Ring & Post: July and August 2024

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This edition of Ring & Post features a call for change, our annual fundraising ride, and an update on the Portland / Dan Leckie bikeway. Enjoy!

A Message from the Executive Director
A Call for Change
The Big Toronto Bike Ride 2024 presented by Bike Law Canada
Easing Congestion by Prioritizing Active Transportation
Bike Share Engagement Survey
Just for Fun: How a Bike Lane is Born #5
Social Media Spotlight
In the Media
Events

A Message from the Executive Director

Hot take: Toronto’s cycling network isn’t… terrible. (We're not Montreal yet, but there's no way Toronto's worse than Mississauga and Vaughan no matter what People for Bikes says.) That can be true while also acknowledging that Toronto’s ongoing planned cadence of 33 km a year* of new and upgraded cycling infrastructure lacks ambition and vision. 33 km works out to less than 1.5 km a year per ward. That’s nowhere near enough to meet our climate action targets to make nearly a quarter of all local trips done by bike by 2030 or eliminate the preventable deaths and serious injuries on our streets.

Even if it took a global pandemic to get things moving, Toronto’s cycling network is almost unrecognizable from five years ago. When I first joined Cycle Toronto in January 2020, bikeways along Bloor west of Shaw, and Bloor through Yorkville, Danforth to Victoria Park, University to nearly Front and Avenue to Davenport, Yonge to Davisville, lower Bayview, the Esplanade, Wellington bidirectional, York cycling connections, Huntingwood, Shaw contraflow upgrades and new contraflows on Palmerston, Bartlett, and more did not exist.

But if all these routes make for a niftier map, the experience of riding a bike in the city today is still sometimes frustrating and scary. On my own rides, I don’t seem to go a day without experiencing a bike lane being blocked and used as a temporary parking spot or loading zone. “Just go around!” is an all too common refrain. And route planning often requires keeping track of ever-changing construction zones where my safety is inconsistent at best and ignored at worst.

Riding a bike is an efficient and effective and safe way to get around. I believe that more than ever. And while Cycle Toronto continues to build support for the network expansion, the city needs to wake up to the fact that we’re facing a public health crisis that demands immediate action. Our cycling network is only as strong as its weakest link.

*Actual results may vary.

-Michael Longfield

Executive Director

(2001 Toronto Bike Plan championed by then-Councillor Olivia Chow envisioning a city-wide cycling network.)

A Call for Change

2024 is proving to be the deadliest year for Toronto cyclists in over a decade. Five people have been killed by drivers so far this year, more than the previous three years combined. Cycle Toronto is urging the Mayor and City Council for real change now to save lives. Speaking to reporters at the ghost bike memorial ride for the young woman killed along Bloor, Mayor Chow claimed that some of the solutions outlined in your calls for change (including construction zone mobility squad and automated parking enforcement) would be adopted:

“As the mayor, I'm doubling my efforts, tripling my efforts — more fines, ticketing those who are parked illegally, enforcing the law and setting up a mobility squad to check whether there are construction sites in all the places where there are a lot of cyclists to make sure they're safe"

(Riders gather at Avenue and Bloor during Wednesday’s ghost bike memorial ride. Image: Péter Sós)

This is an important first step. And shows the power of our collective voice. But we need the Mayor and our political leaders to act now to ensure our bikeways are safe and passable all year round, and we can all get home safely.

The Big Toronto Bike Ride Returns

Pump your tires and shine your bell! Cycle Toronto’s annual fundraising ride, The Big Toronto Bike Ride presented by Bike Law Canada, is coming September 28th! As a member supported charity, we rely on the support of folks like you to make Toronto a healthy and vibrant city for everyone. Sign up, start fundraising, then join us on September 28th for a family friendly ride and afterparty!

We also recently unveiled our limited edition 2024 Big Toronto Bike Ride t-shirt. Pick one up today by visiting our online shop.

BUY A T-SHIRT

(Our limited edition 2024 Big Toronto Bike Ride t-shirt.)

Easing Congestion by Prioritizing Active Transportation

The discussion around traffic congestion and how to solve it in Toronto continues to dominate the public discourse and frustrate the city’s productivity. But while traffic and congestion is inconvenient and frustrating for people driving, when drivers block intersections or park illegally it can be scary and dangerous for people walking, rolling, and biking.

Spadina Avenue is one of Toronto's busiest corridors that is serviced by a dedicated streetcar route. When this route was forced to close for repair, it was replaced by a temporary bus, which promptly joined the congested traffic lanes choked with single occupancy cars. Read about our thoughts on these solutions that City Council have adopted in an attempt to solve Spadina’s current congestion woes.

READ THE ARTICLE

(A temporary bike-bus lane along Spadina Avenue.)

Bike Share Engagement Survey

Bike Share Toronto is expanding and adding new stations across the city. They’re currently looking for insight into where new stations are needed most. Share your thoughts by taking the survey on their website.

TAKE THE SURVEY

(A map of existing and planned Bike Share stations. Image: Bike Share Toronto)

Just for Fun: How a Bike Lane is Born #5

Welcome back to How a Bike Lane is Born, the investigative series where we try to understand, and then explain, how new bike infrastructure comes to be. From the earliest line on a map to the final flexpost, no stone will be left unturned.

Our first editions focused on the future Portland Street bikeways’ historical context, its community consultations, its first trip to City Hall for the Infrastructure and Environment Committee, and its dramatic appearance at City Council.

In this fifth edition of How a Bike Lane is Born, we head down to Dan Leckie Way to check out a tiny segment of our bikeway that has now been built. Find out How a Bike Lane is Born by visiting the full article on our site.

READ THE ARTICLE

(The first segment of the new Portland / Dan Leckie bikeway has been constructed.)

Social Media Spotlight

Can’t get enough Cycle Toronto content? As we near the end of this month’s Ring & Post, you may find yourself already yearning for more. Although our newsletter is monthly, we post on our social media channels daily. Follow us on Instagram, Twitter / X, or TikTok to stay up-to-date on Cycle Toronto news and events. Here are some highlights from this month:

(A reel on Instagram highlighting Toronto’s chaotic construction zones. Note: Click image to visit original post.)

(A Twitter thread featuring video clips of some recently upgraded cycle tracks downtown. Note: Click image to visit original post.)

In the Media

Bike advocates concerned after 5th cyclist killed in Toronto this year | CBC Metro Morning

Toronto cycling advocates warn of ‘crisis’ after latest rider killed on busy street | The Canadian Press

Cyclist dead after being struck by dump truck in Yorkville | CBC

Female cyclist, 24, dead after being hit by dump truck in Yorkville | CP24

Appels à la sécurité après la mort d’un 5e cycliste en 7 mois | Radio-Canada

Prévenir les obstacles sur les pistes cyclables pour éviter des décès | Radio-Canada

Toronto has spent millions on bike lanes. So why are so many cyclists getting killed? | Toronto Star

Another cyclist is dead. When will Toronto wake up? | Toronto Star

Toronto Traffic Crisis with Alison Stewart | CTV

Railing against the rail path | City Hall Watcher

Events

Did you miss our Explore Etobicoke or Chinatown discovery rides earlier this summer? Don’t miss out this September. Find out more at cycleto.ca/events

Ride with MPP Stephanie Bowman in Ward 15

When: Saturday, September 7th 2024, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Where: R.V Burgess Park (start point)

Cycle Toronto and Bike Don Valley Midtown are collaborating with MPP Stephanie Bowman’s office to do a community ride in and around Thorncliffe Park. This is not a rain or shine event. Look out for more information on our events page regarding the route, meet-up location, and more.

Bike Engagement Stations

Cycle Toronto will be at various farmers markets in the upcoming month with some educational materials and will demonstrate how to perform safety checks for those who may not have access to a bike shop but want to get riding.

We'll be able to help with things like inflating your tires, lubricating your chain, demonstrating how to do an ABC safety check, and anything else our teams can safely accomplish in a few minutes.

Sorauren Park Farmers Market Engagement Station

When: Monday, September 9th, 2024, 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Where: Sorauren Park (50 Wabash Avenue)

Davisville Farmers Market Engagement Station

When: Tuesday, September 10th, 2024, 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Where: June Rowlands Park (220 Davisville Avenue)

Withrow Park Farmers Market Engagement Station with Bike Match (Drop off your bike here)

When: Saturday, September 14th, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Where: Withrow Park (725 Logan Avenue)

Do you have a bike to give? Drop by the Withrow park farmers market on Saturday, September 14th to drop off your bike so that a new or returning rider can get back on the saddle. All bikes go into the bike match system which matches bikes with children or adults in need of a bike.