As cycling continues to gain popularity throughout Toronto, the need for expanded bike infrastructure is becoming increasingly acute. Following turbulent years of pro-car and anti-cycling rhetoric from our previous Mayor, the City of Toronto is now once again beginning to invest in creating new and safer bike lanes, striving to foster an urban environment that is safe and welcoming to cyclists.
Joining the City's ongoing 10-year Cycling Network Plan and the Province of Ontario's recently unveiled 20-year #cycleON strategy, the City of Toronto has now announced a significant expansion of the Richmond-Adelaide cycling corridor. In addition to extending the existing cycle tracks along Richmond and Adelaide Streets—which will both now run all the way between Parliament and Bathurst—new bike lanes will also be installed on both sides of Peter Street between Queen and King (in yellow, below). Sherbourne Street features grade-separated cycle tracks between Bloor and Kings Streets, with a new section from Front Street to Queens Quay currently being completed. Work to join up the section north of King with the new one south of Front has not been announced yet.
Upcoming improvements shown in yellow, image courtesy of the City of Toronto (using Google Maps)
According to Councillor Jaye Robinson (Ward 25), the "extension of these cycle tracks is an important step toward improving the connectivity and safety of cycling in Toronto." A comprehensive network of cycling infrastructure can provide benefits to all road users in the city, improving safety for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians alike.
Looking at the new eastbound Adelaide bike lane, image by Marcus Mitanis
Installation of the new cycle tracks is expected to be completed by the end of September, with construction work beginning this week. In addition to pavement repairs on Adelaide and Richmond, there will be some minor changes to on-street parking and stopping regulations along both streets. New signage, pavement markings, and flexi-post bollards—which are safer to drivers and cyclists since they bend on contact—will also be installed on the north side of Richmond Street, and the south side of Adelaide Street.
These improvements come as part of the Richmond-Adelaide Bikeway Environmental Assesment (EA), which has been designed to study the potential benefits and logistical feasibility of expanded cycling infrastructure throughout the Downtown area. According to the City of Toronto website, the "project evaluation will focus on the effectiveness of the cycle tracks, options for the design of the separation between the cycle tracks and traffic lanes, the impacts on parking and loading for area businesses, and the effect on traffic flow."
More information about the project is available on the City's website here.
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