April 2010, Edition #164
Welcome to Cyclometer, a monthly newsletter to keep cyclists informed about cycling issues and programs in the City of Toronto.
Contents:
- Toronto Cycling Advisory Committee: Next Meeting 12 April
- New Gatineau and Finch Hydro Corridor Paths Public Meetings
- CAN-BIKE Spring Schedule
- Kids CAN-BIKE Camp
- College Street Cycling Survey
- Bike Month Update
- The Bicycle Station This Spring
- Take the Train - Bring Your Bike
Cyclometer Part 2 April Special Edition
- PW32.8-Proposed Public Bicycle Program - Staff Report
- PW32.9-2010 Bikeway Network Program - Staff Report
1. Toronto Cycling Advisory Committee: Next Meeting 12 April
The Committee's next meeting is on Monday, 12 April at 7pm in Committee Room 3 at City Hall. On the agenda:
- 2010 Bike Month Event (7:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.)
- Chronology of Bike Plan Activities and Related Dates (7:30 p.m. to 7:45 p.m.)
- Bike Plan Update (7:45 p.m. to 8:15 p.m.)
- Toronto Cyclists Union – Draft Comprehensive Toronto Zoning By-law, Bicycle Parking Regulations – Planning and Growth Management Committee of April 21, 2010
2. New Gatineau and Finch Hydro Corridor Paths: Public Information Sessions
The public is invited to attend an open house to learn more about new multi use paths planned for the Finch and Gatineau Hydro Corridors. These paths will be part of Toronto's Bikeway Network.
A. Gatineau Hydro Corridor: Kennedy to Highland Creek
This project runs through Wards 37, 38 and 43. The Multi-Use Path will be about 3.5 m in width and paved with asphalt.
This segment includes new trail mainly along the Gatineau Hydro Corridor, it includes a signed, on-street section which is about 2km in length. The on-street section will run along Tara to Fitzgibbon, and re-enter the corridor at Marcos Blvd., east of Midland Ave. The trail will also use existing park pathways through Thomson Memorial Park.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
6:30- 8:30 pm
Scarborough Civic Centre
Council Chambers
150 Borough Dr.
B. Finch Hydro Corridor: Norfinch - Dufferin Street
The next public information session will be for the Norfinch - Dufferin segment. This project runs through Ward 8. The multi-use path will be about 3.5 m in width and paved with asphalt.
This segment includes new trail along the Finch Hydro Corridor, the route may include a signed on-street route from York Gate Blvd. to Driftwood Park.
New amenities will include benches, bike parking, garbage receptacles, landscaping, light fixtures and crossing signals for crossing major arterial roads. Signage and pavement markings will be included along the route.
Friday April 16, 2010
6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Yorkwoods Library
1785 Finch Ave West Theatre
C. Finch Hydro Corridor Dufferin Street to Yonge Street
Thursday, April 29, 2010
6:30- 8:30 pm
North York Civic Centre
5100 Yonge St.
This project runs through Wards 10 and 23. The Multi-Use Path will be about 3.5 m in width and paved with asphalt.
This segment includes new trail along the Finch Hydro Corridor, the route will include use of existing park pathway through G. Ross Lord Park. New amenities will include benches, bike parking, garbage receptacles, landscaping, and light fixtures.
3. CAN-BIKE Spring Schedule
Hey, cyclists! The CAN-BIKE season is upon us again! Check the schedule below for the upcoming CAN-BIKE courses, and sign up for a great start to your cycling season! For course descriptions and additional information, see toronto.ca/cycling/canbike. Call 311 or 416-338-4386 to register.
Schedule:
| COURSE |
DATE(S) |
TIME |
Location |
BARCODE |
CB Workshop |
April 14 |
6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. |
Centennial RC
1967 Ellesmere Rd. |
1682311 |
CAN-BIKE 2 |
April 17, 18, 24 |
10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. |
Toronto Track & Field Centre
4700 Keele St. |
1682249 |
Kids CAN-BIKE |
April 17, 24 |
10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. |
Bob Abate CRC
485 Montrose Ave. |
1668531 |
CB Workshop |
April 22 |
6 p.m. - 8 p.m. |
North Toronto Memorial CC
200 Eglinton Ave. W. |
1682819 |
CAN-BIKE 1 |
April 24, May 1 |
10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. |
Earl Beatty CC
455 Glebeholme Blvd. |
1664301 |
Kids CAN-BIKE |
April 24, May 1 |
9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. |
Alderwood Pool
2 Orianna Dr. |
1677182 |
ALR 1 |
April 25 |
9 .m. - 11 a.m. |
Etobicoke Olympium
590 Rathburn Rd. |
1658242 |
ALR 1 |
April 25 |
11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. |
Etobicoke Olympium
590 Rathburn Rd. |
1658662 |
CAN-BIKE 2 |
April 25, May 2, 9 |
10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. |
Toronto Track & Field Centre
4700 Keele St. |
1682250 |
4. Kids CAN-BIKE Camp Open for Enrolment!
Sunnybrook Sports Pavilion, Sunnybrook Park (near Eglinton and Leslie)
We are thrilled to announce that Kids CAN-BIKE Camp, which has been running with tremendous success as a program for under-resourced youth since 2006, is now open for public enrolment! Aimed at kids 9-13, this week-long day camp provides kids with the opportunity to sharpen their bike-handling skills, gain a better understanding of how traffic works, and perfect their cycling skills on challenging neighbourhood group rides – all while making new friends and having lots and lots of fun. Our robust curriculum, highly trained counsellors and low campers-to-counsellor ratio ensure a safe and fun program for every participant.
Details:
9-13 years old. $152/week ($122 for 4-day camp commencing Tuesday, August 3rd). Participants must already know how to ride a bicycle and bring their bike and helmet to camp. To register, call 311.
Barcode Dates
1687016 July 19 - July 23
1687017 July 26 - July 30
1687019 Aug 3 - Aug 6
1687020 Aug 09 - Aug 13
1687021 Aug 16 - Aug 20
1687022 Aug 23 - Aug 27
5. College Street Cycling Survey – Call for Participants
The City of Toronto is working with the Toronto Coalition for Active Transportation (TCAT) and the Clean Air Partnership (CAP) to evaluate cycling conditions on College Street before and after the installation of a new bicycle pavement marking application – and we need your help.
What will I need to do?
Complete an online survey about your experience cycling on College St between Lansdowne Ave and Manning Ave on one day in April and one day in June.
When is the survey happening?
Part 1: April 19th to May 3rd, 2010
Part 2: June 14th to 18th, 2010
Who can participate?
Cyclists who ride along College St. during rush hour, for at least a couple blocks between Lansdowne Ave and Manning Ave. Rush hour is from 7:00 to 9:00 a.m. and 3:30 to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday.
All participants must be 18 years of age or older.
How can I sign up?
Contact us by email at bikeplan@toronto.ca to sign up. For all emails, please include “College Street Survey” in the subject line and indicate:
- your name,
- preferred email address for correspondence, and
- what section of College Street you cycle on (e.g. Brock Ave to Clinton St).
The City of Toronto will not be responsible for any injury or damage related to the completion of the survey form.
Information will be collected in accordance with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
Personal information is collected under the authority of the City of Toronto Act, 2006, s. 136(c) and By-law 730-2001. The information is used to evaluate the effect bicycle infrastructure changes on College Street have on your report of cycling conditions. Questions about this collection can be directed to the Manager, Cycling Infrastructure & Programs at the 22nd Floor, East Tower, City Hall, 100 Queen Street West, Toronto, M5H 2N2 or at 416-392-9065.
Each completed survey and participant number will be shared with the Toronto Coalition for Active Transportation (TCAT), absent of any other personal information, including name and email. Email addresses are collected solely for the purpose of communicating with participants about the survey project and will not be shared with other City of Toronto Divisions.
Visit toronto.ca/cycling for more details.
Help us find survey participants by forwarding the text above to your email contacts.
6. Bike Month
Registration for the Bike Month Event Guide is now closed. Thanks for all your great events! If you would like to make adjustments, corrections, or send additional information in for the online calendar, or to be added to the mailing list to receive a printed guide, please contact Christina Bouchard, at 416-338-5090.
Toronto Group Commute and Bike Month Launch
This year, the Annual Toronto Group Commute will be taking place May 31, 2010. Come out to Nathan Philips Square for some free breakfast from 8am-9am. For more information on Group commute start times and locations, visit toronto.ca/cycling/bikemonth
7. The Bicycle Station This Spring
Discover special parking promotions available now at the Union Bicycle Station, and take advantage of the best place to park your bike downtown. The Bicycle Station Winter Parking Plan is the bike storage solution you have been looking for. The fee to park your bike for a full month is just $20 for the Month of March.
Find out more: toronto.ca/cycling/bicycle-station
8. Bike Train: Take the Train - Bring Your Bike! Cycle Ontario this Summer
The Bike Train seamlessly integrates train travel with cycling by adding bike racks, knowledgeable staff and useful information onboard. Getting to your destination is made easy as passengers travel in comfort on the train while their bicycles are safely secured in a baggage car with bike racks.
This year the Bike Train is expanding its network with trains from Toronto to North Bay and Toronto to Windsor and Essex County. Both regions have fantastic cycling, and we're partnering with local cycling groups to host welcome activities, group rides and more. The Greenbelt Express will continue to offer departures between Toronto and Niagara in 2010. Check the Bike Train website for information: www.biketrain.ca
Ahead in the Bike Lane:
- TCAC Meeting: City Hall, 12 April 7pm
- Gatineau Corridor Public meeting Scarborough Civic Centre 13 April, 6:30pm
- Finch Hydro Corridor: Norfinch - Dufferin Yorkwoods Library, 16 April, 6:30pm
- Finch Hydro Corridor Dufferin Street to Yonge Street, North York Civic Centre 29 April, 6:30pm
Cyclometer Part 2 – April Special Edition
A special edition of Cyclometer was sent out to provide summaries of two reports going to the Public Works & Infrastructure Committee on 20 April
The Complete agenda of the Works Committee meeting can be found here:
1. PW32.8-Proposed Public Bicycle Program - Staff Report
toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2010/pw/bgrd/backgroundfile-28853.pdf
City staff and the Public Bike System Company (PBSC) have negotiated the draft terms of an agreement whereby PBSC would enter into a 10-year agreement with the City to be launched May 1, 2011. When the program is deployed, Torontonians and visitors would have access to 1,000 bicycles via 80 fully automated and conveniently located “bicycle parking stations” in the downtown area during the first year of operation with the potential to expand the system to other areas in the future. The System shall be operated under the brand “BIXI Toronto”.
During this first phase PBSC and City staff would focus on achieving five project milestones that would trigger the launch of the program.
The five project milestones are:
- $600,000 in sponsorship funding;
- 1,000 subscription pledges;
- 80 approved bicycle parking station locations;
- Marketing/communications plan in place; and
- PBSC obtaining a loan commitment on terms satisfactory to the Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer.
The project milestones must be achieved by November 30, 2010 to launch the program by May 1, 2011. When the project milestones have been met, the City will provide a loan
guarantee ($4.8 million) to PBSC. In turn, PBSC will secure a loan for an estimated $4.8
million and commence to manufacture the BIXI equipment for installation in Toronto and establish a local operations group to manage the program.
2. PW32.9-2010 Bikeway Network Program - Staff Report
toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2010/pw/bgrd/backgroundfile-28856.pdf
The Transportation Services Division's 2010 Bikeway Network Program focuses on expanding both the on-street bikeways in the downtown area and the off-street bikeway trails in the North York and Scarborough Districts. The purpose of this report is to provide an overview of the 2010 Bikeway Network Program; to obtain authority for installing several new bicycle lanes; and to make minor modifications to the existing bicycle lanes on Annette Street and Pharmacy Avenue. In addition, Transportation Services is seeking authority to undertake a pilot project to install and evaluate protected bicycle lanes on University Avenue and Queen's Park Crescent, between Richmond Street West and Wellesley Street West/Hoskin Avenue.
The City has a vision for cycling in Toronto and wants you involved in making it happen. Cyclometer is a subscription service of the City of Toronto.
The first issue of Cyclometer went out on November 24, 1989.
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