March 12, 1998

To: Metropolitan Cycling and Pedestrian Committee

Toronto City Cycling Committee

North York Cycling and Pedestrian Committee.

From: Jack Becker, Co-Chair, Metropolitan Cycling and Pedestrian Committee

Subject: Cycling Network Plan

Purpose:

The Metropolitan Cycling and Pedestrian Committee wishes to provide its recommendations for a comprehensive system for on-road and off-road bicycling facilities, including Bike Lanes, Bike Routes, Bike Paths in ravines and other parks, and Bike Trails on hydro and rail corridors, for the new City of Toronto, as input to staff in their preparation of the report requested by the Urban Environment and Development Committee on the development of a complete system of bicycle lanes.

Funding Sources, Financial implications and Impact Statement:

Not applicable.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1) a comprehensive network system of Bike Lanes, Bike Routes, Bike Paths, and Bike Trails be adopted by Council, incorporated into the new City's Master Plan; and that an implementation plan be developed and adopted for the coordinated development of the network within a five-year period; and

(2) Urban Environment and Development Committee request staff to report back on the feasibility of the proposed cycling network plan.

Council Reference/Background/History:

At its January 12, 1998 meeting, the Urban Environment and Development Committee directed the Interim Functional Lead for Transportation to report back to the Committee with recommendations respecting the development of bicycle lanes.

At the Metropolitan Cycling and Pedestrian Committee's October 29, 1997 meeting, the Network Planning Sub-Committee presented the cycling network plan for information and asked for input (copy attached).

The cycling network plan was discussed with the Toronto City Cycling Committee's Bike Planning Sub-Committee and the old City of Toronto's bike planner and its plans were incorporated into this cycling network plan.

The cycling network plan was also reviewed by the North York Cycling and Pedestrian Committee and its input was incorporated.

Informal discussions were also held with staff from various former municipalities including Metro. Any known cycling facilities plans from these municipalities was incorporated into the cycling network plan.

In response to a rash of cycling deaths in 1997, Councillor Layton called for 1,000 km of bike lanes to be implemented within the new City.

Comments and/or Discussion and/or Justification:

This cycling network plan was developed by the Metropolitan Cycling and Pedestrian as part of the Committee's vision statement. In its development, cyclists were asked where they wish to have on-road and off-road cycling facilities. This cycling network plan is a result of their wishes.

Cyclists are not a homogeneous lot, either in reasons for cycling or in the types of facilities that they would like to see within this new City. This cycling network plan was developed keeping in mind these divergent desires and preferences.

The cycling community may be categorized as cyclists who want to:

(1) ride on roads sharing lanes with motorized vehicles, no matter what, without segregation of different speed of traffic--trucks, vans, cars, or cyclists;

(2) be physically removed and away from pollution, both air and noise pollution, caused by cars, trucks, buses;

(3) be physically separated from motorized vehicles on the road corridor or right-of-way;

(4) use under-utilized portions of sidewalks, mainly on suburban arterial roads;

(5) cycle on sidewalks--normally a function of age (either end of spectrum), cycling skills, impatience, indifference to others, or parenthood.;

(6) have leisurely rides without hassle or points of conflict with motorized vehicles;

(7) commute from one location to another in the least amount of time; and

(8) cycle both out of town and within in greenery.

To meet cyclists' ranges of preferences, a layered cycling network plan has been developed consisting of:

(i) A Bicycle Friendly Street Network layer consisting of signed Bike Routes, roads with "Share the Lane" signage, etc. to meet the needs of cyclists that want to share roads with motorized vehicles.

(ii) A network layer of Bike Lane on Roadway Boulevards consisting of various designs--bike lane/sidewalks separated by a strip, abutted lane and sidewalk, joint use of path, etc., whatever is appropriate to users and optimizes the use of the sidewalk investment.

(iii) A network of Bike Lanes on the Road.

(iv) A layer of Bike Trails or Bike Roadways on Hydro Corridors, both operational or abandoned.

(v) A layer of Bike Trails or Bike Roadways on Railroad Corridors, both operational or abandoned.

(vi) A layer of Bike Paths throughout the parks system within the new City and connecting to other areas in the GTA.

This cycling network plan incorporates the concept that cyclists should never be further away from cycling facilities than:

Urban Area Not Farther Apart Than:

Minutes Cycling Distance

Core/ Concentrated Office/

Commercial/Shopping District 4 min. 1 km

Neighbourhood 8 min 2 km

This draft Cycling Network Plan includes input that has been collected over the past two to three years from:

(a) the 1996/1997 Toronto International Bicycle Show;

(b) former municipal plans and staff input;

(c) input from cyclists over the Internet;

(d) input from cycling committees/sub-committees; and

(e) cyclists who have voiced their preferences, wherever.

Conclusions:

The recommendations of the Cycling Committees, contained in this report, are intended to provide advice to staff in their preparation of the report requested by the Urban Environment and Development Committee. The Cycling Committees' recommendations to Council that a comprehensive system for on-road and off-road bicycling facilities, including Bike Lanes, Bike Routes, Bike Paths in ravines and other parks, and Bike Trails on hydro and rail corridors, be implemented within the new City of Toronto.

H-JEH Becker, Co-Chair (Public), Metropolitan Cycling and Pedestrian Committee

416-203-1711 (Home); 416-968-4052 (Work); hjehbecker@clo.com

H-JEH ( Jack ) Becker

Co-Chair (Public), Metropolitan Cycling and Pedestrian Committee

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