As a member of a community…

As a member of a community association in the Pleasant View area, I strongly support the Province getting involved in approving where new bike lanes are implemented and reviewing existing bike lanes for potential removal.

There are currently plans to put bike lanes along Sheppard East, west of Leslie, and potentially east of Leslie in the future. This Renew Sheppard East plan is headed to North York Community Council for approval on Dec 3. I've attached a URL link below to the plan. See the Cycling Network page.

It does not make sense to me to put bike lanes on major roads, and possibly remove traffic lanes to do so, when there is already significant road congestion, and given the significant number of condo units being built along Sheppard. It is highly unlikely the majority of new residents will be cycling to their destinations.

I've also attached a picture of a the left lane being blocked just east of Fairview Mall due to cars turning to get on the 404 north from Sheppard. This leaves two open lanes - image if one of them was decommissioned to allow for a bike lane - that would leave one open lane.

This is a very relevant issue for traffic in general for the 2km stretch along Sheppard between Don Mills and Victoria Park, especially given all the new and planned condo development, including 14 proposed ones (with an estimated 12,000 residents) on Fairview Mall lands. I've also attached a picture of traffic congestion westbound on Sheppard just west of the DVP by Fairview Mall.

Even if a bike lane were combined with a dedicated bus lane (DBL), as the city has raised the idea of having a DBL on Sheppard East, it wouldn't make sense to take away a lane of traffic each way even for just a DBL on the above noted stretch. There is already congestion which will only get worse with the condo growth, and which is further impacted by having 8 traffic lights, the DVP/404 ramps and access to the 401 in this stretch.

I am not against the idea of bike lanes, however, I don’t understand trying to retrofit a city that is experiencing a continually growing population with more drivers, to accommodate bike lanes, especially on major roads, given the numbers and climate.

Though I understand the removal of bike lanes will cost money, I can’t see how it would be double to remove vs the installation cost. Traffic congestion costs money.

Also, I drive downtown often mainly at rush hour, and thus particularly support the removal of bike lanes on Bloor St. and University Ave. Coming off the DVP and then heading west onto Bloor only to find two lanes become one, with a backlog of cars, and yet only a handful of cyclists using the bike lane is frustrating.

And reducing a major north/south route like University to 2 lanes each way, for bikes, given the number of events that occur downtown isn’t reasonable, given we have very few north/south routes in the city. Other streets that should be looked at are Dundas East, where the bike lane is almost as wide as the car lane, and again I see very few cyclists, as well as the re-design of Adelaide east of University.

Another item i noted is along Highway 7. When heading westbound toward the 404 south ramp, there is a sign advising drivers to yield to cyclists. How does it make sense, to have drivers slow down in a flowing lane of traffic, as cars are coming behind them that could cause an accident, in order to make way for cyclists. The driver has to turn right onto the ramp, while the cyclist can slow and brake without impeding fast flowing traffic behind them.

There are a number of road/traffic related decisions being made that I question and wonder how/why they were made. Where are the numbers (when looking at the whole city, and not just the biking, population)? Do the decisions made represent the majority of Toronto residents and businesses, or special interests or being driven by philosophy.

Thank you for the opportunity to share my thoughts and for your consideration of them.