I moved into the neighbourhood just a few weeks ago. The week before I moved into my new home there was a shooting just up the street from our house (on Edwin just north of Dupont). Needless to say, I was less than enthused by this and was actually really regretting my decision to move where I did. I started googling the neighbourhood and news items discussing it and that is how I came to learn of both this site and the fuzzy boundaries site. I viewed both sites as positive signs that I had made the right decision moving where I did and it made me hopeful that there were more caring individuals sharing the neighbourhood with me.
I think that the naming initiative is a great community building exercise and also a great way to let the rest of Toronto know about our neighbourhood through the media coverage the process has garnered and will garner. That's not to say that people in the Triangle did not care about the community before this initiative, but the naming process provides the city with tangible evidence by way of the vote. I know change is hard for some people, but I really think that even if the name remains "Junction Triangle" (which seems likely) the process is a beneficial one. It helped change my perspective of the neighbourhood and I'm sure there are countless others who feel the same way.
John, Jack (and others) if you feel so strongly about your views, perhaps it is time for you to start your own community web site. Then you can spend countless hours donating your time for free while people dismiss your contributions or call you names.
Most web sites are either moderated or have code of conduct rules. No one would believe you if you claimed that you have not been able to state your opinions here freely. Just try to stick to the appropriate discussion threads and use some common courtesy. It is pretty simple.
It is grossly unfair of you to criticize Vic after he has provided you (and many others) with a forum for your views for years (many views that he probably does not agree with). Vic has done more as a volunteer for this neighbourhood than anyone since the Junction Triangle environmental group by providing a forum to share information and discuss differing views. He selfless work has made this a infinitely better place to live.
Kevin Putnam
Vic,
I've taken my comptuer to the guy at the end of wallace at Dufferin. He doesn't charge that much and seems to do great work. I'm not sure if he sells computers though.
Just to repeat this again, this process is non-binding, its a community based initiative that may produce something that lasts or might not. As Jane Farrow said, its ultimately the people who pick a name on their own through day to day use. Nobody is forcing anybody to do anything. I don't know clearer this can be.
(Sorry to correct you, as this has nothing to do with this NON BINDING process , but in our voting system you use the "first past the gate" process and not a 50 +1 process. In the 2006 municipal election only 9000 people voted in the ENTIRE ward. And Davenport has often been reported as having one of the lowest voter turnouts of any riding. Nobody has been even close to capturing 50 +1 of eligible voters. There are many reasons for this including the democratic option NOT to participate at all but life seems to go on.)
But be clear on this, this process has brought a lot of people in the community together who did not know each other before. There has been a lot of positive press about this community for a change. Your issues have had a fair hearing here and on the FB site and some changes were made because of concerns. You have made your case, you are just one person, a person who chose not be involved, and I suggest that it would look good on you to acknowledge and salute the enormous effort that people have put into this project as a community building exercise.
Scott, Like I told a few of the media this weekend. Regardless how the name got hear. Many like myself, moved into the community knowing the hood to be called JT. Many got married hear, grown up their kids here and even died here, knowning only the name JT. So you should be a little sensitive to those who lived here before.
Now all the sudden someone come in, or 5 years later comes and tells everyone, hey this community is nameless and we need to rename it. What response do you expect to get, flowers and chocolate. I don't think so.
At first I was opposed to the name change, but I said if the majority of residents agreeded to the change, I am on board.
Now I don't know who numbers are right, with how many residents there is in the hood 8000 or 12,000 , even though. If you are using the voting system, it's 50% plus 1. I doult you had 4000 people vote. I don't think you had more then 100 people voted.
Scott wrote: site is for people who are engaged in the community and doing things to make it better.
I have been doing things in OUR community throughout last year and planning new projects for this year. I don't go around talking about things I done. I do my thing and move on.
Scott, This is nothing against you, but it's hard to dialogue with people who are not strait up and honest. For example If we didn't speak up when we did, about the voting process, we would still have an unfair and undemocratic process. I only speak out when I see things that are not honest and strait and what I am seeing and hearing with Fuzzy Boundaries and Adam Giambrone is not strait and honest.
It's funny about 40 of us meet tonight, many of us have never meet before, but we had one thing in common, we were screwed by Adam, one way or another. If you don't speak up, you have people step all over you. This is the great thing about democracy.
We are still waiting to hear back from Kevin P.. many of us are wondering why he waited 5 years to speak up???
Funny how its the same two names over and over and over.
I like the name Junction Triangle but at least I am honest enough to admit that the name didnt get any traction until the 70's.
Your statement "It has always been the Junction Triangle. " is factually incorrect. If you have some kind of evidence otherwise please let me know. Don't rant, show us the evidence that the 10 people researching this failed to find. I did my own research too at the West Toronto Group and the City Archives and could not find any evidence.
Just because its your opinion doesnt make it so, so please, show us the research that you have.
Same old responses and dodging questions. I dont really have any response as your comments as they don't make any sense. I asked you what are are for or what you would want to do to make the community better and as usual you really dont have an answer. This site is for people who are engaged in the community and doing things to make it better. You basically complain about everything but offer nothing yourself. To be honest I wish you well but you are not interested in a dialogue with anybody and you still steadfastly refuse to treat other residents and their visions with any respect. I always figured that you would come around and be a more productive and positive force in the community if people engaged you but that's not to be. You seem stuck in the past and I am yet another resident moving on having grown weary of your rants.
Kevin, It took 6 years for you to speak up and out about the Junction Triangle, how come??. The Star quotes you living in the hood for 6 years, yet you never made any reference in the past that the community is without a name.
Was it that Fuzzy, tell us what happened. From the time you moved in, till the time you realized you were living in the Junction Triangle.
Kevin you must have been sleeping when you moved into the neighbourhood. It has always been the Junction Triangle. Perhaps you need to tell everyone reading this the truth as to why you want to change the name. It isn't bringing the community together you are dividing it. And I blame you for that.
Scott Wrote: If people dont like it they can walk or take public transit or other options.
Their opition is their car. This is Canada and not N.Korea. People pay taxes and should be allowed to do what they want. They should also be allowed to express their concerns and dislikes. If they want to take their cars, that's their choice. I don't think people want to be dictated to.
The views and my dislikes are expressed and shared by many, not only in our hood, but across this City. By the sounds of it Scott, I don't think you spoke to everyone. The numbers don't lie. Look at the last election, the green and the conservative party did better in this ward then the NDP did, then previous years.
Me wanting to vote conservative or green is because we are forced to. Beside, I vote for the person who I feel is going to be a voice for all and who really cares for their community and not to please a small minority.
I support the TTC/ Transit, but their records isn't great. 30,000 complaints for the ttc , St. clair issue, TTC strikes, leaving people stranded across the City after midnight. People are turned off and will not support this the government or their ideas. How do expect to support an idea, if it's not working.
By the way traffic on Dupont starts before 8:00Am and goes all day, nothing to do with rush hour, it's all day. I don't think it's safer or better for pollution on Dupont, when you have people idling for hours.
People who spend 2 hours a day in their car should consider taking public transit and not use my area as a freeway. Public transit is cheaper than owning car anyway.
If Dupont is congested at 8am and 5 pm its called "rush hour" and exists all over the City and has so for years and will never go away so why delude yourself. If people dont like it they can walk or take public transit or other options.
I and many other residents wanted bike lanes and traffic calming shoved down our throats. I have been asking for it for 9 years. Thats right people in our area wanted them because it would make the area better. As usual everybody else seems to know whats going on and is involved....why are you so out of the loop all the time? Even some of local businesses on Dupont wanted bike lanes.Frankly the "left wing ideology" argument is wearing a bit thin for the families of our area who are enjoying the improvements at Campbell Rink, the Railpath, Perth Park Party, and bike lanes on Dupont, the new Boys and Girls Club site: all free. I am not sure if you have noticed the inherent contradiction of all your posts, you claim to stand up for the poor and suffering but support a right wing agenda. Last time I checked the right wing in not a friend of the poor, the immigrant, or the disadvantaged. Under Mike Harris even the middle class were under attack as hospitals closed and services were cut.
Seriously Jack, lets pretend you are running for council or Mayor. What exactly would YOU do to make this a better community and City? I want to hear your 10 point plan of things that you want to do. Or is it all some ideological grudge? Is people driving cars from Richmond Hill through our area more important than street life for the people who actually live here ? Should we rip up Railpath and close the Boys and Girls Club? Lay out your priorities and how they would be good for our community. There is an election this fall why don't you try out your ideas in the public market place for a change; get in the spot light and see how you do for a change.
For what it's worth, the Toronto Bike Plan was passed by City Council in 2001, during the "right-wing" Mel Lastman years. This includes the Dupont/Annette bike lanes.
Many members of the cycling community have been critical of the so-called "left-wing" council, especially Adam Giambrone during his tenure as chair of the Toronto Cycling Committee, for not actually getting the Bike Plan implemented fast enough. It has been pointed out by many people that more progress on the Bike Plan was made by the "right-wing" Lastman council than the "left-wing" Miller council.
So for this reason, I don't think playing party politics or throwing around almost meaningless "right-wing" and "left-wing" labels really matters much when it comes to cycling infrastructure in Toronto.
You made some good points, but there are other issue's not mentioned. I am going to say this is my input, but I know many feel the same, as you pointed out by saying WE.
I think bike lanes are important and fine on some streets, but not okay on all streets and dupont is not a good raod for bikes. I seen the benefits of bikes, I lived in europe for years and people enjoy riding their bikes. Car and bikes have lived side by side for years, not the same mentality in Canada. I believe the government has waited to long to do this. You expect then to have some opposition, people are not happy spending 2 hrs in traffic, twice a day and it's not people's fault when citizens come from all over the GTA to Toronto to work, they have to live. Transit is not afforable and with all the delays. People chose to drive, plus we are spending so much money on wages, instead on transit, people are chose to drive instead.
I also seen and heard that the EMS are having a hard time responding to a calls, due to traffic and grid look on dupont, very hard to get around. The business are also suffering even more now without the parking on the street.
I heard you say what's an extra 10 more minutes, as someone who has driven on dupont around 5:00PM, believe me it's more then 10 min.
The money and cost to put bike lanes on the street, I rather see the money go to transit and infrastructure then bike names.
Some things I like about bikes on some streets would be because it cut's down on polution, healthier life style and safey of citizens. What I mean by that, by having bike lanes they are taking bikes off the side walk's and on the streets. But what I am noticing the bikers want the bike lanes and side walks.
Lastly, I want to close off by saying what I have heard, read and seen with this present City Adminstration. They have fail to work with the residents (tax payers) but rather shove it down the throats. I am and I believe many others are sick with been dictated to.
I hope the next Mayor and the next group of councillors will work with residents to come up with better solutions, instead of the one sided left wing ideology.
The Dupont bike lanes have helped calm what had become a speedway that turned our area into a route to somewhere else instead of the destination it once was. Dupont does not just exist to serve other people, it also exists to serve locals as well including local drivers, local walkers, and local cyclists. Its time to make Dupont a livable street again with viable stores and a safe street culture. Its funny how our culture always romanticizes small towns the local vibe with clean air and family friendly spaces; that is until somebody needs a carton of milk of a box of screws then all that goes out the window and it becomes "how fast can I drive there and don't anybody try to slow me down because its about freedom". It took 100 years of car centric planning to get to where we are today and its going to take time again to evolve further into a people centric culture.
Drivers sit and idle on the DVP, Spadina, and many other routes day after day and have done so for years (people complained about congestion in the 1940's). One thing is sure, many drivers have a never ending ability to sit in longer and longer congestion. I remember a relative complaining about congestion on the DVP in the early 70's but he kept driving day after day and complaining day after day and guess what ? He is still driving and still complaining. His 1950's mind just cannot make the leap that maybe he should change his ways and maybe become a happier person. Sometimes I think that drivers complain about traffic like we all complain about the weather; its a knee jerk platitude that fills the dead air. Seriously, even if every road was three levels high including side streets there would still be people complaining about traffic congestion. Even if it only delays you for 60 seconds.
Congested traffic didn't happen because of a few bike lanes or road narrowing, it happened because we developed a habit of driving EVERYWHERE and at a small cost. And this has encouraged a vast amount of needless driving.Maybe the roads are congested because there is too many cars! It is well understood that increased road capacity just creates more drivers ( and paradoxically NOT less congestion). But finally times have changed and I find that most of my car driving friends in our area (including myself) are also walkers and cyclists too. A lot of locals are now choosing transportation that best suits the situation at hand instead of automatically driving a car one block to the mini-mart (a few people on my street still do it though). Instead of driving somewhere else to get everything people are wanting to find things within a few blocks of where they live as much as possible.
People in our area are trying to return the area to the more local, involved, small town vibe it once had when people actually walked places and knew each other. This is the same change that is happening all over North America. If that interferes with people who want to drive everywhere fast at 8 am and 5 pm too bad.
I just wanted to point out that there is also construction on Junction Road thst leads to Keele and St. Clair making Dupont handle more traffic right now. Lets see how things change when that is finished.
About time. Cyclists are a menace in Toronto especially because most of them don't obey the rules of the road. I have been clipped several times by cyclists on the sidewalk as have several other people I know. They need education and enforcement.
We all have been affected by the new bike lanes on Dupont St. Its funny how many people claim that the bike lane is "always empty".
First off, its Jan. people! How many bikes do you expect on the lanes in -10c weather? Second, is it really so terrible that your trip, that used to take 14 minutes, now takes 18 minutes while in the comfort of your vehicle, with music, a phone, maybe something to eat while waiting for a little bit of traffic to clear?
The bikelane system that the City is trying to connect end to end, (that will take 10 more years) is a longterm project designed to get people out of their cars to walk, bike, run and yes... use the TTC (a flawed system yes but one that we should be proud of).
We at Boo Radley's have watched the evolution of the bike lane and noticed right away, increased bike traffic. We have also noticed the majority of cars on Dupont St have ONE occupant. Whats up with THAT?
A message to those of you who scream long and loud about the inconveinience of a few minutes added onto your travel time. Getting used to it will be good for your health! Slow down, stop, take a breath, (if you can!) and welcome the new system that is designed to take cars OFF the road. Why are you driving from High Park to the downtown core??? Why is it that driving six blocks to buy toilet paper is better than walking or how about this, riding a bike!
It'll take 10 years to change peoples ways. Give it some time. There is no room for more cars. Gridlock is a nightmare. Not for those on bikes!
M&S
Bring back two lanes of motor traffic on Dupont! The bike lane is always empty, while traffic now sits idling, a single lane in each direction. This bike lane was a BAD decision.
Members of the Clean Train Coalition will be at Fern Public School participating in "Roncey Rocks," an event organized by the Roncesvalles-Macdonell Residents' Association (RMRA). Come on down and find out about our ongoing activities and check out all the other great organizations working to make Roncesvalles Village and other west-end neighbourhoods wonderful places to live.
Where: Fern Public School 128 Fern Ave [east of Roncey]
When: Tuesday, January 26, 7-9 pm
2. Piledriving Update and Call to Action
You may have heard that the Canadian Transportation Authority (CTA) ruled in favour of local residents in the Junction area, and found that GO's diesel piledriving was unreasonable. Following the ruling, Junction residents enjoyed a brief period of peace.
Unfortunately, that peace may be short-lived: GO is appealing the ruling, arguing that any delay would impact the timelines for the Georgetown South Expansion. The Georgetown Expansion's dependency on the piledriving is debatable, but residents' need for solidarity with their fellow residents is not. There are two things you can do:
i) Send an impact statement: Tell them how intolerable the piledriving has been.
Impact statements should be sent to or dropped off at:
Gerard Kennedy Constituency Office
2849 Dundas Street West
Toronto, Ontario
M6P 1Y6
* The office is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday but there is a mail slot you can use outside those hours.
ii) Attend the hearing. A show of force will strengthen residents' chances of maintaining the CTA's injunction.
Where: Federal court, 180 Queen Street West, Suite 200
When: Thursday, January 28, 9:30 a.m.
3. Metrolinx Air Quality Monitoring
Metrolinx is still taking comments on their Air Quality Monitoring Program. Voice your concerns. Tell Metrolinx that you will not settle for anything other than electrified rail service!
For residents of Davenport and the West Toronto Diamond, here's your chance to press Mario Silva on the rail expansion. We need the Federal Government to step up, and we need all our elected officials to do what we elected them to do: represent our interests.
Where: Wallace Emerson Community Centre (Ambrico Room)
When: Tuesday, February 9, 7 p.m.
Help get the word out - get your neighbours to sign up to www.cleantrain.ca
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Thats what I thought. 3000 jobs and 1500 units plus "retail" is a lot to place in that amount of space with only one service road (because of turn restrictions I consider Sterling North and Perth to be one road). Even adding Perth South and also connecting to Ruttan still is not a lot of access. Consider too there there is a lot more land sitting there for future development and because of Metrolinx there is zero possibility of any east west roads/level crossings. Not only is there resident/job travel but there is existing/future travel and transportation/supply travel as well. Its going to get might crowded if people are not careful.
Also think of the squeezed development at 351 Wallace which in the end is about 150 units. Saying 1500 "residents" doesn't mean anything, its the number and formulation of units that count and even if they think 4 people per unit (which is high) that is still 375 units.
Catstlepoint's plans are still too early to be judged and they have changed completely before (http://digin.ca/blog/2008/02/notes-from-castlepoint-film-studio.html). I hope the people on Sterling and Perth get some real section 37 value added to their area and that the build doesnt leave them overshadowed by traffic and size.
I moved into the neighbourhood just a few weeks ago. The week before I moved into my new home there was a shooting just up the street from our house (on Edwin just north of Dupont). Needless to say, I was less than enthused by this and was actually really regretting my decision to move where I did. I started googling the neighbourhood and news items discussing it and that is how I came to learn of both this site and the fuzzy boundaries site. I viewed both sites as positive signs that I had made the right decision moving where I did and it made me hopeful that there were more caring individuals sharing the neighbourhood with me.
I think that the naming initiative is a great community building exercise and also a great way to let the rest of Toronto know about our neighbourhood through the media coverage the process has garnered and will garner. That's not to say that people in the Triangle did not care about the community before this initiative, but the naming process provides the city with tangible evidence by way of the vote. I know change is hard for some people, but I really think that even if the name remains "Junction Triangle" (which seems likely) the process is a beneficial one. It helped change my perspective of the neighbourhood and I'm sure there are countless others who feel the same way.
John, Jack (and others) if you feel so strongly about your views, perhaps it is time for you to start your own community web site. Then you can spend countless hours donating your time for free while people dismiss your contributions or call you names.
Most web sites are either moderated or have code of conduct rules. No one would believe you if you claimed that you have not been able to state your opinions here freely. Just try to stick to the appropriate discussion threads and use some common courtesy. It is pretty simple.
It is grossly unfair of you to criticize Vic after he has provided you (and many others) with a forum for your views for years (many views that he probably does not agree with). Vic has done more as a volunteer for this neighbourhood than anyone since the Junction Triangle environmental group by providing a forum to share information and discuss differing views. He selfless work has made this a infinitely better place to live.
Kevin Putnam
Vic,
I've taken my comptuer to the guy at the end of wallace at Dufferin. He doesn't charge that much and seems to do great work. I'm not sure if he sells computers though.
Just to repeat this again, this process is non-binding, its a community based initiative that may produce something that lasts or might not. As Jane Farrow said, its ultimately the people who pick a name on their own through day to day use. Nobody is forcing anybody to do anything. I don't know clearer this can be.
(Sorry to correct you, as this has nothing to do with this NON BINDING process , but in our voting system you use the "first past the gate" process and not a 50 +1 process. In the 2006 municipal election only 9000 people voted in the ENTIRE ward. And Davenport has often been reported as having one of the lowest voter turnouts of any riding. Nobody has been even close to capturing 50 +1 of eligible voters. There are many reasons for this including the democratic option NOT to participate at all but life seems to go on.)
But be clear on this, this process has brought a lot of people in the community together who did not know each other before. There has been a lot of positive press about this community for a change. Your issues have had a fair hearing here and on the FB site and some changes were made because of concerns. You have made your case, you are just one person, a person who chose not be involved, and I suggest that it would look good on you to acknowledge and salute the enormous effort that people have put into this project as a community building exercise.
Peter Feriera ? Although he doesnt live in the area.
Well, now it's official as Adam Giambrone filed his papers to run for mayor today.
That means we'll have a new councillor in Ward 18. Who will it be?
So far, there are three people registered to run in this ward:
Any comments?
When was the name "Junction Triangle" chosen for this neighbourhood? How many people voted for it then, and what percentage of the voters chose it?
Please keep message on-topic. This thread is about the Dupont bike lanes. There are many other places to post about Fuzzy Boundaries.
Scott, Like I told a few of the media this weekend. Regardless how the name got hear. Many like myself, moved into the community knowing the hood to be called JT. Many got married hear, grown up their kids here and even died here, knowning only the name JT. So you should be a little sensitive to those who lived here before.
Now all the sudden someone come in, or 5 years later comes and tells everyone, hey this community is nameless and we need to rename it. What response do you expect to get, flowers and chocolate. I don't think so.
At first I was opposed to the name change, but I said if the majority of residents agreeded to the change, I am on board.
Now I don't know who numbers are right, with how many residents there is in the hood 8000 or 12,000 , even though. If you are using the voting system, it's 50% plus 1. I doult you had 4000 people vote. I don't think you had more then 100 people voted.
Scott wrote: site is for people who are engaged in the community and doing things to make it better.
I have been doing things in OUR community throughout last year and planning new projects for this year. I don't go around talking about things I done. I do my thing and move on.
Scott, This is nothing against you, but it's hard to dialogue with people who are not strait up and honest. For example If we didn't speak up when we did, about the voting process, we would still have an unfair and undemocratic process. I only speak out when I see things that are not honest and strait and what I am seeing and hearing with Fuzzy Boundaries and Adam Giambrone is not strait and honest.
It's funny about 40 of us meet tonight, many of us have never meet before, but we had one thing in common, we were screwed by Adam, one way or another. If you don't speak up, you have people step all over you. This is the great thing about democracy.
We are still waiting to hear back from Kevin P.. many of us are wondering why he waited 5 years to speak up???
Funny how its the same two names over and over and over.
I like the name Junction Triangle but at least I am honest enough to admit that the name didnt get any traction until the 70's.
Your statement "It has always been the Junction Triangle. " is factually incorrect. If you have some kind of evidence otherwise please let me know. Don't rant, show us the evidence that the 10 people researching this failed to find. I did my own research too at the West Toronto Group and the City Archives and could not find any evidence.
Just because its your opinion doesnt make it so, so please, show us the research that you have.
Same old responses and dodging questions. I dont really have any response as your comments as they don't make any sense. I asked you what are are for or what you would want to do to make the community better and as usual you really dont have an answer. This site is for people who are engaged in the community and doing things to make it better. You basically complain about everything but offer nothing yourself. To be honest I wish you well but you are not interested in a dialogue with anybody and you still steadfastly refuse to treat other residents and their visions with any respect. I always figured that you would come around and be a more productive and positive force in the community if people engaged you but that's not to be. You seem stuck in the past and I am yet another resident moving on having grown weary of your rants.
Kevin, It took 6 years for you to speak up and out about the Junction Triangle, how come??. The Star quotes you living in the hood for 6 years, yet you never made any reference in the past that the community is without a name.
Was it that Fuzzy, tell us what happened. From the time you moved in, till the time you realized you were living in the Junction Triangle.
Kevin you must have been sleeping when you moved into the neighbourhood. It has always been the Junction Triangle. Perhaps you need to tell everyone reading this the truth as to why you want to change the name. It isn't bringing the community together you are dividing it. And I blame you for that.
Scott Wrote: If people dont like it they can walk or take public transit or other options.
Their opition is their car. This is Canada and not N.Korea. People pay taxes and should be allowed to do what they want. They should also be allowed to express their concerns and dislikes. If they want to take their cars, that's their choice. I don't think people want to be dictated to.
The views and my dislikes are expressed and shared by many, not only in our hood, but across this City. By the sounds of it Scott, I don't think you spoke to everyone. The numbers don't lie. Look at the last election, the green and the conservative party did better in this ward then the NDP did, then previous years.
Me wanting to vote conservative or green is because we are forced to. Beside, I vote for the person who I feel is going to be a voice for all and who really cares for their community and not to please a small minority.
I support the TTC/ Transit, but their records isn't great. 30,000 complaints for the ttc , St. clair issue, TTC strikes, leaving people stranded across the City after midnight. People are turned off and will not support this the government or their ideas. How do expect to support an idea, if it's not working.
By the way traffic on Dupont starts before 8:00Am and goes all day, nothing to do with rush hour, it's all day. I don't think it's safer or better for pollution on Dupont, when you have people idling for hours.
People who spend 2 hours a day in their car should consider taking public transit and not use my area as a freeway. Public transit is cheaper than owning car anyway.
If Dupont is congested at 8am and 5 pm its called "rush hour" and exists all over the City and has so for years and will never go away so why delude yourself. If people dont like it they can walk or take public transit or other options.
I and many other residents wanted bike lanes and traffic calming shoved down our throats. I have been asking for it for 9 years. Thats right people in our area wanted them because it would make the area better. As usual everybody else seems to know whats going on and is involved....why are you so out of the loop all the time? Even some of local businesses on Dupont wanted bike lanes.Frankly the "left wing ideology" argument is wearing a bit thin for the families of our area who are enjoying the improvements at Campbell Rink, the Railpath, Perth Park Party, and bike lanes on Dupont, the new Boys and Girls Club site: all free. I am not sure if you have noticed the inherent contradiction of all your posts, you claim to stand up for the poor and suffering but support a right wing agenda. Last time I checked the right wing in not a friend of the poor, the immigrant, or the disadvantaged. Under Mike Harris even the middle class were under attack as hospitals closed and services were cut.
Seriously Jack, lets pretend you are running for council or Mayor. What exactly would YOU do to make this a better community and City? I want to hear your 10 point plan of things that you want to do. Or is it all some ideological grudge? Is people driving cars from Richmond Hill through our area more important than street life for the people who actually live here ? Should we rip up Railpath and close the Boys and Girls Club? Lay out your priorities and how they would be good for our community. There is an election this fall why don't you try out your ideas in the public market place for a change; get in the spot light and see how you do for a change.
For what it's worth, the Toronto Bike Plan was passed by City Council in 2001, during the "right-wing" Mel Lastman years. This includes the Dupont/Annette bike lanes.
Many members of the cycling community have been critical of the so-called "left-wing" council, especially Adam Giambrone during his tenure as chair of the Toronto Cycling Committee, for not actually getting the Bike Plan implemented fast enough. It has been pointed out by many people that more progress on the Bike Plan was made by the "right-wing" Lastman council than the "left-wing" Miller council.
So for this reason, I don't think playing party politics or throwing around almost meaningless "right-wing" and "left-wing" labels really matters much when it comes to cycling infrastructure in Toronto.
You made some good points, but there are other issue's not mentioned. I am going to say this is my input, but I know many feel the same, as you pointed out by saying WE.
I think bike lanes are important and fine on some streets, but not okay on all streets and dupont is not a good raod for bikes. I seen the benefits of bikes, I lived in europe for years and people enjoy riding their bikes. Car and bikes have lived side by side for years, not the same mentality in Canada. I believe the government has waited to long to do this. You expect then to have some opposition, people are not happy spending 2 hrs in traffic, twice a day and it's not people's fault when citizens come from all over the GTA to Toronto to work, they have to live. Transit is not afforable and with all the delays. People chose to drive, plus we are spending so much money on wages, instead on transit, people are chose to drive instead.
I also seen and heard that the EMS are having a hard time responding to a calls, due to traffic and grid look on dupont, very hard to get around. The business are also suffering even more now without the parking on the street.
I heard you say what's an extra 10 more minutes, as someone who has driven on dupont around 5:00PM, believe me it's more then 10 min.
The money and cost to put bike lanes on the street, I rather see the money go to transit and infrastructure then bike names.
Some things I like about bikes on some streets would be because it cut's down on polution, healthier life style and safey of citizens. What I mean by that, by having bike lanes they are taking bikes off the side walk's and on the streets. But what I am noticing the bikers want the bike lanes and side walks.
Lastly, I want to close off by saying what I have heard, read and seen with this present City Adminstration. They have fail to work with the residents (tax payers) but rather shove it down the throats. I am and I believe many others are sick with been dictated to.
I hope the next Mayor and the next group of councillors will work with residents to come up with better solutions, instead of the one sided left wing ideology.
The Dupont bike lanes have helped calm what had become a speedway that turned our area into a route to somewhere else instead of the destination it once was. Dupont does not just exist to serve other people, it also exists to serve locals as well including local drivers, local walkers, and local cyclists. Its time to make Dupont a livable street again with viable stores and a safe street culture. Its funny how our culture always romanticizes small towns the local vibe with clean air and family friendly spaces; that is until somebody needs a carton of milk of a box of screws then all that goes out the window and it becomes "how fast can I drive there and don't anybody try to slow me down because its about freedom". It took 100 years of car centric planning to get to where we are today and its going to take time again to evolve further into a people centric culture.
Drivers sit and idle on the DVP, Spadina, and many other routes day after day and have done so for years (people complained about congestion in the 1940's). One thing is sure, many drivers have a never ending ability to sit in longer and longer congestion. I remember a relative complaining about congestion on the DVP in the early 70's but he kept driving day after day and complaining day after day and guess what ? He is still driving and still complaining. His 1950's mind just cannot make the leap that maybe he should change his ways and maybe become a happier person. Sometimes I think that drivers complain about traffic like we all complain about the weather; its a knee jerk platitude that fills the dead air. Seriously, even if every road was three levels high including side streets there would still be people complaining about traffic congestion. Even if it only delays you for 60 seconds.
Congested traffic didn't happen because of a few bike lanes or road narrowing, it happened because we developed a habit of driving EVERYWHERE and at a small cost. And this has encouraged a vast amount of needless driving.Maybe the roads are congested because there is too many cars! It is well understood that increased road capacity just creates more drivers ( and paradoxically NOT less congestion). But finally times have changed and I find that most of my car driving friends in our area (including myself) are also walkers and cyclists too. A lot of locals are now choosing transportation that best suits the situation at hand instead of automatically driving a car one block to the mini-mart (a few people on my street still do it though). Instead of driving somewhere else to get everything people are wanting to find things within a few blocks of where they live as much as possible.
People in our area are trying to return the area to the more local, involved, small town vibe it once had when people actually walked places and knew each other. This is the same change that is happening all over North America. If that interferes with people who want to drive everywhere fast at 8 am and 5 pm too bad.
I just wanted to point out that there is also construction on Junction Road thst leads to Keele and St. Clair making Dupont handle more traffic right now. Lets see how things change when that is finished.
About time. Cyclists are a menace in Toronto especially because most of them don't obey the rules of the road. I have been clipped several times by cyclists on the sidewalk as have several other people I know. They need education and enforcement.
We all have been affected by the new bike lanes on Dupont St. Its funny how many people claim that the bike lane is "always empty".
First off, its Jan. people! How many bikes do you expect on the lanes in -10c weather? Second, is it really so terrible that your trip, that used to take 14 minutes, now takes 18 minutes while in the comfort of your vehicle, with music, a phone, maybe something to eat while waiting for a little bit of traffic to clear?
The bikelane system that the City is trying to connect end to end, (that will take 10 more years) is a longterm project designed to get people out of their cars to walk, bike, run and yes... use the TTC (a flawed system yes but one that we should be proud of).
We at Boo Radley's have watched the evolution of the bike lane and noticed right away, increased bike traffic. We have also noticed the majority of cars on Dupont St have ONE occupant. Whats up with THAT?
A message to those of you who scream long and loud about the inconveinience of a few minutes added onto your travel time. Getting used to it will be good for your health! Slow down, stop, take a breath, (if you can!) and welcome the new system that is designed to take cars OFF the road. Why are you driving from High Park to the downtown core??? Why is it that driving six blocks to buy toilet paper is better than walking or how about this, riding a bike!
It'll take 10 years to change peoples ways. Give it some time. There is no room for more cars. Gridlock is a nightmare. Not for those on bikes!
M&S
Bring back two lanes of motor traffic on Dupont! The bike lane is always empty, while traffic now sits idling, a single lane in each direction. This bike lane was a BAD decision.
Clean Train Update Jan 09
1. RMRA - Roncey Rocks
Members of the Clean Train Coalition will be at Fern Public School participating in "Roncey Rocks," an event organized by the Roncesvalles-Macdonell Residents' Association (RMRA). Come on down and find out about our ongoing activities and check out all the other great organizations working to make Roncesvalles Village and other west-end neighbourhoods wonderful places to live.
Where: Fern Public School 128 Fern Ave [east of Roncey]
When: Tuesday, January 26, 7-9 pm
2. Piledriving Update and Call to Action
You may have heard that the Canadian Transportation Authority (CTA) ruled in favour of local residents in the Junction area, and found that GO's diesel piledriving was unreasonable. Following the ruling, Junction residents enjoyed a brief period of peace.
Unfortunately, that peace may be short-lived: GO is appealing the ruling, arguing that any delay would impact the timelines for the Georgetown South Expansion. The Georgetown Expansion's dependency on the piledriving is debatable, but residents' need for solidarity with their fellow residents is not. There are two things you can do:
i) Send an impact statement: Tell them how intolerable the piledriving has been.
Impact statements should be sent to or dropped off at:
Gerard Kennedy Constituency Office
2849 Dundas Street West
Toronto, Ontario
M6P 1Y6
* The office is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday but there is a mail slot you can use outside those hours.
ii) Attend the hearing. A show of force will strengthen residents' chances of maintaining the CTA's injunction.
Where: Federal court, 180 Queen Street West, Suite 200
When: Thursday, January 28, 9:30 a.m.
3. Metrolinx Air Quality Monitoring
Metrolinx is still taking comments on their Air Quality Monitoring Program. Voice your concerns. Tell Metrolinx that you will not settle for anything other than electrified rail service!
Go to: http://www.metrolinx.com/gsse/default.aspx
When: Comments will be accepted until Jan 31, 2010.
4. Mario Silva at DIGIN
For residents of Davenport and the West Toronto Diamond, here's your chance to press Mario Silva on the rail expansion. We need the Federal Government to step up, and we need all our elected officials to do what we elected them to do: represent our interests.
Where: Wallace Emerson Community Centre (Ambrico Room)
When: Tuesday, February 9, 7 p.m.
Help get the word out - get your neighbours to sign up to www.cleantrain.ca
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Thats what I thought. 3000 jobs and 1500 units plus "retail" is a lot to place in that amount of space with only one service road (because of turn restrictions I consider Sterling North and Perth to be one road). Even adding Perth South and also connecting to Ruttan still is not a lot of access. Consider too there there is a lot more land sitting there for future development and because of Metrolinx there is zero possibility of any east west roads/level crossings. Not only is there resident/job travel but there is existing/future travel and transportation/supply travel as well. Its going to get might crowded if people are not careful.
Also think of the squeezed development at 351 Wallace which in the end is about 150 units. Saying 1500 "residents" doesn't mean anything, its the number and formulation of units that count and even if they think 4 people per unit (which is high) that is still 375 units.
Catstlepoint's plans are still too early to be judged and they have changed completely before (http://digin.ca/blog/2008/02/notes-from-castlepoint-film-studio.html). I hope the people on Sterling and Perth get some real section 37 value added to their area and that the build doesnt leave them overshadowed by traffic and size.