Faraz Gholizade stands outside his home on Parkside Drive.
On the same day the Ontario government announced restrictions on future municipal bike lanes, Toronto city staff released a report calling for bike lanes on a busy west-end road with a history of crashes.A dangerous stretch of Parkside Drive could see a redesign that city staff say will make the road safer. Proposed changes include a 3.8-kilometre two-way cycle track.
The changes would reduce the number of vehicle lanes to two from three on much of the road. City staff estimate it would take an extra one to three minutes during peak hours to traverse the stretch, with southbound traffic during the morning commute being impacted most.Residents near High Park are asking the city to move faster on implementing changes to make Parkside Drive safer.
Faraz Gholizadeh stands outside his home on Parkside Drive. Gholizadeh says residents have been waiting for these changes for years to improve safety for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists. "We have been working as a community for years to make this street safer, and I would be appalled if the premier of Ontario ... decided that saving a couple of minutes in traffic time was more important than saving lives," said Coun. Gord Perks, who represents Ward 4, Parkdale-High Park.
After that crash, councillors also reduced the speed limit to 40 km/h from 50 km/h, added speed cameras, new traffic signals and signs telling motorists to reduce speed, as well as curb lane parking at all times, when previously parking was prohibited. "The proposed changes balance the space requirements for proposed cycle track, motor vehicle travel lanes, and curb lane parking, fitting within the existing curb to curb space," the report states.
Mayor Olivia Chow said she will defer to the committee and local councillor before making a decision about the proposed changes. But she reiterated her opposition to the province's bike lane legislation.
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