Cycling Upgrades & Renewals

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.

In 2021 and 2022, the Oakwood Neighbourhood Cycling Connections and the Bartlett-Havelock-Gladstone Cycling Connections projects were installed, respectively. As part of both projects, new traffic signals were installed at Davenport Road and Shaw Street and at Bartlett Avenue to improve pedestrian and cycling safety and connectivity.  These new traffic signals and associated intersection changes highlighted the need for accessibility improvements for all road user on the Davenport Road, particularly for transit users and pedestrians.

A raised bike/bus platform on Davenport Road.
A raised bike/bus platform on Davenport Road and Bathurst Street. Click to enlarge image.

In 2023, the first phase of accessibility improvements was installed at the intersection of Davenport Road and  Bartlett Avenue. Additional pedestrian space was added at two bus stops, along with a raised bike/bus platform. These platforms keep the bikeway clear for people cycling, while providing sidewalk-level access for people boarding and exiting TTC buses.

In 2024, accessible raised bike/bus platforms were constructed in the bicycle lane on the north and south sides of Davenport Road, west of Bathurst Street, and on the south side of Davenport Road, west of Shaw Street. The pre-cast concrete curbs that previously separated the two-way cycle track on the northside of Davenport Road between Shaw Street and Bracondale Hill Road from motor vehicle traffic on the north side of Davenport Road was replaced with poured-in-place concrete as permanent protection for people cycling.

The City of Toronto is also upgrading the existing Davenport Road bicycle lanes between Dupont Street and Yonge Street. Learn more about the Bike Lane & Road Safety Upgrades on Davenport Road project.

 

 

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.

A person cycles in a cycle track that is located between a sidewalk and on-street parking
Dundas Street East between Logan Avenue and Pape Avenue. Click photo to enlarge.

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.

The following upgrades were completed in August 2024:

  • Reconfiguration of cycle tracks on the south side of the street with flexible bollards and precast concrete curbs (Logan Avenue to Carlaw Avenue)
  • Reconfiguration of cycle tracks on the north side with flexible bollards and precast concrete curbs (Carlaw Avenue to Pape Avenue)

Please see the Installation Notice for more details.

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.

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.

A public survey was conducted in January 2024, which asked for input on 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.

Please see the Public Notice for more details.

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 between 2023 and 2025, including:

  • University Avenue (west side) from College Street to 120 metres north of Queen Street West (complete);
  • 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.
A bioretention planter separates a cycle track from the roadway on University Avenue.
University Avenue at Elm Street. Click to enlarge.

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