Weekly News Wrap-Up: Cyclists try to Rescue the Annette Street Bikelanes<script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.blogger.com/static/v1/common/js/327583163-csitaillib.js"></script> <script>if (typeof(window.attachCsiOnload) != 'undefined' && window.attachCsiOnload != null) { window.attachCsiOnload('ext

Weekly News Wrap-Up: Cyclists try to Rescue the Annette Street Bikelanes

Friday, October 24, 2008 ||

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This week the Wrap-Up focuses on the real big news of the week - the Annette Street "Bikelane Battle".

Essentially, despite an overwhelming community response in favour of Bikelanes on Annette St. between Runnymede and Jane Streets, a few business merchants are making a fuss about losing a few spots of parking - prompting the city councillor for the area, Bill Saundercook to try and compromise by first re-routing the bikelanes onto other streets and now by proposing "sharrows" for Annette.

World19 is on the "frontlines" of this battle - and have an entire section of their website dedicated to it. Be sure and check out their "Comments" page - which re-prints emails they've gotten about the subject.

One-Click Email Link

World19 also has a great email link that automatically fills in an email to City Council - and I've built on it a little by adding a pro-bikelane line to it.

Click here to open an email to City Council, and feel free to add/edit it before sending.

Headlines from the past week:

Torontoist: Annette Street Bike Lanes, Again

The cycling community has come out in full force to try and rescue the Annette Street bike lanes. An email campaign is underway, as is extensive lobbying of councillors. City Council will debate the issue at their next meeting, held on October 29–30.

Spacing: Lawrence Heights walking-cycling consultation

As part of a revitalization project for the Lawrence-Allen area, including Lawrence Heights, the City of Toronto is asking local residents about pedestrian and cycling conditions and looking at ways to make improvements. This study is a great initiative, an example of how the City is starting to take active transportation seriously, and they are looking for people to participate. Anyone who lives or travels through this area is encouraged to take part.

Spacing: Annette bike lane controversy

On Oct. 10, the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee voted 3-2 to recommend “sharrows” instead of bike lanes for this portion of Annette in response to concerns from some local merchants, but contrary to the recommendation of city staff (PDF). The proposal will go to City Council on October 29. The Chair of the city’s Cycling Committee, councillor Adrian Heaps, has said that he will probably try to get the bike lane reinstated as originally proposed. Cycling groups are organizing a letter-writing campaign to try to support the reinstatement of bike lanes on Annette at council.

Star: Cyclists say bike lanes make sidewalks safer

There's no quick fix for cyclists using sidewalks intended for pedestrians, but there are some good ideas in the cycling community on how to improve the situation.

Globe: No yielding on city's bike-lane battleground

Next week, Toronto city council - in an effort led by Councillor Adrian Heaps, the cycling committee chairman - may be asked to overturn what some call a compromise that scrapped bike lanes for this stretch of road, now a symbolic battleground for cycling activists who are urging supporters to bombard councillors with e-mails.

[photo by Dylan Passmore]

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