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- Thread starter MetroMan
- Start date
W. K. Lis
Superstar
Northern Light
Superstar
Found another image I can add in respect of the Rosedale Valley Road Trail Project:
However, since the above isn't terribly readable at this size, I will post it in blown up sections:
However, since the above isn't terribly readable at this size, I will post it in blown up sections:
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Admiral Beez
Superstar
Can someone explain why the bike lanes on Gerrard stop between River and Parliament? The road is about the same width before River and after Parliament.
mike0001
New Member
I don't have an explanation but it actually ends before Parliament (at Berkeley) and there aren't even any sharrows beyond that point. Also, the stretch between Sherbourne and Parliament is a really rough ride.
Perhaps it's due for an upgrade along with road resurfacing and will match the design of the "new" (from 2017?) section between Jarvis and Sherbourne.
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H4F33Z
Active Member
Simply not wide enough for the existing config + bike lanes. Also, streetcar tracks get in the way of permanent road changes. Perhaps an ActiveTO initiative from Dundas would work in the meantime?
A snippet from a convo a month ago by Owen.
A snippet from a convo a month ago by Owen.
W. K. Lis
Superstar
In Europe, they got rid of automobiles entirely in their downtown cities. Then there would be room.
Northern Light
Superstar
Uhhh, this is largely not accurate.
A small number of cities have restricted auto-access in a few city-centre blocks, this is not the prevailing norm across Europe.
Paris, Rome, Madrid, Berlin are all full of cars in/near their City-Centres.
Now, its certainly true we're seeing a trend away from that, which is great.
But its important not to exaggerate.
evandyk
Senior Member
It's not the "prevailing trend", but it's not just a small number of cities either. Cities I've been to which have very restricted car access in the very centre (even if only a few blocks) include Dijon, Bologna, Modena, Parma, Catania, Siracusa, Avignon, Aix, Bergamo, Pau, Bayonne, Biarritz, Carcassonne, Seville, Avila, Girona, Ferrara, Granada, Warsaw, Antwerp, Bruges, Krakow, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Pamplona, Bilbao, Toledo, Florence, Siena, etc. That's off the top of my head, there are probably lots more.
Yeah, none of those have gotten rid of cars entirely in their downtown cities (however you define that). But they all have many more pedestrian-only streets than any in Canada.
Yeah, none of those have gotten rid of cars entirely in their downtown cities (however you define that). But they all have many more pedestrian-only streets than any in Canada.
nfitz
Superstar
Not just Europe - Times Square in New York City comes to mind, where Broadway (I think - not bothering to check) is blocked.
And then there's Esplanade ...
And then there's Esplanade ...
evandyk
Senior Member
Tons of cities have one or two streets. Even LA has some in Santa Monica! But the cities I'm referring to have at least a small network in the downtown core. Not necessarily where cars are blocked entirely, but access limited to deliveries, residents and taxis.
Northern Light
Superstar
I wasn't deriding the idea; I'm very pro road-diet.
My point was not to exaggerate, I countered this statement:
My correction stands, as the statement above is demonstrably wrong.
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As a curious note, btw; I'd have to look into this more before making a robust statement; but I'm near certain Toronto has cut more lane-km of car lanes, in its downtown, than the majority of cities on the above list
Bloor, Wellesley, Gerrard, Shuter, Queen's Quay, Peter, Simcoe, University, Sherbourne, and River have all lost a vehicle lane in each direction, in the last decade or so.
Richmond and Adelaide have lost 1 lane each.
That's 28 lane-km east of Yonge St. alone
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Don't get me wrong, its not enough, not even close............but its also a lot more than most people realize has happened.
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evandyk
Senior Member
But I think the important point is that there is a fairly large number of European cities with a network of streets in the downtown core that are set aside for pedestrians. Some of this is due to practicality, due to medieval walls and narrow streets (e.g. Ferrara, Carcassone, Toledo, etc.), some are very small areas (e.g. Bologna, Catania, Parma), and some are actually pretty extensive relative to the size of the city (e.g. Dijon, Siracusa)
Other than the Distillery, does Toronto have any commercial streets that are not open to cars?
Other than the Distillery, does Toronto have any commercial streets that are not open to cars?
nfitz
Superstar
Like Broadway in New York City between West 45th and West 47th (now you've made me look at a map!).
I wouldn't call Esplanade and Sherbourne, the Distillery!
There's certainly small bits. Market Street north of Front. Gould Street, Victoria Street north of Dundas ...