On June 3rd, TCAT will be addressing the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee on the following four issues:

1. Motorized Bicycles on Sidewalks. TCAT supports the Toronto Pedestrian Committee's recommendation that no bicycle that includes a motor of any kind be allowed to travel on the sidewalk. For more info, see this recent Toronto Star article.

According to Deputy Mayor Joe Pantalone, the proposed Strachan Avenue super-bridge we told you about in a recent TCAT News has been averted. While the details of what the new structure will look like are still not fully worked out, Metrolinx's new proposed plans promises to address the issue of creating a cycling and pedestrian friendly corridor between the Waterfront and the surrounding neighbourhoods.

At the May 11th meeting of the Toronto Cycling Advisory Committee, Daniel Egan, Manager of Pedestrian Infrastructure, gave a 45-minute presentation about upcoming plans for improving Toronto's bikeway network. There are some very exciting options being considered, including...

With very little fanfare, the City of Toronto has recently announced that it will launch a public bike program operational by the spring of 2010. Toronto's program is to start with approximately 3000 bicycles, which would make it the biggest installation in North America! If you're excited about the idea, you may want to join in the on-line discusssion happening on ibiketo.

Waterfront Toronto recently held public consultations to reveal the plans for the redesign of Queen's Quay. What is particularly exciting is that the plans call for two traffic lanes to be removed and to be replaced by wide pedestrian boulevards and a continuous off-street Martin Goodman Trail, completing the Lake Ontario Trail.

Roncesvalles will be reconstructed in 2009-10 and the community is actively involved in debating how to best balance the needs of everyone who uses the street. To find out more about the design proposals being considered and to comment on how to best incorporate walking and cycling into the process, go here.

Metrolinx is currently hosting community open houses about the
expansion of the Georgetown South Rail Corridor between Malton and
Union Station. Thanks to our readers for alerting us to the importance
of this opportunity for ensuring that space for active transportation
is provided for during the planning stages of this expansion. Metrolinx
needs to hear from the community that it's important to do so.

A couple of issues to consider:

Building on the success of Bike Summit 2008,
which attracted over 180 attendees, TCAT is very pleased to announce
Bike Summit 2009 to take place in Toronto on May 28, 2009. With initial
sponsorship provided by the Bicycle Trade Association of Canada, the
Clean Air Partnership and the City of Toronto, TCAT will once again
take the lead planning and coordinating this event.

The Bike Summit is a one-day international policy conference to share
best practices for making communities great cycling environments.

Waterfront Toronto in partnership with the City of Toronto is currently
undertaking an environmental assessment for the revitalization of
Queens Quay Boulevard from Lower Spadina Avenue to Lower Jarvis Street.
This study is exploring how to implement long standing City policy
objectives including revitalizing Queens Quay into a scenic waterfront
drive and completing the Martin Goodman Trail which today is absent
through the central waterfront.

Waterfront Toronto is holding a public meeting to present the design alternatives: 

The City of Toronto has undertaken a study to create a Master Plan
for the Western Waterfront. The study area covers a 4 km-long stretch
of the Western Waterfront between the Humber River and Marilyn Bell
Park. Recommendations will be made about the type and location of park
facilities that meet a range of community needs, as well as
improvements to the transportation, transit and pedestrian links with
surrounding neighbourhoods.