Bike plan stuck in low gear (Star)The Toronto bike plan is a 10-year action program, the heart of which is a commitment to build 1,000 kms of bicycle lanes by the end of 2011. The plan started in 2001 and total cost is $72.8 million. But so far, implementation has fallen far short of expectations. Last year only about 12 kilometres of bike lanes were added, putting the city even further behind schedule. And proposed funding levels – final numbers must still be approved by council – for 2006 to 2011 total only $26.5 million. (read on in the comments)
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Bold expansion goals aside, city's fiscal pledge is inadequate to meet promises on lagging Toronto bike plan, advocates say. The city is being accused of turning its back on its own environmental goals after the cycling committee had its funding target for bike lanes cut in half.
The committee had asked for $6 million and staff recommended $3 million. City council will decide the final amount when it approves the capital budget next month.
The staff decision would seem to fly in the face of the Toronto bike plan. The plan sets out a 10-year goal to increase the aggregate distance of bike lanes to 1,000 kilometres and double the number of bicycle trails, as part of a goal to reduce vehicular emissions.
Mayor David Miller made biking a priority during the November election campaign. His pamphlet pledged that by 2010 he would "construct bike trails and lakefront promenades across the city from Etobicoke to Scarborough."
The proposed funding "is decelerating the bike plan, not accelerating it," said cycling advocate Martin Koob.
"I think the proposed budget needs to be amended to reflect the mayor's mandate."
Last year, the Toronto Environmental Alliance issued a report on city efforts to fight smog and said the number
of bike lanes had doubled since the bike plan was introduced in 2001 but remained "a far cry from the 421 new kilometres of lanes originally promised within 10 years."
For cycling advocates, the slow progress is frustrating and mystifying.
"It's a no-brainer: cycling results in improved health both mentally and physically," Judy Adler said. "I do feel hopeful though, because over the last three months, the environment and climate change have hit the political radar screen."
More people would cycle in Toronto if there were more dedicated bike lanes and better trails through parks, said Ron Fletcher of the 900-member Toronto Bicycling Network.
"People will not cycle if they do not feel safe," he said.
At least one politician thought things will get better, now that staff have been hired to work on specific projects that face opposition from some residents.
"It's the community engagement that has to be done that takes up staff time," Councillor Adam Giambrone said. "You could say no to community engagement, we're just going to ram it through. We don't do that. And that's a good thing."
Councillor Shelley Carroll, the budget committee chair, said she'd like to see a bike trail built along a city-owned former rail line that runs through Don Mills.
"My constituents want that," said Carroll. "They could get on that thing near Leslie and Sheppard and pedal all the way through Don Mills without ever being on a road."
The problem has been a lack of staff, she said.
Where were these new 12 kms of bike lanes put in?... I thought most of it of were the seasonal offroad multi-use paths.
True. Martin Koob listed the 'progress' at 9.6k
which includes Strachan of course
2006 Bike Lanes added
Ok, that is good then. At that rate it should only take about 40 years to get 1000 kms of bike lane. Pretty good for a council that cannot sit together for a photo.
word is that bike lanes are being put in the rouge vally on highway #2
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