The TTC has released its recommendations document (pdf) for the streetcar line on Cherry Street. The plan puts the streetcar line running down the east side of the street, creating a unique pedestrian space between the streetcars and the buildings.
The recommendations include bike lanes of 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0 metres wide that run the full length of the street.
the recommended design addresses City of Toronto Council’s concerns related to reducing the width of the roadway on Cherry Street and including dedicated bicycle facilities in the design
(One of the images in the document shows a bike lane on the right side of a right turn lane, but we'll give them the benefit of the doubt that this is a simple mistake. The technical drawings show the bike lane in the correct position.)
According to Steve Munro, the LRT line will begin operations in late 2010.
Comments
geoffrey (not verified)
bikelane width
Sat, 12/08/2007 - 09:21Now that MTO has finally accepted bicyclists need shoulder room recommending motorists allow a 1 m passing buffer and accepting cyclists are entitled to ride a metre (or more) out from the curb, isn't it time the city accept bikelanes need to be at least 2 m wide (not including the curbgutter) and bidirectional bikelanes need to be at least 3.5 m wide?
Darren_S
2m or bust
Sat, 12/08/2007 - 11:19What is often forgotten about bike lane width is cycling traffic itself. There has to be enough room for fasster cyclists to safely pass other cyclists, especially true now that some motorized bicycles are allowed in the bike lane. I have been stuck in a few long conga lines of cyclists this summer, it was beautiful but I was also late for appointments. The motor lanes were not options as they were at a standstill.
Right now this is a very minor issue. Cyclists are tops when it comes to getting along amongst ourselves. Yet as more and more of us ride and an increasing mix of alternatives it will become an issue.
A 1.5m wide bike lane leaves us about 20 -30 centimetres of clearance with cars. The math is 1.5m minus the one metre from the curb and one half your width (handlebars are typically between 38cm to 66cm wide).
Svend
I like the streetcars separate from traffic
Sat, 12/08/2007 - 21:32I like the idea of streetcars being separate from traffic, it's also good that they're finally including bike lanes at the planning process.
I can live with a 1.5 metre bike lane as a minimum when converting existing roads but 2 metres wide down the full length would be ideal with new designs like this.
darren
The Star coverage
Tue, 12/11/2007 - 12:19The Star's Transportation reporter, Tess Kalinowski, has an article on this report.
Transit-first street plan hailed
There's a comment in the article from Bill Dawson, "the TTC's superintendent of route planning", that I found surprising:
Could this be true? Does this mean that on this "transit-first" street a streetcar will have to stop to wait for right turning cars? Streetcars should be well spaced out because of the separation from other traffic, so wouldn't it make sense to give the streetcar the green light as it arrives at the intersection? I realize that there have to be times when cars turning right will force a streetcar to stop, but I would have thought this can be designed so the streetcar traffic is heavily prioritized, making any length of transitway appropriate.
-dj
Darren_S
CYA
Tue, 12/11/2007 - 15:15It always seems to me that the TTC people always present the worst case scenarios when it comes to change. I guess some of it is probably understandable and the rest political. In either case the aim being the same, cover your ass.
Anonymous (not verified)
what's width this?
Tue, 12/11/2007 - 15:1530 cm my ass. The bike lane is only one lane, not a designated area that all bikes have to fit into. If you want to pass, wait for an opening and take the car lane.
I am totally sick of fucktards who don't know how to pass and brush by my left shoulder while squeezing into the bike lane. The same rules apply to you as everyone else. If there is no room, wait until there is.
Darren_S
Lazy read
Tue, 12/11/2007 - 17:07I think if you were not such a lazy reader you would have picked up on exactly what I wrote. Specifically that the motor lane was at a standstill due to traffic. Something I think we will see more and more of.
Signed the fucktard.
Anonymous (not verified)
why not separate bike lanes?
Wed, 12/12/2007 - 09:25If the planners are now willing to concede that separating out the streetcar tracks is a good idea, why are they not also separating the bike lanes from the car traffic, streetcars and pedestrians? If we're going to break ground on new ways of building transportation infrastructure then shouldn't we also be separating out bike lanes like they do in europe?
Here's our chance guys. TCAC, TCAT, Cyclists Union are you listening? Scream loud and long for separated bike lanes. Let's use this as an oppportunity to show everyone that the sun will still rise in the east and set in the west even when cyclists are given their own lanes separate from everyone else.
geoffrey (not verified)
ttc row alignment changes/turns
Wed, 12/12/2007 - 19:46I hope I'm missing something here but isn't the ttc row to move to the middle lanes at the railway underpass? The angle of those tracks with respect to road and especially bicycle traffic will make them a nightmare to cross. The streetcar turn onto King could well pose a hazard to cyclists as well. These can probably be resolved but I fear potential problems may be getting overlooked and not seeking to resolve them in the planning stages will result in our being stuck with any oversights long into the future. This will again be a concern as the line is continued (eventually) south of Lakeshore. If planning for bicycles at intersections isn't included from the outset the city will end up on the hook for alot of cyclists with broken collarbones.