Here is an update on the budget items which are related to the Toronto Bike Plan. This information is current as of February 13, 2002. These recommendations from the Budget Advisory committee will go to the Policy and Finance Committee which meets this Monday, February 18th.

Works and Emergency Services Budget
(Capital Projects)
Transportation Division

Total cut $530,000

This cut means that there will be a reduction in the amount of work done on planning for paths in hydro and rail corridors which are slated to be built in future years. This will delay the start of these projects. It will also delay the start of trail projects that were supposed to be commenced in 2002. These initial delays will put the 10 year plan to complete the Bikeway Network at risk.

Councillor Olivia Chow was able to win an increase of $260,000 at the Budget Advisory Committee over what the EMT recommended. At the Policy and Finance Committee we will have to try to solidify this gain and press for the full funding.

(Operating budget)
Car Free Day

Total Cut $190,000

The Budget advisory Committee did not approve any money to be spent on Car Free Day. They did allow that if external funds could be raised those could support Car Free Day.

Planning and Transportation Committee - UDS Budget
(Operating budget)

Total cut $168,000

This cut will affect the Road and Trail Safety Ambassadors primarily. This was a program which once boasted 20 cyclists who provided cycling safety information to cyclists on the roads and paths of the old City of Toronto. Last year the program had shrunk to only 4 Ambassadors trying to cover all six of the former municipalities. This program was cited in the 1998 Coroner's report on Cycling Fatalities in Toronto as an effective program for education about and enforcement of safe cycling practices. It recommended that this program be supported and expanded. By refusing to fund this program the Council will again be ignoring the recommendation of that Coroner's report.

(from coroner's report)

A report on cycling fatalities in Toronto
1986 - 1998
Recommendations for reducing cycling injuries and death
Prepared by:
W. J. Lucas, M.D., C.C.F.P.
Regional Coroner for Toronto
E. Collision prevention - enforcement

Recommendation #10

That the Toronto Police Service, in partnership with the municipal Cycling Committee, expand targeted enforcement and education efforts towards specific behaviours (cyclists and drivers) which cause collisions, and use the media to raise awareness of these behaviours.

Rationale: Programs such as the Cycling Ambassadors Program, which includes S.P.A.C.E. (Safety, Prevention, Awareness, Courtesy, Enforcement) and O.A.S.I.S. (Off-road Awareness, Safety, Information, Stop) have been, and continue to be effective programs aimed at education and enforcement. Continued support of existing programs and expansion of similar programs on a provincial scale is an essential strategy in promoting awareness in these areas.

Economic Development and Parks Committee - EDCT Budget
(Capital Projects)

Total cut $250,000

This cut means that the City will not be able to repair damaged and substandard trails in the parks. This can put the safety of cyclists on these trails at risk. In 2001 the Parks and Recreation Department had done some good work repairing damage to the Wilket Creek Trail and Taylor Creek trail. There are other trails which need attention.

There is still time to have these cuts restored to the Bike Plan Budget. You need to contact the members of the Planning and Transportation Committee and your local councillor.




You can help to influence the decision of the P&F Committee by contacting the members of this committee by phone, fax or email. Let them know you want the entire Bike Plan Budget funded. A slow start in this first year of the ten year Bike Plan will reduce the chance of getting the Bike Plan fully implemented in future years.

If one of the Councillors on the Policy and Finance Committee is the councillor from your ward let them know. The opinion of their constituents carries more weight than that of someone from outside their ward.

If you want to find who is your councillor and their contact info the go to this page and type in your street address.

I have listed the Councillors on the P&F Committees below. Click on their names to get their contact information to call or send a fax or click on their e-mail addresses to send them an e-mail.

Policy and Finance Committee

Mayor Mel Lastman (chair) mayor_lastman@city.toronto.on.ca
Case Ootes, Deputy Mayor councillor_ootes@city.toronto.on.ca
Sandra Bussin councillor_bussin@city.toronto.on.ca
Norman Kelly councillor_kelly@city.toronto.on.ca
Denzil Minnan-Wong councillor_minnan-wong@city.toronto.on.ca
Pam McConnell councillor_mcconnell@city.toronto.on.ca
Gloria Lindsay Luby councillor_lindsay_luby@city.toronto.on.ca
Kyle Rae councillor_rae@city.toronto.on.ca
David Shiner councillor_shiner@city.toronto.on.ca
Paul Sutherland councillor_sutherland@city.toronto.on.ca

Martin Koob
tcc-rep@tbn.ca