Eglinton Bike Lane and Midtown Yonge Updates
New, safe, bicycle infrastructure isn’t being limited to just the downtown core. There are some significant and interesting projects happening north of Bloor that could allow people to choose the best transportation for themselves.
Eglinton Avenue Bike Lanes
Eglinton Avenue is currently in the process of being reinvented as a complete street and bike infrastructure is part of the conversation.
The Eglinton Crosstown LRT is being constructed by Metrolinx with above and below ground portions. When finished in 2022, the aboveground section (Kennedy to Laird) will have painted, buffered bike lanes. However, the underground section (Laird to Black Creek) will only have protected bike lanes directly in front of stations, not between them. While this is a good start, unprotected bike lanes or discontinuous protected ones are not acceptable on a major road like Eglinton. We have worked with our volunteers to build support with City Council and City Staff to find funding and accelerate the plans. Soon, we'll begin working with affected communities to help understand their needs and build understanding of the project.
Our vision is to have protected bike lanes along the entire stretch by the opening day of the LRT. With the City working to extend the existing Eglinton trail from west of Jane to Black Creek, this vision means a protected bike lane connecting Scarborough to Mississauga, right through central Toronto.
Artist’s rendering of Eglinton Ave streetscape improvements
Having a safe Eglinton for everyone is more than a dream; we believe these goals can be achieved in the near future. If you live near Eglinton, get in touch with your Councillor and let them know you are excited to see protected bike lanes and streetscape improvements when the LRT opens.
Yonge & Eglinton Construction Hub Coordination Pilot
The rapidly-growing Yonge and Eglinton neighbourhood has seen a years-long flurry of construction projects. In November 2019, the City of Toronto initiated a construction hub coordination pilot. We’re looking forward to working with this dedicated team to implement safety benefits for cyclists and pedestrians near construction sites. We’re advocating for safety improvements including reduced speed limits, maintaining clear sightlines, and protected space for people biking near construction sites.
We will continue to follow the progress of the pilot to determine whether it is successful in making the road safer. If the pilot is effective, it could be expanded to other locations of high construction activity across the city.
Yonge-St. Clair Planning Framework
Yonge and St. Clair will be seeing a period of growth and development in the near future. To manage this, a planning framework has been set up to ensure the neighbourhood thrives as it grows.
Originally, the framework excluded transportation, instead considering details such as building heights, public spaces, and streetscapes. However, thanks in part to the efforts of the Cycle Toronto Midtown ward group, Councillor Matlow successfully added a transportation study as a component of the framework. This includes evolving the street network so that it is friendly to people that travel by foot, bike and transit.
Yonge and St. Clair BIA Streetscape designs
The Yonge and St.Clair BIA, representing businesses in the area, is now including bike lanes as part of their streetscape design plans after having productive conversations with Cycle Toronto Midtown. Businesses are starting to understand that bikes really do mean business!
Streetscape design by Yonge and St. Clair BIA
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