In the next week or so, the city of Toronto will begin construction of cycle tracks along both sides of Avenue Road from Bloor to Davenport.
It’s part of an approved cycling network expansion and comes to one of the city’s most dangerous stretches of roadway where two cyclists have been killed by drivers of vehicles in recent memory.
Michael Longfield, executive director of Cycle Toronto, is pleased with the move but thinks the city needs to push further with its bicycle plan.
“This stretch of Avenue Road is one of the most dangerous roads in Toronto for people on bikes, with three fatalities in recent years,” he said. “The pedestrian improvements being considered north of Davenport are a good first step to eventually making Avenue Road a Complete Street — that’s safer for all road users.”
After years of waiting, the initial steps to create a safer Avenue Road for the residents of the Annex neighbourhood and other areas that line the arterial road are finally underway with additional safety improvements approved by council slated for the section of Avenue north of Davenport. But not everyone is thrilled with the results.
Toronto’s Transportation Services unveiled an interim update on the Avenue Road Study at a recent meeting. Initiated in 2019, the study aims to enhance safety along Avenue Road from Bloor Street to St. Clair Avenue West.
The study was forwarded to Toronto City Council where it was approved on June 26.
Key recommendations in the plan, according to the city of Toronto, include road-level pedestrian space with accessible ramping and physical barrier separation (where feasible), buffer space between active motor vehicle lanes and the sidewalk, and intersection improvements, safety improvements in front of Church of the Messiah, banning U-turns between Dupont and Macpherson Avenue, and creating a southbound right-turn-only lane for buses and bicycles near Dupont amongst others. A pedestrian signal will also be added near 215 Avenue Rd. to improve crossing safety.
A comprehensive report on the long-term vision for Avenue Road will be presented at a future infrastructure and environment committee meeting. Councillor Dianne Saxe has clarified that pedestrian and cyclist improvements along Avenue between Davenport and Bloor have already received approval.
