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Spacing: Metrolinx consultation extended
posted by Joe on Friday, May 16, 2008 - Permalink
Metrolinx (the former Greater Toronto Transportation Authority) is currently undertaking an ambitious project to create a comprehensive transportation plan for the entire Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, including transit, cars, and active transportation (walking and cycling).
More at Spacing Toronto.
Labels: infrastructure, news, transit
Video: The Story of the TTC Strike in 4 minutes
posted by Joe on Monday, April 28, 2008 - Permalink
The TTC went on strike on the weekend, but is back in business now. I saw lots of people biking the strike, and just found this succinct and pretty funny video explaining the causes of the strike:
Hospitals and Royal York add Bike Parking before TTC Strike
posted by Joe on Friday, April 18, 2008 - Permalink
It's something that should happen all the time, but the threat of a TTC Strike brings out the carpool plans and the extra bike parking:The Hospital for Sick Children has organized an internal electronic message board so staff – about 6,000 people – can organize car pools, said Helen Simeon, director of public affairs. The hospital is installing extra bike racks and encouraging staff to cycle to work. ...More at the Star.
As part of the [Royal York] hotel's contingency plan for snowstorms and transit strikes, car-pooling assignments are already drawn up according to where staff live and the shifts they work, and additional bike racks will be available for employees.
TTC Strike Posts:
- Cyclist Only Lanes included in TTC Strike Traffic Plan
- Bike The Strike!
- Getting People on Bikes if the TTC Strikes
- More Detail about Dedicated Bike Lanes if the TTC Strikes
- Bike the TTC Strike - A Guide for Biking to Work
Cyclist Only Lanes included in TTC Strike Traffic Plan
posted by Joe on Friday, April 18, 2008 - Permalink
Transit Toronto runs down all the "traffic management" measures the city are enacting come Monday if there is a TTC Strike, including making some curblanes of roads cyclists only:If a strike occurs, the City will extend the current bike-path network. It will designate the curb lanes on both sides of Bay Street between Queens Quay West and Yorkville Avenue, Dundas Street East between River Street and Broadview Avenue and Queens Quay West between Lower Spadina Avenue and Yonge Street for bicycles only. The City will ban stopping on all “bicycle-only” lanes.We all know how well "designating" traffic lanes works - I'd love to see some kind of barrier blocking off non-cyclist traffic from these lanes (especially Bay) - even if it's just pylons, or anchored ballons, or anything really.
More at Transit Toronto.
Labels: infrastructure, news, transit
Bike The Strike!
posted by Joe on Thursday, April 17, 2008 - Permalink
It looks like the TTC will be striking (if there isn't a deal reached this weekend) on Monday.
Get your friends to Bike the Strike with you! Here's a handy guide for those who have never biked to work before:
Getting People on Bikes if the TTC Strikes
posted by Joe on Wednesday, April 16, 2008 - Permalink
It sounds like there are rumblings that the talks between the TTC and a lot of their employees are breaking down, and a strike may after all be imminent.Since 1.5 million people take the TTC every day, and it would be "hell on wheels" if those people got into cars, those people should "Bike The Strike".
The city is paying a little bit of attention to the bike possibility too:
More at Torontoist.What was inserted into the plans to ease the mayor's concerns? In just three places downtown—on Queen's Quay between Spadina Avenue and Yonge Street, on Bay Street between Queen's Quay and Yorkville Avenue, and on Dundas Street between Broadview Avenue and River Street—the curb lanes will be converted to bike lanes for the duration of any strike...
In other words, the grand plan to assist cyclists during a TTC strike amounts to nothing that cyclists don't already have, are supposed to have, or have had in the past. Instead of this mostly empty gesture, why not make a bold statement and allow cyclists to Take The Tooker along Bloor Street and Danforth Avenue for the duration of any TTC strike? If combined with temporary lanes on Yonge Street, many more people may decide to ditch the car for a relatively speedy crosstown cycle in the safety of a dedicated lane. That would help everyone.
Having AT LEAST the curblanes of Bloor, Danforth and Yonge reserved for cyclists only could not only give people a fast route downtown if a strike happens, but would attract a ton of new cyclists!
More Detail about Dedicated Bike Lanes if the TTC Strikes
posted by Joe on Monday, March 31, 2008 - Permalink
City Council discussed it earlier today, and the Star has the story:
For cyclists, the curb lane on Bay St. from Queen's Quay to Yorkville will become a bike-only lane for the duration of a strike. So will the curb lanes on Queen's Quay from Lower Spadina Ave. to Yonge St., and Dundas St. E. from River St. to Broadview Ave.
More at the Star.
I'm wondering if City Council saw the Bike The Strike page. They all got a lovely email last week about it. :)
Labels: infrastructure, news, transit
Bike the TTC Strike - A Guide for Biking to Work
posted by Joe on Friday, March 28, 2008 - Permalink
TTC employees, members of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 113, will be in a legal strike position as of midnight Monday, potentially affecting 1.5 million people who use the TTC every day.
Instead of clogging the streets with more cars (the last thing Toronto needs), here's a handy guide to biking to work for those who haven't tried it yet:
bikingtoronto.com/bikethestrike
Share this with of your friends - let's fill the streets with bikes if the TTC strikes!
If you have an email program like Microsoft Outlook open, this email link should give you a pre-written email for sending the Bike The Strike webpage to your friends.
Balancing Streetcar Accessibility with Cyclist Safety on the new Roncesvalles
posted by Joe on Thursday, January 17, 2008 - Permalink
There are a lot of BIAs in Toronto who see cyclists as a nuisance (I'm thinking specifically of the Yorkville BIAs exclusion of cycling infrastructure in their multimillion plans), but that isn't the case with the Roncesvalles Village BIA.Recently, plans have been unveiled for a reconfiguration of Roncesvalles that placed more emphasis on making it a people-friendly place (with more trees, more cafe space, and wider sidewalks) rather than a collection of parking spaces.
One of the significant features of the plan is "sidewalk bumpouts" which will bring the sidwalk almost all the way out to the streetcar tracks at some intersections - great for people and transit, but perhaps not so great for cyclists trying to get through.
So, they went back to the drawing board and came up with 3 options:
Do you have any ideas on how best to balance the needs of cyclists with those of other users of the road? Please share your opinion by emailing the BIA or your local residents’ association, or leaving a comment.The planners are considering three options (PDF). The first has no cycling provisions, such as shown in the picture mentioned above. No one appears to be in favor of this option, and the BIA would strongly oppose any option that made no provision for cyclists.
The second (see image, right) would simply continue the “sharrow” zone, leaving a 1.6 metre space between the curb and the rail. This would mean that transit riders would not be able to step directly onto the streetcar, but at least would not have to cross a traffic lane. The third option calls for a 1.5 metre “bike trough” (click here (PDF) for an illustration) that would cut through the curb extension itself, mixing the pedestrian and cycling zones and allowing transit riders to board directly from the curb.
At a recent meeting with businesses and residents, the community expressed its preference for the second option out of what has been proposed.
Labels: infrastructure, news, transit
The Greater Toronto Transportation Authority and Bikes
posted by Joe on Thursday, November 22, 2007 - Permalink
Living the Viva Loca... um, Wild Transit? [photo credit]
The new GTTA hasn't completely forgotten about bikes in their plans for Greater Toronto transit organization, co-ordination, and probably a few other "-ation" words:
In August, the GTTA approved a first “quick-win” list of projects, including: adding 20 new double-decker passenger coaches to the GO Lakeshore line by 2009 ($60-million); adding 10 new double-decker buses on the Highway 407-403 corridor by 2009 ($9-million); and adding 1,000 new bike racks to transit vehicles.You can see the full GTTA Report or just a summary chart of all the recommended projects.
From Posted Toronto.
Labels: infrastructure, news, transit
TTC's streetcar Proposal for King 'madness'
posted by Joe on Thursday, April 19, 2007 - Permalink
I don't see anything in the news about last nights King Street Transit Mall Community Consultation other than this piece in the Post... so I'm wondering if anyone besides autocentric and narrowminded business owners went (please note that I'm not calling all business owners autocentric and narrowminded - just the ones who think that cars go to restaurants and shows and buy stuff... it's PEOPLE who do these things... PEOPLE!):
Make an area about people (not cars) and reap the financial riches. If you're afraid of what you don't know, let these links educate you:"I have yet to decide if this is a good or bad proposal. But it has many challenges ahead of it, especially for restaurants, especially for residents," Mr. Vaughan said. "The TTC needs to slow down and listen to the community."
And the community -- at least judging by the attendees at last night's meeting-- was not pleased.
One attendee at the meeting said: "This is a very difficult place to undertake this. I am surprised that they chose this street to attempt it. This is madness."
He said the plan could ultimately close down the theatres in the entertainment district -- one of Toronto's most popular tourist destinations -- because patrons will be unable to reach the theatre by car.
A lawyer representing the Holiday Inn on King and Peter streets, asked Mr. Giambrone how a tourist unfamiliar with the city could reach the area and park.
- Project for Public Spaces: Transportation
- Going Car-Free in the City
- List of Car-Free Places
- London's Trafalgar Square
- The Paris Beach
- The Nyhaven (Copenhagen)
- New Haven, CT: A Place to Gather
King Street Transit Mall Meeting Tonight - BikeLanes Possible!
posted by Joe on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 - Permalink
TTC Chair Adam Giambrone mentioned at the NOW Bike Forum last week that the TTC would try to incorporate bikelanes into any plans for a King Street Transit Mall...
Well, tonight (Wednesday April 18th, 2007 at 7:30 p.m.), there will be a Community Consultation Meeting regarding Dedicated Streetcar Lanes on King Street West.The meeting will be held at City Hall, 100 Queen Street West, in Committee Room 2 on the second floor.
Councillor Adam Vaughan and Toronto Transit Chair, Councillor Adam Giambrone invite you to discuss a proposal for a temporary, reserved right-of-way on a four to five block section of King Street for the summer of 2008. The area under consideration is the Entertainment District on King Street West.
If you have a chance, get to the meeting and let them know you want bikelanes. Think about how cool that little diagram at the top of this post would look with nice bikelanes between the streetcar tracks and the sidewalks / car traffic.Please attend this meeting and invite your neighbours and friends. If you are unable to attend and would like to voice your opinion or concerns, please contact: Angela Kinnear, Executive Assistant, Councillor Vaughan, at Telephone: 416 392 4044 Fax: 416 392 4130 Email: akinnear@toronto.ca
If you can't make it, phone (416-392-4130) or email Councillor Adam Vaughan's assistent Angela to let them know... especially if you live in Adam's Ward!
More info on the King Street Transit Mall:
Labels: infrastructure, news, transit
Biking the Dundas Streetcar Reconstruction - Clarification
posted by Joe on Wednesday, March 28, 2007 - Permalink
Here's some clarification from the City of Toronto about their advice for cyclists during the Dundas Streetcar Track Reconstruction.
Originally, it sounded like the City was asking that cyclists walk their bike through construction zones, but thanks to the efforts of Pauline Craig, the BUG co-ordinator at the City (who emailed the reconstruction people about it), things have been clarified:
The Dundas streetcar tracks are being reconstructed from Broadview Avenue in the east to Howard Park in the west, including the DVP and Sorauren Bridges. During track work, only a single curb lane in one direction will be maintained. East of Victoria St., one east-bound lane will remain open, while west of Victoria St., one west-bound lane will remain open. Since these lanes will be of a reduced width, "Narrow Lanes" signs will be erected, to advise cyclists and motorists of the need to travel in 'single file.'On the Sorauren bridge, one lane in each direction will be open until approximately September, when only the west-bound curb lane lane will be available. "Cyclists and motorists use caution" signs will be used wherever a designated bike lane is occupied due to construction activity.
The DVP bridge will be closed to traffic in both directions for about three months, probably starting in May. Only one sidewalk on one side will be kept open, for pedestrian traffic. Cyclists using the bridge will be advised to walk on the sidewalk. As an alternate route, west-bound cyclists may divert to Gerrard St. just west of Broadview via Munro, while east-bound cyclists can reach Dundas from Gerrard via Hamilton. (These one-way streets are just west of Broadview.)
So, basically - in most places there will still be one lane open, which cyclists can ride in. In areas where both lanes are taken up with reconstruction work and cyclists have to be diverted to the sidewalk... THIS is where the City recommends we dismount and walk.
It makes complete sense. Few things are more annoying than cyclists on sidewalks.
Questions about the Dundas Reconstruction can be directed to dundastracks@toronto.ca or 416-392-6900.
Less Cars on Yonge Street and King Street
posted by Joe on Saturday, March 24, 2007 - Permalink
Some interesting car-free ideas for you:
There's been a few items in Toronto news lately about plans to not only narrow Yonge Street between Bloor & Front, but to change part of King West into a transit-oriented street temporarily next summer as a trial.
The Yonge Street idea has the street narrowing from 4 lanes to 3... providing wider sidewalks to encourage pedestrian traffic (which is in turn good for business).
Yonge Street south of Bloor is one of the most vibrant (if not THE most vibrant) streets in Toronto, yet it does not have any parking for this entire section... this is something that should be remembered by merchants on King Street.
The TTC wants to try out a plan on King West (probably somewhere between University and Spadina... so the Entertainment District) where the streetcar lanes become Right-of-Ways, and the sidewalks are widened into the curblanes on alternating blocks, with the other side of the streetcar tracks being where car traffic can go.
This is actually a TTC idea from 2001 (really good background info at that link) - one which James Bow of Transit Toronto calls "one of the most ingeneous suggestions the Toronto Transit Commission has made in a long time".The point of this is that more people use the King Streetcars than drive on King, yet the streetcars often move slower than pedestrians because of traffic congestion... making King Street for transit and pedestrians will encourage economic activity and help fight traffic congestion.
I really hope that both of these ideas come to fruition - I haven't heard a lot of objection to the Yonge Street plan, but there is some (of course) to the King Street idea. The King Street one is really important, because if the TTC is successful in having a trial-run of this in the summer of 2008, Torontonians and King Street businesses will see that the world will NOT end if you plan for people and not for cars... that MORE people will spend time and MONEY on King Street, because it will be a more pleasant place to be.
I can only hope that it becomes permanent on King and other major shopping streets as well.
(King Street illustrations courtesy of Transit Toronto. You can click on them for larger versions.)
The Most Cost Effective Sustainable Transportation
posted by Joe on Wednesday, March 21, 2007 - Permalink
Dear Politicians,
Want to get the most bang for your political dollar? Here's a simple math lesson for you:
Cost of Infrastructure:
One km of Subway: ~$250,000,000
One km of "Light Rail Transit : ~25,000,000
One km of Bikelanes: ~$100,000
Cost of Vehicles:
Subway Train (6 cars): ~$18,000,000
Streetcar: ~$7,500,000
Bike: ~FREE
Everyone who wants to bike buys a bike.
They will buy bikes... as soon as they feel safe enough on the streets. Build cycling infrastructure and watch the number of cyclists in Toronto explode. It's the easiest way of becoming your oft-mentioned "Greenest City in North America".
Labels: infrastructure, politics, transit
Cyclists and the Dundas Streetcar Track Reconstruction
posted by Joe on Friday, March 16, 2007 - Permalink
From the City of Toronto:
Councillor Fletcher's office has requested that the Toronto cyclist community be kept informed of upcoming construction work on Dundas Street. The Dundas streetcar tracks are being reconstructed from Broadview Avenue in the east to Howard Park in the west, including the DVP and Sorauren Bridges. For safety reasons, cyclists are encouraged to dismount and walk on the sidewalks within each of the construction zones.
If you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to write (dundastracks@toronto.ca) or call 416-392-6900.
There's a couple places on the City/TTC website that outline some of the construction schedules for you:
- TTC Construction Notices ( with PDF of Reconstruction Details)
- TTC Service Disruptions (with PDF of the Customer Notice)
They re-did my streetcar line of choice (the 506 College) a couple years ago, and the streetcar diversions were making my commute to work so lengthy that I tried cycling... and the rest, as they say, is history. :)
320 New TTC Buses To Have BikeRacks!
posted by Joe on Thursday, March 08, 2007 - Permalink
Just following up from my post from yesterday...
I wondered if the 320 new low-floor accessible buses the TTC was scheduled to receive delivery of in 2007 would have bikeracks installed on the front, making it much more practical for Torontonians to combine cycling and the TTC on a trip through the city. When the Rack it and Rocket program was saved back in September 2006, it was expanded so that bikeracks would be standard equipment on all new TTC buses.
Councillor Joe Mihevc, who I cc'd on the email to Adam Giambrone, got back to me first thing this morning with the good news... there will be 320 new buses on Toronto streets this year, and ALL of them will have bikeracks!
Thanks for the quick reply Joe. Cyclists around Toronto will love this news.
Labels: infrastructure, transit
Bikeracks on New Buses?
posted by Joe on Wednesday, March 07, 2007 - Permalink
So, this afternoon I got curious about if there were indeed going to be bikeracks on all the new buses the TTC is getting, as I posted on BikingToronto back in September 2006:
The great news is that the following three proposals were passed:Since I hadn't heard "boo" (as the kids say) about it, but see that
1) Adopt as a policy principle that bike racks be included on all buses
and a report be made for putting them on street-cars.
2) All new buses have bike racks.
3) Staff report back on retro-fitting existing buses.
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