Bike traffic monitoring
Someone, I assume Toronto traffic services, has a traffic monitor, in the form of twin pneumatic tubes that count tires passing over them, in the Dupont bicycle lanes through the rail underpass. Considering the agitation for removing the Dupont lanes, I suggest west end cyclists make an effort to ride the Dupont underpass as much as we can.
If an effort to remove these lanes comes, it will probably come from Ceasar Palacio. As a matter of priorities, I would not like to lose any bike lanes, but losing the lanes on Dupont from Symington to Lansdowne, while a wrench, would not present a major safety issue, since we have the Dupont lanes as an alternate. But the Annette/Dupont lanes between Jane and Symington include one of the few actual bike lanes under a railway underpass, and I believe that losing those lanes would create a serious risk for west end cyclists. I would fight very hard for those particular lanes, because I think it quite possible losing them might mean death or serious injury for someone.
Strongly concurred... although I would much rather not losing either of those lanes. Although, I guess I don't subscribe to the "fewer options is more!" school of thought.
A cyclist, Gaelen Kuellmer, was killed by a truck in 2004 in the Dupont underpass, prior to the implementation of the bike lanes (http://dufferinpark.ca/newsletter/04may.html). The mural at that location was installed partly as a tribute to Gaelen (http://artstarts.net/youth-paint-cycling-themed-mural-on-d...).
The City would be taking a step back towards encouraging more cyclist deaths by removing the bike lane. I hope the City would be aware of potential liability particularly when they are already knew that it was a dangerous location that contributed to the death of a citizen.
Herb: I had just moved to the West end in 2004, and I hadn't started doing all that much cycling at that point, so I didn't know much about Mr. Kullmer. I agree, though, that the bike lanes through the Dupont rail underpass make a formerly dangerous traffic churn much safer (for cars as well), and taking them away would invite more deaths.
rmcw: Just to make it clear, I don't consider removing bike lanes acceptable either. But if council voted to remove the bike lanes from Symington to Lansdowne, while I would consider that futile and annoying, I can ride a block or two out of my way to use Dav or down the railpath to College.. But if council votes to remove the lanes under the Dupont underpass, they will considerably increase the chances a cyclist will die.
John G. Spragge
Mariner, cyclist, pilot