Mike Logan, Public Consultation UnitCity of Toronto
Re: John Street Corridor Project
We now know from Dave Meslin's recent work that John Street is heavily used by cyclists. I myself use the bike lanes on St George and Beverly towards Queen and then jog over on Stephanie to John St to continue south through the Entertainment district and onto the financial core. In fact, this is the routing suggested by Google Maps when you get directions for cycling, as in this example:
My office is on Spadina and I use my bike to commute to business meetings elsewhere in the core.
Given the revised cycling data for John St and the lived experience of myself and many other area cyclists, and in keeping with the vision of John St as a pedestrian-friendly cultural zone, I think the currently planned options offered for public comment as of June 16th are insufficient and incomplete.
The mixed boulevard and shared lanes options will create confusion regarding the role of bikes among all users, which increases the risk of collision/conflict both between cyclists and pedestrians and cyclists and motorized vehicles.
Integrating physically separated two-way cycling lines on one side of narrowed (3.2m) vehicle lanes would maintain the project's core principles while also creating more efficient, safe cycling access through the entertainment district to the financial core. This will complete a missing link of safe and separated bike lanes through this north-south cycling corridor west of University Ave. It will also make it very clear to all users where and how cyclists should use this stretch of John Street.
I would ask that my comments be made part of the public record along with my name. Please contact me if you need further clarification.
The adventures of a seeker trying to figure it out.