The City is reviewing ActiveTO next week - here's what we're asking for

UPDATE: Read our letter to City Council on Lake Shore West interventions here.

Yesterday, the Mayor announced that the City would be reconsidering the ActiveTO major road openings in response to complaints about increases in traffic, particularly around Lake Shore W. At the Council meeting on June 15th , they will be deciding the future of the program. ActiveTO is an incredibly successful initiative that has allowed thousands of people to get out and get active every weekend, but we think that more can be done on Lake Shore W. Instead of closing down the road to cars once a week, it is time to look beyond the ActiveTO major road openings and consider the evolution of what Lake Shore W and the Western Waterfront should become. 

Cycle Toronto is looking to have Lake Shore Blvd W reimagined through a temporary pilot this year from a road that is dangerous by design, to a more inclusive quiet street with two curb lanes repurposed for active transportation all the time. We are advocating for a pilot project that prioritizes a robust, protected bidirectional bike lane using crash-proof jersey barriers that will provide real protection from speeding traffic. Reducing lanes and speeds on Lake Shore W while maintaining travel lanes in both directions, will relieve congestion and reduce conflicts on the already congested Martin Goodman Trail, and would better reflect the needs of thousands of Torontonians looking to be active and enjoy their waterfront safely this summer and for years to come. 

We need to design streets for the traffic patterns we want instead of accommodating the old traffic patterns that have trapped us in an unhealthy, unsustainable and costly loop. ActiveTO has proven that when you provide a safe and inviting space for people to use, they come in droves. Creating spaces for people to be mobile in these ways is integral to the City achieving its long-term climate and Vision Zero goals: we need to make changes now to create the future we want. 

Cycle Toronto is calling for: 

1. Reimagining Lake Shore W through traffic calming measures and repurposing two curb lanes to create a robust, protected bidirectional bike lane using crash-proof jersey barriers. There are many good reasons to do this:
   1. it doesn't require Paid Duty or Traffic Agent resources
   2. it creates separated space and reduces conflicts for people travelling at different speeds on the already congested Martin Goodman Trail
   3. it will improve safety significantly by reducing travel lanes and speeds, helping ensure Lake Shore can operate like the local lakefront road it is, not a highway adjacent to another highway, but maintains motor vehicle travel in both directions
   4. it will create a much better public space, beachfront experience, and will allow people to think about the western lakeshore in a different way
2. Predictable timing for ActiveTO Road Openings (e.g. last Saturday of each month) and earlier promotion, which would provide residents with opportunities to participate and time for people driving to plan for other routes to exit/enter the city. We also recommend looking for other Open Streets opportunities in the city, including the return of Open Streets TO to downtown Yonge, Bloor, and Danforth ave in tandem with ActiveTO and CafeTO initiatives.
3. Ensuring Lake Shore W becomes a Complete Street as part of the long-term Western Waterfront Master Plan, which will include dedicated space for people walking, wheeling, cycling, and using transit

We need your support now - email your local City Councillor or the Mayor today to let them know that you support reimagining Lake Shore W and the Western Waterfront.

SAMPLE EMAIL:

TO:

councilmeeting@toronto.ca, mayor_tory@toronto.ca

CC:
info@cycleto.ca

SUBJECT:
IE30.19: Revisiting ActiveTO Interventions on Lake Shore Boulevard West

BODY:

Hello Councillors,

Having safe, accessible public spaces is important for the health and vibrancy of our City. We need to meet our TransformTO goals and we can’t hope to achieve this by giving massive amounts of public space to private vehicles causing greenhouse gas and noise pollution. This why I support taking a balanced approach that better reflects the needs of people and all road users by taking the following actions:

1) Reimagining Lake Shore W through traffic calming measures and repurposing two curb lanes to create a protected, bidirectional bike lane using crash-proof jersey barriers. Reallocating some of the space on Lake Shore Blvd W will improve safety, reduce speeds, and create space and separation for people walking, wheeling, and cycling at different speeds on the already congested Martin Goodman Trail. This redesign will also maintain several motor vehicle lanes, and help ensure people think of Lake Shore W as the local lakefront street it is

2) Predictable timing for ActiveTO Road Openings (e.g. last Saturday of each month) and earlier promotion, which would provide residents with opportunities to participate and time for people driving to plan for other routes to exit/enter the city. I would also like to see other Open Streets opportunities in the city, including the return of Open Streets TO to downtown Yonge, Bloor, and Danforth ave in tandem with ActiveTO and CafeTO initiatives.

3) Ensuring Lake Shore W becomes a Complete Street as part of the long-term Western Waterfront Master Plan, which will include dedicated space for people walking, wheeling, cycling, and using transit

Thank you for your leadership,

[YOUR NAME]
[YOUR POSTAL CODE]