Today, Janet Joy Wilson organized a ride for our friends east of the Don River to highlight some of the bike infrastructure in our area. This was in partial response to a ride that she and a few other people from Ward 4 did in August where they were taken on a tour of the North Scarborough Green Loop. We gathered at the north gate of High Park.
The route was described as follows: Bloor to Runnymede, then north to the end, and west to the Scarlett Rd bike lanes. Then north to Eglinton, and back south on the Humber river trail. From Etienne Brulé Park, up past Old Mill to Bloor and then east to the six points area (Kipling).
I can’t resist posting a photo of this fellow who happened on our group and said he would ride along for a while. Beautiful 80’s vintage bonded aluminum frame.
Here we go.
Along Bloor. These bollards were installed within the last two or three weeks.
Rounding the corner at Runnymede. Note that the green paint that we are riding on is often blocked by cars just getting a quick coffee at McDonalds. We could use some protection here.
At the north end of Runnymede, we turn west on Henrietta.
We pause on Eileen Ave just short of Scarlett Rd, and I give some background on the Scarlett Rd bike lane which was installed last year. Although it is a massive improvement, it is disappointing that it does not extend as far south as St. Clair Ave. The underpass that connects Scarlett to Dundas St W is also due to be widened and bike lanes put under the railway, but it is not clear how they will be connected north.
Zooming down the hill on Scarlett Rd. Note the very wide painted buffer.
This section is due to have painted concrete barriers installed soon.
The bike lane ends short of Edenbridge Rd, and we take the lane as a group to arrive at Eglinton.
At Eglinton we talk about how the multi use trail extends fairly far to the west into Mississauga. To the east, it will eventually extend the length of the Eglinton LRT. To the north, the Humber river trail continues. However, despite it being a very popular biking route, and part of the PanAm path, there is little signage indicating the route to the north, and furthermore you have to ride along the sidewalk for a stretch before the path becomes a proper separate multi use trail.
Now back south on the Humber River trail.
We regroup just short of the pedestrian bridge across the Humber.
Walking our bike across the bridge.
Up the hill to Old Dundas St.
Another regroup on the Humber River trail.
Pausing at Etienne Brulé Park.
David tells how Councillor Mark Grimes opposes almost all bike infrastructure in his ward. Additionally, the Kingsway BIA is also dead set against bike lanes.
Up the hill from the Old Mill towards Bloor St.
On the Kingsway. Road width and funds that went towards the flowered median could have been used for bike lanes, but this is Etobicoke.
The new bike lanes just past the underpass west of Islington.
We pause again at Resurrection to talk about the Six Points redevelopment. The city required bike lanes to be integrated into the redesigned intersection. The bike lanes are not complete yet. Rob Z has a nice write up about Six Points on his bike blog.
We have to cross to the south side to access part of the bike lanes that ring the intersection. This is close to one of the stopping points for the 2015 edition of the Reading Line “Books on Bloor” where we were advocating for a westward extension of the Bloor bike lanes.
Group picture at Six Points.
Riding back towards Bloor, you can see that the bike lanes that will ring the intersection are quite nice.
Riding back towards Ward 4 on Bloor. With all the improvements at Kipling, and further development at Islington, the hope would be to eventually be able to extend the Bloor bike lanes all the way between Bloor West Village and Kipling.
Here is where we rode. A total of about 22 km.
Thanks to everyone who joined us today. Thanks also to Janet Joy Wilson for organizing the event, and to David for giving us some perspective from the South Etobicoke Cycling Committee.
Biking in a Big City 
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