Sport Murphy
06-02-2005, 07:23 AM
Do you think you guys over there could help us Torontonians with our bike lane battles? we need a few signatures to show the supoprt we have in their poorly researched legislation that the councillors are trying to pass.
I woke up today on the 3rd day of Mr. Miller's and the City of Toronto's Bike week to find a disturbing email in my inbox. Apparently the majority of City councillors have decided that the National Standard for bike lane width is just too wide for our Torontoian commuters. These councillors (whom I dare say probably never use a bike lane) feel that we (cycling commuters) can be satisfied with a 1.25 meter wide bike lane as opposed to 2.0 m as standard.
I do like Mr. Miller as a mayor and I do feel that he has the best interests of his City and it's people at hand, but to recieve this news in the midst of Bike Week seems to reek all too much of Canadiana politik. What we have here is a situation whereby the City is going to set a future precedent which will narrow all bikes lanes to this "acceptable" width. Incedentally 1.25 meters is roughly the size of an open swung car door which plague our cyclists to no end.
If this precedent is set it will create one more hurdle for cyclists in this City. What are we to expect next? When the next cyclist is hit by a door or car in these lanes it will be decided by the City councillors that cycle commuters are reckless and should not be priviledged with a dedicated lane at all?
Toronto cyclists, this is an opportunity to let Mayor Miller and the
members of Council know your views about the recent decision to install
substandard bike lanes on Royal York Rd in Etobicoke. The following
petion can be signed online at:
http://www.petitiononline.com/TOBikes/petition.html
===============================
To: Mayor David Miller members of City Council
"Toronto Cyclist Deserve Better!"
The Cyclists of Toronto Demand Safe Passage and Respect!
The Transportation Association of Canada recommends a width of 2,0m for
marked bike lanes on major urban roads. The minimum acceptable width is
1,5m. That is the national standard.
On May 19th, City Council voted in favour of a 'reduced width' bike
lane on a 1.6 km section of Royal York Road. How it will be marked is not
yet decided. A majority of councillors felt that 1,25m was sufficient,
and that the "margin of safety" for cyclists was not significantly
different between a 1,5m and 1,25m bike lane.
This decision sets a precedent that puts at risk all future proposals
for 1,5m bike lanes on major roads, and makes it possible for any local
community to demand reduced space for cyclists.
Cyclists deserve better. Cyclists deserve respect. Our lives depend on
having safe passage on city roads. We need space to make Toronto a better place to live and breathe.
Therefore, the we request that 1,5m be established as the minimum width for bike lanes on major roads in the City of Toronto.
but for now, lets revel in the media frenzy that is Bike Week, lets have a free lunch and put on our blinders to the reality of a non-bike friendly City.
Thanks for listening,
I woke up today on the 3rd day of Mr. Miller's and the City of Toronto's Bike week to find a disturbing email in my inbox. Apparently the majority of City councillors have decided that the National Standard for bike lane width is just too wide for our Torontoian commuters. These councillors (whom I dare say probably never use a bike lane) feel that we (cycling commuters) can be satisfied with a 1.25 meter wide bike lane as opposed to 2.0 m as standard.
I do like Mr. Miller as a mayor and I do feel that he has the best interests of his City and it's people at hand, but to recieve this news in the midst of Bike Week seems to reek all too much of Canadiana politik. What we have here is a situation whereby the City is going to set a future precedent which will narrow all bikes lanes to this "acceptable" width. Incedentally 1.25 meters is roughly the size of an open swung car door which plague our cyclists to no end.
If this precedent is set it will create one more hurdle for cyclists in this City. What are we to expect next? When the next cyclist is hit by a door or car in these lanes it will be decided by the City councillors that cycle commuters are reckless and should not be priviledged with a dedicated lane at all?
Toronto cyclists, this is an opportunity to let Mayor Miller and the
members of Council know your views about the recent decision to install
substandard bike lanes on Royal York Rd in Etobicoke. The following
petion can be signed online at:
http://www.petitiononline.com/TOBikes/petition.html
===============================
To: Mayor David Miller members of City Council
"Toronto Cyclist Deserve Better!"
The Cyclists of Toronto Demand Safe Passage and Respect!
The Transportation Association of Canada recommends a width of 2,0m for
marked bike lanes on major urban roads. The minimum acceptable width is
1,5m. That is the national standard.
On May 19th, City Council voted in favour of a 'reduced width' bike
lane on a 1.6 km section of Royal York Road. How it will be marked is not
yet decided. A majority of councillors felt that 1,25m was sufficient,
and that the "margin of safety" for cyclists was not significantly
different between a 1,5m and 1,25m bike lane.
This decision sets a precedent that puts at risk all future proposals
for 1,5m bike lanes on major roads, and makes it possible for any local
community to demand reduced space for cyclists.
Cyclists deserve better. Cyclists deserve respect. Our lives depend on
having safe passage on city roads. We need space to make Toronto a better place to live and breathe.
Therefore, the we request that 1,5m be established as the minimum width for bike lanes on major roads in the City of Toronto.
but for now, lets revel in the media frenzy that is Bike Week, lets have a free lunch and put on our blinders to the reality of a non-bike friendly City.
Thanks for listening,