An I Bike T.O. reader, David Snaith, is incensed about the new bollards that have sprouted where the Martin Goodman Trail crosses the Boulevard Club's entrance. Quite a few cyclists must have noticed these annoying objects if they've recently ridden on the trail. It is now not possible to go in a straight line across the intersection; you have to slow down and weave between the bollards. Just as the staff intended. I can only imagine how unsafe they will be at night or in foggy weather.
I haven't figured out why cyclists deserve hard metal posts in our way when drivers get big plastic barrels to cushion the impact. Can't we tie pillows to them at least?! Or maybe the idea is to create a feeling of danger so people will slow down (sort of like a half-ass version of the Naked Streets concept without the danger feelings for the car drivers).
Anyway, on to one of the interchanges between David and City staff:
Dear Mr Leiss,
I was very interested to read the comments attributed to you in this morning's Toronto Star (Thursday, August 30, 2007) regarding the steel bollards recently placed in the middle of each bike lane on either side of the driveway to the Boulevard Club. I respect your stated intentions of increasing cyclist safety, but I have grave reservations regarding your methods.
Between the Humber River and Ontario Place, there are nine places where cars can legally cross the Martin Goodman Trail. If you are truly concerned about reducing the chance of cyclists being struck by vehicles, and you believe that placing obstacles in the middle of the lanes will paradoxically make cycling safer, it does not make any sense to me that you have not installed similar life saving bollards in the middle of each bike lane at the other eight locations?
It does, however, make perfect sense, if the bollards were only installed in this one location because the good members of the Boulevard Club did not want to have to slow down their SUVs to avoid running over another one of those pesky commuters who believe in sustainable transportation.
If the latter is indeed the case, then please publicly say so, because to suggest anything else is a patronizing insult to the collective intelligence of the Toronto cycling community.
These obstructions are a grievous danger to cyclists, and make a mockery of the city's environmental initiatives. A "clean and beautiful city"? Bollards!
Sincerely,
David Snaith
And Mr. Leiss' response:
Hi David
This is not the only location where bollards are installed along the Martin Goodman trail at intersections. The Bollards are installed to serve two purposes. The first is to prevent vehicles from accessing the trail at these points. The second purpose is alert cyclists of the intersection between the trail and driveway.
The decision to install additional bollards at this point was done in consultation with Parks, Transportation Cycling and Pedestrian Infrastructure, the Councillors office and the Boulevard Club.
The actions taken by Parks and Transportation were taken to minimize the conflicts that occur at this point. Additionally transportation has committed to post signs on both the west bound and east bound Lakeshore advising motorists to yield to trail users. I understand your concerns. Parks will continue to monitor this situation. I would be happy to meet to go over your concerns if you wish.
Peter Leiss
Parks Supervisor Toronto East York
What sorts of opinions do our faithful readers hold on the bollards topic? Tell us about them.
Comments
djw (not verified)
Huh?
Fri, 08/31/2007 - 20:58Does this Mr. Leiss realize what intersection you're talking about? Yes, there are bollards in other places on the trail, but not so many of them that they create a slalom course for cyclists. The 3-bollard system that keeps cars off the trail along with the painted warnings should be enough to get the attention of all but the most oblivious cyclists.
I'll be interested to see how this turns out.
djw (not verified)
D'oh.
Fri, 08/31/2007 - 21:02Read it again, and it seems he does know the intersection.
Still a bad idea.
I'll go away now. :)
Tory (not verified)
Woooooww... I have been
Sat, 09/01/2007 - 23:56Woooooww... I have been thinking this since they were installed now I came accross this.
They poles are death traps.. I feel far less save having to dodge these then dodge the cars.
as stated before me.. Some speed bumps for the cars would be great.
I swear, there are going to be cyclist-cyclist collisions when two cyclists both cut 45 degrees toward eachother when attempting to dodge these things.
Furthermore, what was stated about how cars getting padding etc. and bikes get a hard metal pole.... Excellent point!
Roger (not verified)
bollards
Sat, 09/08/2007 - 21:24A couple of days before the bollards appeared I was trying to cycle past the Boulevard Club when a police officer put up his hands to stop trail users from passing. We all waited until eastbound lakeshore blvd. traffic let up enough for the single car to make a left turn into the Boulevard Club.
Not understanding why a police officer was blocking the trail, I asked him. He pointed at the Boulevard Club, and said, "listen they're the ones paying me to do this, ok." I noted that the city had built a left turning lane for the club so that a cars could queue up to cross whenever traffic let up, but he told me they're having an event.
He then went on to say that "I can tell you when to go".
Based on the lengths that the Boulevard club will go to pamper their patrons, along with the timing, it seems likely that the club was the instigator of these 'safety improvements'.
The Boulevard Club has been busy.
Last year the Boulevard Club unsuccessfully attempted to fence off half of Dowling Beach to enlarge their club. This spring they added docks and yachts in front of Dowling beach. We launched a Freedom Of Information Request in early summer to find out what rights they have to the park, but they have been fighting the request at the city.
The club told Parks this summer that they didn't have enough room in their parking lot, and asked to use the public park to the west for overflow parking. On the bright side, Parks turned them down.
The EnigManiac
Bollard response from Councillor Perks
Sun, 09/09/2007 - 11:40Below, I offer the letter I wrote to Councillor Perks office (and copied to other Councillors) and the response received.
Good morning,
I am a full-time, car-free cyclist, commuting throughout the city for
work and recreation. I rarely visit the Martin Goodman trail,
however. This past Monday, a number of friends and I decided to enjoy
the weather and go for a long cruise. Imagine our surprise when we
encountered traffic jams on the trail at the entrance to the Boulevard
Club. At first, I thought it must be pedestrian traffic or cars
getting in the way until we got closer and saw families with
trail-a-bikes, trailers, trikes and recumbents all trying to maneuver
around the staggered bollards blocking the path. There was not a
single cyclist there who thought these were an effective, fair or
reasonable response to what obviously must be a very hazardous
intersection for such dangerous and difficult to navigate measures to
be installed. Were the engineers that designed these hazards
unfamiliar with the users of the trails? Did they not take into
account that all bikes are not the same, that some are longer than
others, that some are equipped with trailers or trail-a-bikes, that
trikes are regularly used as well? There are better ways of dealing
with the danger that cars pose to cyclists when crossing one of the
few trails cyclists have and they should be considered seriously and
very quickly before these bollards kill someone. Several people that
I witnessed had struck them, after all. Considering that many
tourists also use the trail, the bollards don't exactly say that
Toronto encourages cycling. It might, in fact, give the opposite
message.
Thank you,
JL
Hi J,
Many mitigative measures have been initiated along the MGT at this intersection, including the second set of bollards. An on site meeting took place with Parks Peter Leiss (Supervisor), Pedestrian and Cycling Infrastructure (David Dunn), Boulevard Club management (Harry Renaud) and Councillor Perks office (myself). It was determined that this intersection has:
vehicular accessing the Boulevard Club from both the westbound and eastbound Lakeshore Blvd, crossing the MGT, crossing three lanes of traffic with a speed limit of 60 km
cyclists traveling at high rates of speed, in excess of the 20 km speed limit for the MGT, traveling east and west bound along the MGT
conflicting signage for Lakeshore Blvd traffic (caution), Boulevard Club (stop sign) and MGT (yield sign)
multiple users of the MGT
bollards missing
gold carts were being used along the MGT, assisting Palais Royale Patrons to their car
The bollards that were missing have been replaced and are now permanent. This will prevent vehicles from accessing the trail. As for the second set of off set bollards, it is my understanding that the bollards have been installed with the appropriate amount of spacing. This spacing allows strollers, wheelchairs and all users of the trail adequate access for crossing this intersection safely. I have cc'd Peter Leiss and David Dunn for confirmation.
The Yield signs have been removed from along the MGT, yellow cross hatching has been painted in the pavement between the MGT and Lakeshore Boulevard Eastbound, alerting vehicles not to block the MGT. As well, the word 'caution' has been painted on both the east and west bound lanes of the MGT. Traffic signs will be installed, if they haven't been already, alerting vehicles turning into the Boulevard Club that they are approaching a multi user trail and to proceed with caution.
Bollards have been in existence at this intersection, as well as just east of the Royal Canadian Legion and on either side of the access road, east of the Palais Royale.
Please provide your mailing address for future correspondence.
I hope this email clarifies and if you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Meri Newton
Constituency Assistant to Gord Perks
Councillor, Ward 14
416.338.5178 (phone)
416.392.0398 (fax)
City Hall, 2nd Floor, A-14
100 Queen Street West
Toronto, ON M5H 2N2
Canada
Darren_S
Perky speeds
Sun, 09/09/2007 - 16:14"...crossing three lanes of traffic with a speed limit of 60 km cyclists traveling at high rates of speed, in excess of the 20 km speed limit for the MGT,..."
Gotta wonder, did he write that with a straight face? Cyclists bad because they break the speed limit and the drivers on Lakeshore never do?
Patrick Cameron (not verified)
I wonder why there couldn't
Fri, 08/31/2007 - 21:06I wonder why there couldn't have been some combination of speed bumps, yield signs, what have you slowing down the cars instead of the bikes?
Anonymous (not verified)
Blvd Club signage
Sat, 09/01/2007 - 17:35There are yield signs. The way that driveway is signed is cars exiting the Blvd Club have a stop sign, bikes going both ways have yield signs and cars turning in off Lakeshore have the right of way.
anthony
Bollards hurt
Mon, 09/03/2007 - 14:29My daughter hit these extra bollards shortly after they were installed. Perhaps adult cyclists are a bit more attentive to both bollards and traffic, but my daughter was paying more attention to what the cars were doing and how she was going to need to react and did not notice the extra bollards. A bit of road rash, and a lesson learned, but still.
Although I have seen cyclists and motorists collide there, I have seen more cyclists collide with bollards since they've been installed. There must be a better way of doing things than this.
Anonymous (not verified)
Age of daughter who hit the MGT bollards?
Fri, 12/07/2007 - 13:53On the hope that this gets through, what was the age of the young daughter who hit the Boulevard Club bollards? I'm doing a presentation about this menace to the Cycling Committee and this sort of story is just what I need. Injury, plus child. (I feel like I'm an ambulance-chasing lawyer here....and boy it feels good!)
Matt Rennick (not verified)
My email: Hi Peter, I
Tue, 09/04/2007 - 09:31My email:
Hi Peter,
I personally have never had trouble navigating the Bollards but I did find
it interesting that thus far they have only been installed in front of the
Boulevard Club. I have had a few close calls at this driveway and I can
say, in all honesty, that they were always the fault of the motorist
leaving the club and not a matter of me riding too quickly. Could it be
that there is a connection between expensive cars and inattentive driving?
Perhaps in lieu of installing Bollards, large flashing signs could be
installed at the Boulevard Club that would say "HEY! PAY ATTENTION!" or
"HANG UP YOUR PHONE, DUMMY!"
Please keep in mind, I'm speaking (writing) largely with tongue in cheek -
but as someone who rides a bicycle every day in this city, I can't help
but feel that there are two main categories of "worst offenders" when it
comes to inattentive / selfish driving habits; Taxis and people in luxury
automobiles. Pure speculation? Of course, but I can live with that.
While we're on the subject of the Boulevard Club - is there any sort of
law that would prevent them from showering the trail with their sprinkler
systems at night? Even if it weren't a safety issue or a matter of common
courtesy - I don't think it's out of line to say that watering asphalt is,
on one level or another, a waste of resources.
Have a good day,
Matt
Peter's response:
Thanks Matt
I too cycle almost every day to work and understand your comments. I
will approach the Boulevard Club regarding the sprinklers. This is
simply a matter of having the heads adjusted .
tt (not verified)
bullocks to the bollards
Tue, 09/04/2007 - 16:33Prohibit left turns into and out of the Blvd club making it so vehicles merge into (or out of) the slower curb lanes... add a sort of waiting area (using road space, ie the reallocated left turn lane, NOT trail space) for cars to wait in before safely turning. that is, when there is a gap in trail traffic.
Or maybe install lights -- which would favour (extended green) trail users. the City was recently able to very quickly install lights just a little further west to accommodate Palais parking. Why not do it here to accommodate trail users, er, I mean Boulevard Club patrons.
TCAT (torontocat.ca) has written a letter to councillors and City staff about this issue, with similar (albeit much more articulate!) options outlined quite nicely for the taking!
the MGT was an absolute zoo this weekend. I know, I know, the airshow is a big draw and I should just get over it, but I didn't realize that 100s, maybe 1000s, of cars were allowed to park in City park land for events. In my short time trying to 'ride' on the path yesterday, I noted four cars driving on the actual path (trying to park/leave etc.) Is this right???
David Snaith (not verified)
If you think that the new
Wed, 09/05/2007 - 08:53If you think that the new bollards in front of the Boulevard Club are dangerous, or not consistent with the City's environmental initiatives, please take the time to write to the following people to voice your dissent:
pleiss@toronto.ca (Peter Leiss, Parks Supervisor Toronto East York)
Councillor_Heaps@toronto.ca (Adrian Heaps, Ward 35 Scarborough Southwest and Chair of the Toronto Cycling Committee)
Councillor_Perks@toronto.ca (Gord Perks, Ward 14 Parkdale-High Park)
And, if you want to send copies to as many newspapers, radio and television stations as you can think of, it probably would hurt either.
CQ (not verified)
I've only ridden along the
Wed, 09/05/2007 - 13:23I've only ridden along the MG Trail between High Park & Ont. Place once this year. What a lousy eyesore those enlarged new rockpile replacement breakwater barriers are! They make the waterfront(!) parkland look like a dreary prison yard.
From the picture, why are the posts, or bollards, painted solid black? Wouldn't stop-colour red be safer?
CQ (not verified)
more waterfront eyesore...
Wed, 09/05/2007 - 14:34I forgot to also mention the nearby remodelling of the formerly breathable Aquatic Drive into 'Princess Precious Pathway', gleaming shock-white 90 degree curb cement, and the paving over of the rustic gravel portion along the south-end of Grenadier Pond.
anthony
News about the MGT Bollards
Wed, 01/09/2008 - 16:43The Public Works & Infrastructure Committee discussed the bollards at the Boulevard Club on the Martin-Goodman Trail today. I was supposed to make a deputation, but I arrived a bit too late. It seems that committee has referred this back to staff to deal with. I don't yet know if this means Cycling/Transportation Staff or Forestry, Parks & Recreation Staff. I hope it's the Pedestrian and Cycling group that will be untangling this mess, and not FPR staff.
In the meantime, I have asked for a report to be prepared by the Traffic Safety Unit of the Transit Dept which will hopefully give everyone a better idea of the nature of all reported collisions in the area. While this report is expected to be complete before the end of the month, it is not likely to be ready before this month's Cycling Committee meeting.
I don't know what to expect from this report, but it has been said that there are more car-car collisions in that area than car-bike collisions. It's also difficult for staff to deal with because many novice and inexperienced riders use this section of the MGT as a recreational trail, and many seasoned commuters use it as a thoroughfare. The biggest mistake that cannot be easily undone was made by FPR in allowing a private parking lot in a public park to begin with. Mind you, the loss of Sunnyside Park to an expressway was even worse than that. Mind you, I still remember the time when Metro wanted to ban cyclists from Metro roads!
Some excellent ideas were tossed on the table at the last TCAC meeting. I hope that the data helps us to both understand what problems need to addressed, and which solutions are likely to work out best. Perhaps one or two of these ideas will be put to good use. All I know is that steel bollards are evil, and need to be removed ASAP.