Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam, who's ward includes Sherbourne, has been playing her cards closely. Today we learned that she at least agrees in principle to the separated bike lanes / cycle tracks plan for Sherbourne Street. On Twitter this morning Rob (@rmeynell) asked Councillor Kristyn Wong Tam:
Councillor McConnell is on board with separated bike lanes on Sherbourne, but @kristynwongtam is holding out. With respect, why? @bikeTO
Councillor Wong-Tam responded on Twitter:
@rmeynell @bikeTO Agreement in principle. Looking forward designs & community consultation. Same consideration for all public improvements.
It's possible that the meeting with the Bike Union and 3 major resident groups in her ward who support the network in principle; the Bay Cloverhill Residents Association, the ABC Residents Association and the Moore Park Residents Association (their letter), have helped to nudge her closer to the yes column. In an April email Wong-Tam sent a vague response, in which she dropped the old "I'm an avid cyclist" line (I've had people tell me to get out of their car's way and tell me they're an avid cyclist so Wong-Tam would be well advised to stay away from that phrase):
Thank you very much for your e-mail. There have been a number of constituents who have contacted us about this bicycle network and Councillor Wong-Tam has asked me to respond on her behalf.
As you may already know, Councillor Wong-Tam is an avid cyclist and she supports policies and planning that promote safe cycling conditions. She has met with representatives from the Cyclists Union where they presented different ideas for installing a bike lane on Sherbourne during its upcoming re-construction. She is supportive of improving the existing bike lanes so that they will work with the traffic and create a safe cycling route. If this decision comes to Community Council, she will carefully consider your input and recommendations from staff.
Thank you again for sharing your concerns and we look forward to working with you to continue to promote safe cycling conditions in our ward.
Warm Regards,
Melissa Wong
Constituency Assistant to
Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam
Comments
David Juliusson (not verified)
An increasing number of
Tue, 05/17/2011 - 14:29An increasing number of councillors are weighing in on their preference for separated bike lanes. I think we should embrace their ideas and provide support.
I acknowledge it might not get us many of the lanes we want or need. But we will get something. We have gone too long with minimal or little gain.
Councillors have the power to do things quickly when they want. For most councillors, cycling issues are not a priority. This is especially true the further away from the downtown core we get. If they can get us some separated lanes, lets go for it.
hamish (not verified)
Sherbourne desperately needs
Wed, 05/18/2011 - 11:14Sherbourne desperately needs repaving, and the TCAC has supported doing something different here.
I'm less convinced of the wisdom of it, as the devil's absolutely in the details.And I don't really trust a rushed, more private process to actually provide enough safety - I'm still awaiting that dangerous narrowing pinch point on the Wellesley lane east of Jarvis to be repaired as an eg.
Sherbourne is a relatively narrow street, and there is a major question of how will these lanes - if installed - be maintained during the winter? Is the CU supporting warm-weather only lanes?
Given the irregularities in the City's winter maintenance - not always their fault though they saved millions this snow winter and we often had bike lines not lanes - we should be thorough in our preferences and choices.
And if we have a good facility again on Sherbourne St., can we trade Jarvis for Bloor? I would - but the CU's invested in Jarvis, and it was a Nasty street pre-bikelanes. It's just not every road needs a bike lane, and a wider curb lane there maybe with sharrows, and an improved Sherbourne St. bike lane could have maybe avoided some bikelash and Mayor Ford.
David Juliusson (not verified)
I am very glad to hear
Wed, 05/18/2011 - 18:35I am very glad to hear Councillor Wong-Tam is such an avid cyclist, As such, she should be formally invited by the Cyclist Union Ward group in her ward to ride with them on the Bike Month Ride. She should also be formally invited to be one of the Councillors on the stage showing her avid support for cycling. If she has pressing issues that require her immediate attention that morning, perhaps her Constituency Assistant Melissa Wong would be available in her stead. Here is her chance to make a public and supportive statement of the activity she is so passionate about. What an opportunity for her to make an announcement of her support for Sherbourne bike lanes.