Mississauga's gonna put in 30 km of bike paths/lanes a year for the next 20 years. Wow. Meanwhile in Toronto, some people trying to get the top job are trying to stop the Bike Plan. What kind of topsy-turvy world do we live in?
This isn't that unusual. Mississauga is likely building most of its bike paths and lanes so they don't impose on car traffic lanes, whereas Toronto doesn't have this choice since the only choices often are to ride on major roads. Just take a look at their site, which puts trails front and center (which means it still has to grow up quite a bit to be a real cycling city).
The city currently has 350 kilometres of bicycle paths, but they’re mostly in parks. It wants to add a further 600 kilometres, at a rate of 30 kilometres per year over the next two decades, including bike lanes and paths connecting major arterial streets throughout the city.
The system would connect major transit hubs and other key destination points, the goal being to get people cycling to work, school and other major destinations. The project, which aims to put 95 per cent of residents within a kilometre of a major cycling route, would also include parking facilities at transit locations and city facilities.
Currently only about 0.3 per cent of all vehicles on the roads in Mississauga are bicycles; the city hopes to boost that to 10 per cent.
Jeff Wachman, a citizen member of the city’s cycling advisory committee, is enthusiastic about the plan. It will have “many benefits for our residents in terms of cleaner air, a healthier lifestyle, an enhanced quality of life, closer-knit communities and a reduced carbon footprint,” Wachman said.
Comments
Bradley Wentworth (not verified)
Not just roads...
Thu, 03/25/2010 - 00:55I don't think Toronto's geography or density means that "the only choices often are to ride on major roads." With a bit of political will and some creative thinking, dedicated bike infrastructure could go in other places: the West Toronto Railpath is a great example but falls a little short. Phase I is nice but the signage and design of the trailheads are inadequate. Phase II seems unlikely to happen. There are other potential corridors that could be better maintained and connected: the Waterfront Trail (the new stretch along Ontario place is pretty good), the Don and Humber rivers, Hydro corridors...
But why not think big? We have a wonderful pedestrian PATH system in Toronto: could we remove a chunk of retail and put in an underground bike highway? Yes, this is literally a pipe dream, I know. I've wondered what's stopping us from raised bicycle infrastructure as well; downtown Sydney has its monorail, after all :) Forget Bike Lanes on Bloor, Bike Superhighway on Bloor!
Alas, it is considered a great political effort to paint a line on a road and then the City can pretend the city is pro-bike. Where, I ask, is Bixi for TO?
herb
bike-unfriendly cities always want to push bikes somewhere else
Thu, 03/25/2010 - 01:21Not only do I think riding on major roads is often our only choice (particularly between Keele and Woodbine and south of St. Clair), but I think the major roads are the BEST place for cyclists to ride. Not high up in the air. Not deep below the earth. And not diverted by winding ravines and rivers.
Does your in-the-air / underground system ideas include chutes and elevators every block so cyclists can get back to level ground when they need to go shopping/stop for a coffee/go to the office? Instead of shoving cyclists and pedestrians off the streets, why don't we put some constraints on cars? Why not limit them to 30k/hr in the City? Why not place the burden of proof on car drivers that it's not their fault in a car/pedestrian collision?
I'd rather think big in a different way, Bradley.
The Railpath, Waterfront, Don and Humber trails are great, and we need more of these trails, but they are only a portion of the solution of creating livable, usable cities for all. The Railpath, like a intercity train, is useful for shuttling people between two far points, not for the short distance trips.
For example, if I want to get between my place at Dufferin and College to Kensington Market, I'm not going to take the Waterfront Trail. I'm going to take College, part of which has a bike lane. The Waterfront Trail is useful for people commuting from Mimico or Parkdale, but not for my shopping errands in Kensington.
David Juliusson (not verified)
Two plans for Ward 6 bike trails.
Thu, 03/25/2010 - 11:58There is a project going on in Ward 6 right now. It is called the Mimico 20/20 trail.
Phase 1 has already been completed. It goes from Norris to Superior Ave. Phase 2 is to be completed by June 2012. It will connect to the Humber Bay from Superior Ave.
On the official Bike plan is a bike lane on Lakeshore between Norris and 1st Ave. Like other bike lanes it has been delayed. Once the Mimico trail is complete and this proposed bike lane is put in, there will be a continuous bike link from the Harbourfront though Mississauga. That will close a significant gap on the Waterfront Trail.
Secondly, there have been condos built at Sherway Garden. From that there is Section 37 money. It has been designated to fixing and expanding the old Metro trail along Etobicoke Creek. The trail in existence runs from Marie Curtis Park to the freeway. It can go under the freeway and up into Sherway Gardens. There is also an old bridge which would link the trail to Mississauga. With political will the trail could be taken even further north. All the land on the Toronto side is public.
Finally, Bradley said think big. Here's an idea. There is a whole new neighbourhood going in between Bathurst and Spadina. Huge condo developments. Why not put in an infrastructure to include bikes now. Completely separated bike lanes. Underground connections between the buildings that are both pedestrian and cycling friendly. A totally separated TTC line linking into the expanded Union Station. None of the infrastructure is in place yet. The time to do it is now. Otherwise we'll get another Liberty Village. No bike lanes, TTC complains too many parked cars there makes it hard to run buses.. With proper planning this new neighbourhood could be something.
A.R. (not verified)
Extending the Railpath
Fri, 03/26/2010 - 17:43Actually, the Railpath extension seems likely as part of the Georgetown GO service expansion project.
cristina (not verified)
Mississauga is such a great
Thu, 03/25/2010 - 08:08Mississauga is such a great city for bicyle riders. This plan will also have a major impact on the environnment. In a city full of bicycles paths, there is no need to use a car... casino pour mac
hamish (not verified)
Caronto's lagging in the GTA as well?
Thu, 03/25/2010 - 09:41I don't know the suburban/GTA regions terribly well for biking, but it seems with this announcement and some nice features in Burlington and parts of Hamilton too, we're also lagging in our region. A new term - world-clast....
And it's nice to seem reasonable about Bloor - but simple paint parallel to the subway seems beyond us, except forr another round of analysis paralysis brought to you by progressives and all.
dances_with_traffic (not verified)
wah wah wah, it's too hard for Toronto...
Thu, 03/25/2010 - 12:38What makes you think it is relatively easier for Mississauga, they have an even lower number of cyclists - it is "the burbs" as mostly downtown advocates are so quick to point out - yet they are on track to blow Toronto out of the water with these new lanes.
Mississauga currently has horrible congestion issues, because everybody needs to take a car. Take note here Toronto, this is one possible future if you politicians fail to provide a proper transit plan and continue to pay into the infinitely growing black-hole that is automobile infrastructure.
This is great news in general though, i have traveled to square one a few times and to various areas around 'sauga, there are already some bike routes around... but not many and at times I was left in the lurch crossing large arterials or sneaking on gravel paths under bridges. Not to mention the 401 and 407 crossings. These new lanes should make a big difference particularly if they are connecting major arterials as outline. Yay.
Oh yeah, maybe suburban drivers will be less of a bunch of pricks to cyclists if they start seeing them in their own neighbourhoods. Yay.
Kevin (not verified)
Ontario law places burden of proof on car drivers
Thu, 03/25/2010 - 18:39Herb asked:
"Why not place the burden of proof on car drivers that it's not their fault in a car/pedestrian collision?"
Kevin's answer:
We have already done so. To quote from section 193 of Ontario's Highway Traffic Act:
"When loss or damage is sustained by any person by reason of a motor vehicle on a highway, the onus of proof that the loss or damage did not arise through the negligence or improper conduct of the owner, driver, lessee or operator of the motor vehicle is upon the owner, driver, lessee or operator of the motor vehicle."
Source:
http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/statutes/english/elaws_statutes_90h08_e...
Goober McFly (not verified)
Bike lanes are much easier to
Thu, 03/25/2010 - 22:38Bike lanes are much easier to install in Mississauga or suburban Toronto, arterial roads generally don't have parking on them and there is often a grass space between the sidewalk and the street.
Mississauga won't take away any car lanes so there won't be any fuss at all. I'm glad they have a few progressive ideas.
Seymore Bikes
Dutch Treat
Fri, 03/26/2010 - 09:28Holland has a law that places the fault of an auto- bicycle collision entirely on the driver. The only way a driver can beat this charge is if it can be proven that the car was stopped at the time of the collision.
I would like to see Canadian laws changed in similar fashion to make it illegal for a vehicle to contact a pedestrian or cyclist. In the event of such a collision, and regardless of the circumstances, a driver would be subject to an automatic suspension and fine, with further penalties pending an investigation. The reason for this new law is simply that drivers should expect pedestrians and cyclists to behave in an unexpected and unsafe manner - which shouldn't really serve as a defense.
dances_with_traffic (not verified)
So easy....
Thu, 03/25/2010 - 22:59"Bike lanes are much easier to install in Mississauga or suburban Toronto, arterial roads generally don't have parking on them and there is often a grass space between the sidewalk and the street."
Hey, McFly... have you installed a bike-lane before or are you just speculating?
brian
Sub Urban Riding again
Thu, 03/25/2010 - 23:15Hi All,
I rode in mississauga today, and have done many times in the last few months. There are a few different worlds happening out there that just don't or can't happen in Toronto.
Residential riding is peaceful, serene, and pleasant. I very much enjoyed the 15 kms I did in the back streets of Clarkson today. it was like cycling in a small town.
Off-road riding in Mississauga is outta this world. Mississauga has built some really great multi-use (paved) trails; natural surface (gravel) trails, and even has a purpose-built dirt park with full-on dirt jumps, pump track, and skinnies. Toronto? Nah, building trail is for the renegades and outlaws (see Don Valley Crothers Woods).
Arterial road riding in Mississauga is on par with arterial road riding in suburban Toronto. Today I rode up Southdown Road onto Erin Mills Parkway, from Lakeshore to Clarkson GO, and it was super-sketchy at times. Most drivers regard arterials like Erin Mills and Lakeshore as freeways, and i was passed at very close range by numerous, especially luxury, cars moving well beyond the speed limit. The mindset in that part of town is just completely different.
However, my biggest challenge of the day was riding up Dufferin from Exhibition Place to Wallace Emerson Community Centre, just south of Dupont. Now there is a hellish example of an arterial road that shouldn't have a bike lane on it, or bikes period. I felt for my life as cars passed me in the curb lane with scant distance, despite my conservative lane position and reflectorized clothing. The mindset in West Toronto, specifically Dufferin: get outta my way!
For anyone that considers themselves foresightful planners, I would beg you to ground-proof your theories or plans before implementing them, and please, do it on a bike. The whole plan changes when the two wheels hit the road.
Cheers,
brian