Date: March 7, 2000

To: Toronto Cycling Committee

From: Daniel Egan, Manager of Pedestrian and Cycling Infrastructure

Subject: Toronto Cycling Master Plan Study - Bicycle Parking Issues

Recommendation:

It is recommended that the Toronto Cycling Committee review and provide comments on the suggested draft recommendations respecting the Toronto Cycling Master Plan Study - Bicycle Parking Issues, contained in this report.

Comments:

At the February 14, 2000 meeting of the Toronto Cycling Committee I made a presentation on bicycle parking issues and concluded with a list of nine suggested draft recommendations to be considered as part of the Cycling Master Plan. I have amended these suggested draft recommendations to reflect some of the Committee discussion and suggestions at that meeting. I have also included all of the Committee comments/suggestions at this end of this memo. These suggested draft recommendations will be forwarded to the Cycling Master Plan study team for consideration as part of the Toronto Cycling master Plan report.

Suggested Draft Recommendations:

1. Expand post-and-ring program to provide bicycle parking on sidewalks/boulevards, and at all libraries, community centres, and other City of Toronto facilities

2. Provide secure bicycle parking for employees and visitors at all City of Toronto work locations

3. Work with TTC and Go to provide high security bicycle parking (bicycle lockers, etc.) at transit station and to actively promote bike-and-ride.

4. Evaluate adequacy of existing bicycle parking facilities in commercial and residential buildings. (This can establish a base line against which progress can be measured).

5. Evaluate the effectiveness of the former City of Toronto's Zoning By-law requirement for bicycle parking in new buildings

6. Expand zoning by-law bicycle parking requirements so that it applies to the whole city

7. Develop design guidelines for the provision of bicycle parking in new developments (and for retro-fitting existing developments)

8. Develop and distribute literature to promote benefits of bicycle parking and to advise on how to provide quality bicycle parking, including recommending bicycle rack designs.

9. Investigate and evaluate other innovative approaches to bicycle parking, including new rack designs, potential use of the roadway for bike stands, weather protection, bicycle lockers, and other forms of high security bicycle parking.

10. Investigate feasibility of a high security bicycle parking service, through use of bicycle lockers, bike stations, etc.

11. Improve access to bicycle stand request forms for cyclists and businesses (website application, mail-in post-card)

Cycling Committee Suggestions/Comments (February 14, 2000):

1. Expand the bicycle parking by-law city-wide but don't dilute requirements for downtown

2. Need positive signs at TTC stations rather than signs which advise when bicycles are prohibited

3. Should have snow clearing around bicycle stands on City sidewalks

4. Would like to see some bicycle stands located on the street rather than the sidewalk

5. Need more bicycle stands at the south end of the Eaton Centre where they have been removed recently

6. Need to consider other bicycle rack designs - ring can scratch paint

7. Too many abandoned bicycles locked to bicycle stands- what is the process to remove them

8. Need faster maintenance of damaged post-and-ring stands

9. Should provide covered bicycle parking as is done in some European cities

10. Should monitor effectiveness of the Zoning By-law bicycle parking requirement

11. Need to pay attention to urban design both in rack design and placement

12. Should consider providing bicycle lockers in some locations

Contact:

Daniel Egan

Manager of Pedestrian and Cycling Infrastructure