Tonight was a rally for safer streets for pedestrians and cyclists, organized by many different community and advocacy groups. The rally started at Ramsden Park on Yonge, and walked down Yonge St to Yonge-Dundas Square. This poster lists the many organizations behind the rally.
There were several feeder rides to the rally. This is the group that started at the Jane subway station. Chris in the orange vest is our leader and we were joined by mayoral candidate Gil Penalosa of 8-80 cities, and Thomas Yanuziello just to his left who is a candidate for Ward 2.
As has been noted recently, the construction under the railpath/UP express bridge is done, and at least the paint striping for the bike lanes has been restored.
Note that curbs with bollards will be added, although there is plenty of room for jersey barriers as used in underpasses on Runnymede and Lansdowne.
Unfortunately the other underpass is still not finished. This project will take a while since it is part of the Davenport Diamond project.
The crowd gathers at Ramsden Park.
Albert of the Community Bikeways Coalition is herding cats. He says that candidates should stand behind him, and everyone else in front of him.
Here are some of the candidates.
Albert introduces himself and names all of the community groups that have come together to organize this event. He notes that all of the organizations have come up with a list three promises for candidates to pledge in advance of the municipal election. They are listed here, and can be summarized as follows:
- reduce speed limits across the city (30 kph for neighbourhood roads, 40 for arterials)
- increase capital funding for vision zero road projects
- reallocate road space from motor vehicles consistent with complete streets guidelines.
He said that 33 candidates have signed on thus far. I will note that three candidates in Ward 4 have signed (Agrell, Lhamo, Perks). He noted that even if each of the groups gathered here had only a relatively small number of members that if we can all pull together we can make a difference. We want to elect as many supportive candidates to city council as possible.
He then introduced Najia Zewari, founder of the Women’s Cycling Network. She said that they now have over 500 members, primarily recent immigrants and refugees. The members have fallen in love with cycling, but they want to ride on safer streets.
Next up: Bob Murphy of Acorn Canada, a group concerned about affordable housing. He comes from Weston where bicycle infrastructure is badly needed.
Next was Jess Spieker from Friends and Families for Safe Streets, reminding us that under current conditions there are still far too many victims of road violence in the city.
Next, every candidate present was given 30 seconds to make a pitch. Inevitably some of them went over time, but it was good to hear so many difference voices talking about the importance or road safety.
I will note that Gord Perks was there for Ward 4, and Chemi Lhamo sent someone to speak on her behalf. Siri Agrell was absent.
Finally Mark outlined how the walk was going to be organized.
The procession is to remain behind this banner.
Bike Marshalls getting ready to be an advance guard.
Here we go.
Riders were corking intersections to keep everyone safe, and there were three or four cargo bikes as a rear guard as well.
Yonge and Bloor
Yonge and Dundas.
Albert thanks everyone for coming out, and reminding everyone to vote on Oct 24.
Good to see so many of the usual suspects tonight. Let’s hope that we can make road safety a key issue in this election, and get as many supportive people as possible on city council, and even in the mayor’s office.
Combined with the #ActivisionTO ride on Saturday, it was a good weekend for getting the message out about making cycling safer in the city.
Update:
Toronto bike rally lights up the night for cyclist’s rights (Star)
Video from Joey Schwartz
Biking in a Big City 
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