Network Now! Strengthening and Growing Cycling Infrastructure in Toronto

We are excited to announce the renewal of funding for our Bikes Now (now called Network Now) collaboration with the David Suzuki Foundation! In 2016, we set out to build a constituency and a culture that support cycling in Toronto by forging partnerships with a strong coalition of groups, including schools, residents’ associations, BIAs, physicians, pedestrian advocacy groups, and leading city-builders. Most notably, we built advocacy capacity on major corridors with our Bloor, Danforth and Yonge working groups. These engaged groups now have the tools, resources, and strategic plans in place to push for implementation during this term of council.

Read on for highlights from the first two years of working together, and find out what’s next.

From polling to media stories, we built a strong case for bike lanes on our main streets

• A July 2018 Ekos poll found 82% of Toronto residents support protected bike lanes. Ekos also found the lanes are supported by three out of four drivers (read the CBC's coverage of polling results).

• We sent action alerts to over 46,000 David Suzuki Foundation supporters, introducing them to Cycle Toronto and getting thousands of pro-bike lane emails into the Mayor's office.

• We led the conversation, with six op-eds and nine letters-to-the-editor published, building arguments for bike lanes for a variety of audiences.

• We convened summits in each of the city’s four districts to connect residents with our corridor campaigns. 200+ people, including many new faces, attended.

What’s next? Continuing conversations with stakeholders across the board

• Conduct more polling to gauge support for cycling facilities in key campaign areas and across the city

• Strengthen other organizations, like FFSS and Doctors for Safe Cycling, who bring diverse perspectives and personal stories to make a compelling case for cycling facilities

• Lead media conversations by holding press conferences and getting stories in major outlets, community papers, and on social media

• Conduct cycling counts to show councillors that people are already biking, and that it’s time for the infrastructure to catch up

• Analyze best practices from other cities to demonstrate how biking is great for business

• Collaborate with residents’ associations to showcase how bike lanes can enhance their neighbourhoods

I want to get on board to get bike lanes on main streets. What can I do?

• Subscribe to our Action Alerts list, where you’ll get timely invitations to write an email or attend a meeting to support campaign goals.

• Follow @CycleToronto on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for the latest news and opportunities to join the conversation about bike lanes on main streets.

• Revisit our Bloor, Danforth, and Yonge campaign stories so far.