October 13, 2024 - The Bloor West Complete Street Extension, including bike lanes — between Runnymede Road and Kipling Avenue — has been a real success, but it remains in danger as it continues to face angry opposition in some parts of the area.
Please join us at a Town Hall on Wednesday, October 16, 2024 at 7:00 pm to show your support for safe roads.
Space is limited. Please REGISTER AT THIS LINK to secure your spot.
This is your opportunity — especially if you live in Etobicoke or regularly visit the Bloor West Complete Street Ext — to show your support for the project, and for local councillor/Deputy Mayor, Amber Morley, a steadfast supporter of road safety.
Community Meeting
Ward 3 Councillor Amber Morley
Bloor West Complete Street Extension
7:00 pm, October 16, 2024
Etobicoke Collegiate, 86 Montgomery Road
Agenda
6:30pm – Registration opens – Please arrive at Door 3 for access to auditorium [space is limited; please register in advance]
7:00-8:15pm – Town Hall (Auditorium) – Ask your questions directly to Councillor Morley and City staff! This panel will be moderated by a professional facilitator from LURA consulting.
8:30-9:30pm – Feedback Session (Cafeteria) – Share your specific feedback about the project installation through activities and maps facilitated by Councillor Morley, her team, and City staff so we can make this project better, together!
FACTS (not myths)
• Fact: Complete Streets are not just about bike lanes; they are about reducing car and truck speeds, decreasing road crossing distances for pedestrians, and providing a safety buffer for the sidewalk to protect people on foot, including parents with strollers, children, and seniors.
• Fact: Bike lanes keep cyclists off of sidewalks. On Bloor at Royal York the number of cyclists on the sidewalk fell from 30% of riders (pre-bike lane) to 4% after bike lane installation. A similar reduction in sidewalk riding has been documented across the corridor.
• Fact: Studies on Bloor Street by The Centre for Active Transportation and the City of Toronto, as well as in studies in other cities confirm the benefits to local businesses of bike lanes.
• Fact: Spurious claims that bike lanes are the cause of delays for emergency vehicles have been refuted by EMS and fire officials.
• Fact: Bike counts by the City of Toronto and Community Bikeways show a significant increase in the number of people riding bikes on Bloor. On Bloor at Royal York, there was an 80% increase in the number of cyclists relative to pre-bike lane numbers a year earlier. A similar increase was recorded on Bloor at Islington.
• Fact: Complete Streets create safer, quieter, healthier neighbourhoods.
Check out this video for a look at the dangerous configuration of Bloor Street West before the Complete Streets installation.
On October 16, please join us to show your support for a safe Bloor Street West.
Sincerely,
Robert Pylypiw, Member – We Belong on Bloor Campaign (Etobicoke South Cycling Committee)
Albert Koehl, Coordinator – Community Bikeways