Ward 27 Toronto Centre-Rosedale

Last week, representatives from Bells on Bloor and Take the Tooker
filed a formal demand with Ontario's Environment Commissioner for a
review of the City's decision not to conduct an Environmental
Assessment for the reconstruction of Bloor Street between Avenue Road
and Church Street. This project will remove parking, widen sidewalks,
and plant trees - yet no bike lane will be installed.

Last Thursday in Ontario Divisional Court, cyclists joined a very
powerful contingent of litigants trying to reverse a City decision made
almost a decade ago. In the submission by a group of Bloor Street
merchants, aptly named Concerned About Bloor,
they argued that the City mis-classified the Bloor Transformation
process as a Schedule A roads project, thus negating the need for a
full environmental assessment. The Safe Cycling Coalition acted as intervener in the case, and also had the opportunity to support the argument made by Concerned About Bloor.

Google's first
official Canadian headquarters opened last week overlooking Dundas
Square. Google has implemented green initiatives to encourage their
employees to use public transportation or their own green solution to
get to work by offering a monthly subsidy. For those willing to take a
bicycle to work, the company offers other extras as well.

As reported previously in TCAT news,
the City recently held a public meeting to present their plans for
improvements to Jarvis Street. TCAT was represented at the meeting and

On Sep 16, 2009 the Toronto-East York community council approved a plan to build a 42-storey condo building at Dundas and University without permanent parking spots. In an area where groceries and entertainment are just steps away, the plan makes good sense and is reflected in sales.

On November 12th and 13th, Healthy Transport Consulting and the Residential and Civil Construction Alliance of Ontario is hosting its second annual road pricing conference. Two interactive workshops will focus on the public's perception of road pricing and how diverse stakeholders can discuss this complex issue in a meaningful way. Workshop details and registration here.

Bike lanes are being added to Jarvis Street this week, between Charles Street and Queen Street East. To include bike lanes on both sides of the street, the centre reversible lane was removed last week.

City Council approved the installation of two bike lanes on Jarvis Street in May 2009 after considerable debate between providing cycling or pedestrian infrastructure. TCAT's position on Jarvis can be found here.