Comments on: The top 10 Toronto streets that need bike lanes now http://www.thegridto.com/city/places/the-top-10-streets-that-need-bike-lanes/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-top-10-streets-that-need-bike-lanes Toronto's new weekly city magazine Thu, 23 May 2013 14:05:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: Wayne Scott http://www.thegridto.com/city/places/the-top-10-streets-that-need-bike-lanes/#comment-44996 Wayne Scott Mon, 18 Feb 2013 17:34:07 +0000 http://www.thegridto.com/?p=122386#comment-44996 JARVIS STREET!!! The newly again-antiquated 5-lane Jarvis Street - below Charles Street - is now, once more, one of the most dangerous streets in Toronto for cyclists, pedestrians and motor-vehicle users alike. The partisan idiocy that saw brand new citizen-safer infrastructure REMOVED last fall had nothing to do with serving Torontonians needs, but rather to base-placate the political agenda of this City's cruel joke of a Mayor, and a corrupt majority of Ford-appointed puppets on the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee (PWIC). Members of City Council have proven themselves incapable of seeing past their own pettiness as we ordinary tax-paying citizens have again been placed at elevated street-level risk by personal political ambition. Neophyte Councillors such as Josh Colle and Ana "D.U.I." Bailao were coerced/ pressured into voting to again throw our citizenry under the wheels of motor vehicle traffic on Jarvis by arguably criminally incompetent PWIC chair Denzil Minnan-Wong. None of the games these fools have played with the safety of those they were elected to serve have been in the public's best interest and now the same problems that justified installation of bike lanes on Jarvis in 2009 have re-appeared. By making that one street again more risky, our City - by definition - has been made more dangerous at street level under the Ford regime. And Councillors Minnan-Wong, Shiner, Parker and Grimes did this by colluding to knowingly manipulate procedure at the Works and Infrastructure Committee charged with fixing not creating such problems. They didn't address the safety aspect of their action because they didn't care, and then intentionally muzzled all those who did. As the then-Toronto Cyclists Union was duped into helping Minnan-Wong to rescind Council's approval for the safer infrastructure, it is hoped that that the now-Cycle Toronto organization will support the call to return those bike lanes to Jarvis Street, encourage any citizens injured on our streets to hold the City legally complicit when warranted, and to call for the impeachment of PWIC4. One wonders what Jennifer Keesmaat thinks about such disregard for citizen safety on our streets. Our new chief planner has been deafeningly silent throughout this protracted farce, eh? Maybe The GRID could ask some of the hard questions on this pivotal urban mobility file? Thanks in advance. JARVIS STREET!!!

The newly again-antiquated 5-lane Jarvis Street – below Charles Street – is now, once more, one of the most dangerous streets in Toronto for cyclists, pedestrians and motor-vehicle users alike.

The partisan idiocy that saw brand new citizen-safer infrastructure REMOVED last fall had nothing to do with serving Torontonians needs, but rather to base-placate the political agenda of this City’s cruel joke of a Mayor, and a corrupt majority of Ford-appointed puppets on the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee (PWIC).

Members of City Council have proven themselves incapable of seeing past their own pettiness as we ordinary tax-paying citizens have again been placed at elevated street-level risk by personal political ambition.

Neophyte Councillors such as Josh Colle and Ana “D.U.I.” Bailao were coerced/ pressured into voting to again throw our citizenry under the wheels of motor vehicle traffic on Jarvis by arguably criminally incompetent PWIC chair Denzil Minnan-Wong.

None of the games these fools have played with the safety of those they were elected to serve have been in the public’s best interest and now the same problems that justified installation of bike lanes on Jarvis in 2009 have re-appeared.

By making that one street again more risky, our City – by definition – has been made more dangerous at street level under the Ford regime.

And Councillors Minnan-Wong, Shiner, Parker and Grimes did this by colluding to knowingly manipulate procedure at the Works and Infrastructure Committee charged with fixing not creating such problems. They didn’t address the safety aspect of their action because they didn’t care, and then intentionally muzzled all those who did.

As the then-Toronto Cyclists Union was duped into helping Minnan-Wong to rescind Council’s approval for the safer infrastructure, it is hoped that that the now-Cycle Toronto organization will support the call to return those bike lanes to Jarvis Street, encourage any citizens injured on our streets to hold the City legally complicit when warranted, and to call for the impeachment of PWIC4.

One wonders what Jennifer Keesmaat thinks about such disregard for citizen safety on our streets.

Our new chief planner has been deafeningly silent throughout this protracted farce, eh?

Maybe The GRID could ask some of the hard questions on this pivotal urban mobility file?

Thanks in advance.

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]]> By: Aaron http://www.thegridto.com/city/places/the-top-10-streets-that-need-bike-lanes/#comment-44988 Aaron Mon, 18 Feb 2013 05:47:45 +0000 http://www.thegridto.com/?p=122386#comment-44988 Oh well, let's all argue about details thereby ensuring that nothing will ever be accomplished and in the end, everybody will be happy/unhappy because their personal agendas were taken into account/not taken into account and do-nothing Toronto will be left with the usual result: FUCK ALL. But at least nobody will be offended by any action taken. What a joke of a city this shithole has become Oh well, let’s all argue about details thereby ensuring that nothing will ever be accomplished and in the end, everybody will be happy/unhappy because their personal agendas were taken into account/not taken into account and do-nothing Toronto will be left with the usual result: FUCK ALL.

But at least nobody will be offended by any action taken.

What a joke of a city this shithole has become

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]]> By: Albin http://www.thegridto.com/city/places/the-top-10-streets-that-need-bike-lanes/#comment-44857 Albin Thu, 14 Feb 2013 14:48:48 +0000 http://www.thegridto.com/?p=122386#comment-44857 Thanks for a considered reply. You're wrong about removing parking on residential streets - all that's needed is to paint a bicycle every block or two to alert bikers and drivers that it's a designated bike route. Biking is safe, quiet and non-disruptive. As to routing, one can pick and choose from the list above. - Bloor-Danforth is nuts east of the viaduct when there's Mortimer a few blocks north, lightly trafficked from Woodbine to Broadview. The proposed UofT-feeding Wellesley-Hoskin route pre-empts the silly idea of heavily trafficked Bloor West. Bike lanes only needed down Broadview, over the viaduct and south on Parliament, plenty of room for everyone. - Richmond is only wrong because bikers will choose Queen St, picturesque and fun. - University/Avenue and Eglinton are very congested, a.k.a. dangerous to bikes, during rush but no obvious straight line alternatives nearby. Woodbine or Dupont would be unobjectionable if anyone actually used them (doubt it), and that may the case for Scarborough. The Jarvis debacle should be an object lession in fad social engineering gone wrong. Nobody would have minded a bike lane down Sherbourne, but our "behaviour changers" had to clog up an essential arterial route as an "eco-statement" that is giving bike lanes a bad name. Thanks for a considered reply. You’re wrong about removing parking on residential streets – all that’s needed is to paint a bicycle every block or two to alert bikers and drivers that it’s a designated bike route. Biking is safe, quiet and non-disruptive. As to routing, one can pick and choose from the list above.

- Bloor-Danforth is nuts east of the viaduct when there’s Mortimer a few blocks north, lightly trafficked from Woodbine to Broadview. The proposed UofT-feeding Wellesley-Hoskin route pre-empts the silly idea of heavily trafficked Bloor West. Bike lanes only needed down Broadview, over the viaduct and south on Parliament, plenty of room for everyone.
- Richmond is only wrong because bikers will choose Queen St, picturesque and fun.
- University/Avenue and Eglinton are very congested, a.k.a. dangerous to bikes, during rush but no obvious straight line alternatives nearby.

Woodbine or Dupont would be unobjectionable if anyone actually used them (doubt it), and that may the case for Scarborough.

The Jarvis debacle should be an object lession in fad social engineering gone wrong. Nobody would have minded a bike lane down Sherbourne, but our “behaviour changers” had to clog up an essential arterial route as an “eco-statement” that is giving bike lanes a bad name.

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]]> By: Gary Krawford http://www.thegridto.com/city/places/the-top-10-streets-that-need-bike-lanes/#comment-44842 Gary Krawford Thu, 14 Feb 2013 13:29:49 +0000 http://www.thegridto.com/?p=122386#comment-44842 As a resident of Maitland Place just off Jarvis St., I don't see how you can ignore putting back the Jarvis St. bike lanes which Mr. Ford removed -- at great expense. I look out at Jarvis and see no difference in traffic flow with the reenstatement of the centre lane. As a resident of Maitland Place just off Jarvis St., I don’t see how you can ignore putting back the Jarvis St. bike lanes which Mr. Ford removed — at great expense. I look out at Jarvis and see no difference in traffic flow with the reenstatement of the centre lane.

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]]> By: B. Mills http://www.thegridto.com/city/places/the-top-10-streets-that-need-bike-lanes/#comment-44840 B. Mills Thu, 14 Feb 2013 12:26:45 +0000 http://www.thegridto.com/?p=122386#comment-44840 On streets where bike lanes share the road with cars, reverse the direction of the bike lanes so that they ride facing traffic (danger). The same logic as walking on a street or roadway that is shared with autos. Facing traffic is simply safer. It will end "door prizes" forever. On streets where bike lanes share the road with cars, reverse the direction of the bike lanes so that they ride facing traffic (danger). The same logic as walking on a street or roadway that is shared with autos. Facing traffic is simply safer. It will end
“door prizes” forever.

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]]> By: Former_Tdot_Biker http://www.thegridto.com/city/places/the-top-10-streets-that-need-bike-lanes/#comment-44834 Former_Tdot_Biker Thu, 14 Feb 2013 05:05:50 +0000 http://www.thegridto.com/?p=122386#comment-44834 You do realize many people who live outside of the Toronto area (I.e York,Peel and Durham region) commute into the city via bike. Then you have the Touring cyclists who travel through the city making the idea of a licence and fine system hard to enforce. I for one would like to see the Highway 2 Corridor (From the Scarborough/Pickering border to Long Branch) made into a one long continuous bike route (bike lanes and connections to/from the waterfront trail system) Ottawa_Biker (Former_Tdot_Biker) You do realize many people who live outside of the Toronto area (I.e York,Peel and Durham region) commute into the city via bike.
Then you have the Touring cyclists who travel through the city making the idea of a licence and fine system hard to enforce.
I for one would like to see the Highway 2 Corridor (From the Scarborough/Pickering border to Long Branch) made into a one long continuous bike route (bike lanes and connections to/from the waterfront trail system)

Ottawa_Biker (Former_Tdot_Biker)

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]]> By: perplexed http://www.thegridto.com/city/places/the-top-10-streets-that-need-bike-lanes/#comment-44833 perplexed Thu, 14 Feb 2013 04:55:15 +0000 http://www.thegridto.com/?p=122386#comment-44833 the idea that bike licensing will keep cyclist's honest/lawful is absolute rubbish. the bylaws exist already, the police simply need to enforce the laws. also how many licensed cars do you see pulling illegal u turns, not signaling or parking in the path of a street car when there is snow. the fact that the cars have license plates does nothing to deter these minor driving infractions. the idea that bike licensing will keep cyclist’s honest/lawful is absolute rubbish. the bylaws exist already, the police simply need to enforce the laws.

also how many licensed cars do you see pulling illegal u turns, not signaling or parking in the path of a street car when there is snow. the fact that the cars have license plates does nothing to deter these minor driving infractions.

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]]> By: Trevor http://www.thegridto.com/city/places/the-top-10-streets-that-need-bike-lanes/#comment-44829 Trevor Thu, 14 Feb 2013 03:43:15 +0000 http://www.thegridto.com/?p=122386#comment-44829 The same tired old nonsense from another anti-bike doofus. Toronto tried bike licensing back in the 1950s and repealed it. It didn't work then and won't now. Didn't make money, just created bureaucracy and red tape. As far as tracking stolen bikes go, bikes already have a serial number that can be registered with the police. And what do you do about children who bike? Doubtless Steve thinks cyclists don't pay for the roads. Actually we all do, through our property taxes. And yes, people do track bike lane usage and it's a lot higher than 25 bikes a day. That's what environmental assessments are for. The same tired old nonsense from another anti-bike doofus. Toronto tried bike licensing back in the 1950s and repealed it. It didn’t work then and won’t now. Didn’t make money, just created bureaucracy and red tape. As far as tracking stolen bikes go, bikes already have a serial number that can be registered with the police. And what do you do about children who bike?
Doubtless Steve thinks cyclists don’t pay for the roads. Actually we all do, through our property taxes.
And yes, people do track bike lane usage and it’s a lot higher than 25 bikes a day. That’s what environmental assessments are for.

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]]> By: Steve http://www.thegridto.com/city/places/the-top-10-streets-that-need-bike-lanes/#comment-44826 Steve Thu, 14 Feb 2013 02:33:18 +0000 http://www.thegridto.com/?p=122386#comment-44826 Has anyone ever considered a licencing fee of say 25 bucks to help pay for the bike routes? Not only would the cash help but it would also help the police in finding lost and stolen bikes!! How about a 200 dollar fine if no licence. Licence or Lose It Campaign. Also has anyone actually gone out and sat on the suggested routes to see how many bikes actually use the routes suggested? Why spend millions for a bike lane if only 25 bikes a day use it??? Has anyone ever considered a licencing fee of say 25 bucks to help pay for the bike routes? Not only would the cash help but it would also help the police in finding lost and stolen bikes!! How about a 200 dollar fine if no licence. Licence or Lose It Campaign. Also has anyone actually gone out and sat on the suggested routes to see how many bikes actually use the routes suggested? Why spend millions for a bike lane if only 25 bikes a day use it???

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]]> By: elise http://www.thegridto.com/city/places/the-top-10-streets-that-need-bike-lanes/#comment-44820 elise Thu, 14 Feb 2013 01:52:13 +0000 http://www.thegridto.com/?p=122386#comment-44820 http://www.terena.org/webcam/ Canadian cyclists might get a kick watching this Amsterdam webcam of cyclists operating within this city. http://www.terena.org/webcam/

Canadian cyclists might get a kick watching this Amsterdam webcam of cyclists operating within this city.

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