Yesterday, the City released its agenda for the Infrastructure and Environment Committee (IEC). It shows what we can expect from both temporary ActiveTO projects and permanent cycling projects proposed for this year.
Read on about what's proposed and what we recommend for:
The YongeTOmorrow project will be voted on by Toronto City Council later today and we expect it to pass. At time of posting, 15 Councillors have pledged their support for a redesign of Yonge Street downtown that puts people before cars.
Nearly 100,000 residents live within walking distance of REimagining Yonge and there are about 1,800 businesses on this stretch of Yonge in North York. In the past decade, over 159 people walking and cycling have been killed or seriously injured.
Toronto Public Health’s research identifies “Transform Yonge” as the preferred alternative for REimagine Yonge which best delivers on the evidence-based design principles that promote health. Seen above, Transform Yonge is a complete street with space for everyone.
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We asked you to write to City Council about bringing bike lanes to midtown Yonge Street and hundreds responded. Today, City Council voted 19 to 3 for City staff to examine transforming midtown Yonge from Bloor to north of Lawrence as was done for Destination Danforth, with bike lanes, patios, greenery, and parking by spring 2021.
Rendering of Yonge Street just north of Gerrard looking west by Norm Li.
This week, the City of Toronto unveiled its final recommendations for the design for the future of downtown Yonge Street from College Street to Queen Street. This project has been years in the making, and we are encouraged by the recommended vision for downtown Yonge.
On March 16th, once vibrant stretches of business on Yonge Street shuttered as the pandemic became fully realized on Toronto’s streets. In the following months recovery began but how we interact with our community has changed; that’s why we’re launching a new effort to highlight the fantastic independent and small businesses on Yonge St in the Midtown neighbourhood: #BikesLoveYonge.
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 is currently in the process of being reinvented as a complete street and bike infrastructure is part of the conversation.
Save the date! The Coldest Day of the Year Ride is February 1st. Photo courtesy of Martin Reis.
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