Last week members of the Bikeway Network Subcommittee of the Toronto Cycling Committee received an update on the status of the bike lane projects that have been planned for 2005 and 2006. In 2005 only one bike lane project on a short section of Dundas and College was completed. There was also a road reconstruction project with bike lanes on a short section of Royal York Road completed, as well. That leaves about 15 projects that did not clear the design and approval stages necessary for a project to be built still in the queue for this year. In addition, there are the bike lane projects planned for 2006 that need to be designed and approved.

First, the good news. Five projects have been designed and have completed the approval process and are ready for construction. Those are:

• Eglinton West Path from Islington to Royal York
• Humber Trail Connection via Caulfield
• Mimico Bridge South of QEW
• Brimorton Intersection Improvements
• Kingston - Sheppard intersection bike lanes (100m from intersection on Kingston Road)

• Logan Contra Flow Bike Lane from Lake Shore to Eastern
• Harbord Bike Lanes from Grace to Ossington

There are many other projects that are awaiting approval. You can help ensure that approval happens.

There are three other projects up for approval in the near future. Bike lanes are planned on Rogers Road from Kane Ave. to Oakwood Ave. There should be a community meeting soon as part of the approval process. A proposal for bike lanes on Norseman Street from Royal York Road to Kipling Avenue is just starting the approval process with a notice sent out to local residents. There is also a proposal for bike lanes on Strachan Avenue from Fleet Street to King Street. This should be going to the Toronto and East York Community Council June meeting for a vote.

Having eight projects approved or near approval at this point in the year is an improvement over last year, however there is quite a lot more that needs to be done this year to catch up with the backlog of projects from 2005 and complete the list of projects from 2006. At the meeting last week it was reported that there are 27 projects waiting for design and approvals. One important factor in getting these projects approved is getting the support of the local Councillor for the project. Their position on the project will have a strong, if not definitive, influence on whether or not these projects are approved.

I have compiled a list of the 2005 and 2006 bike lane projects that have been approved, have their approval pending, or are in pre-approval stages. I have also included the name of the relevant Councillors with a link that can be clicked to go to the web page with all of their contact information. You can see this in the following document: Bike Lane Projects 2005 & 2006.

If you read the list and notice there is a project in your ward or in your community then you can help to get that project approved. You can call or e-mail your Councillor and let her or him know that you support the project. Encourage your neighbours and other cyclists in the community to contact the Councillor. This is especially important for the projects that are pending approval. The votes in Committees are coming up soon for these three projects mentioned above, so, a strong show of support is needed to push these through.

For the projects in the pre-approval stages it is also important to contact the Councillor. They play a large role in determining how fast the approval process gets underway and completed. Phone them or e-mail them and ask them when the project is going to Community Council or Works Committee for approval. Ask them to send you information on any public meetings. Ask that they send you any notices that are related to the project. Finally encourage them to support the project and get the approval process completed. Councillors need to know there is community support for completing the Bikeway Network. Your phone calls and e-mails will do that.

I will post updates on individual projects as the relevent meetings are scheduled. Keep checking back for information on how and when you can be involved in ensuring the bike lanes that have been proposed are actually built.

Martin Koob
tcc-rep@tbn.ca