As reported in a recent TCAT News, at its meeting on June 23, 2011 the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee made several recommendations regarding Toronto's 2011 Bikeway Network Update. On July 12 and 13, 2011, Toronto City Council spent close to 12 hours debating a myriad and complicated bundle of items and motions. Since the decisions to build new off-road trails and Toronto's first physically separated bike lanes (on Bloor St. E., Sherbourne, Wellesley and Adelaide or Richmond) were combined with the controversial elimination of bike lanes, several Councillors made unsuccessful attempts to amend the wording of the motions, or to separate them out.

While the bikeway decisions were a mixed bag, at its July 13 2011 meeting, City Council approved two important decisions to improve pedestrian safety.

The item featured in a recent TCAT News, Bike Lane Projects On Hold or Cancelled, listed Rogers Road as one of several bike lanes to be eliminated (City Council are voting on this TODAY.)

On June 23, Toronto's Public Works and Infrastructure Committee (PWIC), made several recommendations regarding bicycles to be voted on at City Council on July 12/13, 2011.

TCAT is currently undergoing a survey of all City of Toronto mayoral, councillor and school trustee candidates.

TCAT previously surveyed all City of Toronto municipal candidates in the lead up to the 2006 Municipal Elections. TCAT created an Active Transportation Platform that identified actions for the next City Council to take to support active transportation.

Last week, City Council approved the installation of “No Right Turn on Red” regulations at 5 downtown intersections. Prohibiting right turns on red at these intersections is required in order to install bike boxes and pedestrian scrambles, similar to those already in place at Yonge-Bloor and Yonge-Dundas.

On June 22nd, Toronto and East York Community Council voted unanimously to a report authorizing right turn on red prohibitions at four intersections in order to install bike boxes. The report also included a fifth intersection (Bay-Bloor) where right turns on red will be prohibited when the pedestrian scramble is installed. Prohibiting right turns on reds is critical to improving both the safety of cyclists and pedestrians.

On Tuesday, May 11th, City Council approved the public bike share program by 33-8. The program will be run by Montreal’s Bixi and will start with 1,000 bikes at 80 stations located throughout the downtown. More information available in the Toronto Star and IBikeT.O.