The Toronto Environment Alliance (T.E.A.) www.torontoenvironment.org has released its Smog Report Card for 2005 and the City of Toronto was given a score of 4/20 for its efforts in implementing programs to support cyclists and pedestrians. (See media relsease.) That poor showing brought its overall grade down to C-.

"The bike network is the largest and most visible component of the Bike Plan, and it is woefully behind schedule..."

In previous years the Smog Report Card has highlighted understaffing and underfunding as a source of delay. In response the City Staff developed a beefed-up staffing and funding proposal for consideration by council.

Further, a new implementation problem has arisen. While council has approved the Bike Plan as a whole, it is reviewing each segment of the bike plan independently. This is delaying implementation and causing some sections of the proposed network to be eliminated.

You can see the entire report card at the following link: 2005 Toronto SMOG Report Card -PDF.

Whether or not the grade improves next year, 2006, will depend on whether the Mayor and Councillors get behind the proposals to increase the funding and staffing that will go before them in the City budget setting process that will start in November 2005. The Works committee has given the strategy for increasing resources for the bike plan an initial boost by endorsing it at their September 2005 meeting. (See previos article) In addition, at its November 2005 meeting, the Works committee is scheduled to consider an improved bike lane approval process that could overcome the road blocks that have delayed or prevented the construction of bike lane projects in the past.