At its meeting today, September 20, 2006, the Toronto Transit Commission approved the continuation of the Bike Rack on Buses program by deciding that all future buses ordered by the TTC will have bike racks. This was reported today in a Media advisory from the TTC which is quoted below.

Media Advisory: TTC Future Bus Purchases to Include Bike Racks

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(CCNMatthews - Sept. 20, 2006) - At its meeting today, the Toronto Transit Commission approved the addition of bike racks to all its future bus orders. The current TTC bus fleet includes about 1,500 buses.

"This is a great step forward for bike riders in Toronto - I look forward to joining the thousands of bike and transit riders who will be able to bike and bus from Scarborough to Etobicoke in the future," said TTC Vice Chair Adam Giambrone. "I've worked with the Toronto Cycling Committee to introduce bike racks to the whole TTC bus fleet and, with the support of the rest of the Commission today, we have done it. The future looks bright."

Currently, bike racks are available on the following six bus routes: 7 Bathurst, 29 Dufferin; 47 Lansdowne; 98 Willowdale-Senlac, 161 Rogers and 310 Bathurst. A one-year pilot project was launched on these routes in June 2005 and was extended through the summer of 2006.

Vice Chair Giambrone commented on some of the random survey findings:

"When asked about their support for the bike rack pilot project, of those who had used the racks - 81 per cent were strongly in favour of the bike rack project and, of those who had never used the racks, 47 per cent were strongly in favour and 28 per cent were somewhat in favour.

"For a pilot project that had just been in service for a couple of months at the time of the survey, these findings indicate strong support, support that will build as the whole bus fleet becomes bike friendly."

As bus routes become equipped with bike rack buses, they will be announced to the public.

"Ultimately, the entire bus route network will be equipped with buses with bike racks," said the Vice Chair.

This is victory for those who want to see the bike plan implemenetd. It is a first step in integrating cycling and transit as called for in the Toronto Bike Plan. The Cycling & Transit chapter of the Bike Plan also recommends that TTC should improve bicycle parking at transit Stations. The bike lockers that are mentioned in the media release are one type of bike parking that should be implemented. The Bike Plan also mentions bike parking shelters and Bikestations at transit stations. These are described in the Bicycle Parking chapter of the Bike Plan which includes the following recommendations

9-2: Research Enhanced Bicycle Parking Facilities
That the City research and develop demonstration projects for enhanced bicycle parking facilities, including bicycle lockers and bicycle parking shelters.

9-3: Determine Viability of Operating a Bikestation
That the City, in co-operation with the Toronto Parking Authority, the TTC and other potential partners, undertake a feasibility study to determine the viability of operating a Bikestation to serve Toronto cyclists.

It is good to see that the TTC commissioners see the value in combining cycling & transit to give people more convenient alternatives to the automobile. Hopefully they continue to push forward and in the next term of Council we see the other recommendations implemented with initiatives like a bikestation at the redesigned Union Station and enhanced bike parking shelters at transit stations.

On Wednesday Sept. 20th the TTC will consider the results of the Bike Racks on Busses project. A project report has been completed which you can see at the following link. Bicycle Racks on TTC Busses - Pilot Project. The report was quite positive in whole. The racks were well received by customers, they caused no delay in schedules and there was some data collected that indicated the bike racks attracted new riders to the TTC. The one negative in the report was that it stated use was low. For a fledgling program that is only starting on a few routes this is not surprising. However this one fact seemed to be the only basis that the final recommendation was made which was "The data on usage of the racks does not provide clear justification for expansion of the installation of bike racks on buses at the TTC.".

The TTC commissioners will decide whether to accept the recommendation or to look at the whole report and support the continuation of the project. Councillor Giambrone has said that he supports continuing the project. You can add your support by contacting the Secretary of the committee with an e-mail supporting the project. You can contact them at gso@ttc.ca. You can also contact the Councillors on the TTC. I have included their contact information below.

Every other major transit system in North America has bike racks on their busses. It is time the TTC catch up and start implementing them on a fleet wide basis.

The Toronto Transit Commission is running a pilot project of putting bike racks on busses allowing cyclists to easily combine cycling and transit in making trips across the City. You can see more information on this on the TTC's web site: Rack it and Rocket!. The TTC has not yet made the decision on whether to expand this program to other routes across the city so there is still time to try the service out and send in your comments via the Rack-it and Rocket: Bike rack pilot survey.

This weekend you will get a chance to try using the bike racks at the free Bike and Bus Picnic on Sunday July 23rd, 2006 at 10:00 am hosted by the City of Toronto's Cycling Ambassadors. Details of the event are quoted in the announcement below:

Free T-shirts and Fun at the Bike and Bus Picnic

Join the City of Toronto Cycling Ambassadors on Sunday, July 23rd 10:00am - 2:00pm at Bathurst Station for a free picnic and a chance to get a free Cycling and Transit T-shirt
All you'll need is bus fare and your bicycle

There will be snacks and plenty of cycling information ....AND
we'll be handing out a free t-shirt to all cyclists who use the bike racks on the Bathurst bus
Discover how fun and easy it is to combine cycling and transit.

Most major North American Cities have bike racks on their busses. Toronto is just catching up. I was in Vancouver recently where all of their diesel busses had the bike racks on the front. I was glad to see that they were quite well used. In fact the Vancouver transit authority Bike & Bus web site has the following warning "Some of the busier routes such as to the ferry terminals or along the Broadway corridor may experience congestion on the bike racks."

Vancouver's fleet of diesel busses are equipped with bike racks. I saw them often filled with one or two bikes.

The TTC's pilot project has the racks on busses on 7 routes. You can see the routes on the following map. Rack it and Rocket! routes map. You can also see videos of how to load and unload your bike and download a brochure on the program on the Rack it and Rocket! web site

The report on the pilot project is due this at the end of the summer. Once that is presented to the Councillors on the TTC they will decide whether to continue the program and expand it to the rest of the routes in the City. The best way to ensure that this happens is to try the racks out and fill in the survey. This Sunday would be a good day to do it.

The City of Toronto will be getting its first New Mobility Hub that will feature facilities for cyclists including an installation of the city's new bike lockers and one of the Community Bicycle Network's Bike Share Hub. The New Mobility Hub is a project of Moving the Economy www.movingtheeconomy.ca, an organization whose mission is to spur the growth of sustainable transportation. One of the initiatives that they are undertaking towards that goal is to build New Mobility Hubs around the City that will connect together various modes of sustainable transportation: cycling, walking and transit. The first New Mobility Hub is being installed at Exhibition Place. The launch of this new facility will occur on April 25th, 2006 between 8:30 am and 10:00 am.

This graphic from the Mobility Hub web site shows the integration of the various sustainable transportation modes at the Exhibition/Liberty New Mobility Hub. (click on the image to go to the site.)

The Exhibition/Liberty Hub will be next to the Exhibition stops of GO Transit's Lakeshore line and the TTC's 511 Bathurst and 509 Harbourfront streetcar routes. It is also near the Martin Goodman Trail and 2 blocks away from the Dufferin bus route that has bike racks on the busses.

Details of the launch are in an announcement from Moving the Economy quoted below.

Moving the Economy would like to invite you to
The New Mobility HUB Launch
at Exhibition Place

Tuesday, April 25
8:30 - 10 am

Join Adam Giambrone, Toronto City Councillor Maogosha Pyjor, Community Bicycle Network Briana Illingworth, Moving The Economy, and the New Mobility HUB Project partners as we bring together seamless and convenient transportation connections at Toronto's first New Mobility HUB location.

Where:
Exhibition Place GO Station,
Manitoba Drive & Nova Scotia Ave
Exhibition Place, Toronto, ON

We hope to see you there!

Hopefully this will be the first of many such facillities that will spring up around the city.

There will be a presentation about Union Station and cycling issues on Monday, March 20th, at 5:30 p.m., Committee Room 3, Toronto City Hall. Sean Wheldrake and Pauline Craig of Transportation Services will be presenting to the members of the Union Station Revitalization Public Advisory Group. Twenty minutes have been allocated for this item, which is #1 on the agenda, and the meeting will start at 5:30 sharp. More time can be scheduled at a future meeting to continue the discussion about cycling issues.

The Union Station Revitalization Public Advisory Group is a City of Toronto Advisory Committee that, according to their terms of reference: "[p]rovide[s] community input and advice to City staff, the Administration Committee and City Council on the Union Station revitalization including transportation elements, design components, improvements to the public realm and public benefits". You can see more information on this group at the their web site: Union Station Revitalization Public Advisory Group

The revitalization of Union Station offers opportunities to integrate cycling with local and intercity transit by including cycling facilities in the design. The motion by Council that launched the revitalization process in July of 2002 requested that such facillities be a part of the plan.

“It is further recommended that discussions with the proponent include: (1) the development of an ambitious plan for cycling facilities, cycling rentals and service, modelled on best practices from Europe, and further, that there be consultation with the City's Cycling Committee and staff of the Works and Emergency Services Department
Motion (c) by Councillor Layton carried.

Nikki Rendle of the TCC's Cycling and Transit Working Group has sent out the following notice regarding a public forum on the area around Union Station.

Union Station Precinct Study Forum
Tuesday, December 13 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Metro Hall Rotunda, 55 John Street. The forum will include a presentation at 7 p.m. The group is seeking input on options for Front Street, alternatives for a future north west PATH connection from Union Station and options for possible construction over the Union Station train shed.

This is an opportunity to have input on improving cycling facilities around Union Station allowing cyclists better access to the transportation hub. You can see more information about the precinct study at the following City of Toronto web page: Union Station Precinct Study

As of Sunday June 19th cyclists in Toronto can ride anytime of the day on 6 bus routes in the city with their bikes securely stowed in front loading bike racks. The routes include:

7 Bathurst (excludes 7A Bathurst branch), 29 Dufferin, 47 Lansdowne, 98 Willowdale-Senlac, 161 Rogers Rd, 310 Bathurst (all night service starts July 31)

For more information and to view a full colour brochure visit the TTC's website at www.toronto.ca/ttc/bike_racks.htm

I encourage cyclists to get out there and show your support for the integration of cycling and transit by using the bus bike racks. Want to visit a friend in North York but feel its too far to cycle? Now you can take the 7 Bathurst route up to Steeles with your bike. Want to go for a ride on the Waterfront Trail but don't want to spend a half hour of riding just to get there? Now you can take the 29 Dufferin bus with your bike, get off at the CNE and cross Lakeshore Rd. using one of the connecting bridges.

Let me know what you think about the bike racks - send me an email at the address below.

Nikki Rendle
nikki(a)biketoronto.ca(replace (a) with @ in e-mail program)

Update to:
Bike Racks on Buses Proposal for Toronto posted: Apr-2-2005

At the April 6th meeting of the Toronto Transit Commission, commissioners voted in favour of going ahead with the bike rack on buses pilot project as outlined in the TTC report www.ttc.ca/postings/gso-comrpt/documents/report/f2318/_conv.htm

The pilot is anticipated to begin sometime in late June/July, 2005.

A special thank you goes out to Councillor Giambrone, Chair of the Toronto Cycling Committee, and his staff for their dedication to this initiative.

Nikki Rendle
nikki(a)biketoronto.ca (replace with @ in e-mail program).

At the April TTC meeting Commissioners will vote on whether to go ahead with a pilot project for the installation of bike racks on buses. A report prepared by TTC staff on the project has been posted on the TTCs website at www.ttc.ca/postings/gso-comrpt/documents/report/f2318/_conv.htm. The propsed routes include bus lines operating out of the Wilson Garage - 7 Bathurst, 29 Dufferin, 47 Lansdowne, 98 Willowdale-Senlac, 161 Rogers Rd and 310 Bathurst. These routes were chosen mainly because they include lines that reach as far south as the lake as well as connect to the city centre and the city limits.

Currently cyclists are restricted from using TTC vehicles during peak periods and only allowed to board with their bikes during other times if the operator feels there is enough room. Bike racks increase a cyclists access to the city by allowing a cyclist to have a bike available at both ends of their journey as well as enabling them to increase their total trip distance. For more information on this topic read "Bike and Ride" http://biketoronto.ca/topic/show/430.htm.

Its important for people to voice their support for this project and convince TTC Commissioners that cyclists will use the bike racks. Below is a list of contacts for the TTC Commissioners.

Cyclists will be making deputations in support of the pilot project at the next TTC meeting, Wednesday April 6th, City Hall Room 2. Deputations will begin at 2pm.

Nikki Rendle
nikki(a)biketoronto.ca (replace (a) with @ in e-mail program)

There has been a lot of media attention recently focused on how to increase active living and develop more livable neighbourhoods. As communities explore ways to decrease their reliance on the single occupant vehicle and reduce pollution and congestion, bikes are increasingly being recognized as a credible form of transportation for commuting as well as recreation.

If bikes and transit are offered together, they make a formidable alternative to the car. We just have to look to countries like Japan or in Europe for evidence that heavily invested bike and ride improvement initiatives have resulted in citizens riding to many more distance destinations than in North America. According to the City of Toronto's 2001 Bike Plan, twenty years ago Toronto was considered a leader in North American cities, encouraging the integration of cycling and transit. In the 1980s the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) was one of only a few transit agencies permitting bikes on transit vehicles. Today however many urban areas have surpassed Toronto with bicycle accommodation and encouragement forming a significant part of several North American transit services (1).

There are many benefits to integrating cycling and transit such as lower air pollution emissions, reduced vehicle congestion, lower capital costs for park-and-ride facilities and improved neighbourhood environments (2). Enhancing bicycle access to transit is important not only for achieving improved mobility but also for improved transit service (3). Using transit also enables cyclists to increase their trip distance. Integrating cycling and transit can be particularly important for encouraging transit use in lower-density suburbs. Studies show that people are most likely to use public transit when it's located within a 10 minute walking distance. Cyclists riding even at a modest speed can travel three to four times that distance in the same amount of time (2). The Bike Plan states that 84% of the City's population lives within a 15 minute bike ride of a transit station (1). Linking cycling with transit options therefore would open up a 12 times larger catchment area of potential transit riders. Another benefit of integrating cycling and transit is that it creates options for cyclists constrained by topographical barriers such as bridges, tunnels, hills and inclement weather (4).

Many transit agencies have recognized the potential of merging cycling and transit and are operating various services to cyclists such as transporting bikes on passenger transit, providing bike storage facilities and station access improvements. For a general overview, the following list describes some of the options that exist for accommodating bikes on transit as well as creating cycling friendly transit facilities:

Bike-Rail Programs
Bike-rail programs enable cyclists to carry their bikes on board trains. Being able to bike to commuter rail systems extends the reach of the system and reduces the potential need for the station to accommodate automobiles. Unfortunately cyclists often encounter obstacles trying to gain access to stations, platforms and trains such as multi-level stations connected by stairways, high capacity escalators and crowded turnstiles (2).

In addition, cyclists are usually limited to off-peak periods due to the high passenger capacity. For instance in Toronto, the current policies of the TTC and GO Transit make it difficult for cyclists to carry their bikes with them on the train. Bikes are prohibited on TTC vehicles from 6:30am to 9:30am and 3:30 pm to 6:30 pm while GO Transit allows bikes on trains except for those arriving at Union Station between 6:30am and 9:30am and leaving from the station from 3:30pm to 6:30 pm (1).

A number of initiatives are being developed to overcome these barriers. One way is to allow cyclists to transport their bikes on trains during the peak period if the train is traveling in the non-peak direction. As well, European rail manufacturers have developed methods to free passengers from having to hold onto their bikes while improving passenger safety from moving bicycles. For example fabric fasteners are being tested that attach to the cabwall handrail of the train car. Bike-Rail programs appear to be more successful when combined with bike friendly transit station improvements (see the Access Design section below) (2).

Bike Racks on Buses
A third of all transit buses in North America have bike racks, with front-loading racks being the most popular method. The racks vary in carrying capacity from 2-3 bikes on front racks to 5 in rear racks. Although bus operators are trained in the operation of the racks, passengers are usually responsible for loading, securing and removing their bikes from the racks (2).

Having a bike available at both ends of a cyclist's journey while utilizing transit services provides greater flexibility and convenience. The 1999 Toronto Cycling Survey indicated that 48% of recreational cyclists cited distance as the major reason they don't use their bikes to travel to work or school. In the same survey, 950,000 cyclists reported bike racks on buses would increase the number of trips they made. Bike racks provide benefits not only for cyclists but non-cyclists as well. The racks enable a bike to accompany the cyclist while also preventing passengers from having to maneuver around bikes on the bus because the bike is stored outside the vehicle (4).

Currently transit vehicles in Toronto are not equipped with bike racks. Bikes are not permitted to be carried on board TTC buses between 6:30 am and 9:30 am and 3:30pm to 6:30pm while bikes are restricted on GO buses at all times. Because of these restrictions one of the recommendations set out in the Bike Plan suggests that the TTC undertake a demonstration project of bike racks on buses, in consultation with the Toronto Cycling Committee (1). Currently TTC staff are undertaking a report on a pilot project for the installation of bike racks on a limited number of bus routes.

Bike Parking
Convenient and secure places to park bikes provide an effective way to extend the reach of transit programs without carrying bikes on buses. Bike parking can be located at bus stops, transit centres, park and ride lots, and rail stations to allow for convenient inter-modal transfers. Parking equipment can include a variety of options from enclosed lockers to secure open air-racks (2). In Toronto both the TTC and GO Transit provide bike parking in the form of racks at most of their stations, however stations without racks are often in the downtown core where there is limited street level space available. Whenever possible the City has installed racks nearby on sidewalks/boulevards. According to the Bike Plan TTC stations have the capacity for about 550 bikes while GO Transit stations can accommodate about 166 bikes (1).

Studies show that transit agencies find many bike lockers and rack users consist of new transit riders. According to the results from the 1999 Toronto Cycling Survey 84% of cyclists reported that convenient and secure parking would increase the number of bike and ride trips they made, whereas of those cyclists who had never combined cycling and transit, 60.5% indicated they would consider bike and ride trips if more secure parking facilities were available (1). A study on bike locker users of a Vancouver transit station found that 30% had not previously used public transit to commute (2).

In a move to make more secure bike parking available, last December the City's Transportation Services set up 12 lockers near the rear entrance to City Hall. Three different kinds of lockers were purchased and a product evaluation and comparison is planned. The results of the evaluation will assist the City to decide which kind of locker should be purchased in the future for a larger pilot project involving locker rentals available at locations across the City. For more information on this pilot project go to: www.toronto.ca/cycling/cyclometer/2004_dec.htm (7).

Access Design
The bike friendly design of transit stations can provide an improved means of riding bicycles to and from transit services and has the potential to compliment and supplement bike transport and parking programs. A study referenced in the Bike Plan detailed the importance of bike access. For example potential bike and ride commuters ranked bike lanes between their home and transit stations as the second most important incentive s for them to combine cycling and transit. As a result, one of the recommendations in the Bike Plan is for the City of Toronto to undertake a comprehensive review of bike access to all transit stations in the City and implement improvements wherever possible (1).

Bike compatible station access can include:

• designated bike paths through park and ride lots;
• bike lanes on station access roads;
• clearly visible signs using the bicycle symbol for bicycle routes, parking facilities, and bus stops serving bicyclists;
• station design accommodating to bicycles, such as curb cuts at parking locations, locating parking equipment so that cyclists do not have to carry bicycles up or down stairs or through large crowds of travelers, and parking equipment in the clear view of the general public, or station attendants; and
• adequate lighting (2)

Bikestations
The idea behind Bikestations is to create a full-service bike storage and rental facility to provide services and amenities to cyclists (1).

By providing convenient, economical transportation choices and amenities near public transportation and at high-traffic centers, Bikestations offer a variety of environmental and social benefits that enhance the overall quality of life in communities by:

• Encouraging modal shifts from single-occupancy vehicles to reduce vehicular emissions and alleviate traffic and congestion on roads and at transit park-and-rides;
• Increasing trips on public transportation;
• Increasing trips that improve public health such as through cycling;
• Improving the efficiency of the existing transportation system, and
• Providing a focal point for bicycle commuting and alternative transportation (6).

The stations can include bike facilities for:

• parking;
• repairs;
• rentals and bike sharing;
• change rooms; and
• route and transit information.

Bikestations are currently being implemented across the United States (5). The Silver Spring Station, Maryland for example is the most heavily used transit station in the state. Fifty-seven thousand people use the station every day, and the estimated future demand is 100,000 per day by 2020. There are plans for a bike station and commuter store at a location with convenient access from bike trails and within a new transit center building. For more information go to: home.comcast.net/~phyilla1/sstrails/station.html. Similarly, a popular Bikestation recently opened in Seattle, Washington. Bike Station Seattle is located in a restored space of the historic Mottman Building (311 3rd Avenue South) in Pioneer Square, across from the King Street Station. The facility is highlighted by a glass-enclosed bicycle storage and bike checkout system that is accessible 24/7 to members. During regular business hours, the glass doors lift up to incorporate a retail space that includes a bike repair service and Internet kiosk for member check-in and commute information. For more information on this Bikestation go to: www.rideyourbike.com (6)

Bikestations not only serve resident cyclists but also have the potential to encourage cycling by tourists. Accessible bike rentals, bike maps and transit information available from one central source would enable tourists to get a unique perspective of the city by exploring Toronto's communities by bike, or riding on local cycling trails. For instance if a bike station was set up at Union Station, a main traveler hub, visitors to Toronto arriving at the station could rent a bike and experience Toronto's waterfront by riding along the Waterfront Trail.

The Bike Plan recommends that the City, in cooperation with the Toronto Parking Authority, the TTC and other potential partners undertake a feasibility study on the potential viability of operating a bike station in Toronto. A Toronto Bikestation would provide a valuable service to cyclists in the downtown core, at major transit stations and universities. Two of the biggest challenges include finding a suitable location (serving a high demand for bike parking and economically viable) and to secure funding and revenue for its ongoing operation. One option as suggested in the Bike Plan would be for the City to provide the property and contract out the operation of the facility, similar to the bike rental centre on Centre Island (1).

The above list provides some of the options for integrating cycling and transit, enabling communities to become more cycling friendly. Advances in equipment design, activism of bike constituencies, broad-based political support and growing awareness of general public and transit agency personnel are contributing to the expansion of integrated bike-transit services (2). With almost a million cyclists in the City of Toronto there is tremendous potential for Toronto's transportation system to support multi-modal travel. Planned improvements to Union Station and the Spadina Subway Expansion offer exciting opportunities to implement some of the above initiatives such as improved cycling access and the creation of Bikestations. The implementation of bike friendly facilities and transit services presents an opportunity for the City to set an example for the rest of the country on how to successfully integrate different transportation (1).

“Integration of Bicycles and Transit” (1994) states that cycling friendly facilities and amenities reflect a significant constituency of bike riders in the community because they have voiced their desires to create a more cycling friendly community (2). Therefore input from the cycling community is critical to the successful implementation of cycling and transit initiatives in Toronto. The Cycling and Transit Working Group of the Toronto Cycling Committee is currently exploring ways to make Toronto's transit system more cycling friendly. The group usually meets monthly and anyone is welcome to attend the meetings. Please contact Nikki Rendle for more information about how you can get involved, nikki(a)biketoronto.ca(replace (a) with @ in e-mail program).

Toronto Cycling Committee has a Cycling and Transit working group that has been working to ensure that cycling issues are considered by the Toronto Transit Commission. One of the members of that committee, Nikki Rendle, has sent out an announcement of upcoming consultations regarding Spadina Subway Extension Environmental Assessment Study. I have quoted the announcement below.

The TTC and the City are conducting an Individual Environmental Assessment Study for the extension of the Spadina Subway from Downsview Station to Steeles Avenue via York University. The public is invited to provide comments on Phase One of the Study, including:
-study area land use, transportation and environmental features
-alternative subway routes

These public consultations provide an opportunity for the cycling community to promote the need for cycling friendly transit stations. I've listed below some elements for accomodating bikes at transit stations:
-bike lockers
-bike parking
-bike rental stations (especially for use by York University students - an option to get to and from school)
-grooved chanels on stairways for taking bikes up and down stairs

There are two dates for the consultations:

Thursday Feb. 10
at York University (4700 Keele St)
Public Open House - 11:00am - 3:00pm
Workshop - 4:30-7:00pm

Sunday February 13th
at CW Jefferys Collegiate Institute (340 Sentinel Rd.)
Public Open House - 11:00 - 1:30pm
Workshop - 1:30 - 3:45pm
For more information and contact information go to:Spadina Extension

Nikki Rendle

The TCC's Cycling and Transit working group has been quite active in trying to ensure that the TTC is more bike friendly. We should start to see some results from their efforts in the months to come.