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City of Toronto Council and Committees |
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All Council and Committee documents are available from the City of Toronto Clerk's office. Please e-mail clerk@city.toronto.on.ca.
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March 6, 1998
To: The Urban Environment and Development Committee
From: Virginia M. West, Commissioner, Urban Planning and Development Services
Subject: Cycling Ambassador Program for 1998 City-wide
Purpose:
To advise Council of the 1998 Cycling Ambassador Program and secure direction for the coordination of funding for this program. Eight Cycling Ambassadors will be hired to carry out cycling safety, injury prevention and environmental protection programs across the whole City of Toronto from mid-April to Labour Day.
Source of Funds:
Over 60% of the funds are being solicited from corporate and public sector partners in order to implement the Cycling Ambassador Program. Funding for the City s component of the program is available in the existing budgets of Urban Development Services, Works and Emergency Services and Community and Economic Development Services.
Recommendations:
1. That the Urban Environment and Development Committee endorse the 1998 Cycling Ambassadors program as described in this report and that the outside funding for the program be administered through the Urban Planning and Development Services.
2. That the Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development coordinate with the Commissioners of Works and Emergency Services and Community and Economic Development Services the allocation of funds within their budgets, in order to achieve a minimum City contribution of $40,000 towards this program.
History:
At its meeting on February 24, 1997, Council adopted, with amendments, Clause No. 29 of the City Services Committee Report No. 3 of the former City of Toronto entitled Enhancing Bicycle Safety. This report contained recommendations to implement an enhanced bicycle safety program, as part of the follow-up actions in response to the six cycling fatalities in 1996. As a result of Councils actions, the Commissioner of Urban Development Services was authorized to apply for grants from outside public service agencies or private sponsors to supplement or match the $30,000 contributed by the City to the Cycling Ambassadors Program for 1997. The program was originally piloted in the summer of 1995.
Comments:
This report presents the case for continuing funding for the Cycling Ambassador Program in 1998. What follows is a list of the activities of the Cycling Ambassadors and the new bicycle safety campaign elements to be delivered by the Cycling Ambassadors. This report also outlines the budget for the entire bicycle safety program for 1998 and includes the Cycling Ambassadors as a separate component of that budget.
A) The 1998 Bicycle Safety Campaign
A.1) The 1998 Cycling Ambassador Program
Following the four cycling fatalities in Toronto in 1997 and after reviewing the 1997 program, the Toronto City Cycling Committee initiated plans to continue the Cycling Ambassador Program into 1998. The goals of the program are to reduce the number and severity of cycling injuries and fatalities; to increase compliance with traffic laws by all road users; to reduce conflict between different road users; to foster cooperation on the roads and to promote safe and responsible use of bicycles in parks. The City s Bicycle Safety Coordinator will coordinate eight Cycling Ambassadors to meet the community demand for cycling safety information. The Ambassadors will host S.P.A.C.E. events (a selective traffic enforcement program) with the Police Bicycle Patrol and O.A.S.I.S. events (an off-road awareness safety information stop) in parks and off-road areas. The Ambassadors will assist with the promotion and delivery of CAN-BIKE cyclist training programs. Also, the Ambassadors will be available to attend community events that request cycling safety information. Events are being planned across the whole of Toronto. The program will cost approximately $100,000 for eight Cycling Ambassador salaries and related materials and will run from mid-April to September. A short video of the 1997 program is available.
A.2) The Right Turns and Bikes Campaign.
When motor vehicles are turning right at an intersection and a cyclist is proceeding straight through, the potential for conflict and collision is high. Both motorists and cyclists must be skilled to avoid errors. A new year-long campaign will address these issues through a transit shelter poster campaign (in July ) and other events carried out by the Cycling Ambassadors to focus public attention and debate on this issue.
A.3) No Sidewalk Riding Campaign.
In response to pedestrian complaints about cyclists riding on the sidewalk, an awareness campaign has been developed using No Sidewalk Riding stickers to be displayed on bicycle post and ring parking stands on City property. This program will be launched in May. The Cycling Ambassadors will work to carry out safety events in problem areas targeting this issue.
A.4) Trucks, Cyclists and Pedestrians Campaign.
Collisions with large vehicles have resulted in numerous fatalities each summer for cyclists and pedestrians. Working with truck trainers and fleet managers, the Cycling Ambassadors will stage a special event to equip cyclists, pedestrians and drivers of large vehicles with information about how to safely share space on the roads. Additional truck events are planned for the summer to raise public awareness and to increase the skill level of all road users.
A.5) Car Door Opening Hazard Awareness Campaign.
Cycling Ambassadors will host events on the road-side to alert cyclists and motorists of the dangers of car doors being opened into the path of a cyclist. This is a common source of cycling injuries and, in 1997, led to a fatality.
A.6) Police/Bike Courier/Media CAN-BIKE course.
On April 23rd and 24th, a specialty CAN-BIKE course will be taught in order to highlight the benefits of training. This will be part of a promotional campaign to encourage cyclists to get trained by enrolling in a CAN-BIKE cyclist training program, held in Community Centres across Toronto.
B) Report from the Metro Regional Coroner
The Office of the Chief Coroner is preparing a report on the circumstances surrounding traffic-related cyclist fatalities since 1986 in Toronto and strategies to prevent future deaths. This report is being prepared with consultation from Metro Police, the Toronto City Cycling Committee, Ministry of Transportation, Toronto Transit Commission, Advocacy for Respect for Cyclists, Ontario Trauma Registry and appropriate City staff. The report is expected to be released this Spring and is expected to include recommendations for the City of Toronto to continue it s investment in cycling safety strategies.
C) Shared mandates within the City from different sectors
Job Creation and Youth Employment: The Cycling Ambassador Program will allow an opportunity for the City to provide temporary employment while pursuing strategies to make our streets safer for everyone.
Urban Planning and Development: Traditionally, coordination of bicycle safety campaigns has been supported in this sector and it has been past practise to hire summer/student help in this field.
Parks: Through their public education efforts, the Cycling Ambassadors provide support to the City s initiatives regarding environmental protection and safety of trail users.
Transportation: Cycling Ambassadors play a valuable role in informing the public of changes to the road system, particularly with regard to bike lanes, high occupancy vehicle lanes and other alterations to the road network.
Health: The Cycling Ambassador Program directly contributes to the achievement of the City s mandate to reduce injuries for cyclists and to promote road safety.
D) Cycling Ambassador Proposed Budget (including search for external partners)
The following chart identifies the proposed budget for the 1998 Bicycle Safety Campaign.
Bicycle Safety Campaign Proposed Budget * Toronto City Cycling Committee (TCCC)
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Program Items |
Expenses |
Recoveries |
Source |
Status |
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CAN-BIKE |
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- instructor fees/registrations |
18,000 |
18,000 |
public |
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- schedule printing |
5,000 |
5,000 |
TCCC budget* |
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- instructor support |
9,000 |
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CYCLING AMBASSADOR |
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Salaries: 20wkX35hrX$12 |
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- eight CA s |
67,200 |
10,000 |
TCCC budget* |
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7,000 |
MTO |
confirmed |
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|
1,000 |
CAA |
confirmed |
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training costs - first aid, CB, media training |
4,000 |
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Equipment/clothing |
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In-kind |
Mountain Equip. Coop |
confirmed
$1,000 |
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Sponsors logos on materials |
1,500 |
1,500 |
TCCC budget* |
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O.A.S.I.S. pamphlet |
3,000 |
3,000 |
Canadian Mountain Bike Association |
confirmed, not dollar amount |
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truck pamphlet |
1,000 |
1,000 |
MTO |
confirmed, not in hand |
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Launch + course support |
1,000 |
1,000 |
MTO |
confirmed, not in hand |
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bumper stickers |
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As fund-raiser |
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Advertising |
10,000 |
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TOTAL |
119,700 |
47,500 |
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At present, $13,000 has been solicited from outside sources. However, sponsorship packages for the Cycling Ambassador Program have been sent to a number of Foundations, which has so far been unsuccessful. We are in negotiations with a number of insurance companies, 3M Canada, auto manufacturers and Shopper s Drug Mart to name a few. All of our contacts have been supportive of the program. We are unsure as to the level of funding that may be forthcoming. Our goal is to receive funding assistance for the remaining $72,200 in order to carry out the Cycling Ambassador Program in 1998.
Conclusions:
There is some urgency to putting the Cycling Ambassadors program in place for 1998. The Spring cycling season is just around the corner. With the increasing media and public focus on cycling fatalities, it is imperative that we have programs in place to effectively address road safety needs. The Cycling Ambassador Program must expand out over the new geographic area that is Toronto. However, to accomplish this expansion requires increased resources. Additionally, without such a funding commitment, it is difficult to lever joint sponsorships from private partners. The Cycling Ambassador Program time line projects advertising for staff in March, hiring by mid-April with training complete by May 1, 1998. In order to proceed, it is necessary to ascertain our funding resources by the end of March.
Contact Name:
Barb Wentworth, Bicycle Safety Education Coordinator
Ph. 392-1142
Fax 392-0071
Virginia West Lorne Ross
Commissioner Interim Functional Lead
Urban Planning and Development Services Planning
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Please note that council and committee documents are provided electronically for information only and do not retain the exact structure of the original versions. For example, charts, images and tables may be difficult to read. As such, readers should verify information before acting on it. All council documents are available from the City Clerk's office. Please e-mail clerk@city.toronto.on.ca. |
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