August 17, 2009

11 Aug 2009

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Recent TCAT activities and news items:

  1. TCAT is Hiring - Help spread the word!
  2. City Council Adopts 2009 Bikeway Network Program and Public Bicycle Contract; Refers Licensing and Helmets
  3. TCAT Program Director at Canadian Society of Landscape Architects Annual Conference
  4. Bikes and Films! Bicycle Film Festival & TCAT's Screening of Veer - Aug 27
  5. Complete Streets Meeting - Aug 31

1. TCAT is Hiring - Help spread the word!

TCAT is looking for a researcher on a short-term contract to assist in a review and update of TCAT's platform. The work includes undergoing a review of progress made during the current term of Toronto City Council, determining what work still needs to be done, identifying emerging and state-of-the art transportation practices for possible application in Toronto, and revising the TCAT platform accordingly.

Please help us find a suitable candidate by forwarding the job posting, or applying yourself!

To read the job posting click here. The deadline for applications is Friday, September 4th.

2. Toronto City Council Adopts 2009 Bikeway Network Program and Public Bicycle Contract; Refers Licensing and Helmets

Toronto City Council held a special meeting on August 5 and 6th to make up for July's meetings that were cancelled as a result of the strike. There were several items about bicycles on the agenda, including:

  • Adopted, with some amendments, the "2009 Bikeway Network Program - Installation of Bicycle Lanes" that was approved on June 3rd at the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee. City Council approved the installation of 7 new bicycle lanes, 11 contra-flow bicycle lanes, and the completion of the Ward 17 Hydro Corridor ravine bike trail.
  • Authorized the General Manager, Transportation Services, to undertake negotiations with the Public Bicycle System Company to develop a proposal to implement and operate a Toronto public bicycle system to be launched in spring 2010.
  • Referred the bicycle helmet and licensing motions mentioned in the last TCAT News to the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee (PWIC). These motions were put forward by Councillor Walker and seconded by Councillor Hall. The first motion titled "Bicycle Safety: All Cyclists Must Wear Helmets" can be read here and the second motion titled "Bicycle Safety: Cyclist Licensing" can be read here. TCAT will prepare a submission to PWIC to address both of these motions. They will likely be considered at PWIC's next meeting on Sep 14th but the agenda for that meeting has not yet been set. Once the agenda is available it can be accessed here. 

The entire City of Toronto Decision Document from the Aug 5/6 meeting can be downloaded here.

3. TCAT Program Director at Canadian Society of Landscape Architects Annual Conference

Nancy Smith Lea, Program Director for the Toronto Coalition for Active Transportation, was invited to speak at the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects Annual Conference in the session "Removing Highways, Building Cities" about reducing barriers to active transportation. On August 13th at the Sheraton Centre in Toronto, Nancy spoke alongside renowned architects John Amodeo, who spoke about Boston's Big Dig, where a mile-long swath of new parks now sits above a new highway tunnel, and Ken Greenberg who described Boston's Crossroads Initiative and how this approach could be used in Toronto to address some of the current problems with access to the waterfront for cyclists and pedestrians.

Both Ken Greenberg and Nancy Smith Lea addressed pros and cons of dismantling Toronto's Gardiner Expressway since, as reported previously in TCAT News, Waterfront Toronto is currently studying the feasibility of removing the Gardiner Expressway between Jarvis and Logan.

In addition to barriers that the Gardiner presents to active transportation, Nancy examined first-hand experiences faced by cyclists and pedestrians and showed a video that documents challenges in crossing Highway 401 from the handlebars of a bicycle.

Solutions around highways being implemented in other cities were also shown. One recent good news example is the opening last week of new separated bike lanes under the Manhattan bridge in New York City. The new bike lanes are intended to protect cyclists from on-ramp traffic to the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway.

The bike lanes are unoficially named the Budnick Bikeway, since they are installed in the location where Noah Budnick was critically injured on his bike four years ago. Some of you may remember Noah, a senior policy advisor with Transportation Alternatives, from his visit to Toronto last year hosted by TCAT. Congratulations to Noah, Transportation Alternatives and the NYC Department of Transportation on the great progress being made to improve conditions for cyclists!

4. Bikes and Films! Bicycle Film Festival & TCAT's Screening of Veer - Aug 27

August in Toronto is the place to be for anyone who loves bicycles and films. This week the 9th Annual Bicycle Film Festival returns to Toronto with a great line-up of films. Then on Thursday Aug 27th @ 8 pm at CineCycle, 129 Spadina Avenue, join TCAT for a special screening of Veer, an award-winning, full-length documentary on community based cycling activism. Tickets are $8 -- line up early to ensure your seat!

5. Complete Streets Meeting - Aug 31

TCAT is working on a new initiative with the Toronto Cyclists Union to get a Complete Streets policy adopted in Toronto and beyond. A Complete Street is a roadway designed and operated to enable safe, attractive, and comfortable access and travel for all users. The Complete Streets Coalition in the U.S. has made excellent progress in its movement to have Complete Streets policies adopted throughout the U.S. With 20 policies adopted since January this year alone, there are now close to 100 jurisdictions with Complete Streets policies. It's time to get this movement happening in Canada!

If you would like to help out with this initiative, please send an email to be added to our contact list. The first meeting will be Monday Aug 31st @ 7 p.m. Location to be determined.

Cycling-related events:

Walking-related events:

If you know of other cycling or pedestrian related calendars to include, please let us know by e-mailing info@tcat.ca

TCAT News - Help spread the word!

TCAT is continually looking to increase its list of supporters. It helps to be able to say how many people and organizations support the work we do when we speak with City Councillors, City staff, and the media, or put out a publication. Please send this message to any groups or individuals you think would be interested in learning more about TCAT, receiving our weekly e-Bulletin, or volunteering with TCAT.

To learn more about TCAT, visit our web site at www.tcat.ca, e-mail info@tcat.ca or call 416.392.0290

To subscribe to TCAT News, click here

Please consider making a financial contribution to support TCAT's work. To find out how to make a charitable donation, click here.