I'm in the same boat. When I moved into the Danforth neighbourhood, the bike lanes made trips safer and more appealing. Then having kids, I enjoy piling them in the bike trailer to go to school, get groceries, do ballet drop-offs, and adventure in the Don Valley. Using the Bayview lanes to get to the YMCA in Canary District is great. The lane on Danforth to Bloor and across is exceptional for trips into the city center with the kids. I use Adelaide and Richmond often since I work in the east end and can get across the city fast that way to meetings. Going south, Sherbourne is great. I am extremely excited to see the addition of the cycle track on the Eastern Avenue bridge. It's an extremely dangerous crossing by bike and it will make me more confident with the kids in tow getting from the east side to the city center. It's also a spot where there are speed traps on both sides of the bridge constantly, as drivers utilize the environment of 4-6 lanes to accelerate before taking the on ramp, or trying to make a light at Broadview. I'm very excited for the Logan Ave lanes-Broadview-Hopedale-Millwood so we can have another safe bike connection across the Don Valley.
I still drive often, but every time I use my bike I view it as removing one car from that day's traffic and hence helping with car congestion. Additionally, because I can access local groceries and shops, I order less online and hopefully remove some of the delivery drive car traffic from roads as well.
I wouldn't say I've always felt this way, but certainly, after having kids I began noticing how hard it is for them to get around safely with so many cars everywhere, parked or driving. The environment created with car lanes is very nerve-racking for a parent. We often don't consider the ability of young people to get around their city or town on their own. Bike lanes are great not just for that, but for learning to bike in a safe environment.
Back to infrastructure, the painted lines are in on Broadview from Cosborn to Hopedale. I had thought they were supposed to be protected not just painted. Interestingly, this project does take away a lane, but technically it was mostly street parking, so hard to say.
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