Failing GradeIn the 18 months since our group formed, we have worked to hold City Hall accountable for its bike budget, bike plan, and bikeways. Our first initiative, as reported in NOW magazine, involved poring over complex budget documents to figure out where allocated capital for cycling infrastructure went, and to see if it was indeed being spent. Our second major initiative was a comprehensive audit - a report card of Toronto cycling facilities. Over seven weeks, 25 TCBC volunteers evaluated 215 km of bikeways (see our detailed spreadsheet) in 80 individual report cards with criteria weighing safety and quality on the one hand, with utility and connectivity on the other. So how is Toronto performing in providing residents safe, connected bikeways? The report, issued on the 50th anniversary of the Bicycle Boom, shows that well over half of the city’s cycling facilities rated “poor” or “mediocre.” There is considerable room for improvement. “Much of the city’s cycling infrastructure is now 10, 20, 30 and even 40 years old, but while the city slowly brings outdated bike lanes up to modern standards, it continues to fall behind other cities in building a cycling network to attract new riders,” said Mary Ann Neary of the TCBC. We recommended that the city set aside new, dedicated funds to upgrade its outdated bike lanes. Since the safety of city residents is at stake, this issue must be addressed as soon as possible. The next step is to push our demands at City Hall and during the upcoming budget process.
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