The Toronto Department of Works and Emergency Services has sent out a message to cyclists in the City asking them to walk their bikes through the construction site on the Queen Street bridge that spans the Don River. The message is quoted below

There are signs posted

and messages painted on the sidewalk.

The message from the City is quoted below.

Queen Street bridge is being rehabilitated over the next several weeks. The bridge is closed to all motor vehicular traffic but we are maintaining pedestrian access (a very narrow sidewalk) during the construction period - now it's on the north side and later will be on the south side. Cyclists are advised to walk their bikes (we started with signs at the entrances and later spray painted the message on the bridge sidewalk). This is a very busy pedestrian route and pedestrians must be given priority over cyclists across the bridge during the construction period. The sidewalk is just too narrow to share with cyclists.

Unfortunately many (probably most) cyclists are ignoring the message and are riding on the sidewalk and causing considerable discomfort to pedestrians. I have received several complaints and our construction engineer has also received complaints. One elderly woman told me over the phone that she doesn't feel safe on the bridge sidewalk anymore and is now walking a long way out of her way to cross the river on Dundas Street.

Please heed this request. The Works and Emergency Services Department is doing a good job of trying to make sure that cyclists are accomodated when there are construction projects. Take the Martin Goodman Trail reconstruction currently going on near the Western Beaches for example. They have cordoned off a lane of traffic that cyclists can use. Please reciprocate by walking your bike through this area and respecting the pedestrians using the bridge. Also if you notice other cyclists not getting off their bikes, remind them to be considerate.

Due to the complaints there will be Police officers showing up at the site to remind cyclists to walk their bike and ultimately give tickets. Their goal will not be to issue lots of tickets but to have people obey the posted signs.

It is reported that you can walk across the bridge in 90 second ans while doing that you can look out at the river or watch the construction. If you want to avoid the area entirely you can detour down to Lakshore Blvd. and try the new path along Lakeshore Blvd. and the new bridge over the Don River. Alternately you can ride up to Dundas and cross there.