As you may already know, the City has been plowing the Martin Goodman Trail this winter. A few weeks ago I took my bike down and discovered a peaceful east-west winter bike route where I didn't have to worry about sliding into a streetcar track or get run over. Bliss. This video and G&M article by Christopher Shulgan explains how the City got to plowing it and gets feedback from runners and cyclists. It's "revolutionized" the lives of runners and cyclists alike, according to Shulgan.
How did this happen? City hall has grown accustomed to hearing the suggestion that it clear snow from various paths around the city. The previous time that municipal government examined clearing snow from the trail, in 2004, the proposal was rejected because the city said it didn't have the money.
Then came last winter's near-record snowfalls. The city began a wide-ranging review of its snow-clearing practices. And an increasingly effective cycling lobby began pushing, via the Toronto Cycling Committee, for a snow-free Martin Goodman Trail.
For example, Tammy Thorne, a bulldog on the cycling committee and the editor of the cycling-lifestyle magazine Dandyhorse, buttonholed Mayor David Miller at last summer's Jane Jacobs Awards and gave her own pitch for clearing snow from the lakeshore trail. "He appeared in favour of it," she said.
At some point, Mr. Miller turned to Gary Welsh, general manager of transportation services, the department that handles snow-clearing, and challenged him to clear snow from at least one of the city's major east-west bike paths.
Bet you didn't know it may cost up to $200,000 by the end of this record winter. But isn't it worth it? Go use it and send a Valentine's card to the Mayor.
Don't let it get to your head Councillor Heaps and Mayor Miller, lest we all have to put up with yet more complaints from cyclists about the unusable bike lanes.
Update: We've now linked to Chris' updated video.
Comments
Luke Siragusa
Watching the video...
Thu, 02/05/2009 - 19:50...is proof positive that If you clear it they will come. It also underscores how simple it is to clear the MGT: no need for expensive snow removal a la the city streets; and no parked cars to complicate.
And it's worth repeating what a trooper Tammy Thorne is: she brings real commitment and energy to what can be a thankless and unrewarding task. So if you're apt to dispatch electrons of gratitude a few in her direction are surely merited.
Erhard
Hats off to Christopher Shulgan...
Thu, 02/05/2009 - 20:07...for his positive approach in the video and how he managed to make the "players" feel good about their contributions. I love that style!
I'll have to come down during the next week and give it a spin. It helps to get over the winter blahs....
Mikeonabike
$200k??
Thu, 02/05/2009 - 22:41$200k? What are they plowing the Martin Goodman with? A Rolls Royce with a titanium snowplow attachment? I've seen them plowing while running on the Martin Goodman this winter. It takes two trucks. One has a plow, and is closely followed by a separate truck spreading salt. They roll along pretty fast and the plowed width is exactly the width of one plow. So it takes very little time to do a few km of trail. Where did the $200k tag come from? Surely the city didn't hire two guys and two trucks to sit around for the entire year exclusively to plow the Martin Goodman. That is what that price tag should buy. Oh yeah, it cost $185k to do the feasibility study, and $15k for the actual work. Nonetheless it's great that it is finally getting done. I wrote to my local Parkdale councillor about this years ago and nothing happened, so well done whoever got this done.
Tom Flaherty (not verified)
A Trail of Two Cities
Thu, 02/05/2009 - 22:46Great to see people enjoying the winter MGT.
I will definitely give it a buzz on the weekend.
To Tammy, and everyone who helped get this awesome initiative launched, Thank You!
jamesmallon (not verified)
Thanks to all involved!
Fri, 02/06/2009 - 01:55Thois plowing means I can actually get some exercise in the winter: ride home to Cabbagetown from Port Credit. Thanks to all involved! If they'd only plough past the Humber Bridge, so I don't have to start the trail by bashing through hardpack... And, what's with all the salt?
jeff (not verified)
Who to thank or encourage?
Sun, 02/08/2009 - 21:21I'm loving the plowed MGT - who's political office can we send a note to express our gratitude? If the politicians don't hear from us, it might not be kept up.
Toby (not verified)
I'm with James
Sun, 02/08/2009 - 21:40I tried it out for the first time the other day, and it was an absolutely amazing experience!!!!
I was thrilled to be on the trail, and by what it means; James raise two good questions though, why so much salt, and why not plow past the Humber River bridge?
Who do we praise, and who do we sent the suggestions too?
anthony
Thanks to the PWIC commitee for the MG
Sun, 02/08/2009 - 23:54The Public Works and Infrastructure committee really made this a reality this yaer, along with most of the councillors. They did this a s a pilot this year to find out how many people (will/would) use it, how to do it, how much it would cost, and what the benifits would be for the city and for cyclists.
Yes, please send a quick note off to your councillor telling them you love it, but we need to go all the way.
All of the salt (or other snow melting chemicals) are because there's no motor vehicle traffic to assist in the snow melting process. The only way to get to bare asphalt (and remove the slippery ice) is to use generous amounts of salt.
David Juliusson (not verified)
Martin Goodman Trail is really treacherous this morning
Mon, 02/09/2009 - 09:55I rode into work today. The Martin Goodman Trail is a mess.
The worst was coming down the hill from the Humber bridge. It is completely flooded with large chunks of ice thrown in. Supposedly this does not happen anymore. In 2008, the trail was closed for awhile to fix drainage problems. If anything it is worse. The trail forms a natural bowl at the bottom. Why is there nothing to drain it away? Wasn't that the point of the closure?
Near Sunnyside Pool, the tennis courts and Marilyn Bell Park are bad too. Lots of lines of ice. Reason. The trail is the low points for the surrounding land. Wasn't this ever thought of, especially in the case of Marilyn Bell Park? It was built only a couple of years ago. I remember the engineers reports. My Grade 7 project on gravity is still in my memory. Why didn't professional engineers get it.
Anyone riding home tonight, be careful. For those of us crossing the Humber, be prepared to get wet. On the other side still icy, but remember, Councillor Grimes is looking into it.
anthony
Reason for Pilot
Mon, 02/09/2009 - 11:29Part of the reason for opening the trail up this winter as a pilot is to find problems like this. Now we have to find out if it is feasible to fix these areas, or implement other countermeasures.
This is all part of the learning experience of doing something like this.
Derek Koops (not verified)
Everywhere was slippery this AM....the MGT isn't immune.
Mon, 02/09/2009 - 15:43I rode to work today too and I would say that it was the wrong call to have made because there were so many places where it was very slippery. It's not reasonable to expect that the MGT getting winter maintenance is going to mean that it will be less slippery than major thoroughfares on a day like today. Conditions today were extremely slippery and the MGT is no different than other routes that receive winter maintenance. At least on the MGT you aren't going to get run over by a bus if you slip and fall.
David Juliusson (not verified)
It is proper to single out the Martin Goodman trail.
Wed, 02/11/2009 - 12:30I seem to have offended Derek by suggesting the Martin Goodman Trail should be looked at differently than other areas. I disagree with him.
The reason is the City paid professional engineers to make sure the trail didn't flood. I am not talking a small puddle, but one over 4 inches deep and big. The trail was closed to fix this problem for a time in 2008. Yet to me it seems worse. Shouldn't this be addressed?
The same can be said for the portion of the trail at Marilyn Bell Park. It was purposely built for cyclists and a professional engineering company was hired to do the grading. The reality is that portion of the trail is lower than the surrounding land.
I ride through Ward 6 to get to the trail. The bike lanes got no maintenance this winter and it was a wet slippery Monday morning. I am well aware that others had a wet ride too. The difference to me is that benign neglect is one thing. When somebody is paid to fix or make sure these problems don't happen that is worse. For that reason, it should be singled out and commented on.
Kevin Love
Good on Wellesley
Mon, 02/09/2009 - 16:33I rode to work on Wellesley this morning. The road was very good as long as I stayed out of the bike lane.
Tom Flaherty
Catch the Wave
Mon, 02/09/2009 - 16:38Did the MGT yesterday from Woodbine to Humber and found the small pond on the trail near the western end - that's sure to be a hazard until end of spring; by Wednesday afternoon it may be part of the shoreline.
Anyway, that was the only serious water pool on the trail - plenty of other puddles, all equally as slippery I'm sure.
geoffrey (not verified)
MGT wading pool
Wed, 02/11/2009 - 08:59Everywhere else may be bad but the section David is referring to is under over 4" of water. The supposed "fix" was to raise the elevation of the adjacent (but unattached) pedestrian trail so it effectively acts as a damn holding water levels high on the cycling section. Raising that elevation has succeeded in raising water level on what had already been a ponding section of MGT.
Someone will be hurt. Considering the level of interest expressed by Parks & Rec regarding matters including unauthorised vehicles using the trail, bollards in front of a private club, park converted to parking lot to appease CNE vendors, I really doubt this outcome can be avoided. It will require the subsequent lawsuit to garner any interest whatsoever.
So it goes.
aaron (not verified)
200K
Wed, 02/11/2009 - 09:43are you serious 200,000 for that
Aaron