Our group passes through Dovercourt Park, where plans are in the works for a new community garden - good idea!

  Perth-Dupont Community Garden has well-established lots and an experimental space (on the right) where new growers can learn and try things out. 

  While the veggies are just starting, the flowers are in bloom after some lovely June weather! Aside from individual shares, the Perth-Dupont gardens include commonly-maintained areas for a pollinator garden and a berry patch!

Grafton Avenue Park is a lovely, established community garden in Roncesvalles. 

  We left our bikes in the care of one of our group members while we toured the Grafton gardens on foot. (Spot the Ward 18 spokecard!)

  Geoff knew all the back routes that would allow a large group of riders to get around the west end safely. Here we arrive at the HOPE Garden through a path between two buildings in Parkdale.

  Dragon Alley is a VERY well hidden community garden created out of a back alley parking lot. You could live half a block from here and never know it existed! The residents clearly enjoy their outdoor space by the garden, which they had to fight to preserve a few years back. They have used recycled bike parts for much of the garden infrastructure!

One of the residents is happy to give us a little talk on the Dragon Alley gardens.

Back at Dufferin Grove, community garden volunteer (and ride participant!) Joel gives us a talk about the gardens there after the masses have left from the popular Friday night communal meal.

Same meetup place, same time and same polka fun!

Hope to see you there!

We are so excited to host and co-host the following events this month!

Hope you can join us!

Friday, June 6, 2014 Bike Tour of Community Garden's in Toronto's West End

  CHANGED TO: Thursday, June 19, 2014 We are co-hosting the Bicycle Polka Ride

  Saturday, June 14, 2014 Back by popular demand, we are hosting another Custard Tart (pastel de nata) Ride

  Friday, June 20, 2014 - Sunday, June 22, 2014 International Women's Bike Polo Tournament

Thank you for a glorious Bike to Work Day everybody!! These are some of our photos, but you can check out more great photos here:

Dandyhorse Magazine

Biking in a Big City

Danielle's (of Ward 13) photo