Our next meeting is scheduled for Thursday January 19th at 7PM at Scallywags Pub, located on St Clair east of Yonge (see map). We will be planning our activities for the winter, including upcoming planning reviews of the Beltline Trail and Eglinton and supporting the Save Jarvis coalition. Come out, get involved, and see what the Bike Union is about!
Ward 22: St. Paul's
You need to join a ward group to see all the updates. You can still see all public ward updates and events.
Welcome to the webpage of TCU22, the local Bike Union advocacy group in Ward 22 St. Paul's!
To join our mailing list or for more information on our next meeting, email us at ward22@bikeunion.to.
Ward News
3 Jan 2012 - 21:41
emily.tcu22
Councillor Josh Matlow's motion to increase the fines against illegally parked cars has been reviewed by the City's General Manager and will go before the Public Works and Infrastructure committee for a vote on Wednesday January 4th. If approved, it will then be voted upon by Council on February 6th.
The text of the motion has been revised somewhat from the original - read the General Manager's report here. The fine has dropped from $500 to $150, but the rush hour period is now from 6-10AM and 3-7PM on weekdays. Even better, illegally parked cars in bike lanes are always subject to the $150 ticket with no time restrictions.
Show your support for the motion! Email the members of the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee: pwic@toronto.ca, councillor_grimes@toronto.ca, councillor_layton@toronto.ca, councillor_parker@toronto.ca, councillor_perks@toronto.ca, councillor_shiner@toronto.ca, councillor_minnan-wong@toronto.ca CC: councillor_matlow@toronto.ca, ward22@bikeunion.to You can use the following as a template:
I urge you to support Councillor Matlow's motion to increase the fine against illegally parked cars. Not only are illegally parked cars one of the top safety issues facing cyclists in the city, but they also cause considerable gridlock on our crowded streets. It is clear that the current fine is insufficient, doing little to ensure that drivers show consistent respect for the city’s existing laws. The proposed change would encourage drivers to park on side streets and couriers to make their deliveries outside of rush hour, making arterial roads safer for cyclists and drivers.
15 Dec 2011 - 22:18
john.taranu
If you cycle through Ward 22 you probably already know the challenge of climbing the escarpment at the south end of our ward. Our member Ken Brown has put together a report looking at improving the Yonge St climb at Summerhill, either by building a dedicated climbing lane at the steepest section of Yonge between Woodlawn and Jackes Ave, or by properly maintaining the sheltered off-street climb up to the Rosehill Reservoir.
The geography of Ward 22 presents a barrier to cyclists, particularly the Canadian Pacific rail line at the ward's southern border. Avenue Road and Mt Pleasant Rd are steep climbs, with high traffic volumes and cars passing by at high speeds. The nearest designated cycling routes up Poplar Plains Road to the west of Avenue and through Rosedale and Moore Park to the east of Mount Pleasant. These routes are a fair distance away from Yonge St and, in the case of the Moore Park route, do not receive adequate winter maintenance.
Yonge St is the most direct route to downtown. Riding downhill (southbound) on Yonge is not a problem because cyclists travel as quickly as motor vehicles, but climbing Yonge is a different matter.
Yonge is not bike-friendly as the lanes are narrow. However, the steepest part of the climb, between Woodlawn Ave and Jackes Ave, has a very wide sidewalk. To improve the safety of cyclists climbing slowly up this section we recommend installing a bike lane on the wide eastern sidewalk between Woodlawn and Jackes.
This approach is used in other cities, such as Vancouver. Here in Toronto we have a similar shared space on Roncesvalles Ave, with the new recently-installed streetcar bumpouts.
.img_assist_custom-520x432.jpg "Sidewalk bike lane in Vancouver")
Sidewalk bike lane in Vancouver
Fortunately we have an alternative most of the year. The Rosehill Reservoir has paths that allow cyclists and pedestrians to safely travel between Summerhill Avenue and Rosehill Avenue. Residential streets extend this route safely to St. Clair in the north and Shaftesbury in the south. Unfortunately the paths in Rosehill Reservoir are not cleared of ice and snow in winter. Providing adequate winter maintenance, as well as clear signage to the route, would provide a safe climb into Ward 22 away from the high traffic on Yonge St.
There is precedent for winter maintenance of park trails. The Martin Goodman trail along Toronto's waterfront receives winter maintenance from the City's transportation department, making it a year-round cycling corridor. It would cost very little for the winter sidewalk plows that already maintain the sidewalks next to the Rosehill Reservoir to also plow the interior park trail.
21 Sep 2011 - 18:55
michael.black
After a brief hiatus at the end of summer, our group is back and ready to get cracking on improving cycling in our neighbourhood.
Our next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday September 28th at 7PM at Scallywags Pub, located on St. Clair Ave., just west of Yonge (see map). We will be planning our activities for the fall, including work on the Beltline Trail, Poplar Plains and Eglinton. Come out, get involved, and see what the Bike Union is about! We’re also looking for a volunteer accounting expert - see below for more details.
21 Sep 2011 - 18:35
michael.black
As a volunteer organization with no budget, we’re only as strong as our members make us, and we’re always looking for more help. If you’re interested in our group, come out to our next meeting or drop us a line at ward22@bikeunion.to.
In particular, there is an identified need for an accounting expert. Earlier this summer we helped deliver a number of abandoned bikes to a charity in Regent Park called Charlie’s Freewheels. Unfortunately Charlie’s Freewheels has tried to get official charity status, but has never had the resources to complete the complex application and vetting process. In fact, there is no cycling-related registered charity in all of Toronto! If you or anyone else you know has experience as an accountant and would like to help, please let us know and we can put you in touch.
20 Sep 2011 - 21:13
john.taranu
Even if Councillor Matlow’s motion against illegal parking passes, the law must still be enforced. Fortunately, the Toronto Police have an easy-to-use online form to report the most problematic areas (such as Yonge north of St Clair, or Eglinton near Yonge St). The form is sent directly to our local 53 Division traffic enforcement unit, who then assign resources to deal with the most-reported problem areas.
The same form is used to report individual drivers. Have you ever been run off the road by a driver in a fit of road rage, or subject to a hit-and-run by a driver? If you or anyone else managed to get the licence plate of the vehicle, you can report the incident directly to the police online and they will track down the vehicle’s owner and speak to them about the incident.
You can fill out the form at: https://webapp1.torontopolice.on.ca/dors/hit-run.html
16 Aug 2011 - 21:52
emily.tcu22
TCU22 applauds Ward 22 Councillor Josh Matlow, who is taking a stand against drivers parked illegally on busy Toronto streets during rush hour. Councillor Matlow, along with downtown councillor Mike Layton, will be introducing a motion to City Council in September that will seek a hefty $500 fine against these so-called "road hogs."
A recent survey of local cyclists conducted by TCU22 identified road hogs as one of the top 5 safety issues facing cyclists in the Midtown Toronto area. TCU22 has advocated for stiffer penalties for illegally parked drivers: cars parked on major arterial streets impede the flow of traffic, making it harder for both cyclists and drivers to arrive at their destinations quickly and safely. The proposed change would encourage commuters and couriers to park on side streets and to change schedules so that deliveries are made outside of rush hour.
TCU advocates obeying the rules of the road. Illegal parking in lanes used by cyclists is a problem that must be taken seriously. It is clear that the current fine is insufficient, doing little to ensure that automobile commuters and couriers show consistent respect for the city’s existing laws. We support the motion of Councillors Matlow and Layton, and urge their colleagues on Council to vote for it as well.
17 Jul 2011 - 10:48
john.taranu
On Saturday July 16, TCU22 held the first-ever Dead Bike Roundup in Ward 22, and cleaned up the bike parking at Brentwood Towers for a good cause. Partnering with O'Shanter Properties and with the help of Tom Sands from Bike Pirates, we cleared out 16 "dead bikes" at the Brentwood Towers apartment complex near Yonge & Davisville. Half the bikes were donated to Bike Pirates, and half were donated to Charlie's Freewheels, a non-profit bicycle workshop organization for teens in Regent Park. Not only does this provide these workshops with much-needed bicycle frames and components, but our own community gains usable parking spaces in a neighbourhood sorely lacking in bike parking. Here's an overview of our afternoon.
2:00 - Arriving at Brentwood Towers
The property managers had tagged the bikes a few weeks prior to the big day, and were so kind as to drop off the dead bikes for pickup in the basement the night before. When we arrived on Saturday, we saw the newly liberated parking spaces throughout the complex, a welcome sight for both residents and guests. A big thank you goes to everyone at O'Shanter for making the process easy - especially Ernie, Adam and Ning!
2:15 - Meeting the Dead Bikes
Upon meeting the bikes we found most to be completely unrideable, with their chains rusted to the drivetrain - but still had many parts in good condition.
We even took one for a spin - a classic, well-aged 1950s English-style roadster. Despite the rust and flat tires, the bike will fix up nicely and could easily roll for another 50 years.
We'd arranged for two cars (both Fords - let's call them Rob and Doug) to help us carry the bikes downtown, so we loaded them up to the roof and got ready to ride down to Charlie's. Our drive took us down Jarvis Street, where we made good time and saw many cyclists enjoying the bike lanes and fine weather.
2:45: Charlie's Freewheels
Our first delivery was to Charlie's Freewheels (charliesfreewheels.ca), a program of StepStones for Youth, which provides bicycle mechanic training to high school students in Regent Park. Operating out of a workshop at Sherbourne and Queen, the students work on restoring a used bike for a term, and that bike (along with a new helmet and lock) becomes theirs upon their successful completion of the course.
We delivered the bikes that were in the best condition as well as those with smaller frames and wheels that are more suitable for younger, smaller riders. Then it was off to Bike Pirates to drop off the remaining bikes and parts.
3:30 - Bike Pirates
Located across downtown Toronto at Bloor and Lansdowne, Bike Pirates (bikepirates.com) is an autonomous organization whose mission is to empower cyclists and make bicycles more accessible. Volunteer-run and volunteer-organized, Bike Pirates provides a Do-It-Yourself workspace to the members of the community and supports the concepts of bicycle re-use, collective decision making, and social justice. It's also an amazing place to learn the ropes of bike repair from expert mechanics.
Despite the beautiful weather, Bike Pirates was packed on this Saturday afternoon. There was a long waiting list for the bike repair stands and the frames, wheels and other parts we delivered were in demand. Thanks to Geoffrey, one of Bike Pirates' resident volunteer mechanics, for his warm welcome and assistance on such a hot and busy day.
4:00 Back Home in Ward 22
Proud to give these dead bikes a new lease on life, support some great homegrown cycling organizations AND create some room in a once-jammed bike parking lot, we consider our Inaugural Dead Bike Roundup a success.
We'll do another Roundup again soon in Ward 22. If you'd like to help organize one at your building, or just to get in touch, email us at ward22@bikeunion.to
7 Jul 2011 - 20:46
john.taranu
At last month's public works committee meeting, the Rob Ford adminstration put forward a plan to cancel several major portions of the Toronto bikeway network, including removing over of 10km of bike lanes on Jarvis, Pharmacy and Birchmount and cancelling the Bloor-Danforth corridor Environmental Assessment.
The cuts still need to be approved by council at a vote on July 12-13th.
To be truly effective, we need strength in numbers. Consider adding your voice to ours: email Councillor Matlow (councillor_matlow@toronto.ca) and Mayor Rob Ford (mayor_ford@toronto.ca) with your take on the proposed bikeway cuts. You can use our letter as a template, or use the following as a start point:
Dear Councillor Matlow,
We urge you to vote against the proposed cuts to the Toronto Bikeway Network, for the following reasons:
- These cuts are being pushed through without any community consultation, and against the wishes of the affected communities
- The Bloor-Danforth corridor is heavily used by cyclists and yet has virtually no cycling infrastructure at its most dangerous points
- Our existing bikeway network is disconnected and piecemeal; cutting more routes would make it even more disconnected
- We need better cycling infrastructure in the most unsafe areas
- The proposed cuts were made without any consultation with the affected communities
- The bike lanes to be cut have been shown to have no effect on automobile traffic volumes
- Removing the bike lanes on Jarvis, Pharmacy and Birchmount will cost a quarter-million taxpayer dollars in a year that the city is considering slashing services like park maintenance, public health and housing programs, and transit in order to meet its budget targets
Regards,
(your name
your address
your email address)
Make sure to include your address to show you live in Ward 22, and copy ward22@bikeunion.to on the email too!
7 Jul 2011 - 20:38
john.taranu
TCU22 has sent a letter to Ward 22 Councillor Josh Matlow voicing our opposition to the cuts in the 2011 Bikeway Network update - see it here.
7 Jul 2011 - 20:21
john.taranu
Our next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday July 12th at 7PM at Scallywags Pub, located on St Clair east of Yonge (see map). Note that this will likely be the night before Toronto Council’s vote on the 2011 Bikeway Network plan, which could be during the day on the 13th or even the 14th.
7 Jul 2011 - 20:07
john.taranu
Last month Councillor Josh Matlow held a community meeting to discuss the future of Oriole Park. At the meeting we put forward our proposal to remove the cow gates on the cyclist path and improve the safety of cyclists passing through the park - a proposal which has been endorsed by the Friends of Oriole Park community organization.
At the meeting, Councillor Matlow announced the formation of the Oriole Park Steering Committee to oversee the future of the park. TCU22 has been invited to sit on the committee as a founding member. We thank Councillor Matlow for his leadership on Oriole Park and look forward to working with the other community groups to improve this small but busy urban park!
6 Jul 2011 - 07:43
john.taranu
We have great news! This Canada Day, after close to a year of construction Oriole Park was finally opened to the public! Unfortunately the cow gates at the park are now closed, including the cow gate on the (ostensibly) handicapped-accessible path to the playground. For whatever reason the City has decided that the best way to welcome handicapped visitors to the park with a closed metal gate and a chain-link fence. The northern entrance is similarly unwelcoming, since the narrow, broken and poorly drained walkway to Chaplin Ave (and Davisville subway station) was not included in the park reconstruction project.
Oriole Park Pedestrian Cow Gate (Closed)
Otherwise, the new playground is a huge success, as evidenced by the throngs of children enjoying the new equipment. The community also gained an attractive new washroom, new benches, and a shiny new concrete pathway. And tucked in beside the new washroom and the tennis courts are four new kid-friendly (rubberized!) bike parking rings!
Oriole Park Bike Parking Rings
15 Jun 2011 - 21:52
john.taranu
We regretfully inform our members that despite the comprehensive reconstruction currently taking place in Oriole Park, the project team has decided to retain the cow gates in the park unchanged as before. On Monday June 13th construction crews ripped out the existing concrete pathway at the south end of the park (Lascelles Blvd and Frobisher Dr), leaving the gates in place:
On Tuesday June 14th, the construction crews poured a new concrete pathway. The cow gates are still there as before:
Despite our repeated complaints about this problem, including three reports [1, 2, and 3] on the safety and accessibility hazards caused by the cow gates, and despite the park's complete makeover as an accessible destination for the entire community, the park planners insist the cow gates are outside of the project scope.
16 May 2011 - 13:36
john.taranu
Join us for our second Community Consultation Workshop during Bike Month 2011! We'll meet at 6PM in Meeting Room 200 at the Northern District Library, just north of Yonge & Eglinton (see map).
The workshop will be focused around further exploring the four major projects identified by the community over the past year:
- Beltline trail crossings on major roads like Avenue and Oriole Parkway
- Crossing the St. Clair streetcar right-of-way at Poplar Plains
- The dangerous twin intersections of Davenport, Boulton, MacPherson, Poplar Plains and Dupont
- Cow gate barriers in Oriole Park
We will work on developing sensible, practical solutions to these problems, and also identifying any other initiatives for the year ahead.
16 May 2011 - 13:33
john.taranu
Our next meeting will be this Friday May 27th at 7PM at 84 Poplar Plains Crescent, just north of Davenport & Dupont (see map). Please RSVP at ward22@bikeunion.to. Major agenda items include planning for our community consultation workshop in June, ongoing work on our main projects and outreach to other ward organizations.
28 Apr 2011 - 09:10
john.taranu
In March our group led a presentation to Ward 22 Councillor Josh Matlow on cycling issues in the ward. You can view the presentation here:
https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0ByUrTXs8dc4eMGJlMTU3MzgtMDIwOS00NDBiLTg5MzktZjllMWFjZjdmOThk&hl=en&authkey=CJHZnKAI
This presentation outlines the major issues that were identified based upon the responses to our community survey, as well as further work undertaken by our group:
- Oriole Park crossings (has been covered in a previous report)
- Beltline trail crossings on major roads like Avenue and Oriole Parkway
- Crossing the St. Clair streetcar right-of-way at Poplar Plains
- The dangerous twin intersections of Davenport, Boulton, Poplar Plains and Dupont
Join us in the year ahead as we embark on dealing with these problems.
13 Feb 2011 - 23:07
john.taranu
The next TCU22 meeting will be on Friday, February 25th at 7PM at Scallywags pub, on St Clair just west of Yonge (see map). We'll discuss the ongoing infrastructure problems in the ward, winter road and path maintenance, our involvement in the Oriole Park redevelopment, and planning our activities in the coming year including hosting another community consultation workshop in the spring.
13 Feb 2011 - 22:55
john.taranu
We'd like to thank Councillor Matlow and Ward 22 Executive Assistant Andrew Athanasiu for stopping by at our last TCU22 meeting in December.
Now we are working on arranging a dedicated meeting with Councillor Matlow to discuss the issues affecting cyclists in the ward. Over the past half a year we have been looking for your input on the issues that impact you most as cyclists, starting with our community consultation meeting last June to our ward survey and ongoing discussions at our meetings.
Now it's time to decide on which issues we want to tackle. This means narrowing down our extensive list to a handful of reasonable, achievable solutions that will make the greatest impact in the ward.
We want to hear from you! Come to our meeting this month or drop us a line at ward22@bikeunion.to and let us know what issues are most important to you.
13 Feb 2011 - 14:21
john.taranu
Thanks to the extensive work we have done on the Oriole Park redevelopment project, Councillor Josh Matlow has included TCU22 as a founding member of the newly formed Oriole Park Neighbourhood Group. The group had its first meeting in December, and we will continue to work towards improving this busy central park for cyclists and the entire community.
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