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:
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 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:
Please see the Construction Notice for more details.
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.
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 people cycling, and it limits the ability to place physical protection between the cycle tracks and motor vehicle travel lanes.
Major road resurfacing has been planned for 2024, including repairs to sidewalks and curbs. Transportation Services is proposing to renew the existing bike lanes by:
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:
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:
These features will continue to provide safety for people walking, cycling and driving on University Avenue, while offering accessibility, durability and neighbourhood beautification.
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: