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More traffic hell coming for Toronto: University/Spadina Bike lanes and BIKE BOXES?
Dear lord.. we cant get rid of Miller fast enough!
| quote: | Next flashpoint in bike-lane wars: University Avenue
Posted: February 03, 2010, 11:42 AM by Rob Roberts
By Natalie Alcoba, National Post
A New York model of "separated" bike lanes could be coming to University Avenue, as city staff study ways to map out a denser downtown network.
"It's one of several routes we're looking at. It's still in the pretty early stages," said Daniel Egan, manager of pedestrian and cycling infrastructure for the city.
But University represents an attractive choice for city planners: it is wide enough to mark off space exclusively for bikes, unlike neighbouring Spadina Avenue where "sharrows," or shared lanes between bikes and cars, are being contemplated.
Bike lanes are a contentious issue in Toronto -- some believe the city is not moving fast enough on creating a web of lanes, routes and trails, while others seethe at the idea of lanes on major arterial roads, such as Jarvis Street.
It is already an issue in the mayoral race.
An update on the Toronto Bike Plan released last spring described Queen's Park Crescent and University Avenue, between Richmond and Bloor streets, "as the streets with the most potential to establish physically separated or buffered bicycle lanes serving the downtown."
Staff said the major north-south route could connect to existing lanes on Hoskin Avenue, Wellesley Street, College and Gerrard. "In combination with planned bicycle lanes on Simcoe Street, the Queen's Park Crescent-University Avenue bikeway would also provide a major new connection to Queens Quay and the waterfront Martin Goodman Trail," a staff report said.
University still poses challenges, however, because of the various hospital entrances and the fleet of cabs that routinely hug the curb.
"If you know University, there's a lot of taxi activity, and it's a pretty challenging environment to make a bicycle lane work. So if we can do something like the New York style that allows those things to keep happening, I think we'll have a better chance of making it work for cyclists and getting community and political support for it," Mr. Egan said yesterday. Staff met with members of the cycling community this week and still have more public consultation to do with businesses.
He said the "New York style" involves using paint and plastic flexible bollards to separate the bike lanes from traffic and parking, while keeping the parking there. "The street can pretty much function the way it is now, but you've got a much safer, more comfortable space for cyclists to occupy," said Mr. Egan.
The Toronto Cycling Committee has endorsed separated bike lanes as the preferred option for bike lanes on Sherbourne Street, which is set to begin reconstruction next year.
The emphasis on downtown lanes coincides with the expected launch of a public bike-share program this year, at an estimated start-up cost of $11-million. Bike routes don't require council approval but bike lanes do, said Mr. Egan, so a report will come forward to the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee in April that will include recommendations about specific projects, including whether or not to go forward with lanes on University.
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BIKE BOXES? Are you kidding me???
http://www.streetfilms.org/how-to-use-a-bike-box/ http://www.streetfilms.org/how-to-use-a-bike-box/
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| quote: | Originally posted by jester
Everything in this country is illegal. |
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"If you have ten thousand regulations you destroy all respect for the law" - Winston Churchill
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