The Cycling Network Plan, adopted by City Council in  2019, seeks to build on the existing network of cycling routes to Connect gaps in the current network, Grow the network into new parts of the city, and Renew existing parts of the network to improve safety – with corresponding objectives and indicators for measuring and evaluating success.

Renewing existing cycling network routes can include:

  • upgrading existing bicycle lanes or cycle tracks for safety and comfort by adding physical protection such as pre-cast curbs, planters or poured-in-place concrete medians
  • upgrading existing intersections for safety and comfort by adding protected features such as corner islands or reducing curb radii
  • enhancing bikeways for convenience and clarity by refreshing line markings or creating wayfinding routes to guide people cycling between existing trails and on-street bikeways
  • adding public art to existing infrastructure or at intersections to draw attention to the presence of people cycling and pedestrians, and to encourage active transportation

Upgrades and renewals may be carried out by implementing new line markings, bundling with state-of-good repair road or water projects, or standalone cycling or intersection improvements.

Broadview Avenue to West Avenue, and Logan Avenue to Pape Avenue

In February 2024, City Council approved upgrades on Dundas Street East from bike lanes to cycle tracks between Broadview Avenue and West Avenue and between Logan Avenue and Pape Avenue. Within these segments of Dundas Street East, motor vehicle parking is on one side of the street and is adjacent to the sidewalk with the bike lane between the ‘door zone’ of the parking lane and the motor vehicle travel lane.

Improvements on these sections of Dundas Street East will be similar to those completed in 2023 between Greenwood Avenue and Alton Avenue, which include adding green infrastructure and poured-in-place concrete curbs. Parking spaces would also be retained, but the location would be reconfigured to between the motor vehicle lane and the curbside cycle track for improved cycling safety.

Greenwood Avenue to Alton Avenue

A person cycles in a bike lane protected from motor vehicle traffic by poured concrete curbs.
Photo by Elsa Hashemi.

In June 2023, City Council directed staff to make road safety improvements along Dundas Street East between Greenwood Avenue to Alton Avenue in support of the Vision Zero Road Safety Plan, as the current section of roadway does not meet current design standards and presents safety and accessibility concerns. The changes are intended to improve road safety and accessibility for pedestrians crossing the intersections, provide greater protection and safety for people cycling, slow turning vehicles and enhance compliance at crossings and intersections, and increase visibility for people cycling and pedestrians.

 

The following upgrades were completed in July 2023:

  • The existing bike lane between Alton Avenue and Hiltz Avenue were moved next to the sidewalk, and concrete curbs were added to provide a protective barrier for people cycling. Street parking was shifted between the bike lane and the vehicle travel lane
  • At the corners of Hiltz Avenue and Alton Avenue on Dundas Street East, the corner radii were reduced and curb extensions were added, which reduce crossing distances for pedestrians, improve sight lines, and reduce turning vehicle speeds
  • High visibility roadway markings were upgraded and added
  • Sidewalks at intersections were brought up to standard
  • A bioretention planter with decorative planting was added to the north-west corner of Hiltz Avenue and Dundas Street East

Please see the Construction Notice for more details.

Broadview Avenue to Sackville Street

A person cycles in a bike lane protected from motor vehicle traffic by concrete curbs and flexible posts.
Concrete curbs and flexible posts were added to the Dundas Street East cycle tracks. (Click to enlarge)

As part of the ActiveTO temporary cycling network, cycle tracks were installed on Dundas Street East between Broadview Avenue and Sackville Street in 2020 to connect the existing Dundas Street bicycle lanes (Broadview Avenue to Kingston Road) into the downtown core via River Street and Shuter Street. This is the only protected, accessible, and connected cycling route over the Don Valley Parkway south of Bloor Street and north of the waterfront trail.

Further improvements to the now-permanent ActiveTO section between Sackville Street and Broadview Avenue were completed in Spring 2023. This work included refreshing the existing line markings, adding chevrons to guide people cycling across the intersection, and installing flexible bollards and concrete curbs as separation between people cycling and motor vehicle traffic in specific locations.

A rendering shows Harbord Street with green infrastructure separating the cycle tracks from the motor vehicle lane one one side of the street, and a raised bus/bike platform on the other
A rendering of Harbord Street at Clinton Street, with permanent separation and raised platforms in the cycle tracks.

The Harbord Street and Hoskin Avenue corridor is a two-way minor arterial roadway that runs between Ossington Avenue and Queens Park Crescent. The corridor is approximately 2.5 km long, and has volumes at approximately 20,000 vehicles per day. People cycling comprise about 40% of the total vehicular traffic during peak periods. The bicycle lanes were first built along a portion of this corridor in 1997, and have since been updated in several iterations. Most recently, in 2020-2021, curbs were placed where there was sufficient space.

A curbside parking lane has been maintained on one side of the street for the majority of the corridor. Typically, the preference is to have the cycle track curbside and parking protected. In the current configuration, there is more opportunity for conflicts between people driving and cycling, and it limits the ability to place physical protection between the cycle tracks and motor vehicle travel lanes.

A cross-section shows the existing and planned streetscape for Harbord Street and Hoskin Avenue following upgrades to the bike lanes
Existing (left) and planned (right) cross-section of Harbord Street and Hoskin Avenue, showing the cycle track and parking lane reversed and poured-in-place curbs. (Click to enlarge)

In 2024, road resurfacing and watermain replacement is planned on Harbord Street and Hoskin Avenue. This state-of-good-repair work fulfills the City’s commitment to the Vision Zero Road Safety Plan and provides an opportunity to make upgrades to improve safety for all road users.

Proposed changes include:

  • Reconfiguring the location of the parking lane between the motor vehicle lane and and cycle track along the Harbord Street and Hoskin Avenue corridor to enhance cycling safety.
    • A total of 11 parking spots are proposed to be removed along the corridor to reduce issues with visibility at intersections and driveways.
  • Installation of poured-in-place curbs between the motor vehicle lanes and cycle tracks in both eastbound and westbound directions.
  • Major road resurfacing, including repairs to sidewalks, crosswalks and curbs.
  • Raised bus/bike platforms at TTC bus stops.
    • Integrated bike/bus platforms are used where on-street bikeways interact with bus stops to prevent buses from entering the bikeway. The cycle tracks are ramped up to sidewalk level and a platform is built for pedestrians to cross the bikeway and board the bus.
  • TTC staff have proposed shifting several TTC bus stops, including: Crawford Street to Montrose Avenue, Grace Street to Clinton Street and Manning Avenue to Palmerston Boulevard.
  • Green infrastructure, and modifications to curb radii, where possible.
  • Installation of bicycle signals and turn boxes at Ossington Avenue and St. George Street.
  • Removal of left-turn lanes at Manning Avenue, Palmerston Boulevard, Grace Street and Tower Road. Left-turns would still be allowed from the through lane, but the motor vehicle turn lane would be repurposed to protect the bikeway. Traffic analysis was completed and limited to no impact is anticipated.

In 2024, road resurfacing is planned on Jones Avenue between Queen Street East and Dundas Street East, which includes proposed potential design changes to fulfill the City’s commitment to the Vision Zero Road Safety Plan. The Plan’s goal is to eliminate traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries by making our roads safer for everyone, especially for seniors, school children, people cycling and pedestrians.

As part of the road resurfacing, the following will be included:

  • New asphalt and line markings
  • Intersection accessibility upgrades, such as curb ramps and tactile walking indicators
  • Raised bus/bike platform stops at Jones Avenue north of Queen Street East and Jones Avenue south of Dundas Street East to improve safety for bus operators, transit riders and people cycling.
    • Integrated bike/bus platforms are used where on-street bikeways interact with bus stops to prevent buses from entering the bikeway. The cycle tracks are ramped up to sidewalk level and a platform is built for pedestrians to cross the bikeway and board the bus.

There are two proposed options for Jones Avenue.

  • Option 1:
    • Keep existing bike lane and curbside parking configuration. Today, there are approximately 30 parking spaces on the west side of the street and 48 on the east side of the street.
    • Install bulb-outs at side street intersections
  • Option 2:
    • Upgrade the existing bike lanes to cycle tracks to provide a physical buffer between people cycling and people driving or parking, making for a safer and more comfortable cycling environment.
    • If cycle tracks were to be installed, the removal of approximately 30 parking spaces on the west side of the street would be required, due to constraints with the width of the street. The parking on the east side would remain but would be moved to between the motor vehicle lane and the new cycle track.
    • Cycle tracks would create the opportunity to install new planting areas at the ends of the remaining parking areas.

As part of the ActiveTO temporary cycling network, cycle tracks were installed on University Avenue/Queens Park Crescent between Bloor Street West and Adelaide Street West in 2020, and were extended further south to King Street West in 2022. This is the only protected and accessible north-south cycling route west of Yonge Street that connects the Bloor Street cycle tracks to the Richmond-Adelaide cycle tracks.

After they were made permanent by City Council in December 2021, the University Avenue/Queens Park Crescent cycle tracks pavement markings were refreshed to bring them up to standards with added safety features, such as decorative curb extensions at key locations along the route, which reduce crossing distances, improve sight lines and reduce turning vehicle speeds.

Sections of University Avenue and Queen’s Park Crescent East are scheduled for watermain replacement and road resurfacing/restoration in 2023 and 2024, including:

  • University Avenue (west side) from College Street to 120 metres north of Queen Street West (beginning in November 2023);
  • University Avenue (east side) from College Street to 120 metres north of Queen Street West; and,
  • Queen’s Park Crescent East from College Street to approximately 150 metres south of Charles Street West.

Transportation Services evaluated these sections of University Avenue and Queen’s Park Crescent East to identify opportunities for integrating safety and cycling improvements as part of the roadway construction, and to align with the Council-approved Vision Zero Road Safety Plan. Upgrades on this corridor will include:

  • Replacement of the existing quick-build cycle tracks with a continuous concrete barrier on both sides of University Avenue from College Street to Dundas Street West and on Queen’s Park Crescent East;
  • Minor adjustments to the existing quick-build cycle tracks on both sides of University Avenue from Dundas Street West to 120 metres north of Queen Street West;
  • Construction of integrated bike/bus platforms on both sides of University Avenue from College Street to Dundas Street West and on Queen’s Park Crescent East;
  • Addition of raised platforms for accessible WheelTrans loading in front of the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute on the west side and Toronto General Hospital on the east side of University Avenue;
  • Addition of accessible loading zones with breaks in the cycle track barrier and dropped curbs to facilitate passenger pick-up and drop-off on both sides of University Avenue from College Street to Dundas Street West;
  • Protected intersection elements at Gerrard Street West and Elm Street intersections to improve cycling safety;
  • Curb radii reductions throughout the project area, where feasible, to tighten up the intersection corners and slow down turning motorists and improve pedestrian and cycling crossing safety;
  • Addition of green infrastructure and plantings on both sides of University Avenue from College Street to Dundas Street West within the cycle track barrier, where feasible;
  • Installation of other pedestrian accessibility features, such as AODA-compliant curb ramps and tactile warning strips; and
  • Upgrades to existing pavement markings.

These features will continue to provide safety for people walking, cycling and driving on University Avenue, while offering accessibility, durability and neighbourhood beautification.

Concrete curb island located at the north side of Richmond Street West at Brant Street.
Concrete island at Richmond Street West and Brant Street. (Click to enlarge)

Recent upgrades to the cycling network include low barrier walls and islands as a permanent replacement for quick-build features (such as bollards, concrete curbs and temporary barriers) at intersections. These upgrades provide increased safety for people cycling from motor vehicle drivers entering an intersection, and a protected area for people cycling to wait while turning.

Low barrier concrete islands have been installed at the following locations:

  • Argyle Street and Ossington Avenue
  • Woodbine Avenue and Corley Avenue
  • Richmond Street West and Brant Street
  • Queen Street East and Woodfield Road