(Wednesday's community meeting concerning the Bloor West bike lanes.)
This has been a hectic, unprecedented week. (Not to get lost in the shuffle, a week that included members ratifying Cycle Toronto's By-laws for ONCA compliance.)
A community meeting and update about the Bloor Street West bike lane extension was organized on Wednesday by Ward 3 Etobicoke-Lakeshore councillor and Deputy Mayor, Amber Morley.
Although announced back in February, it took place just one day after a press conference by Ontario’s Minister of Transportation, Prabmeet Sarkaria, confirming what we’d all feared: that our provincial government plans an unprecedented jurisdictional overreach to bring forward legislation next week that would limit where municipalities can build new bike lanes – and possibly remove existing bike lanes including the Bloor bike lane extension. This could represent our biggest set-back since the removal of the Jarvis, Pharmacy, and Birchmount bike lanes over a decade ago.
You may have seen us on CTV wondering why the province wants to micromanage municipalities, or on Global highlighting the safety that protected cycling infrastructure provides, or on CBC debating Balance on Bloor about the difference between being people agreeing with you and being neglected.
(Cycle Toronto Executive Director Michael Longfield, left, debating Balance on Bloor. Image: CBC)
Cycle Toronto volunteers were out canvassing across Toronto and in Etobicoke building awareness about the looming legislation and upcoming Bloor meeting.
In the wake of this uncertainty and chaos, Cycle Toronto and The Biking Lawyer rallied with community partners Friends and Families for Safe Streets, Advocacy for Respect for Cyclists (ARC), Femmes and Friends, Saddle Sisters of High Park, Gyaldem Cycling Collective, and more, and together rode along the Bloor bike lanes to Wednesday's meeting. Given the infamous Ward 2 Etobicoke Centre town hall earlier this year, our goal was to ensure a positive and inclusive vibe so that folks in Etobicoke and along the corridor felt supported coming out and offering feedback. Over 100 folks were along for the ride.
(The rally prior to departure. Image: Jun Nogami.)
Outside the meeting, local MPP Christine Hogarth was handing out flyers flouting her role in this provincial scheme to restrict new and remove existing bike lanes like Bloor.
Inside, a balanced turnout, strong moderation, and a professional tone from city staff and the local councillor ensured a relatively calm and effective meeting.
As the presentation began, a map was presented showing the location of the people who were in attendance, with most from Etobicoke and along the Bloor corridor.
(Map of RSVPs by postal code. Source: Amber Morley.)
But the clash of viewpoints was evident off the top when the first speaker from the crowd faced heckling while highlighting how the bike lanes have made walking and cycling around her neighbourhood feel safer for her young family.
Another audience member expressed his skepticism about the City of Toronto’s data, which he called “not transparent”. Transportation Services’ Barbara Gray responded directly to the allegation to her department’s integrity. She also answered why bike lanes are often installed on major streets like Bloor: “The most direct route through the city is where everybody wants to be”.
MP Yvan Baker, whose own riding of Etobicoke Centre isn't part of the Bloor bikeway project area, was in attendance and voiced his opposition to the bike lanes. He asked a question about emergency service response times, vaguely implying that firetrucks and ambulances can’t get to calls on time anymore. Toronto’s Deputy Fire Chief, Jim Jessop, responded:
In fact, I’ve just pulled the latest data and what are two key performance indicators that we openly and transparently for the last five years report to city council on for your ward show that your response times have been improving.
Deputy Mayor Morley closed by acknowledging folks’ concerns and her office's commitment to project improvements. She reiterated the need to avoid “status quo thinking”. And throughout she remained an unwavering champion for a more sustainable future today: “the removal of the bikes lanes is not something I am interested in”.
Overall, the meeting was an effective public feedback forum and ultimately underscored that local governments – and not the province – are best equipped to make these kinds of decisions about rebalancing our streets and giving people more transportation options. It is commendable that the province wants to help Toronto tackle its ongoing challenges with traffic and congestion, but committing to completion dates for the Eglinton Crosstown and Finch LTR would be a more welcome and effective announcement.
