Safer Walking & Cycling

Safe local roads make our neighbourhoods more livable and will protect lives. Using a system-level approach, let's continue to update how we think about the use of our streets. 

What We've Done

• Lowering the speed limit on all local roads to 30km/h­—paving the way for this change to take effect all over the city
• Updating the speed warrant system so that it’s easier to access traffic calming measures, like stop signs and speed bumps
• Using the opportunity presented by the King / Queen / Queensway / Roncesvalles state of good repair work to create a better designed intersection and increase green space

Our Work Ahead

• Upgrades at the Dundas St W / Dupont St / Annette St / Old Weston Rd intersection to better direct vehicles and encourage safer road use for all
• Reviewing more intersections to make neighbourhoods safer for all
• Basing road design on Complete Streets principles to build more bike lanes, improve walkability, and reduce conflicts between road users

No matter how you travel through the city, you should feel safe. Bikeways on Bloor have boosted active transportation use, increased economic activity at local businesses, and make streets safer for all. Connected cycling infrastructure is an important part of meeting our city’s climate targets.

What We've Done

• Expanded Bike Lanes on Bloor St W to Runnymede Rd, enhancing cycling infrastructure and safety for all road users.
• Introduced improved cycling connections at the King / Queen / Queensway / Roncesvalles intersection as part of state of good repair work

Our Work Ahead

• As part of the 2022-2024 Bike Plan, we’re moving forward to extend the bikeway to Royal York Rd in 2023, and from there to Six Points in 2024.
• Completing the Bloor Bikeway connection between Dundas St W & Lansdowne Ave after ongoing construction
• Studying residential bikeways on residential streets in Roncesvalles Village
• Studying bikeways near Jane St & Dundas St W as part of the Scarlett Road Bridge project
• Renewing cycle tracks on Annette Street, Humbercrest Blvd, & Old Mill Dr

Every day, people who live near Parkside Drive have to contend with unsafe conditions. We have worked over the years on the dangerous speeding on Parkside, but there is still work to do. I will be continuing to work with community leaders to accelerate and expand our plan.

What We've Done

November 2021

• Parkside Drive Safety Measures (City Council member motion MM37.1)
• Speed limit reduction from 50 kilometres per hour to 40 kilometres per hour on Parkside Drive between Bloor Street West and Lakeshore Boulevard West.
• Installation of permanent “Watch Your Speed” signs on Parkside Drive.

April 2022

• Installation of an Automated Speed Enforcement camera on Parkside Drive.

May 2022

• High Park Movement Strategy Interim Report (Infrastructure and Environment Committee item IE30.16)

July 2022

• Launch of the Parkside Drive Study, to collect community feedback on potential further changes.

The Work Ahead

• Installation of traffic signal on Parkside Drive at Geoffrey Street. The signal is anticipated to be operational by the end of 2022.
• Planned installation of a temporary asphalt sidewalk on the west side of Parkside Drive between Spring Road and just north of the Queensway underpass.
• Installation of a traffic signal on Parkside Drive just north of The Queensway to allow for safe pedestrian crossing to the TTC bus stop (Community Council item TE34.142).
• Planned installation of pay-and-display parking spots on the west side of Parkside Drive between Spring Road and north of the underpass once the sidewalk is installed (Community Council item TE34.142).

The Western Waterfront Master Plan will connect our community to the Waterfront and create more opportunities for recreation, as well as improving pedestrian and bicycle access.

The plan proposes:

• improved public access to the waterfront
• expanded recreation options along the waterfront
• extensive public open spaces that provide physical and visual connections to Lake Ontario with beaches, parks, and natural areas
• enhanced cohesiveness of the public realm
• north-south pedestrian and cyclist crossings
• enhancements to the Martin Goodman Trail
• expanded beaches with improved water quality
• more opportunities for water-based recreation

At Council, I requested an updated report and implementation plan for the Western Waterfront Master Plan and will continue to champion a renewed vision for pedestrian and cyclist access to our waterfront. 

The High Park Movement Strategy will rethink the travel network serving High Park in the context of the city’s growing population, changing travel patterns, and the impacts of COVID-19. The goal is to improve mobility within the park, while prioritizing safety, accessibility and the park’s ecological integrity. The study will also explore interim solutions that can be delivered in the short term.

What We've Done

• During the pandemic, we introduced car-free weekends in High Park as part of ActiveTO. 
• Building on the success of this project, we have created the High Park Movement Strategy, which is in the process of reimaging the travel networks of the park to improve mobility while ensuring the park can be enjoyed safely by everyone. I believe that we can make our parks and transportation routes safer by design, instead of relying on enforcement. If you're interested in being part of the conversation about High Park's future, please click here.
• The work on Parkside Drive has also been integrated into the High Park Movement Strategy, making sure that the movement strategy is taking into consideration how people move around the park as well.

The Work Ahead

•  To achieve safer, usable, and world-class infrastructure for our community and the whole City of Toronto--where cyclists, pedestrians and transit users use road space harmoniously--we must work together. We must fix these issues through safe and complete design of our roads, parks, and neighbourhoods. I am encouraging everyone join the conversation and be part of achieving that goal, which I'm sure is shared priority of many people in our community.

Ongoing

I acknowledge the concern regarding Toronto Police Services recent actions in High Park. One of the most important democratic foundations that must be protected is the separation of individual politicians from directing individual officers on how to enforce the law. This is to prevent the police from turning into a political instrument for individual elected officials. Council and Councillors are therefore legally forbidden from directing the police and why it's important that every citizen raise their concerns directly with the Chief of Police and the Police Service Board.

Decisions on specific deployment of Police officers is the responsibility of Chief of Police James Ramer, who is overseen by the Toronto Police Services Board. To voice your concerns, contact the Chief of Police at o[email protected]. You can also contact the Chair of the Toronto Police Services Board through their website Toronto Police Services Board - Contact Us.