After my article on the status of bike lanes in 2007 I got an update from Bill Brown of Dundas E.A.S.T. He checked out the project on Knox between Eastern and Queen on September 23rd and found that it had been completed. It is only a .2 km lane but it is important in that is allows for better bike traffic flow through a neighborhood while still restricting car traffic. It also forms part of a longer bike route. The Knox contra-flow lane allows for a direct connection between the Lake Shore East path (Bike Route 4) and Queen Street. This connection will be extended from Queen up to the Danforth when the bicycle lanes which were approved this past September on Greenwood Ave. from Queen Street to Danforth Avenue are built.

Looking north at the intersection of Eastern an Knox the new contra-flow bicycle lane can be seen along with the 'bicycles excepted' sign below the 'no entry' sign which permits only cyclists to travel northbound at this point. (in the distance there is a car parked in the new bike lane but that is another story.)

Bill also points out that there are a couple of issues that still need to be addressed on this route. One is that although cyclists can now travel northbound on this lane there is still a 'no left turn' restriction for cyclists traveling east on Eastern Ave. The 'no left turn' sign is necessary for motorists as they are still prohibited from traveling north on Knox here, however, cyclists are not. So there could be a 'bicycles excepted tab' added to the bottom of the sign just as there is on the 'no entry' sign. This may require a further bylaw change. This should be something explored with Councillor Sandra Bussin Ward 32 Beaches-East York. The speed of traffic on Eastern Ave. at this point may also be an issue that has to be dealt with to make this intersection safe for cyclists. The other issue to be looked at is making the connection from Knox to Gerrard at Queen. This involves a short right hand jog along Queen.

Cyclists could be exempted from the no left turn restriction on eastbound Eastern Ave. at Knox and Queen with a bylaw that would add the 'Bicycles Excepted' tab to the sign.

Another issue that I noticed when taking the pictures this week that there appears to be no loops for bike actuated traffic signals on the northbound lane at Eastern and Knox. There are on the south bound lanes (they can be seen in the first photo marked with the 3 white dots.) Hopefully these are on the Transportations Services to do list.

These issues don't take away from the fact that this is another important step in realizing the guiding principle of the Bikeway Network spoke of the Bike Plan that "All Toronto residents will be within a five minute bicycle ride to the bikeway network." Especially for the residents in the vicinity.