We envision a city where people of all ages, abilities and income-levels can safely bike to work, where parents can feel comfortable allowing their children to bike to school, where everyone can breathe clean air, and where we all have realistic alternatives to automobile transportation. We believe that streets are for people, and that our public spaces are better used, and our communities healthier and more vibrant, when filled with pedestrians, cyclists, transit vehicles and trees.
A number of recent reports have shown that bicycles can be part of the solution to so many urban problems: obesity, diabetes, heart disease, asthma and bronchitis; climate change and smog; social isolation and stress; traffic congestion and crashes; noise pollution and limited public space.
But, few people are going to ride their bikes if they don't feel safe doing so.
Toronto city documents suggest that approximately 10,000 cyclists are injured in collisions with motor vehicles every year. Two thirds of these occur on the City's major arterials - core streets like Queen, King and Bloor. These are also some of the most popular routes for cyclists because they are long, direct and convenient. In fact, cyclists have been asking for safe bike facilities on Bloor St. for close to two decades!
Research from around the world demonstrates that cities will only be successful in reducing car/bike collisions and in increasing bicycle ridership if they provide safe, convenient and well-designed bike lanes along the routes that cyclists want to use.
So what are we waiting for???
We envision a city where people of all ages, abilities and income-levels can safely bike to work, where parents can feel comfortable allowing their children to bike to school, where everyone can breathe clean air, and where we all have realistic alternatives to automobile transportation. We believe that streets are for people, and that our public spaces are better used, and our communities healthier and more vibrant, when filled with pedestrians, cyclists, transit vehicles and trees.
A number of recent reports have shown that bicycles can be part of the solution to so many urban problems: obesity, diabetes, heart disease, asthma and bronchitis; climate change and smog; social isolation and stress; traffic congestion and crashes; noise pollution and limited public space.
But, few people are going to ride their bikes if they don't feel safe doing so.
Toronto city documents suggest that approximately 10,000 cyclists are injured in collisions with motor vehicles every year. Two thirds of these occur on the City's major arterials - core streets like Queen, King and Bloor. These are also some of the most popular routes for cyclists because they are long, direct and convenient. In fact, cyclists have been asking for safe bike facilities on Bloor St. for close to two decades!
Research from around the world demonstrates that cities will only be successful in reducing car/bike collisions and in increasing bicycle ridership if they provide safe, convenient and well-designed bike lanes along the routes that cyclists want to use.
So what are we waiting for???
We, the undersigned, believe that far too many cyclists are injured on Toronto's streets every year. These are predictable and preventable collisions that occur, year after year, at the same locations and on the same streets. Not only cyclists, but the health of all citizens, the quality of Toronto's environment, and the well-being of our communities are suffering as a result. We believe that it is past time to address this situation.
We envision a city where people of all ages, abilities and income-levels can safely bike to work, where parents can feel comfortable allowing their children to bike to school, where everyone can breathe clean air, and where we all have realistic alternatives to automobile transportation. We believe that streets are for people, and that our public spaces are better used, and our communities healthier and more vibrant, when filled with pedestrians, cyclists, transit vehicles and trees.
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5:50 pm PDT, Jul 5,
Jack Howard, Canada
It is good to see more and more bike trails and ways of getting around the city. With more and more bicycles on the roads, I feel that it is imperative that the bicycle be seen and treated as a significant means of transportation. I use my bicycle to go to and from work for most of the year (except the really snowy times) and feel much better for it. I am doing my part to help alleviate some of the congestion and the pollution. There needs to be a direct central route across the city for commuters like myself. The Danforth and Bloor Street are ideally situated for this. I urge Council to create a special bicycle lane along these streets, something similar to Dundas Street East where motor traffic is 'controlled', bicycles have their own lane and parking is available for cars all the time. Signed, Jack Howard |
