Junction Triangle

In the "Bikeway Network - 2011 Update" that was published by The City today, there's no mention of the already-approved Lansdowne Ave. bike lane (Bloor to Dupont).
http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2011/pw/bgrd/backgroundfile-38906.pdf

However, there's discussion of shortening the Dupont bike lane:

Approve modifications to the bicycle lanes on Dupont Street at the approach to the
intersection with Lansdowne Avenue, to move the beginning of bicycle lanes from a
point 30 metres east of Lansdowne Avenue to a point 70 metres west of Lansdowne
Avenue.

4.5 Modifications to the Dupont Street Bicycle Lanes at Lansdowne Avenue
(Ward 18)
Dupont Street, from Dundas Street West to Lansdowne Avenue, is a two-way arterial
roadway, which operates with one traffic lane and a bicycle lane in each direction. East of
Lansdowne Avenue, Dupont Street operates with two traffic lanes per direction. The T.T.C.
operates the 26-Dupont bus route on the street. The transition from four lanes to two lanes
occurs approximately 30 metres east of Lansdowne Avenue and has resulted in significant
delay to motor vehicle traffic on Dupont Street. Transportation staff have worked with the
Ward Councillor to review options for improving eastbound and westbound traffic flow at
the Dupont Street/Lansdowne Avenue intersection. Based on a review of the intersection
operation, Transportation staff have concluded the traffic flow could be improved by
maintaining two westbound and two eastbound traffic lanes approaching Lansdowne
Avenue and making the transition to a single lane plus bicycle lane west of the intersection.
Accordingly, Transportation Services recommends that the bicycle lane design be modified
so that the bicycle lane begins approximately 70 metres west of the intersection as illustrated
in Appendix 7. With this change both the eastbound and westbound approaches to
Lansdowne will operate with two traffic lanes in each direction, and the intersection will
return to the configuration that predated the installation of the bicycle lanes. Following
implementation of this change staff will continue to monitor the operation of Dupont Street
and the Lansdowne-Dupont intersection, in consultation with the Ward Councillor and the
community."

Summary: Ignore approved bike lane, shorten crossing bike lane so that it doesn't connect even if Lansdowne gets installed.

I spoke with staff at Councillor Bailão's office yesterday to try and get a status update on the Lansdowne north of Bloor bike lanes.

Here's what I've been able to determine so far:

1. Bailão's office initiated a meeting with City staff back in February 2011 to re-examine the issue of the Lansdowne bike lanes. Although the bike lanes were already approved, there now seems to be a "re-examination" underway to determine what impact the missing parking spaces will have.

2. Bailão's office is waiting for another update 3 months from now by city staff on how the bike lane will be implemented.

3. When I asked why there has been no discussion surrounding this issue in any of the quarterly newsletters, I was told that it was because they are waiting for updates from City staff.

4. I was told that 3 months from now the Councillor's office will begin querying the Ward, community and city about opinions/issues with the bike lanes.

I am very concerned about what efforts are being made to possibly overturn the already approved bike lanes. Whether or not these efforts are legitimate is one issue, but the lack of discussion and community involvement surrounding it I find alarming.

I am going to try and ramp up my efforts to raise awareness within our ward and City on the Lansdowne bike lanes. If anyone would like to lend a hand please post in this thread. I would like to get a web page going where we can post status updates and generally keep people informed of what's going on.

Hi,

I just got off the phone with Councillor Ana Bailão's office. I wanted to get an update on when and whether the bike lanes would still be going in on Lansdowne Ave. north of Bloor.

It turns out that if enough people call in to express their adversity to the bike lanes they may be able to overturn the approval and not put in the lanes.

I'm debating creating another seperate post about this in the main forums to make everyone aware of the situation.

I urge everyone who supports the bike lanes on Lansdowne to call in to Councillor Bailão's office and voice your support.

My personal opinion is that it would be shame to lose bike lanes that benefit everyone for the sake of saving 74 parking spaces in a soon to be overly congested area.

Nice article today on BlogTO about Wallace and Lansdowne:
http://www.blogto.com/city/2010/11/what_does_the_future_hold_for_wallace...

No mention of the bike lanes, but it's interesting to see and read about how this intersection has (and hasn't!) changed.

The Bike lanes are shown in recent city docs as saying they will be put in this fall.

no one's heard anything I guess ?