"If you look at the evidence of what sells downtown, the majority of units under 750 square feet in the downtown core sell without parking,'' said Stephen Deveaux, a vice-president with the developer, Tribute Communities. Parking spots typically add $20,000 or more to the cost of a downtown condo.
There is resistance, however, from cyclists themselves. Earlier this week, when the City of Toronto's works committee considered calling for mandatory, province-wide use of helmets by cyclists, members of the 800-member Toronto Cyclists Union opposed the measure. They urged the city to concentrate on initiatives that would prevent accidents, such as expansion of bike lanes, rather than on mitigating measures that would reduce the injuries caused by accidents.
Despite its dodgy lineage, the mandatory helmet issue represents an unusual opportunity for the TCU to broaden its base and mature as an advocacy group that does more than merely preach to the choir.
Helmets protect cyclists after they fall, she said: The objective should be to prevent collisions in the first place. "(Removing) the things that are happening to them, which I think is the responsibility of municipal and provincial government ... that's the issue," she said, calling for more and better bike lanes and better education for drivers.
Thirty-three children living in the West-end community of Swansea Mews received new bicycles and helmets today, thanks to an ongoing green- and healthy living partnership between the Dutch Consulate General and Toronto Community Housing.
I have a better idea for a city program. I think the city should hire people to stand on College Street or Harbord Street, or Dundas Street East -- routes crowded with thousands of cycling commuters -- and, as the cyclists wait at a red light, hand each of them a $5 bill.
Bike lanes are designed to allow cyclists enough space to go at their own speed. But cyclists may enter the main flow of traffic at any time. If the road is narrow and there isn't enough room to comfortably ride to the right of a car, the cyclist is entitled to occupy the full lane. However, when the road widens and traffic speeds up, cyclists are expected to let motor vehicles squeeze past.
If cyclists are a city council priority on Toronto's streets, Councillor Michael Walker wants to see those cyclists wearing a helmet and licensed to ride on the road.
