Things always seem to move more slowly in the summer, but we finally have the survey results from our June meeting (PDF) online. Of the attendees who filled out our survey, 69% shop by bike and 41% cycle year-round.The biggest barriers to cycling identified by our survey are bike lanes/safe routes (83%) and secure parking (68%). Read the complete results in the PDF linked above.
We’re currently using the survey results and other information we gathered at (and since) our June meeting to plan our activities for the next few months. Stay tuned!
Luke Siragusa and the rest of the Ward 29 Bikes team recently produced a professional-quality report (PDF) highlighting the safety issues faced by cyclists on the Bloor Viaduct. Conflict zones with cars exist at both ends of the Viaduct in both directions of travel, making this extremely popular cycling route less safe than it should be.
Luke’s report details the shortcomings of the Viaduct’s cycling infrastructure and offers simple, inexpensive solutions that can be applied in other conflict zones across the city.
It’s a shame that Toronto has let such dangerous conditions persist for so long when many of the fixes that Luke proposes come from the city’s very own bike lane guidelines and standards. Nevertheless, we have real opportunities here to raise awareness among cyclists, show City Hall what’s possible when citizens are engaged, and to improve a conflict zone between cyclists and motorists. Even pedestrians would benefit from improvements at both the east and west ends of the Viaduct.
Luke will deliver a brief presentation about his report to the Toronto Cycling Advisory Committee meeting shortly after 7:00 p.m. on Monday January 19, 2009 in Committee Room 2 in City Hall. We hope to see the report’s recommendations adopted this year.