80% of Toronto residents support building protected bike lanes, poll finds

Greater than 80 per cent of Toronto residents support building protected bike lanes, a brand new poll finds. The support is highest amongst these dwelling within the core, with almost 9 in 10 folks within the former pre-amalgamation metropolis of Toronto wanting the lanes. However the development was additionally seen within the suburbs, together with Scarborough, Etobicoke and North York, with greater than 70 per cent of respondents expressing support in each area of the town, in response to the survey outcomes supplied solely to CBC Toronto. “It was uptown, it was downtown,” mentioned Gideon Forman, a transportation coverage analyst on the David Suzuki Basis, which co-sponsored the poll with biking advocacy group Cycle Toronto. The random survey of 800 Toronto residents, performed by Ekos Analysis Associates earlier this month, additionally discovered greater than 75 per cent of individuals who primarily drive to get across the metropolis are additionally supporters of protected bike lanes — although almost one quarter of frequent automobile customers was opposed. Forman says that excessive degree of support amongst drivers was an thrilling piece of knowledge to acquire. “The broad sweep of folks support bike lanes,” he added. “It is not simply downtown, it isn’t simply younger folks.” East-end resident Steve Micheli, who’s been biking for a decade, was happy to listen to concerning the poll outcomes after experiencing a number of harmful moments on the town’s streets. Final September, the 43-year-old was going west on Lakeshore Boulevard East, and heading straight by an intersection, when he was hit by a automobile turning proper onto Coxwell Avenue. Micheli caught the entire incident on a digicam mounted on his bike — which reveals the motive force not stopping, and as a substitute simply leaving the scene. “I really feel a lot safer on Sherbourne, and took Queen’s Quay right here — stunning — I do not really feel unsafe there in any respect,” Micheli mentioned of a number of spots within the metropolis with protected bike lanes. A brand new poll reveals support for building extra bike lanes comes from each area of the town, with the strongest support downtown — and from three-quarters of drivers surveyed. (David Donnelly/CBC) 20 pedestrians, three cyclists killed thus far this yr Bike lanes, and street security normally, have been hot-button points amid one other surge in bicycle owner and pedestrian deaths. In line with Toronto police, 20 pedestrians and three cyclists have been killed in collisions thus far this yr. With that in thoughts, the town’s Imaginative and prescient Zero plan to scale back traffic-related deaths bought a multi-million greenback enhance earlier this summer season, amid criticism the technique has achieved little to curb fatalities over the past a number of years. Ongoing street security efforts have additionally been beefed up in different methods, together with the upcoming addition of superior stroll indicators for pedestrians at 80 intersections throughout the town, the approval of everlasting bike lanes on Bloor Avenue, and greater than 750 proposed faculty neighborhood security zones. However these varieties of measures have lengthy been polarizing on council. Some tasks hit dead ends, whereas others like the town staff-recommended Rework Yonge initiative — which might imply fewer lanes for vehicles and raised bike lanes on a stretch of Yonge Avenue by Willowdale — wind up being delayed. That plan was finally deferred by metropolis council in March for extra examine, to the frustration of supporters who mentioned it could create a extra pedestrian and cyclist-friendly avenue. “Bike lanes, and protected bike lanes could be a useful factor, supplied they’re put in the appropriate place,” mentioned Coun. Stephen Holyday, who has opposed including bike lanes in car-heavy areas. “The query is: How do you stability that out with all of the wants of the street customers?” The poll outcomes confirmed support from Toronto residents for particular bike lane tasks — particularly Yonge Avenue and the Danforth — was barely decrease throughout the town, with roughly three-quarters supporting the proposed lanes and 1 / 4 opposing them. However that is nonetheless excessive, in response to Liz Sutherland, director of advocacy and authorities relations for Cycle Toronto. She stresses that Toronto is “behind” in building bike lanes in comparison with different cities world wide. “Everybody acknowledges rather more must be achieved,” she mentioned. With the poll additionally discovering 90 per cent of Torontonians are involved about street security normally, Forman hopes all incumbent councillors and candidates elected in October take a powerful place on secure streets. “It’s important to have a plan to guard folks after they’re cyclists or after they’re strolling,” he mentioned. Within the meantime, Micheli simply finds it reassuring that not all drivers are just like the one who hit him final fall — and plenty of do need extra bike lanes to guard cyclists. “Cyclists and drivers alike are getting it — they do assist,” he mentioned. “Drivers do not need to cope with cyclists of their lanes both, identical to we do not need to cope with vehicles in ours.” https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/bike-lane-poll-toronto-1.4766745?cmp=rss