This past week was the groundbreaking for the reconstruction of Queen’s Quay as a more pedestrian and bike friendly promenade where two lanes of traffic will be removed in favour of a wide sidewalk and bidirectional bike lanes. This will make visiting this stretch of lakefront much more pleasant, although it will reduce car access as well. It will also make this section of the Martin Goodman Trail much safer for all users.
This project has been in the planning stages for many years. Back in the summer of 2006, there was a trial demonstration, where two lanes of traffic were temporarily converted to some green space and a bidirectional bike lane. On the opening day, there was a crowd of cyclists anxious to try it out. I went to check it out with the two girls on the recumbent tandem with trailer.
The eastern end of the temporary bike lane was marked by this arch covered in bicycles.
I remember a small number of dignitaries being allowed to go first (Olivia Chow among them) but we darted past them shortly after the start. Here is a picture taken by a press photographer.
We managed to get ahead of everyone. Here is a video of the first ride down the Quay to the City bike trial. I’m chatting with my daughter the stoker. History does not record what the younger one in the trailer was thinking at the time.
The estimated date of completion is “spring 2015″.
