01-20-2019, 07:28 PM
Just wanted to update folks on some cycling infra news last week and this week:
First, Region staff presented to ATAC this week, and I'm very happy to announce that after a great deal of advocacy, and after evaluating all the data that staff collected (from video of the Uptown bike lanes themselves, and from the public opinion survey), staff acknowledge that there is an issue with vehicle incursions into the uptown bike lanes.
They are recommending installation of metal bollards in both the existing segment and Phase 2, and an evaluation of the need for phase 3. I still do not understand their obsession with roll curbs, but I'm not going to dwell on that, I think this is a huge win for the cycling community. The study will be made public, for all to read, and to learn from (like, maybe one day, we can learn that roll curbs aren't effective in preventing vehicle incursions...for bike lanes, for sidewalks, for LRT tracks etc....one day).
Second, there was a presentation about the Iron Horse Trail project, staff and a consultant have evaluated all of the IHT crossings and have proposed improved treatments at all of them, I've never seen a comprehensive look at all trail crossings before, this is very exciting, hopefully this leads to a situation where these things are look at by default, instead of after years of complaints after the fact. I suspect most have heard this news as it was posted in the trails forum and dtkmelissa posted details of all the crossings.
But it does lead to the last piece of news. I'm sure everyone has heard of the budget proposal issued by the CoK transportation staff, suggesting (for one year anyway) significant investments in cycling infra. This includes a dutch roundabout, pilot segregated cycle lanes, Iron Horse Trail improvements, etc. What you may not have heard, is that there is, and this shouldn't be surprising, some push back on this budget proposal. I will be going to council to speak in favour of the proposal on Monday, and anyone who is interested and wishes to support this proposal (and has the time), can join in council, or even present themselves, councillors do listen to people when they show up en masse. If you don't have the time, it's totally understandable, it takes only a few minutes to drop your councillor (or others) an email to ask them to support this proposal, which is still effective.
First, Region staff presented to ATAC this week, and I'm very happy to announce that after a great deal of advocacy, and after evaluating all the data that staff collected (from video of the Uptown bike lanes themselves, and from the public opinion survey), staff acknowledge that there is an issue with vehicle incursions into the uptown bike lanes.
They are recommending installation of metal bollards in both the existing segment and Phase 2, and an evaluation of the need for phase 3. I still do not understand their obsession with roll curbs, but I'm not going to dwell on that, I think this is a huge win for the cycling community. The study will be made public, for all to read, and to learn from (like, maybe one day, we can learn that roll curbs aren't effective in preventing vehicle incursions...for bike lanes, for sidewalks, for LRT tracks etc....one day).
Second, there was a presentation about the Iron Horse Trail project, staff and a consultant have evaluated all of the IHT crossings and have proposed improved treatments at all of them, I've never seen a comprehensive look at all trail crossings before, this is very exciting, hopefully this leads to a situation where these things are look at by default, instead of after years of complaints after the fact. I suspect most have heard this news as it was posted in the trails forum and dtkmelissa posted details of all the crossings.
But it does lead to the last piece of news. I'm sure everyone has heard of the budget proposal issued by the CoK transportation staff, suggesting (for one year anyway) significant investments in cycling infra. This includes a dutch roundabout, pilot segregated cycle lanes, Iron Horse Trail improvements, etc. What you may not have heard, is that there is, and this shouldn't be surprising, some push back on this budget proposal. I will be going to council to speak in favour of the proposal on Monday, and anyone who is interested and wishes to support this proposal (and has the time), can join in council, or even present themselves, councillors do listen to people when they show up en masse. If you don't have the time, it's totally understandable, it takes only a few minutes to drop your councillor (or others) an email to ask them to support this proposal, which is still effective.