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News from the East York - Riverdale Mirror over the weekend... a proposal by Paula Fletcher (Ward 30 - Toronto Danforth) for bikelanes on Eastern Avenue between Logan and Leslie has been approved:
A proposal to install bike lanes along Eastern Avenue has been approved as part of a cycling network in the city's east end, but the roadway won't be converted anytime soon.
Members of the Toronto and East York Community Council voted Tuesday to place the $20,000 plan on the city's list of approved cycling projects, reports Ward 30 (Toronto-Danforth) Councillor Paula Fletcher.
"It's not delayed. It's been approved and it's in the queue," she said in an interview, adding she has requested the city to examine the feasibility of a bike lane on Greenwood Avenue, through to Knox Avenue, and on Leslie Street and Carlaw Avenue.
Hopefully they'll get built this summer. Eastern Avenue is like an expressway, and is not pleasant for cyclists, pedestrians, or homeowners.
(image courtesy of AndrewNovak.com - I think this is Eastern near the DVP, but it doesn't really get any better than this)
(Cross-posted to I Bike T.O.)
Labels: infrastructure, news
Approved? Are you kidding me? You got it completely wrong. Those lanes haven’t been approved. In fact, they’re so far removed from being approved you might as well forget about them EVER being built. The idea of bike lanes on Eastern is so utterly idiotic that Fletcher was faced with a very real possibility that Community Council would vote away her motion for the lanes. Even her close buddy Bussin doesn’t want them. Fletcher was the one who suggested sticking the lanes into the Bike Plan purgatory to save face. The ONLY reason she supported the lanes is to stick it to any development that might happen on Eastern Avenue because the lanes would remove capacity on the street. So, you want more trucks on Queen Street and more cyclists dying??? Go ahead, put bike lanes on Eastern.
By 
, at
11:46 AM
I'd give some credence to your comment if you had the chutzpah to leave your name. Since you didn't I'm just assuming your a raving lunatic cyclist that gives the ordinary everyday normal cyclists of this city a bad name.
By Joe (BikingToronto), at
11:58 AM
Hunh? Lunatic? Far from it my friend. Besides, maybe Joe is your real name, maybe it isn’t. Doesn’t make one bit of difference…..unlike most people at least I’m taking the time to post a response, non? Anyway let’s put that all aside…bike lanes are a great thing in the proper location. The rant is against Ms. Fletcher, not you. Too bad she’s let politics get in the way of the best interests of her constituents. Instead of putting forth something that could have been approved immediately and built this summer, she has single-handedly relegated this issue to the nebulous “bike plan” and you and I both know it’s a complete joke.
By , at
2:31 PM
The problem/curse of politicians is they have to compromise between all of the competing interests of their constituents.
Just because some of them like to drive Hummers does not mean they are lesser in the eyes of our democratic political system.
Instead of whining, work on changing things you don't like.
By Joe (BikingToronto), at
2:53 PM
A lot of folks tend to forget that Eastern Avenue has homes and families living on it and as a resident of the area, I welcome the prospect of change that will help slow down traffic and make the street more family friendly and bike friendly.
Eastern Avenue isn't a highway and motorists need to stop using it like one and slow down. Perhaps bike lanes will help achieve this end while also serving the needs of the biking community. Perhaps dropping the speed limit down to 30 KM/HR and setting up speed traps will achieve the same effect. I don't know.
Ultimately though, the politicians need to do whats best for the area and its residents but at the same time, keep an eye open to improving the aesthetic of the Leslieville neighborhood and work to implement positive (not necessarily popular) change that will achieve this.
By , at
9:31 AM
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