The Metropolitan Cycling and Pedestrian Committee, at its meeting on December 10, 1997, had before it a report, dated November 24, 1997, from Mr. Jack Becker, Chair, Network Planning Sub-Committee, recommending that the Metropolitan Cycling and Pedestrian Committee recommend to the appropriate committee of the new City of Toronto Council that:

(1) the proposals for the installation of bicycle lanes on Dundas Street East from Kingston Road to River Street and on River Street from Spruce Street to King Street be adopted; and

(2) the appropriate staff of the new City of Toronto be requested to investigate the feasibility of installing other streetscape improvements, as identified in the communication, dated September 29, 1997, from Mr. Bill Brown, Toronto, Ontario, appended to this report.

The following persons appeared before the Metropolitan Cycling and Pedestrian Committee in connection with the foregoing matter:

- Mr. William Brown, Toronto, Ontario;

- Ms. Lisa Tolentino, Citizens for a Safe Environment, and submitted a brief in regard thereto;

- Mr. Paul Pozhke, Polly's Recycle; and

- Ms. Elsie Petch, South Riverdale Community Health Centre.

The Metropolitan Cycling and Pedestrian Committee requested the Metropolitan Clerk to forward to the City Clerk of the new City of Toronto, for submission to the appropriate committee of the new City Council which deals with cycling and pedestrian issues, the following recommendation:

"It is recommended that the appropriate staff of the new City of Toronto be requested to investigate the feasibility of installing bicycle lanes on Dundas Street East from Kingston Road to River Street and on River Street from Spruce Street to King Street, and other streetscape improvements, as identified in the communication, dated September 29, 1997, from Mr. Bill Brown, Toronto, Ontario, appended hereto."

Metropolitan Clerk

Y. Davies:in

Attachment.

c. Interested Persons

Mr. Arup Mukherjee, Acting Manager, Program & Development Engineering,

Metro Transportation

NETWORK PLANNING SUB-COMMITTEE

November 24, 1997

TO: Metropolitan Cycling and Pedestrian Committee

FROM: Chair, Network Planning Sub-Committee

SUBJECT: DUNDAS STREET EAST BIKE LANE PROPOSAL

Purpose:

Based on the positive feedback and support from local residents of the Dundas Street area, to seek approval for the installation of bicycle lanes on:

(1) Dundas Street East from Kingston Road to River Street; and

(2) River Street to provide a network connection to Gerrard Street and to the College/Elizabeth/Gerrard Streets Bike Lanes corridor and Shuter Street in the future.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that the Metropolitan Cycling and Pedestrian Committee be requested to recommend to the appropriate committee of the new City of Toronto Council that:

(1) the proposals for the installation of bicycle lanes on Dundas Street East from Kingston Road to River Street and on River Street from Spruce Street to King Street be adopted; and

(2) that the appropriate staff of the new City of Toronto be requested to investigate the feasibility of installing other streetscape improvements, as identified in the communication dated September 29, 1997, from Mr. Bill Brown, Toronto, Ontario, appended to this report.

Background:

A local community meeting was held on Thursday, November 6, 1997, at the Ralph Thornton Centre, 765 Queen St. E. with 17 people in attendance. It was decided that another meeting will be held on Thursday, November 27, 1997, to further develop the desired streetscape and also to develop initiatives to increase local community participation.

As a result of the meeting, the scope of the project was widened to River Street on the west end. River Street is seen as a more attractive connector street to the bicycle lane network--Gerrard Street and also Shuter Street (1998 City of Toronto plan).

Details of the proposal are contained in the attached communication dated September 29, 1997, from Mr. Bill Brown and in the communication from Mr. Ronald A. Kuipers, Toronto, Ontario, dated November 10, 1997.

(a) Statistics:

- Approximate length: Bike Lanes: 3.7km on Dundas Street East;

0.8km on River Street (currently a City of Toronto street).

- Daily Cycling Statistics (1993/1995 Cordon Counts):

- Dundas Street East at Don River: 1200;

- Gerrard Street East at Don River: 1529;

- Queen Street East: 1472

Six schools adjacent to Dundas Street along this stretch.

(b) Summary of Concerns:

The Dundas Street/Kingston Road intersection is a particular concern due to the speed of traffic coming off Kingston Road onto Dundas Street, the alignment of the intersection, and the width of the road for pedestrian crossing. Cross-walks are hidden from a driver's view due to the curving alignment of the street. Acceleration lanes on Dundas Street from local streets enhance the street speed and these lanes are located close to libraries and other crossings used by children. Drivers seem not to observe the street speed limit.

(c) Streetscape:

Dundas Street East, a four-lane street, has no parking limitations during rush hours; the houses have off-street parking; the road is more of a residential street in design. Although this street is designated as an arterial road, it may be not be operating as such along this section at this time. Dundas Street East only has a northbound access to the Don Valley Parkway.

(d) Local Resident Support:

The following communication which I received from Mr. Ronald A. Kuipers, Toronto, Ontario, dated November 10, 1997, is an indication of the support received from local residents:

"Thank you for sending me the info on proposals for the Dundas East Bike lane. As you may be aware I live at Queen Street and Greenwood Avenue and cycle downtown frequently. I have extensive experience cycling the east-west corridors between Danforth and Lakeshore. Of the three major corridors (Queen Street East, Dundas Street East, and Gerrard Street East), I have long ago selected Dundas Street East as the calmest and safest route for me to cycle downtown.

In my experience, the streetcars on Queen Street and Gerrard Street cause motorists to drive more aggressively and dangerously than normal--so preoccupied are they with getting in front of the frequently-stopping streetcars that they make many dangerous maneuvers that squeeze and threaten both cyclists and pedestrians. Queen Street is worse for this sort of thing than Gerrard Street. As far as Gerrard Street is concerned, the intersection at Broadview Avenue is a nightmare. It swarms with pedestrians who lack sufficient sidewalk space, the eastbound approach is an extreme bottleneck (two lanes turn into one plus a parking lane), the intersection does not align from east to west but necessitates a jog (further pinching the cyclist), not to mention how nasty things get if you happen to be cycling next to a streetcar through this tight intersection. This intersection should be avoided by cyclists at all costs.

Comparatively, the intersection at Dundas Street and Broadview Avenue is calm, direct, and has none of the hazards that appear a few blocks to the north. Even after Broadview Avenue, where the streetcar tracks begin, things are better here than they are on Queen Street and Gerrard Street. As you travel past Regent Park, wide parking lanes create good cycling space. After that you are on Sherbourne and can easily scoot up to Gerrard, College, and Bloor or south to Front et. al.

The fact that Dundas Street is relatively cycling friendly is somewhat of an accident, as no pro-active cycling measures have been established there. This is why the rescaping of Dundas Street East is so important. Such a project would amount to a `taking back' of a regressive arterial road. If bike lanes and other progressive street-scaping measures are implemented, it will also make it harder for Dundas Street East to revert back to being a busy arterial. If it became cycling friendly by accident, it can become cycling unfriendly just as easily. I think that Dundas Street East should become a priority for City traffic planners, including whatever cycling committee emerges in the new megacity. Bike lane planning has concentrated on downtown and the west end, to the exclusion of the east end of the City (Are there any commuting bicycle lanes east of the Don?). We have a good base of lanes downtown. Connecting East Toronto to this network will prove to be an important link for connecting future Scarborough cycle routes.

I'm also excited about the possibility of returning Dundas Street East to something more green, tranquil, safe, and neighbourly. While it is in many ways the most preferable east-west cycling corridor, it is far from being nice to look at. Lets give this project the attention it deserves.

Please feel free to forward this letter to the Metropolitan Cycling and Pedestrian Committee and the Network Planning Sub-Committee."

Jack Becker, Co-Chair

Metropolitan Cycling and Pedestrian Committee

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