ShonTron
Moderator
Yes. It always struck me as odd there being so many northbound on-ramps without corresponding off-ramps.
The Dundas ramp is easily the most expendable.
|
|
|
- Thread starter MetroMan
- Start date
Yes. It always struck me as odd there being so many northbound on-ramps without corresponding off-ramps.
The Dundas ramp is easily the most expendable.
Admiral Beez
Superstar
Agreed. And its removal would reduce the vehicular traffic at River and Dundas, making it more a community street rather than commuter road. As a local I never use the Dundas on-ramp since you’re stuck on River for a half dozen traffic signal sequences, or you’re trying to turn left at Sumach and Dundas. And, back on topic, deleting the ramp would allow the curb separated bike lane to run uninterrupted from Munro to River. It’s a win win for everyone.
Last edited:
StreetcarRider
New Member
Admiral Beez
Superstar
I agree. If there’s one disappointment it’s that there is still no way to travel between the Don trail and the Bayview bike lane between Pottery Road and the Bala Underpass at the bottom of Corktown. So, if you’re cycling along Rosedale Valley Road there’s really no way to get to the Don trail. A split ramp or stairway at this bridge could have connected them both.
StreetcarRider
New Member
An elegant solution would be a bike/ped extension of Pottery Road eastward, with a level crossing of the train tracks and a bridge over the river, connecting to the Don Trail just north of the existing railway underpass beside the DVP. While level crossings present safety issues, there is one already for these tracks at Pottery Road.
But we probably can't have nice things on a timely basis. So we'll probably get a hole in the chainlink fence that currently prevents access to Bayview from the baseball fields in Riverdale Park West on the Cabbagetown side. Such a hole would effectively connect the bike/ped path on the west side of Bayview to the existing pedestrian bridge over the DVP and rail corridor, and therefore also the Don Trail.
DSCToronto
Superstar
Connections are good but I really wonder how many people want to go from the Bayview Bike Lanes to the Lower Don trail in this area. How hard is to to use the Bayview route from Rosedale Valley to either Bala or Pottery?
MisterF
Senior Member
The whole interface between Bayview and Riverdale Park West is so puzzling. It appears to be a leftover of Bayview essentially being a highway and isolated from the park accordingly. But now that Bayview has been humanized that isolation makes no sense. It really should be redesigned to open up that whole frontage to the street. It would make the Bayview bike lanes a lot more accessible to not only to the park and the bridge, but the entire Cabbagetown neighbourhood.
Admiral Beez
Superstar
An underpass like the Bala at Corktown would be ideal.
StreetcarRider
New Member
Some fencing is probably a good idea to keep sports equipment, children and pets from accidentally ending up on Bayview, but some break in the fencing surely makes sense now.
Underpasses are an issue in this location because of flooding. It's not just when the river floods. The low-lying lands in Riverdale Park West flood at least once a year, when there is too much rainfall or melting ice/snow for the ground to absorb (so does Riverdale Park East). The Bala underpass is possible because the railway is elevated there.
UntitledCyclist
Active Member
I'm not too sure about opening this up. Like I would support it if it was carefully designed and built, but the way these "lanes" were put in is fundamentally quick-build and not very permanent or safe feeling. The curbs and bollards are fine for cyclists, and you could argue it's equivalent to a curb on any city street, but somehow the lack of storefronts or businesses, street furniture like benches, poles, bike racks and hydrants and most of all the lack of any buffer zone, makes these lanes feel very vulnerable. I believe these are designated multi-use, and there are some walk/bike logos on parts, but I don't see many pedestrians walking here. I can imagine park users being very wary of kids running out an open fence to this "sidewalk" with narrow car lanes and traffic moving at speed a few inches away.
TwoWheelPoli
Active Member
Marlee 4 Kids is encouraging people who support the Beltline Gap Connections project to attend one of two roundtables for Growing Marlee-Glencairn happening TOMORROW (2:30 PM and 6:30 PM) at Columbus Centre (901 Lawrence Avenue West) to show their support for building the Beltline Gap.
www.toronto.ca
Growing Marlee-Glencairn
The City is studying the area around Glencairn Subway Station and Marlee Avenue to guide growth, align with provincial density requirements around transit stations, and provide for a resilient and inclusive complete community. Please see below to learn more about the Growing Marlee-Glencairn...
www.toronto.ca
Coolibop
Active Member
Unsuprisingly this sudden detour has stirred some feathers out East. Some apparently were using the bridge to get to/from work: Some at the Abbeywood retirement home were commuting locally from Port union for example. Local politicians were set to have a meeting this past week and are asking for further requests to keep it open.
I'm unsure what exactly the nature of the work requiring the closure of the bridge for over a year...
UntitledCyclist
Active Member
I went, and as discussed offline this was an absolute sh*tshow of brigading, rageful residents who shouted down the speaker and didn't want to hear the presentation. Apparently the later roundtable with Coun. Colle was even worse, as he riled up the crowd with a rambling, anti-development speech. What a time. Not much focus on bike lanes, but the maps provided did show the approved (but paused) Marlee-Beltline connection project and the planners voiced support under both iterations of their transformation plan. They also have plans for the Allen Greenway on both sides the highway, and for a variety of side-street bike routes. Lawrence West was also mentioned as a bike lane street, but will likely not proceed in the wake of Bill 60. There are some better thoughts and images on freshly made forum for the Marlee/Glencain Transformation!Marlee 4 Kids is encouraging people who support the Beltline Gap Connections project to attend one of two roundtables for Growing Marlee-Glencairn happening TOMORROW (2:30 PM and 6:30 PM) at Columbus Centre (901 Lawrence Avenue West) to show their support for building the Beltline Gap.
Growing Marlee-Glencairn
The City is studying the area around Glencairn Subway Station and Marlee Avenue to guide growth, align with provincial density requirements around transit stations, and provide for a resilient and inclusive complete community. Please see below to learn more about the Growing Marlee-Glencairn...
TwoWheelPoli
Active Member
Pickering City Council voted in favour of a motion on Monday urging Parks Canada to reopen that Rouge River bridge connecting Pickering to Toronto.
DSCToronto
Superstar
City Council approved the Cycle Plan - with amendments that others may be able to evaluate. https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2025.IE26.6