Queensway

South Kingsway and Queensway Interchange

One of tomorrow's Bike Month activities is a ride around the South Kingsway / Queensway cloverleaf, presented by the Toronto Urban Renewal Network (TURN).

When: Tuesday May 26, 2008, 7:30am
Where: Meet on Bloor St. by the main High Park entrance. Ride down to Queensway for 8:00.

You're probably thinking to yourself right now: "Uggh.... Why would I ever want to ride through that awful highway-style arterial interchange?"

Well, that's precisely the point of this ride.

As part of a local re-urbanization effort, the City of Toronto planned to make this intersection more pedestrian and cyclist friendly. Really, The City was mostly on our side! However, last year the Swansea Ratepayers Association protested, and along with Ward 13 councillor Saundercook had the Environmental Assessment cancelled, with the intention of leaving this intersection exactly as it is now.

The Queensway at Windemere
As first reported just over a week ago by Martin Koob at bikeToronto, new bike lanes have been installed on The Queensway between Windemere Ave. and Claude Ave. (map).

I often don't like bike lanes, especially when they are poorly designed or implemented, or when their state of disrepair makes me want to avoid them altogether. However, I think this is a welcome addition to this busy arterial road, and through this part of the city. Over the past week I had a few opportunities to ride this section of new bike lane at various times of day. Read on for more of my thoughts and photos.