Bike Plan

2014 Update

TORONTO BIKE PLAN

INTRODUCTION The City of Toronto launched the Bike Plan in 2001. During this time community groups, businesses, organizations, individual members of the public, city staff, Councillors and the Toronto City Cycling Committee have all worked together to achieve significant results. The Bike Plan review highlights these accomplishments and helps us to focus on the future as we continue to work toward making Toronto a more bicycle friendly city.

BIKE PLAN PRIMARY GOALS 1. To double the number of bicycles trips in Toronto as a percentage of total trips by 2015.

“Cycling is an integral part of the City’s transportation Although we’re not going to building new roads,

network.

we can certainly accomplish a great deal by adding new innovations, such as bike lanes to our existing roadways.”

2. To decrease cycling collisions and injuries.

TORONTO BIKE PLAN VISION To create a safe, comfortable and friendly environment in Toronto which encourages people of all ages to use bicycles for everyday transportation and enjoyment.

City Councillor Adrian Heaps, Chair of the Toronto Cycling Advisory Committee

BICYCLE SAFETY AND EDUCATION

Through education, create an environment where people can cycle on Toronto streets without the fear of injury.

KIDS CAN-BIKE CAMP

The City of Toronto’s Bicycle Safety Partnership is hosting the second Kids CAN-BIKE Camp this summer. Thanks to amazing sponsorships worth more than $55,000 another 80 children will enjoy a week of CAN-BIKE training and receive a free bike, helmet, lock, water bottle/cage, reflective sash, and backpack. Take a virtual tour of the camp

from our website.

Kids CAN-BIKE Camp received the 2013 Road Safety Achievement award from the Ontario Ministry of Transportation. This award recognizes organizations that have demonstrated a commitment to working constructively with others, including both community and corporate groups, to achieve successful road safety initiatives.

PLEASE DON’T SQUEEZE Please Don’t Squeeze is a campaign urging cyclists and drivers to keep space around their vehicles.

Cyclists – don’t squeeze between a truck and the curb Drivers – don’t squeeze a cyclist between your vehicle and the curb.

BIKEWAY NETWORK

All Toronto residents will be within a five-minute bicycle ride to the bikeway network. Transportation Services has been working hard to ramp up the implementation of the Bikeway Network this year.

For more information on the Climate Change report go to: www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2013/ex/decisions.pdf

KEY 2012-13 HIGHLIGHTS

• 5.8 km of new bike lanes were approved by Council as of June • A further 22.8 km of bicycle lanes will be reported to Council in the fall • 45 km of new signed routes were added to the Bikeway Network • 5.5 km of “sharrow” routes will be added this year As part of the City’s new Climate

Change, Clean Air and Sustainable Energy Action Plan, parks and transportation staff have begun work on a strategy to complete a Bikeway Network.

This means building more than 700kms of bikeways in the next five years. The Bikeway Network Action Plan will be presented to Council before the end of 2014.

BIKEWAY NETWORK SIGNAGE Since 2005, the new bikeway network signs have been installed on 190km of on-street routes and bicycle lanes. Since 2008, Parks, Forestry and Recreation Division have been installing the new bikeway signs along major park trails. The first trail systems being signed are Don River, Humber River, Taylor Creek, Beltline and Waterfront trails. This work is nearing completion.

CYCLING ON THE WATERFRONT

SHARROWS

Several key Bikeway Network initiatives are underway on the Toronto Waterfront.

• The very successful “Quay to the City” event, in the summer of 2013, tested a design concept to provide a continuous east-west bikeway through the Harbourfront area. The redesign of Queen’s Quay is currently under construction.

• A 2km portion of the East Waterfront Trail connecting Rouge Hill GO station to the Highland Creek Trail system is now fully opened.

• Waterfront Trail improvements in

A new type of pavement marking will be used this year. These shareduse lane markings, also called “sharrows,” are a bicycle symbol with two white chevron markings and are typically used on cycling routes where the road is too narrow for a dedicated bicycle lane. Sharrows are painted in the curb lane, beside the curb or parked cars, to show both cyclists and motorists the ideal cyclist position in the lane.

Marilyn Bell Park, west of Ontario Place, have created a new waters- edge route and a bypass route for commuters.

• The Yonge Street Promenade Plan will provide bicycle lanes from Front Street to the waterfront this year.

• The new Simcoe Street Tunnel includes bicycle lanes and provide a new connection to the waterfront.

• Work has begun on the West Donlands neighbourhood (south of King Street East between Cherry Street and the Don River) that will include bicycle lanes on key streets and connections to the Lower Don Trail system.

NOT SURE? WE CAN HELP. If you are new to bicycle commuting or are visiting Toronto, we can help by setting you up with bicycle user group resources. For all cycling issues, we are here to help. Contact us at 416-392-7591 or email us at bicyclestation@toronto.ca or visit toronto.ca/cycling/bicycle-station.

BICYCLE PROMOTIONS OTHER BICYCLE SAFETY PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES:

– CAN-BIKE cycling courses for children – Please Don’t Squeeze Campaign – Watch for Bikes – Pass Bike Safely Campaign For more information on these programs visit www.toronto.ca/cycling

Every bicycle trip improves the quality of life for all Torontonians. Bike Week is the annual celebration of Toronto’s vibrant bicycle culture. In 1988, the City launched Bike to Work Day to get commuters out of gridlock and on to their bicycles. Over the years the scope and focus of Bike week events has expanded. An enthusiastic public response led to a full calendar of events that includes group rides, film screenings, breakfasts, art shows and more. The Group Commute is the most popular bike week event.

CAN-BIKE It was first held in 1993 and still acts as the launch event for the week. This There were 506 Toronto CAN-BIKE year, over 70 organizations and comgraduates in 2012. munity groups joined with the City of Toronto to host more than 130 cycling THE BUG NETWORK events. 15,000 printed calendars were distributed to bike shops, community Starting with 10 Bicycle User Groups centres, civic centres and other com(BUG) in 2001 the Network has grown munity hotspots to promote bike week to 107 in the GTA and there are groups activities. The Cycling web site received in 31 cities across Canada.

20,444 visits during Bike Week 2012.

TORONTO CYCLING MAP There is a comprehensive map that shows all the bicycling lanes, routes, trails and more to help cyclists plan their trips. It also lists cycling resources, safety tips, and other information. Copies are available at libraries, community centres and bike shops in your neighbourhood.

Visit www.toronto.ca/cycling/map

CYCLOMETER Would you like more information or would you like to get involved? Sign up for a monthly newsletter on bicycle programs and infrastructure in Toronto.

Visit www.toronto.ca/cyclometer

BICYCLE FRIENDLY BUSINESSES Every year the City is working with local businesses to encourage bike friendly stores. Look out for this award sticker in your local area.

BICYCLE PARKING

Secure and convenient bicycle parking will be available at all cycling destinations to encourage and support cycling. There are over 15,000 postand-ring bike racks across the city.

The Bicycle Locker Project provides secure long-term bicycle parking to encourage bicycle commuting. Bicycle lockers improve protection from theft, vandalism and weather. The lockers are designed to hold one bicycle each. As

of 2012 there are nine bike locker locations with 82 lockers at transit stations and other strategic locations across the city. The project will continue to expand next year.

Post and Ring bike-parking program – This year, Transportation Services will begin retro-fitting all the posts with a new ring, designed to provide increased security.

THE BICYCLE STATION AT UNION STATION

A bicycle station is a secure, indoor bicycle parking facility that also functions as a location where customers can get information on bicycling, walking and public transit in Toronto.

There are 180 secure parking spaces available 24 hours a day/seven days a week, year round. During staffed hours, you can pick up information on Toronto’s cycling resources, as well as the Toronto Bike map. There is also a vending machine stocked with common bicycle necessities, like tubes and lights.

Whether you are commuting to work or just looking for a safe location to park your bike, the bicycle station at Union Station is the answer.

LOCATION AND HOURS The Toronto Bicycle Station is located at 61-75 York Street, on the west side of York Street, south of Front Street in

the York West Teamway. (The Teamway is an enclosed pedestrian walkway that passes under the railway tracks.)

The bicycle station is normally staffed between 8am and 4pm Monday to Friday.

MEMBERSHIP Having a membership at the bicycle station is reasonably priced and convenient. There is a one-time membership fee of $25. Then, you can choose either monthly or daily service to suit your needs. The benefits of an individual membership include: • 24-hour secure bicycle parking (using card entry) • Access to showers and lockers at a location nearby (additional cost for showers) • Use of the shared bike program (see terms) • 10% off bicycle parts and accessories (at participating local bike shops) • Discounts on services and events

BICYCLE PARKING FEES Daily Parking Fee: $2.

Non-members are granted access to the facility until closing time of the same day. This is only available during hours when the bicycle station is staffed.

Monthly Parking Fee: $20.

Members have 24-hour access. Bikes can be parked for the day or night but not stored for more than two days consecutively.

SERVICE FEES Lost card: $25.

Members will be charged to replace a lost access card. You must report lost cards immediately to allow staff to deactivate the lost card.

Daily Overstay Fee: $10.

Members will be charged for bicycles left in the bicycle station for longer than 48 hours.

Maximum Overstay Fee: $90.

Four-Month Parking Fee: $60.

Members have unlimited access for four months. Bicycles can be parked for the day or night but not stored for more than two days consecutively.

The maximum fee for bicycles left in the Toronto Bicycle Station.

IMPLEMENTING THE BIKE PLAN Staff from several City divisions and agencies are working to implement the Bike Plan. Transportation Services, City Planning and Parks, Forestry & Recreation as well as staff from Toronto Transit Commission share the primary responsibilities. While each division leads one or more of the key program areas, all work in close cooperation on many Bike Plan projects. Transportation Services Division is responsible for all roadway-related cycling infrastructure.

This includes bicycle parking, bicycle lanes, routes and multi-use paths within the road right-of-way. Parks, Forestry & Recreation Division is responsible for the planning and implementation of multiuse, off-road trails within the parks system. Cycling is one of the core uses of this trail system, which is also used by runners, in-line skaters and a variety of pedestrian users. City Planning is responsible for the bicycle promotion, safety and public education pro-

grams, including Bike Week, and coordinating CAN-BIKE cyclist training courses. Toronto Transit Commission is involved with programs that work to integrate cycling with public transit, like the Bike Rack on Buses program.

Cycling Advisory Committee is a citizen group whose purpose is to promote and enhance cycling within the City of Toronto by advising Council and its departments, agencies, boards, and commissions, on the development and delivery of bicycle policies, programs and facilities. The Chair of the Cycling Advisory Committee is Councillor Adrian Heaps.

OTHER CITY DIVISIONS AND AGENCIES INVOLVED IN BICYCLE-RELATED PROGRAMS. – Toronto Fire Services: Community Safety Week “Wheels in Motion” June 10–17.

– Toronto Police Services: ‘Use Your Melon’ bicycle helmet campaigns in

select schools; and the “Safe Cycling - Share the Responsibility” Annual Campaign, June 18 - June 24, 2013.

– Committee on Community Race & Ethnic Relations - Two-Wheel Drive Program: Bike mechanics training for at-risk-youth – Staff using bikes on the job: Police Bicycle Patrol, Emergency Medical Services, Parking Enforcement offi-

cers, Buildings Inspectors, Parks and Recreation staff, Bicycle Promotions and Bicycle Safety staff (City Planning), Pedestrian and Bicycle infrastructure staff (Transportation Services), and others.

– Staff CAN-BIKE training through Police Vehicle Operations, Emergency Medical Services, Parking Enforcement and Fleet Services

CYCLING AND TRANSIT Bike-and-ride expands the choices for non-auto trips. The Toronto Transit Commission ran a pilot project starting June 2005 to test bike racks on the front of city buses. In September 2006,

following a positive response from both cyclists and the general public, the TTC moved to expand the project by including bike racks on new bus purchases.

This year approximately 350 new buses

will have bike racks on them. The TTC is also looking into the possibility of equipping all other buses with bike racks.

More information: www.ttc.ca

FOR MORE INFORMATION Visit www.toronto.ca/cycling

FOR INFORMATION ON BIKE WEEK EVENTS: www.toronto.ca/bikeweek

TORONTO CITY GENERAL INQUIRIES: call 311

Designed by Kaitlyn Smith