The 2006 version of the Toronto Bike Map is now online and should also be available in community centres, libraries and bike shops across the city. With the weather warming up it would be a good time to get your hands on a copy and start exploring Toronto by bike. The online map is at the following link Toronto Cycling Map 2006

This section of the Bike Map around Eglinton West Station shows some of the new features. The TTC's 29 Dufferin and 7 Bathhurst routes with bike rack equipped busses are marked with the red dotted lines. Bikeway network Route 26 on Elm Ridge was added this year. The yellow squares show where the on-street network connects with the off street paths.

The biggest change to the map is the extension of the numbered bike route system (aka the Bikeway Network Information System) to routes to the north, east and west of the central area of the city. This is the this is the result of the second phase of bike route sign installation that happened over the past winter. The route numbers are in a blue box on the red or blue line that indicates a street with a bike lane or an on street route. There are not yet route signs installed on the trails through parks or ravines, however, this year money has been budgeted to extend the Bikeway Network Information System to the park trails. There will also be a third phase of installing bike route signs on more on-street routes. These should show up on the 2007 Bike Map. Unfortunately there was not much change on the map in terms of bike lanes. Only two new bikelanes are shown. One on a short stretch of Royal York road on either side of the Queensway and very short sections of Dundas St. West and College Avenue. This is due to the difficulty experienced last year in getting bike lane projects approved.

Another addition to the map is the TTC Routes which feature bike racks on the busses which are part of the pilot project that is currently being conducted. These are indicated by a red dotted line. You can see more info on the TTC's bike rack equipped bus program on the bike map and on the 'Rack-it and Rocket' web page. The web page even includes videos of how to load your bike onto the rack. The pilot study ends this June at which point the TTC will decide on the future of the program. It would be a good idea to try out the racks and send in your comments on the service and express support for the idea before the pilot project ends. There is a survey form on the web to submit your comments: Bike Rack on-line survey

There are other new features on the map to help cyclists make connections between the routes around the city. One are yellow squares that indicate connections between on-street routes and the off-street, park and ravine trails.