The City's push to install 50 km of new bike lanes in 2008 has started to falter and support from Toronto residents is needed to get it back on track. The first hint of trouble was the failure by the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee to approve the full project on Annette at their June 2008 meeting leaving out an important leg from Runnymede to Jane Street. see previous article This section does have a second chance to actually get approved and now is your opportunity to help ensure that happens. A public meeting will be held on the Annette Bike Lane on September 15th. It is important that cyclists who ride on Annette or would ride on Annette if the bike lane was there speak out in support of the bike lanes either by attending the meeting or by sending in letters of support. The details of the meeting and the addresses to contact are included in the announcement quoted from the recent issue of the City's Cyclometer newsletter quoted below.

Annette Bike Lane - Public Meeting

Date: Monday September 15th, 2008
Time: 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.
Location: James Culnan Catholic School, 605 Willard Avenue
(Southeast of Dundas St. W and Jane St.)

Councillor Saundercook (Ward 13) is hosting a public meeting on the portion of the Annette bike lane from Runnymede Rd. to Jane St.

In June 2008 Council approved bike lanes on Annette from Runnymede Rd. to Dundas St. West. The meeting will present and solicit feedback on the options for providing bike facilities between Runnymede Road and Jane Street.

Cyclists are invited to attend the meeting to share their comments on the bike lane project.

If you are unable to attend the meeting you can submit comments to:

David Dunn
Pedestrian & Cycling Infrastructure Unit
City of Toronto
22nd Floor, City Hall
100 Queen St. W
Toronto ON M5H 2N2
Email: bikeplan@toronto.ca
Fax: 416-392-4808

and/or

Councillor Bill Saundercook
Tel: 416-392-4072
Fax: 416-696-3667
Email: councillor_saundercook@toronto.ca

The parochial nature of city politics means that a Councillor can veto the approval of a bike lane in spite of it being part of a city wide network. Faced with this fact cyclists have to show there is more support for a bike lane than there is opposition. If Councillors see they have more to gain and less to lose come voting day in 2010 by supporting the Bike Lanes they may convinced. All cyclists who use this route should make sure you have your voices heard on this. If cyclists are from Ward 13 they should make that known at the meeting and in letters to the Councillor.