Toronto City Council Public Works and Infrastructure Committee - 2014-2018 Term of Council, 18 Oct 2017

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From YouTube: Public Works and Infrastructure Committee - October 18, 2017 - Part 2 of 2

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Public Works and Infrastructure Committee, meeting 24, October 18, 2017 - Part 2 of 2
Agenda and background materials:
http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/decisionBodyProfile.do?function=doPrepare&meetingId=11899
Part 1 of 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIaT9AgXx_0#t=13m47s

Meeting Navigation:
0:10:26 - Meeting resume

A

Oh, it's not very good.

A

Good afternoon good afternoon, what members of the public works and.

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Infrastructure committee please report to committee room one for quorum.

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39 on my computer 139, so I have until 45, so we have six minutes.

B

So we need one more person. Well, we've done that already once today, it's.

C

Getting embarrassing, we have four and a half minutes. Okay,.

C

Here we go all right. Thank you. We're gonna start the meeting, we're just worried about quorum, everyone, but we've got it so.

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We're all set for the afternoon and and the evening I'm just.

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Okay, so thank you, everybody for especially those of you.

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Who are here throughout the morning waiting for your turn? Your turn is now.

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Here, as you know, we have 60 speakers. I would encourage anybody who would like.

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To group together and come up two or three at a time to do that, so it's just.

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More efficient and effective, if you can consider that we would appreciate it.

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Again, grouping together to come up and do your deputations, I know there's a.

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Couple individuals who have asked to do that, so we will certainly entertain that.

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And support that I also just want to warn you up front that it is a three.

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Minute deputation and we can no matter how cute you are, I'm looking at you.

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You will have to we've already talked about this in the hallway. You have to.

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Stick to the three minutes: those are the rules, so I don't like to be the big bad.

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Nene but everybody if you could just keep an eye on this clock right here. It.

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Will indicate when you're getting close to three minutes and if you can wrap up.

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In advance of the three minute mark that way, it's fair for every single speaker.

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That's before us, so thank you very much. Okay, so we're going to start with our.

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First, speaker and our first speaker is lila gary from air pollution coalition.

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If you could would come forward lila, oh I'm sorry to hear that that is not.

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That's not good news. Thank you for sharing that with us, we'll go to our.

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Second speaker, which is cam gilt kilgore, is cam here.

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Welcome cam, you have three minutes and just make sure the mics on in front of.

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You thank you, madam speaker and committee members. I'm a lifelong.

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Resident of toronto, I'm a tdsb teacher for decades. I commuted to work from.

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Christie pitt's neighborhood to riverdale collegiate, which is located at.

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Girard and jones at the danforth until the bloor bike path was implemented. I.

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Studiously avoided writing on bloor and danforth due to the unsafe congested.

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Conditions along this artery, the one exception to this avoidance of the.

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East-West route has has been the bike path across the bridge from castle frank.

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To broad view, since the bluer bike path was created, I have used it daily. It is.

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Safe efficient and well used it's an example of the adage. If you build it.

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They will come, the evidence of increased active transport speaks for itself. The.

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Issues arising from parking and the interaction between motorists and and.

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Cyclists will involve a change in behavior and awareness of all those who.

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Use bloor making this path permanent will enable all citizens of and visitors.

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To toronto, to adapt to the new culture of efficient, green transport, I went home.

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At lunch I was to speak before lunch and I have a little clip to show you because.

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I I live at 80 garnett avenue, which is north of christie, pits between shaw and christie. I just like to show you this.

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Clip this is from an hour ago, so this is. This is heading westbound on.

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The north side of bloor- I am between spadina and bathurst and momentarily. I.

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Will you'll see a vehicle turning right and there was an uber etes cyclists in.

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Front of me delivering food, that's blue and bathurst. That's all! I.

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Have to say thank you very much. Sorry.

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That that footage, is it your footage or the city's footage? No, it's my footage.

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For a job, because the city's refusing to give me their footage, I just I I cycled.

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Home I cycled 10 kilometers. In the last hour I cycled home to postpone a meeting.

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That I have in five minutes which I will miss. I took this footage, so what's the.

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Purpose of the footage to show you how efficiently it's used- and there are.

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Concerns with motorists turning right, motorists parking in the the bicycle.

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Lane it's just it's a beautiful day today.

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It's an exemplar of how well used it is, would would you be at all willing to.

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Help pay for the infrastructure for the permanent bicycle lanes that this report.

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Is suggesting I'd say as a taxpayer, of course, but not as if we were the.

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Licensed bicycles, to help pay for the infrastructure, I would I would. I would.

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Do whatever was necessary for future generations to live in a green.

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Sustainable city, thank you. So if the city, if we agreed that we bring forward.

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A licensing mechanism to help pay for the infrastructure you you would be okay,.

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With that, I would be okay with paying what every.

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Citizen should pay to maintain a bicycle path which would include a license fee.

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Absolutely thank you you're welcome, so there there's been a request for.

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Number 39 jardel to be moved up to join this group. It's a committee, okay with.

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That it's actually kevin so milena, christine and kevin. If you.

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Could come forward together? Welcome to city hall.

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We've been waiting for this. No no you're gonna go right back to school, maybe.

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Maybe wow I like your attitude. Okay, so guys you are three of you, so you each.

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Have three minutes and you can mix it up and in total you have nine minutes so.

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I'm gonna start the clock right now. Are you ready and your mics are on yeah.

C

There you go hello, my name is melina and I'm here.

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From dusen street public school, with one of my best friends talia, I'm in fifth grade, I use the bike lanes all the time on harbert college.

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Shaw and of course, blore, I've been riding my bike since I was three years.

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Old, I know how to use my brace my hand, signals, and I know how to check over my.

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Shoulder before I turn still, I've never been allowed to ride on bloor, because my.

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Parents say it was not safe. I had to write on the sidewalk, while my parents were on the road which is really annoying as you might see, that might be.

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Especially hard because blower gets me everywhere, like the library, my speed.

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Math class restaurants, parks and downtown toronto.

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Now, with the new bike lanes, we can ride together on the bike lanes and feel safe.

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And comfortable when there were no bike lanes on bloor people that my mom took.

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The ttc to work now that there are bike lanes on bloor, my mom could stop at the.

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Bulk barn and other stores on her way home. This is good for businesses also.

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The bike lanes made it feel safer for people who haven't been biking for very.

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Long, especially people who don't own their own bike and use bike shares some.

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More people will feel safe biking in the city. Please extend and keep the bloor.

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Street bike lanes. Thank you. Wow good work.

C

Hi, my name is kevin and I'm a student from the university of toronto and I.

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Enjoyed cycling, I'm enrolled in a co-op placement program with a bike to school.

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Project I culture link and today I'm representing the bike to school project.

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As well as a fellow students, the bike to school project encourages students to.

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Use bikes as part of their active lifestyles in the last two years. We.

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Reach 22,000 students with cycling, education programs. We support.

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Afterschool bike clubs in high schools and provide bicycles for students to use.

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In group activities, we also help schools make changes to paul.

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An infrastructure to make it easier for more students to travel to school actively. I grew up in the suburbs, I didn't grow up in downtown toronto and I.

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Biked all the time with my family, I begged everywhere to school, to my.

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Friends, place to grocery stores, but I biked on sidewalks and I was never.

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Allowed to bike on the road, as my parents thought it was too dangerous. The.

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Only time I ever rode on the road was when the roads were never busy or there.

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Were no cars on it, but when I moved to toronto for school I wanted to continue.

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Biking I wanted, I wasn't allowed to bike on the sidewalk, so I was so. I have now.

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Restricted to the road, I am nervous every time bike in toronto. It's only.

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When bike lanes are present that I feel safe, so I am here today to say to say.

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That I would like to see the blue bike lanes made permanent and expanded the.

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Bluer bike lanes have helped make people safer and actually be safer as a result.

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More people are biking throughout the pilot. Cycling, ridership mumbler has.

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Increased by 49 percent- and this is great because it means more people- are.

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Active and are helping to protect the environment. This issue managed to.

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Students and our families last week, students, parents and teachers from nine.

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Different schools came together to ask for the blue bike lanes to be made.

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Permanent, they came from central's ron academy, floor collegiate university of.

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Toronto, schools and harbored collegiate, and and also these elementary schools.

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Doosan clinton, palmerston mcmurray and the claremont school and you for your.

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Time today and for considering the safety of students, thank you very much.

C

Excellent job, any questions from the committee.

C

If not, thank you guys, you can officially go back to school now. Okay, next speaker.

C

Is peter cycles, a co-founder of doctors for safe cycling, welcome peter.

C

So you've got three minutes. Oh absolutely! That's fine! The apfel just.

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Hold your time and you've sewed, there's three of you! So just if you could state their names, your gillian baker.

G

I'm dr. marco lowe, dr. eileen chung, cannot yet say, go to mount sinai.

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Hospital, it's a teacher, difficult area course. Okay, great! You can start, I'm just.

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Gonna put up some slicers.

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A good afternoon, I'm dr. marco lowe, I'm a family doctor with me today are dr. peter cycles. Also a family doctor, dr.

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Eileen sean who I spoke about, who is an emergency room, physician and dr. gillian.

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Baker, who's a pediatrician, we're representing doctors for safe cycling,.

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And we urged the pubic to make the floor bike lanes permanent and to them further.

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Expand them we're a group of doctors who recognize the health benefits of cycling.

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For our patients and for our community and the best way to make cycling safer.

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And easier for our patients is through improved and expanded. Cycling.

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Infrastructure, this is a picture of the bloor bike lanes in action on the.

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Morning, huge, there are people on bicycles farther than the eye can see.

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And so the members of our group include trauma surgeons, family doctors, emergency.

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Room physicians from every hospital in freneau and many prominent chiefs of.

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Emergency medicine, so our supporters include the emergency.

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Room chiefs of st. michael's hospital of toronto, east general hospital, michael.

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Guerin hospital the emergency room chief of mount sinai hospital, the emergency.

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Room chief of toronto, western hospital, the emergency room chief of toronto.

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General hospital and emergency room chief of scarborough centenary hospital.

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We sent an open letter signed by almost 200 toronto doctors to meritor ii and to.

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The members of the committee stressing the importance of the blurb I claim has.

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A key piece of cycling infrastructure that will improve the health and safety.

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Of tonie ins and I have a copy of the.

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Letter with the sinese here now, you hear a lot of statistics today supporting the.

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Bike lanes, but as doctors we want to stress to the members of the public.

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Works and infrastructure committee that the lack of bicycle infrastructure has a.

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Real human cost- and I this is wasn't written here, but I don't know if people.

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Here know, but there's a cyclist killed this morning on king street, at cowen.

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Just a couple of hours ago, marco will talk about this was gonna, be a doctor.

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Chums peaceful, so I'll read out what she see: riding a bike on toronto's streets.

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Is dangerous? The onus has always been on those who ride bikes to protect.

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Themselves, they're told wear a helmet use lights on your bike, but as an.

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Emergency room doctor, I know that's not enough. I commonly see patients who use.

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All the safety measures and still end up at the hospital with terrible injuries. I.

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Was working one evening when a young woman whom I'll call jim was brought.

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Into the er jane was biking home on a cheryl helmeted with lights, flashing on.

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Her bike, when a car door opened in front of her, she crashed into the door flipped.

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Over her handlebars and landed on her chin in the er, we found out that her jaw.

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Was shattered, she was in extreme pain and she needed extensive surgery with.

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Metal plates and screws fixed into her face her mouth was wired shut for weeks.

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And months of rehab followed without proper infrastructure to help protect.

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Them torontonians who ride bikes and do everything to protect themselves and.

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Still gets severely injured or died fully segregated cycle tracks, like those.

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On bloor couldn't help prevent this. They decreased the risk of injuries and death.

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To cyclists by 90% cycle tracks or a public health measure, and it's why.

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They're supported by so many other individual colleagues and the ontario.

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Medical association and the canadian association of emergency physicians.

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Toronto needs not only to keep the bloor bike lanes, but expands likely infrastructure to prevent deaths and serious injuries like.

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Chains, alright, hi um so again, I'm dr. gillian baker and I'm an assistant.

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Professor of pediatrics at the university of toronto, I'm here as a pediatrician, a truly proud to run toni on a bike commuter and a.

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Mother of four young children, so I'm here to briefly offer my perspective on.

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How the bloor bike lanes and related future cycling infrastructure can.

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Benefit the safety and health of toronto's children and form a part of.

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Maintaining the livability of our growing city, so a bit more about me and.

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Why I'm here I was born and raised in toronto, where four children raised.

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Arranged from seven to thirteen, so I now have the dreaded teenage cyclist on the.

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Road I'm married to a physician who's, also, a hobby, competitive, cyclist and.

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Sometimes commuter I've commuted to and from work by bike for 15 years in this.

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City as well as in calgary, vancouver and montreal for several years in all the.

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Cities, in which I completed my studies and worked, I'm a cyclist, but I am also a.

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Pedestrian, I'm a ttc patron and I'm a driver.

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Most often mums taxi driving, kids and friends to activities downtown in the.

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Suburbs around the gta and beyond, but occasionally went on call I'm in a hurry.

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To see a sick, patient I'll be driving right along bloor myself, I feel I.

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Understand the various perspectives on this lane and other safe cycling.

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Infrastructure and a balance that I feel it is the direction our city must take.

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On balance, I do live in the christie, pitt's neighborhood and I live it. So I.

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Lived there and I work at st. mike's and it sickens, so the bloor bike lanes have.

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Really enabled me to ride safely and efficiently to both of my workplaces.

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I've used them daily since their installation and I personally increased.

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My patron, my patronage of the stores along blue-ray near my home, now that I.

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Can bike home that way and with four kids who eat a lot? I can tell you my.

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Patronage has been impressive. I have not until recently so I mean I.

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Think that there are three issues really at play: safety, health and livability.

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So briefly, safety, I've not until recently dared to ride my bike with my.

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Children outside our local schoolyard this has been very.

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Surprising to my neighbors, because I'm such a bike advocate, however, due to.

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Safety concerns. I did not have a child seat on my bike. I did not have a trailer.

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And now that I have a thirteen and eleven year old, I still silently cringe.

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Every time they want to ride their bike to school or outside of the school yard,.

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That is until the bloor bike lanes came along, as dr. sockos has pointed out at.

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Our release a few weeks ago, we know that separated bike lanes do help to reduce.

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Morbidity and mortality on our streets, and is only now that I let my teenager.

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Ride on busy streets that have separated bike lanes such as bluer, I agree with.

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Councillors, cressy and layton in their article in the toronto star, the other.

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Day that there are small changes that should be considered to the lanes in.

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Order to optimize safety for cyclists, drivers and pedestrians alike, I was.

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Heartened by the recent report and the before-and-after data on bloor record.

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Looking at overall decrease in near misses and importantly, the fact that.

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Motorists themselves feel more comfortable driving next to cyclists in.

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Protected bike lanes- and I can speak to that so thanks to the blue road bike.

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Lanes my son and I can ride to his swim practices at central tech to the museum.

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Two stores along bluer to buy his friend's birthday gifts, gifts to name a.

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Few recent trips we've made in the past few weeks alone. He can also learn how to.

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Safely, navigate the streets of toronto by bike, which is an important skill and.

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Part of it healthy, active lifestyle that I'd like to see my own patients and my.

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Children embrace in terms of health, we all know the health benefits of exercise.

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We also all know from a pediatric perspective that there is an obesity.

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Epidemic right here in toronto and across north america and beyond.

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There is a well-recognized connection between a sedentary lifestyle and.

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Obesity and truly every day in my practice, no matter what I'm seeing a.

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Child for I find myself counseling children and families on how to increase.

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Their activity level for a healthy lifestyle and management of their.

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Obesity, if it's an issue, so active transportation to schools and efficient.

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An effective way to do this, yet I hesitate to recommend that my patients.

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Take use biking to commute to school for the reasons I've outlined unless there.

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Are protected bike infrastructure that they may use, so I won't sort of speak to.

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The issue of the bike to school program- I think that's been covered and we've heard for some students, and I encourage you all to listen to the children.

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Because this is their city too, so, finally, in terms of livability, you.

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Know I am a proud torontonian yet for the past few years I've really become.

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Dismayed by the increasing traffic and pollution, I too am a car driver, so I.

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Stopped this you have to wrap up yeah, so I do just want to say: tirana is becoming.

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Very busy and the pollution is a problem and it's an health concern and I think.

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That when I drive, I want fewer cars on the road. When I bike, I want fewer cars.

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On the road, let's all work together to enable the citizens of toronto to be.

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Able to use the form of transportation that will keep them healthy and safe.

G

Thank you. Thank you. Councillor, holliday has a question. Thank you, madam chair.

J

Thank you for speaking to us today, councillor matt malini brought it before.

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About licensing- and I don't want to open that discussion, but one of the fine.

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Points out of that discussion we had at the p work table earlier was talking.

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About how you engage and educate people about cycling and cycling, safely and and.

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Behavior on the road- and I want to focus on the lanes- that's a part of one.

J

Particular place in the city, but you as physicians, see people that have been in.

J

Accidents have done risky things all over the city. Do you have any.

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Recommendations to the committee, besides building infrastructure, because that was.

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Clear about how or who could be helping us, educate, youngsters people about.

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Cycling safely wearing the right kind of clothes, maintaining their equipment.

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Learning the rules of the road recognising situations in advance, because I had always thought you know a bit of ounce of prevention is- is what's.

J

Really going to help people that that get hurt you deal with people all the.

J

Time, do you have any thoughts for the committee on that yeah I mean, I think.

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That's very true: people need be educated, there's can bike, has a program. Certainly expanding programs, especially for kids, I think, is a.

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Wonderful idea, you know, I do think that putting the onus on the individual is.

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Really not what's going to keep people safe, it's it's necessary, but what really.

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Will will prevent, will save lives and will prevent you know our trauma units.

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From from having people admitted, is to have infrastructure that keeps people.

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Safe, I yeah I agree, but I think you do raise.

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A very very good point, and I think especially as a pediatrician, I think.

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That, probably we do have a role to play. I would personally be happy to work with.

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Safe kids, canada speak to the canadian pediatric society because I think.

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Educating our youth, you know, get him while they're young and that's an effective strategy. I think that there could be a bit of a balance, so basically.

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If the bloor bike lanes are kept city council can make a point that you know.

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Have your bike lanes, but let's all use them safely and while we're at it here.

G

Are some very important points to help keep riders safe? So thank you and just.

J

To fall in maybe it's rhetorical, but would you ever consider getting involved.

J

With schools- because I know at this point- it seems education on cycling- is.

J

Kind of disappeared, these programs have gone away that the police seem to be.

J

Less involved, at least from what I grew up, they're off doing other things and.

J

Other other focuses, but I really put that question out there. I'm hoping.

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Someone will step up to the plate to really engage on this, to get young.

J

Riders learning how to do it because they're not they're too young to learn.

J

To drive a car, so they don't get the rules that I know I got young kids.

J

Myself and we're going through that process of learning how to operate a.

J

Vehicle safely, I shouldn't then mammal edie councillor mana lady. Thank thank.

A

You very much if I could you're three doctors. You live in the city of toronto,.

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Yes, you paid property taxes, correct you drive as well. Presumably you have a.

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License were you aware, we are you aware that the cost of your your driver's.

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License doesn't go to repaving roads, it goes to the province and by to.

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Administer the program it doesn't actually go directly like you.

A

Don't don't pay for roads through your driver's license? That's like what's been.

A

Insinuated correct mm-hm and you pay for roads through your property taxes, you're.

A

Aware that you live in the christie, pitt's neighborhood, how high are you.

A

Property taxes, would you would you say, on a scale of pain, from one to ten to be.

G

Honest, I find them quite reasonable. Okay, well, that question backfired. My kids are.

G

In public school yeah, thank you very okay, counselor mammal ad three minutes.

E

So I first of all, after the doctors at st. michael's, thank you. You guys saved.

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My life number of years ago, so I can't be perhaps as harsh as I'd like to be.

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Right now, but I come from my stances, I don't believe that by bicycle should be.

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Shared with vehicles at all, I agree, I think it's too dangerous. I agree and and.

E

The infrastructure that comes along with with putting that mechanism in place is.

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Very expensive, so so we here have to look at and- and I and I and I represent.

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The suburbs and the suburbs don't want to pay for that kind of infrastructure.

E

I've seen the polls right, nobody wants to pay for it. So those of us down here.

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As much as some people down here, don't like us, we have to figure out a way to.

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Do that right and so licensing does become a mechanism for us to pay for the.

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Infrastructure, so there is a possibility where city hall could create a licensing.

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Mechanism to help pay for that infrastructure would you, as doctors,.

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Agree that maybe that could be a way to fund and channel the money to make it.

E

Safer for for people to be using the bikes, you know what it says: we're not.

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Economists, we're doctors, so we can speak about things we know about, and the.

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Things that we do know about it from the research are very clearly that that.

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Cycling is really good for your health. If you want to cut down your risk of.

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Heart disease, your risk of cancer, your risk of mortality, risk of stroke by 50%.

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Cycle to work that's been shown in the british medical journal just this year.

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Very clear evidence, the other thing, that's really clear that we can say, because, as doctors is, that putting a bike lane separated bike lane.

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Not complete agree, the danger de cycling is mixing with cars and trucks right so.

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Pretty bike lanes will decrease the risk of fatality in serious injury by 90.

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Percent and that study was done in toronto, so, as doctors, that's that's, I.

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Think we can speak to that week. I can't speak to economic issues. I just can't.

E

Speak to someone who wants to ride the bike, and once it safely and once the.

E

Mechanism put in place an infrastructure to make it safe. Would you be prepared to.

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Pay a minimal fee towards a license for your bike in order to help pay for that.

E

Infrastructure, you know, I think the other issue is that what we want to do.

I

Is who want to get more people cycling? Because the more people cycling the better people's health? And it's actually been shown the more people cycle? The.

I

More drivers are aware of cyclists and, and it increases safety when you have.

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More cyclists, so I'd be worried about discouraging people from cycling. I'm.

E

Asking you me myself, I'm not sure what I haven't thought about it. You know if I.

E

Were to move a motion today that said 15 bikes, 15 bucks a year for anyone that.

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Wants to use our infrastructure to help pay for the infrastructure? Would you.

E

Would you pay that a year, I'm not I'm, not sure the relevance to to what I'm.

I

Talking about I okay times up rachel listener. Thank you very much. That's four.

C

Of you, the third fourth who's, not here, we appreciate your time. Rachel, you're.

C

Next, if you could get ready and after that is gus sinclair so gus, if you could.

C

Be standing by is rachel not here. I guess we're on to ronda gus sinclair.

C

Then it's gus here then we're moving on to christine, who I do see is here.

C

Christine hubbard from beck taxi welcome christine, I think you know the drill.

C

And you've been here before, yes, thank you so much so yes, my name is christine.

K

Hubbard in here, representing beck taxi, just probably too surprised a lot of.

K

People, I think the expectation is that I wouldn't be in support of bike lanes.

K

Which is a little bit shocking, in fact, you know safes.

K

And liveable cities, and all these terms that we hear it's not just safe for.

K

Something we have to make sure that it's safe for everyone, and I have to say just.

K

Quickly to those two little girls who spoke, it was amazing. My daughters are.

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The same age actually, and they would like to see transit and cycling and.

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Walking only you can see my dilemma, obviously, but we need to make sure that.

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People are able to actually share the roads in a safe way and I'll say I don't.

K

Let my kids ride their bikes. You know I don't to school, just like the doctor.

K

Said it's it's frankly, terrifying! So as I'm saying that we need to get.

K

These these people, the infrastructure they need to be able to share the roads.

K

In that safe way, drivers, I think, at the same time, are more confident. I'm a.

K

Driver, I walk a lot. I also take taxis. I take transit but as a driver. This.

K

Morning, coming along richmond and the richmond bike lane is there. I know where.

K

Everyone is supposed to be, I know where everyone is, and I think that there is.

K

That confidence that you have when you're driving alongside the bike lanes.

K

And I would say, taxi drivers feel the same way. I'd like to thank to officer.

K

Ashley who's here, who's done such an amazing job in the bike lanes and and.

K

Bringing everyone's attention to this important subject, but we're not dealing.

K

With this in a bubble, we're not dealing with this without having to look at all.

K

Of the other things that are being done in this city, that could have a negative.

K

Effect on cyclist safety on road safety, and I would suggest that I'm confused as.

K

A resident and as someone who might start encouraging my kids to ride their.

K

Bikes in the bike lanes that we've somehow invited 50 thousand untrained.

K

Drivers into our city, at the same time, to cruise our streets, untrained, looking.

K

To pick people up and drop them off very often unmarked, certainly untrained and.

K

Frankly, I find the whole thing frightening. How is it that we are.

K

Dealing with this in such a compartmentalized way that we don't see.

K

The risk the increased risk that we add to our streets, the congestion we want people to use transit. We want less cars.

K

On the road we want more people to to use this cycling infrastructure, but.

K

We're seeing the studies showing that again 50,000 vehicles on our streets are.

K

Discouraging transit use, they are not marked and not making themselves obvious.

K

It's you know a sea of untrained drivers and I think that, if we're going to.

K

Really look to making our roads safer. We have to make sure that the people who.

K

Are using their private vehicles in a commercial fashion, are trained properly.

K

And understand how to provide that service in our city? If we really are.

K

Worried about keeping people safe. Thank you. Thank you. Kevin d'souza from the.

C

Central toronto academy bike club are you here? He is not so we're gonna go on.

C

To kim, I hope, I'm gonna say this right, perrito and from cape. I just came here.

C

Okay, it's okay, cape is the canadian association of physicians for the.

C

Environment so welcome kim you're the executive director and you've got three.

C

Minutes. Thank you very much. Sokeep is a nonprofit organization that has been.

L

Promoting policies that improve human health in the environment for more than two decades directed by a board that includes ten medical doctors. Cape is.

L

These bike lanes is a public health priority. Here are a few of our reasons.

L

First of all, bike lanes reduce injuries and deaths on the roads. Experience in.

L

Other jurisdictions has demonstrated that safe, well-designed cycling.

L

Infrastructure reduces collisions between vehicles and bicycles and.

L

Consequently reduces injuries and deaths among cyclists. Secondly, and most.

L

Importantly, bike lanes reduce injuries. um Pardon me, bike lanes reduces deaths.

L

From chronic diseases by increasing the levels of physical activity, a recent.

L

Long-Term study conducted in the united kingdom found that cyclists, who commute.

L

To work are 41 percent less likely to die at an early age, 52 percent less.

L

Likely to die from cardiovascular disease and 40 percent less likely to.

L

Die from cancer, there is no drug in the world that can deliver this kind of.

L

Benefit as taxpayers, we should be thrilled to support cyclists because.

L

Chronic diseases are responsible for about two-thirds of the healthcare.

L

Budget in canada and cost canadians approximately 200 billion dollars every.

L

Year, thirdly, bike lanes hold the promise of reducing air pollution. The.

L

Transportation sector in this city, it's the most significant source of air.

L

Pollution and is responsible for approximately 440 deaths, 1,700 hospital.

L

Admissions each year, that's according to your own toronto, public health.

L

Department by shifting people from cars and bicycles to bicycles, we can reduce.

L

Emissions of air pollution and potentially improve air quality across.

L

The city last of all bike lanes have the potential to cut greenhouse gases that contributed climate change.

L

Toronto's transportation sector is responsible for 40% of the city's.

L

Greenhouse gases: several modeling studies have found that significant.

L

Reductions in greenhouse gases can be realized by shifting short trips from.

L

Vehicles to bicycles, for example, in san francisco, a study found that that, if.

L

That they could reduce greenhouse gases from vehicles by 14% by increasing.

L

Walking and cycling time from 4.5 to 22 minutes per day transition transitions.

L

Are tough right now some people feel that we are taking valuable space on.

L

Crowded roads away from cars, but this is the wrong way to look at this issue by.

L

Creating safe well connected cycling, the cycling infrastructure across the city.

L

We're providing people with more options, increasing the number of people cycling.

L

Taking pressure off of crowded roads out of crowded street cars and out of.

L

Crowded subway's, we have to think about bikes differently. We have to think of.

L

Them like sidewalks, essential infrastructure that protects people from.

L

Vehicles, while fostering healthy lifestyles, we have to think of them like.

L

Soccer fields and hockey arena repop community asset assets that promote.

L

Physical activity and social cohesion, we have to think of them like parks and.

L

Green space and land use that improves air quality, mitigates climate change and.

L

Promotes mental health thanks kim questions.

C

Councillor m'lady, so the studies that pointed to with respect to the health.

E

Benefits of riding a bike- I I do agree with and I'm not going to dispute that.

E

But why is that nobody's doing any studies along bloor street when we're.

E

Stopping all the traffic and- and you got all that all of that, the pollution out.

E

Of the cars in the mix and how great that might be someone's health, I don't.

E

See any studies saying it's actually not healthy for for that equation to be to.

E

Be actually the studies have been done so just so, you know, they've been studies.

L

Done air pollution inside cars and there's actually very heavy exposure to.

L

People inside cars in congested traffic they've also done studies of.

L

Epidemiological studies where they compared the risk of air pollution for a.

L

Cyclist on the road and compared that to the benefit at all physical activity and.

L

It actually, the physical activity, health benefits, way outweigh the risk of the.

E

Air pollution is it healthy for a cyclist to be going down blue street.

E

With all those cars literally blocked and not moving, it's healthier for them.

L

To be riding a bicycle, even if there's air pollution than not to be riding a.

L

Bicycle at all, that's the way to look at it and it's it's unhealthy for all of us.

L

To be doing it, I think what right now is what's going on is the transition is.

L

Going to be difficult, but if what we're trying to do is we want more bicycles on.

L

The road than ultimately people like myself, I am not a cyclist. I take public.

L

Transit and I take cards, I'm one of the people who might actually cycle if it.

L

Felt safe to have seen cyclists that want us to stop smoking on sidewalks.

E

Because they feel that that their health is at risk and but yet they're willing.

E

To to ride behind the cars that data meant, we want to improve our air quality.

L

Along traffic quarters, the best thing we can do is get more bicycles and people.

L

On that those roads and get fewer cars on the street, so really it is a war on.

E

The car it's about getting rid of anybody owns a car.

L

It's about options, it's about giving people safe options so that they feel.

L

Like there's other things they can do well, I don't believe that, but.

E

Nevertheless, well I say that is somebody who's, not a cyclist and I've also say.

L

That is, somebody is a public health. Professional who's been looking at the literature on this for about 10 years yeah. This is this like. If you look at.

L

The cities where they have lots of cycling, it's it's a benefit for.

L

Everybody, it's not it's not a disadvantage for sight. Just sorry, I just.

E

Don't I don't get how people who claim to be the champions for health are.

E

Advocating for people riding on bikes, beside cars and making it dangerous for.

E

Themselves, I don't get it well. I think I think what we're all.

L

Saying here is that we like people not to have to ride right beside getting rid.

E

Of the car like them to have no we'd like to have separated bike lanes that.

L

Make it safe for them? I just explained to you that actually, the health benefits.

L

Of riding a bicycle, even in traffic, is better and they're, not riding your bike.

L

Then then, the than the risk of the air pollution- it's it's better in terms of.

L

The physical activity, health benefits outweigh the air pollution risk. There's.

L

Actually, studies that look at that. Thank you very much. Thank you.

J

Are there any other questions? Thank you for speaking to us. Our next speaker is.

J

Andrew vice vice president you're on sussex residents, association is andrew.

J

Here, thank you. Next on the list is paul. Raff, paul raff.

J

Studio, it's paul here next on the list.

J

Is heather ralston heather here the next.

J

In the list is kasia reach, min sampson from friends and families for safe.

J

Streets kasia, thank you and welcome. You have three minutes. Thank you.

F

I'm here in support of the protected bike lanes on bloor street on behalf of.

F

Friends and families for safe streets for those unfamiliar with the group. We.

F

Are survivors of crashes and families and friends who have lost loved ones in.

F

Collisions so today, I'm here for edith who in september was cycling to work and.

F

Was pinned under a truck she's still in the hospital and had had.

F

To have her leg amputated, I'm also here for joyce who, while cycling, was also.

F

Struck and is paralyzed from the neck down, and I'm also here, of course, for my.

F

Late partner, tom sampson, who isn't because the consequences of road.

F

Violence are a reality. I live with every day as quote/unquote a cyclists widow.

F

Being here is utterly infuriating in a way. Why? Because it makes me cringe.

F

Whenever discussions of road safety digress to debates about parking spaces.

F

And travel times, separatist spaces for people who are walking cycling and.

F

Driving make it safer for everyone. What else do you need to know to make this.

F

Decision we all know the number of vulnerable road users being killed or.

F

Injured on in toronto on the roads is increasing by removing this protective.

F

Space for cyclists, you will be saying you're, okay with that. Well, we are not.

F

Okay with that traffic fatalities and injuries are not an abstract edith.

F

Joyce or me and my kids, they are tangible and urgent in every aspect of.

F

Our lives and as we already have heard today, there was a person cycling who was.

F

Killed that was not just a headline that was someone's son, maybe someone's dad.

F

Maybe even someone that one of you know you just haven't found out.

F

Maybe you'll get a phone call at the end of the day, with all due respect.

F

Counselors, keep your condolences and build safe streets.

F

J

Sir, maybe I'm lady first of all, I am sorry to hear about.

E

The losses I really am, I don't need condolence, I if you don't.

E

Mind me asking where, where were they where they hit, where they hit, where.

E

There was a bicycle lane or where there wasn't, there were no. There was there.

F

Were no bicycle lanes where they were hit and in some of the cases I know.

F

There were painted lines on the road, but no separated cycling tracks, nothing to.

F

Separate physically the cyclists from motor vehicle traffic, all three of the.

E

Examples you gave okay. Thank you next, on.

J

The list is carl ashley. It's carl here welcome. You have three minutes. Thank you.

H

I would first of all thank the community, but it is my civic right and duty to be.

H

Here and it doesn't seem like there's a very warm and receptive one today. First.

H

And foremost, most in this room know me as parking pal, but my parents have named.

H

Me kyle I'm a resident of toronto and a proud public servant. I work for the.

H

Toronto police service as a parking enforcement officer and become a prominent advocate for safer, more complete streets since may, it has become.

H

My personal mission to be the voice and some agency of the bike, tio community by.

H

Helping to keep the blake claims clear blockers and trying to normalize bicycle.

H

Commuter culture trying to show that we aren't all like roll outs like somewhat.

H

On this panel like us to believe this is vastly propagated, but what is most.

H

Important here is that we are people, people, first and foremost, people who.

H

Bike people who drive since undertaking my mission is to obstinately adamant.

H

About the need for better infrastructure, the reason I have come to speak to you.

H

Is there is a deep need in our space 'ti to speak truth to power.

H

And that truth is simply harsh vision. Zero requires a little more than zero.

H

Vision and toronto has a public health emergency. The time for political.

H

Politeness has passed public safety is not and should never be politicized and.

H

People often retort that this is simply war on the car. No, it is not and has nap.

H

Not or nor will it ever be, this is not a war on the car. This is a war on.

H

Behaviors unsafe, considering my deputation today here in an auger all.

H

State of the lane address, if you will, I know that this committee, both.

H

Appreciates brevity and numbers so I shall provide you broke 77 people killed.

H

2016 20 between 2005 and 2016 over 3,000 people were injured or killed due to.

H

Road violence, violence at this magnitude gun violence, random assaults. There would.

H

Be public and political outrage: why do we accept such preventable death? This.

H

Violence is preventable. You can do something. Counselor mammal, even people.

H

Often complain about the economic impact of cycle lanes saying that business.

H

Needs to be done. My message is abundantly clear people before product.

H

People for book post and people people before parking. Most importantly, people.

H

Need to be alive to use product and to contribute to the economy. What about the.

H

Economic impact of someone being taken off work or on disability for their.

H

Entire life, do we have a measure of that cars have airbags, people on bikes do not.

H

We can look at this whole issue as one analogy: our cities, our heart, our roads,.

H

Its arteries cars bikes are the bloods. The people are the blood cells.

H

Performing the function functions by placing infrastructure on walls of.

H

Arteries, it stops blockages, it also prevents the most vulnerable road users.

H

The people from being killed it also allows cars containing more blood cells.

H

To travel faster and to get to where they need to be to do their work as well.

H

In 2016 the toronto police issued 7200 bike lane tickets and in 2017 we are on.

H

Trend to right over 500 more, this should not be acceptable. We need to design.

H

Streets, so that compliance with the law and safety are natural. My experience.

H

Teaches me that uniform presence to turns deters behavior. But as soon as an.

H

Officer leaves the behaviors escalate. I pass through many forms of.

H

Infrastructure that guided me on here, all my behaviors today I went through.

H

The airport wrap up, please. I went through infrastructure at the subway.

H

At the ngo terminal, and even through this building, why do we not place it.

H

Where we expect behaviors the most the ones that we can prevent deaths on our.

H

Roadways. Thank you. Thank you very much.

J

Councillor m'lady, so you mentioned the political end of this and and I firmly.

E

Believe that the reason this is here is for political reasons,.

E

And I believe that, because the mayor is pushing this without proper dialogue,.

E

Without business being being at all consulted, the tests and the and the.

E

Studies that have been done have been done only in the spring and summer.

E

Months, not in the winter and there hasn't been a proper economic dialogue.

E

In the community, so I personally believe there's a political agenda, but I believe.

E

It's those days you're the politician, so it is analytical by nature. Would you.

H

Agree with me, the one making a political this public safety is not never should.

H

Be never will be a political issue. Public safety is not political, so we.

H

Have the opportunity to end all road fatalities, but why are we dragging our.

H

Heels, why are you dragging your heels because the there's another component to.

E

This and that's a component, that's real, whether you like it or anyone else and.

E

That component is that the majority of torontonians do not want these bike.

E

Lanes and and and I'd like I'd like to ask you whether or not you've seen it, I.

E

Think the economic impact have said it have been out there that it's wrong to.

E

Actually do want to spend the infrastructure money and create this.

E

Political question driven agenda bill take care of it lure bike lanes, the.

E

Answer there is no answer because everybody wants to pay for their.

E

Particular pet projects and I pay property taxes in this city. I therefore.

H

Pay to use bike lanes this argument about bicycle war on car. That is not.

H

What the jour de toronto do transit if the questions want to pay for your bike.

H

Lanes well, property taxes. I pay them pay.

H

That's what they're for cows, sir ma'am lady, you should listen to.

H

Most people in trauma, sir, please address the chair. Thank you. Kev.

J

Sir any more questions, thank you.

J

Next, up on the list is deb doncaster, president earth day, canada, it's deb here.

J

Next in the list is maggie. Robertson is maggie here, hello, maggie.

J

Welcome you have three minutes. Thank you, hello. My name is maggie robertson. I'm.

F

Here to ask you to please make the protected bleuer bike lanes permanent. I live on palmerston avenue.

F

A little north of bloor and I use the protected bike lanes every day for.

F

Shopping and for traveling to many different places and events safely.

F

Easily calmly and happily for shopping, I don't have a car anymore, but I find that.

F

I can carry heavy milk bottles and bulky bags of oat bran and beams home easily.

F

And my bicycle carrier from the health food stores at lauren, spadina and lauren.

F

Markham using the protective blower bike lanes in between the health, food stores.

F

I can stop at the spadina library, beaners home hardware, at bloor and.

F

Howland, the post office at bluer and walmer and sweet pete's bike shop at.

F

Bluer and lippincott, where I've just had my bicycle tuned up, I love to shop at.

F

The dufferin grow farmers market too, and thursdays, and it would be super to be.

F

Able to cycle all the way to dufferin on protected bike lanes for traveling to.

F

Wonderful places in the city protected bike lanes have enabled me to travel by.

F

Bicycle much more safely and easily during the day, and also during the.

F

Afternoon rush hour and in the evening when it's dark, I'm a member of the wrong.

F

And I like to be able to visit the museum, often for an hour or two at a.

F

Time to see an exciting new exhibit or to hear a special speaker protected bike lanes. Let me go to the museum now safely.

F

Easily and quite quickly at 6:15 in the evening I take a beginners adult ballet.

F

Class at the national ballet school on jarvis street with protected bike lanes.

F

Blower bike lanes, I can leave my house at 5:15 during rush hour and bicycle at.

F

Least, halfway there on the protected bike lanes before I turned down.

F

Philosopher's walk and cycle or walk through some of the smaller and not safe.

F

For bicycling streets to the national ballet school at night, coming home in.

F

Its dark, it's a delight to cycle safely and easily along bloor street.

F

It was great to come here this morning to in the rush hour the morning rush.

F

Hour on the bluer bike lanes, blower for me, is an elegant, colorful and vibrant.

F

Street and it feels fabulous to be part of that joyful energy when I cycle along.

F

The blower bike lanes please make the protected bluer bike lanes permanent.

F

Thank you. Thank you. Councillor m'lady go ahead. It's it's easy for anyone to come.

E

Here and say make them permanent with with a cost factor. It's also not easy.

E

For someone like myself to make that decision, knowing that most of toronto.

E

Nians, don't want these to be built out, and are you aware that I, as a member of.

E

Council am not being given information by city staff to help me make my my.

E

Particular decision here today, I'm not aware that at all no, I think a lot came.

F

Out of the newspaper, I presume that the report for me no I'm gonna challenge the.

E

Report later because I don't think it's accurate there's an there's people.

E

Saying that there's this whole group of cyclists that are using it. But yet, when.

E

I, when I asked for the footage that the city has and I've been asking for months.

E

They are refusing to give that to me so that I can actually make the count.

E

Myself, are you aware that some of us are just not getting that information.

E

So I'm not that aware. I was really spoken for myself and my joy at using.

F

Them and how much easier it is for me to get around the city and how much farther.

F

I can go with the bike lanes, but but if this report, that's in front of us is not.

E

Accurate does that not raise a red flag with anyone? No, I think I don't know what.

F

To do about that, but we still want to spend the money we still want to spend.

E

All that money in infrastructure, if the report is not accurate, I thank you.

J

Are there any other questions? Thank you for.

J

Joining us next in the list is albert keel. Welcome albert you have three.

J

Minutes, albert kohl, when our group bells on.

D

Bloor was formed over a decade ago now to advocate for bike lanes on bloor. We.

D

Thought all we'd have to do is show you how many people would love to cycle on.

D

Bloor and you'd respond by making it safe for cycling, so we organized what we.

D

Call pedal-powered parades with children and seniors infants and bike carriers.

D

People with decorated, bikes or painted faces, we just wanted to show you the.

D

Simple joyful, healthy activity of cycling, so our parades with up to 2,000.

D

People became the one day in the year when our city got a glimpse of what blue.

D

Might be like if it was safe for cycling, but we like other groups before us or.

D

Since then, fighting for this cause learn that getting a bike lane in toronto.

D

Isn't quite that easy, whatever might be the benefits, so, in addition to.

D

Developing some expertise as parade and rally organizers, we studied parking.

D

Management data data collection, cycling, history, road policies. We also learned.

D

About communications, deputations collaborations with the fbi, a's.

D

Merchants and residents groups we had to learn to respond with evidence to the.

D

Myths, distortions and distractions that are generally thrown in our way like.

D

Roads were built for cars, cyclists, don't pay, taxes, bicycles should be licensed or.

D

Businesses can't live without street parking and, after all, these years were back here again calling for the same simple thing.

D

To be able to ride our bicycles safely on bloor in the intervening years, city.

D

Policies have slowly caught up with modern expectations for public roads.

D

We've watched as toronto developed its complete street guidelines and a vision.

D

Zero plan that rejects the notion that road deaths and serious injuries are.

D

Normal and acceptable, so this new direction, if taken seriously, will.

D

Replace our lamentable road safety record since the cycling revival of the.

D

1970S, our city has built less than one kilometre of bike lanes for each.

D

Cyclists killed on our roads too often the simple, joyful, healthy activity of.

D

Bicycling has become a sad and news headline today we asked you to put.

D

Safety, where it belongs at the top of your review of this bike lane, why.

D

Because an ailing business can always be rejuvenated, new parking spots can be.

D

Freed up or added and motor traffic delays can be reduced, but a person who.

D

Dies on our roads can never be revived and a person who suffers a debilitating.

D

Injury can't be restored to health. That's why we believe that safety has to.

D

Be a priority not as an afterthought, or something to be balanced, with parking.

D

Spots: sales or motorist relays, and that's why we believe it's finally time.

D

To put a permanent bike lane on bloor street, thank you. Thank you very much.

J

It's like councillor, kelso cressy, go ahead. Thank you mr. coal, for being here.

B

You mentioned that you're from the group bells on bloor. Now I'm aware that the.

B

City has done it two counts and under questions of staff, we can go into theirs.

B

As your organization also done, counting video counts of cycling on bloor, that's.

D

Right, we've done a number of counts, including last september in january, may.

D

And most recently in september, and that count was a video count from the top of.

D

Us store, we counted during the course of a week september, 22 every day, 24 hours.

D

120 hours of video we counted, I spent 15 hours myself.

D

Doing it and we counted, there were approximately 6,000 to a high of 6700.

D

Cyclists per day, thank you very much. Kosar m'lady.

E

I'm on this account thing, because this councillor, after numerous requests of.

E

Our transportation department is being ignored and isn't being given the count.

E

Through the video that the city had had taken, are you willing to share your.

E

Video with me so that I could see it sure, we've even put a segment up on.

D

Youtube already, but absolutely I would love to see it because again, city.

E

Officials are refusing to give me the information that belongs to the city and.

E

The one that they have yeah, you can go there anytime and take your own video.

D

Account I mean the numbers. The numbers are clear: yes, yeah. We have 120 hours.

D

You're welcome to no. No. The thing is this: I could do that. Yes, but we have.

E

City officials, that did it for us, and some of us aren't privy to that.

E

Information and are being told we're not going to get it right, so I guess I need.

E

Yours, if you're willing to give it to me, you said you would so thank you other.

C

Questions I've got one, thank you for featuring me and some of.

C

Your articles, you've written I'm, never really clear on what you're getting at.

C

So when this came to committee, I asked for a supplementary report because I.

C

Felt there was gaps in the report and I felt that we could do better and I think.

C

Eventually, we did, because we got a great supplementary apart for council to.

C

Debate and it gave us the opportunity to do further analysis and gather more data.

C

And use technology and a bigger and better way, so I'm just I'm just. I guess.

C

This is my opportunity to ask you publicly what your concerns are with you.

C

Know accessing more data and having more information before council to make a a.

C

Really good positive, productive decision- I I didn't think the things that were.

D

Added, I was very confident at the city report is adequate, some some of the things that we asked for like vacancy data. Now my.

D

Understanding vacancy data, I mean that's not going to tell you very much over the.

D

Period of a year, I was very disappointed, for example, that safety data wasn't.

D

Looked at, we didn't look at the number of collisions or injuries on bloor.

D

Street during that period, so that was certainly my concern. I believe this.

D

Staff report was more than adequate and and what was that? It wasn't wasn't that.

D

Particular sad sad nor nor had particularly to the quality of the.

D

Report and you don't think it may be encouraged to other councillors to.

C

Endorse the pilot and take a chance on the pilot when they were maybe sitting.

C

On the fence to have that additional information and have that additional.

C

Comfort that these things were going to be analyzed and that data was going to.

C

Be sourced, I can't speak for other councillors. Okay. Well, I think I can and.

C

I think they appreciated it. So any other questions, if not we're gonna move on to.

C

Elizabeth alan rankin, hey, thank you. Elizabeth welcome the mics. I think.

C

Already on for you and you've got three minutes once you get situated there, I'm.

A

Sure I believe I'm 33 and mains okay, so we'll wait for that. So robert.

C

Cycle toronto advocacy group robert said costs key. Did I get it? Okay? Thank you. Oh.

C

I've seen you on twitter now I remember your name, absolutely. Okay, welcome and.

C

You've got three minutes good afternoon. Members of the public works and.

B

Infrastructure committee, one of my cycling, friends, who had see one of your.

B

Constituents jay had told me floor, stood for bike lanes, offer overwhelming relief.

B

For this recent staff report that came out dye has been confirmed, we have seen.

B

Cycling volumes gone up to over 6,000 cyclists per day per belle's on bloor. We.

B

Have seen the number of collisions that gone down, I believe by 61% for cyclists.

B

Versus motorist or 44% over we've seen business activity gone up and.

B

Whatever earlier delays their bed, four drivers have said: spec, cadet half to.

B

Between two and four minutes, but the blurb I claims about to me personally- is.

B

A much safer writing experience as well as the chance to visit new businesses a.

B

Logged lord, that I wouldn't have otherwise, while biking law and harbert.

B

However, it is essential that we extend the bike lanes on bloor westward as soon.

B

As possible per this map, I've put out in front of.

B

You there are no continuous cycling facilities between davenport and the.

B

Waterfront from ossington to lance out, oh yeah, there are a couple of.

B

Neighborhood connections but they're not continuous the need to extend the bike.

B

Lanes west has gotten personal back in late july, when I was right hooked on.

B

Bloor dared dovercourt wrote well, I did not suffer serious injuries at that time.

B

There have been other cyclists who've not been so lucky, including cyclists, who got killed a couple of blocks away from me. This.

B

Morning there have also been a lack of cycling facilities built since the.

B

Started the bike plot last year in which only 13 kilometers have been built per.

B

Report albert cole had put out in order to accelerate the bike plan. We need to.

B

Ensure we are coordinating with capital works, including the two segments of.

B

Bloor between lansing and dundas, as well as sherbourne and church other reasons.

B

For keeping the bloor bike leads includes the fact that cycling of.

B

Structure ties it to our transform teo pledged to reduce greenhouse gas.

B

Emissions by 80% there are six major corridors which are dependent on the.

B

Success of the bloor bike lanes, including on danforth avenue, but last.

B

But not least, keeping the bloor bike place, extending cycling facilities.

B

Across this city is key to achieving vision, zero.

B

And let me warn you: you cannot claim to support visions.

B

If you vote to remove the bloor by clangs, so thank you and let's gets wrong.

B

Moving right on time, thank you. So we have a couple questions for you.

C

We're going to start with councilor holiday. Okay, thank you. You mentioned.

J

Extending them west mm-hmm my years paying attention yeah. How far should.

J

They go west. I know the current study calls for up to a keel, but I feel they.

B

Could be extended all the way the kip like given the width of bloor, especially.

B

West of the rail path, the floor is so wide that you can easily put in bike.

B

Lanes without removing parking, why bluer? Why not any of the other east-west.

J

Routes because lore is one of the few continuous day, east-west corridors.

B

Across the city and cyclists like drivers, pedestrians and transit users.

B

They want the most direct roads possible, and so there are can I paraphrase there.

J

Aren't many other options there are not as many opportunities compared to blur.

B

Sir okay, thank you. What counts for me, milady, you're, aware that there hasn't.

E

Been any real economic impact study on the small businesses on bloor street.

E

Mom-And-Pop shop kind of studies, we don't know the effect that these bike.

E

Lanes have had on these shops. Do we? I know the transfer, active transportation.

B

Has conducted a study about those businesses and they've determined that.

B

Business activity has gone up and well there they may not purchase as much like.

B

Each time does cyclists pedestrians, that is, those a users tend to make the trips.

B

More often so that in the long term, cyclists and pedestrians spend more than.

B

Drivers see that's not what mom-and-pop shops are telling me on bloor street.

E

What they're telling me is they're gonna, close down really quick. Those shops have.

E

Had to pay absorb an amount of rents over the years have put themselves in a.

E

Predicament with with leases and now because of the bike lanes, they're not.

E

Getting the business that they were once used to, I feel it would be unreasonable.

B

To blame a decline in business activity on bike lanes because even before the.

B

Bike lanes were installed, you're going to see businesses go up and down and the.

B

Fact that certain businesses may blame the bike lanes is pretty short-sighted.

E

I'm not church, I'm not sure that by communicating or at least by me,.

E

Communicating because nobody else has with the small businesses on bloor.

E

Street that it's short-sighted, I think the small business people know what.

E

Their shops have experienced in the way of negative return and they're telling.

E

Me as well that the high-end shops on bloor street that we're used to seeing.

E

Are going to be quickly converted into something that is completely different?.

E

Than what we're used to, I don't know how you're feeling about that, but they don't.

E

Make as much money for the economy are you happy that we're gonna change blur.

E

Street and the way it looks to a much more run-down kind of atmosphere. I feel.

B

That businesses they will adjust to the bike lanes over time like yes, some may.

B

Experience an initial dip, but they will adjust and given that, as I said before,.

B

Cyclists and pedestrians have buy more at these businesses and like sending the.

B

Bike lights, you'll have even more cyclists of visiting the shop, so I feel.

B

It'll be a positive effect over the longer run. You're also aware that the.

E

City of toronto is taking a hit because we got rid of the parking spots from the.

E

Parking authority along bloor street, I think we lost them to naboth three.

E

Million dollars a year just along the blur, no, I think, that's the number it was.

B

Originally about 800,000 toronto parking authority thought they were loose, but.

B

The reports said that it was really about half and they're, always looking.

B

For ways to add do pay parking opportunities.

C

Thank you very much, your time's up, josh, unless I don't think there's any other.

C

Questions josh you're next josh fullen, followed by jerry brown and then eli.

C

Aaron, so if you could be ready to come up for your three minutes,.

C

Go ahead. Welcome hello, so I'm not josh fulgham josh fullen is my teacher. Well.

F

I'm not my mind teacher, but he's a teacher at my school and he asked me to come in to speak. Oh great, what's your name, cameron, welcome cameron, hello, thank.

C

You thank you very much, uh so I have a lot of. I have a lot of friends who who.

F

Bike to school- and I can see when I get off the subway in the morning, because I.

F

Can't bike the number of people who who are going, who are using the bike lanes.

F

And how they're doing it safely? And you know the friends who I know who have.

F

Biked to school before bike lanes, because the bike lanes got recently done.

F

Felt like they were taking their own life into their hands when they were.

F

Biking- and you know to me, that's completely unacceptable because you know.

F

We want to encourage kids to bike and we don't really have that many other.

F

Options, especially we, you know, we can't drive, we can't afford you know other.

F

Methods, public transit is another option, but we want people to be healthy and we.

F

Want people to to bike, and so I think that you know I don't know how truthful.

F

Reports are, but even if toronto city opinion is against bike lanes, you know.

F

70 people have died more than 70 people have died. One person died this morning.

F

That could be, you know the the girls who spoke today that could be. You know me if.

F

I bike that could be some of my friends and you know, even if city opinions.

F

Against it, and even if businesses are against it, I don't think that it's.

F

Really fair, to put you know, a cost on the lives of people who have died.

F

And especially it you know, even if someone isn't biking.

F

It also can have harmful effects on drivers like drivers can hit someone.

F

Even accidentally, in a bike lane, you know bike bikers can get injured.

F

Students can get injured and you know the bike lanes make it safer for.

F

Everyone, so you know so I have to say but yeah. Thank you. Cameron well done.

C

We have one question for you from councillor: krusty, hey cameron, where do.

B

You go to school, I go to yes, uts, that's a high school! Yes and have.

B

You heard that more students at uts are now cycling. I have yeah and and why why.

B

Are more students at uts cycling because it's safer thanks man.

C

Okay, I think that's another another question here we go councillor holiday.

J

Thank you for speaking to us, so you raised fair points. You know the building.

J

These lanes is a safer environment, but how, as decision-makers, should we figure.

J

Out where the lanes should go? Well, I I don't know I'm not a decision maker, but.

F

I'm looking for advice, you know based on demand, people have been you know, cycle.

F

True toronto was lobbying for bike lanes on board. Yeah and people definitely use.

F

The bike lanes people wanted those bike lanes, so you know, would you would you.

J

Agree, though, that it's not practical to put them on every major street. No, I.

F

Definitely agree that that's you know not practical, because but whatever.

F

Demand justifies, I think, the bike lanes on bloor have definitely you know, could.

F

Be saving life, so I think thank you. Okay, counselor piazza just want to just want.

M

To ask you when I went to high school nobody bites and nobody took their bikes.

M

To my high school, I don't ever remember us having a bicycle rack. I don't ever.

M

Remember any bicycles parked outside and it wasn't all that longer. A gray.

M

Hair, how many people buy take their bikes to your school? I don't have an.

F

Exact number, but there's quite a large amount of people. We have four pretty.

F

Fold, bike racks outside of the doors in the morning, and you can see people.

F

Consistently coming into the school, so I would say quite a large number feed us.

M

So there's there's a there's: there's bicycles outside the school there's a.

M

It's a good number of bicycles outside the school, so so so some students are.

M

Cycling to school, yes, all right! Thank you, okay! Thank you very much again. Well,.

C

Done jerry brown is our next speaker and then eli aaron following jerry. Welcome.

C

Jerry you've got three minutes mmm good afternoon, madam chair, and I.

D

Didn't know about the three minute thing, but hopefully I get in there.

D

Committee member city staff, my name is jerry brown and I'm co-chair of ward 30.

D

Bikes, I'm here today to speak in favor of making the blur street west bike lane.

D

Pilot permanent, as the staff report has recommended that staff report, despite.

D

Some claim to the contrary is perhaps the most comprehensive examination of.

D

Data for any infrastructure program in the city, examining effects on cycling on.

D

The motoring environment on businesses and although I'm thrilled that the.

D

Economic impact was found to be positive and the effect on the vehicular travel.

D

Times was considered acceptable. I hope that this committee will recognize that.

D

The most important factor by far is the safety enhancements, both in terms of.

D

Performance of the lanes themselves and the perception of safety that has.

D

Directly led to substantially increase cycling news on bloor that is 49%.

D

Increase in cycling to over 5,000 cyclists per day, the perception of.

D

Safety is also quite interesting when you compare it with danforth, where I.

D

Happen to live the perception of men who would feel safe, cycling on bloor went.

D

From 22% to 64 for women 12 to 58% on danforth during the study period down.

D

From 24 to 12 for men and 22 to 8% for women, that's over 90%.

D

Of women who wouldn't feel safe, cycling on danforth and over half, who would feel.

D

Safe cycling, on bloor, as for real safety, the numbers also portrayed blur street.

D

As a far safer environment for all road users,.

D

Total number of conflicts between all road users decreased by 44% between.

D

Vehicles decreased by 71 between vehicles and bikes by 61 pedestrians and.

D

Vehicles by 55 and the outlier being the pedestrian bike, conflicts were increased.

D

But I think that can be attributed to the fact that there was a new design and.

D

As time goes on and as the staff you know deal with this, I'm confident that.

D

That number can be reduced. There's also, of course, our vision, zero plan and the.

D

Number of pedestrians are cyclists killed over the last five years.

D

Stubbornly high numbers, pedestrians, 199, 194, 129 146 and over a hundred in 2006, a.

D

Total of 763 in five years, cyclists a total of 239 in those five years. I.

D

Certainly appreciate that the committee members have to carefully balance.

D

Competing interests daily, but all interests are not the same and as many.

D

Have noted here I would have to value a life over travel times or business.

D

Interest, it's not even a close call. Thank you. Thank you. Councilor family. I.

E

Don't believe the numbers in this report not for a second but ok, fine people like.

E

Yourself are way into it as if, as if they're accurate, don't you ask yourself.

E

One question: why only in may in june, where the number counts done and not the.

E

Winter months, why don't we know how many people actually use.

E

The bluer bike lanes in the winter months- I don't know, chancellor emily- how.

D

Many people use outdoor pools in the winter. That's right.

D

There are cyclists if you want to go out in january. You'll, see people like rob.

D

Out there, no matter what the weather is and the more infrastructure and the more.

D

Routes that people can take, the more people will cycle yeah. You want to go to.

D

Amsterdam, you want to go to copenhagen, similar climates, no problem cycling in the winter. So if those of us wanted to build pools for.

E

People in the winter and encourage them to use it and spend that the taxpayers.

E

Dollars on that, we wouldn't be here. We wouldn't be here very long.

D

How many pools do you have the city? How many outdoor pools does the city have.

D

Counselor mammal eating: yes, how much did they cost? Sir? Can you address through the chair? Please the same thing. Thank you. Go.

E

Towards this an argument, an economic argument has to be placed, and it seems.

E

Like I'm the only one on this committee, that's doing it, it doesn't make sense if.

E

The report is not accurate for us to be looking at spending this kind of money.

E

To to build something, that's only going to be used for a few months a year. Mr.

D

Chair, I would argue that the amount of money to build safe, cycling.

D

Infrastructure pales in comparison to what we spend on roads, so if you would.

D

Like to make a trade, I'm happy to have the gardiner rebuild go away and you.

D

Know what, if there's not enough money after you do that I'll pay? The licensing.

D

Fee how's that how about how about, if I ask this question, are you prepared to.

E

Tell the head of the city, the mayor, who seems to be pushing this particular.

E

Report through that you'd be prepared to swap that kind of money and see what he.

E

Says yeah if we need more after the billion, I'm happy. Yes, you know I'll pay.

D

Whatever it takes after that, after that, money runs out I'll I'll willingly, pay.

D

You name the figure so as a resident in the city toronto. Having having seen this.

E

Report assuming I'm right, it's not accurate.

E

Understanding that it's a it took 8 months to just get a reply to me as a.

E

Councillor with respect to one question we're supposed to spend this.

E

Kind of money, without the real numbers and facts in front of us, I'm I'm willie.

D

Mr. chair, I'm willing to to look at the report, but I'm not willing to assume.

D

That the report is wrong. I am until until I said well, then bring your.

D

Evidence, oh, I did thank you. Thank you. Any other questions.

J

Thank you for coming. Thank you. Mr. chair, we have ellie aaron come please thank.

J

You, john leeson, please is john leeson here. Thank you. Jr. welcome don. You have.

J

Three minutes all right: okay, my name is john leeson. I support making a blue bike.

N

Lanes permanent and extended east and west, and I want to say I have a three.

N

Minute presentation here, a deputation which basically says this is a.

N

Make-Or-Break decision for toronto cycling, you know, I think we passed this.

N

Motion or we may as well just give up on toronto's, stated principles on cycling.

N

But instead of giving my deputation, what I'd like to do is use the next minute of.

H

Silence for the cyclist who was killed this morning.

H

You thank you. That's all I'll say our next.

C

Speakers hamish wilson over the decade. I.

A

Guess maybe it's been 12 years? No! No from 1992. I guess when we first had.

A

Bluer danforth's a sign in the for the you know. Let's see what am I trying to.

A

Say we've had a number of cyclists killed over the decade that you've agreed to study this, and it's rather frustrating because it goes back a long.

A

Time this we've had unanimous a commitment to doing things about climate.

A

Change when it comes to actually doing things on street in the salient.

A

Transport sector: well, maybe we need a divorce from the outer suburbs. Let the.

A

Corps do its own decisions. Please we've got the subway, it's the most logical.

A

Place in southern ontario to actually put in a bike lane, also in this 1992.

A

Report they talked about the lack of streetcar tracks, which are a clear.

A

Impediment to lane changes simple lane changes elsewhere, so bluer danforth has.

A

Been an obvious spot, I predate the bells on bloor. The notice this is the pilot is.

A

About a third of what was going to be a a studied a decade ago, old stats from.

A

1983 show the pilot in in in context of bluer danforth, as we move along into the.

A

Couple of years worth of study, you can see that there's a lot more hazard and.

A

And collision and harm, and then as we get into this well into this greenhouse.

A

Century there is clearly a set of hazards, and what are you doing about.

A

Them notice of hazard for everything else. Beyond this pilot, we have to have.

A

Safe recycling on bloor street west, we have to have an on bloor street east. We.

A

Have to have it on danforth. We have to have improvements on college on king on.

A

Queen and to fail to do things is really inappropriate at this point. These data.

A

Don't cover the streetcar track, harms either so notice of hazard. You've got.

A

A lot more to do also, please consider adding in a motion to accessory for that.

A

Tiny little bit of bloor street east, that was in the 1992 study in the 2001.

A

Bike plan: it's still not done. That's one of those missing links right. There.

A

It takes $25,000 to actually repaint the lane lines. Do something now, please one.

A

Of the things that's often missed, and it's really unfortunate it's it's going.

A

Beyond the mere bike safety, which is very important, there's the annex some.

A

Hope he's: okay, the providing bikeways is transit relief.

A

If we have an overcrowded transit system when we do to expand and ease the.

A

Transit pressures is about the simplest and easiest and cheapest and fastest.

A

Thing to do so, we have to do that and it should be done and it should be done.

A

Right away with those extensions and in terms of the on street parking, the.

A

Highest and retail, maybe in toronto- perhaps the could the country on on.

A

Bloor street in yorkville they took out the on street parking because they.

A

Didn't need it between the subway and all the copious off street parking.

A

Spaces it wasn't such a big deal. Time's up do it. Time is up.

C

Thank you, hamish, any other questions. Seeing none. I'm gonna move to margaret.

C

Harvey and the following margaret will be france, arts, man and then gideon.

C

Foreman so welcome margaret you're, the.

O

Blurb, like my claim, should not be controversial in a rapidly growing city.

O

Where space is at its highest premium ever bicycles are the most efficient use.

O

Of space for moving people quickly, we know this, and yet people are attached to.

O

The idea that cars give them freedom, even though the more people that drive.

O

Means the less freedom each driver has, and they don't want to give that up.

O

People do not want to share the public space that we all own to make room for.

O

More people, but people are riding bikes, lots and lots of people for lots and.

O

Lots of reasons, so I'm here to tell you a little story about what can happen.

O

When we don't give space people riding bikes and the magic that.

O

Can happen when we do on november 13 2012 the city removed the bike lanes.

O

From jarvis street that same morning, I had a meeting with my boss at his house.

O

We both worked from home, sometimes I drove to his house and sometimes I rode.

O

My bike that day, I dropped my kids off at the school bus and instead of waiting.

O

For the bus with them, as I usually did, I left before it came, my older son asked.

O

Me how I would get to my meeting and I told him I would ride my bike. I kiss.

O

Them goodbye went home and got my bike. It was a pretty uneventful ride. I took.

O

Side streets from my house to gerrard a broad view and rode the gerrard bike.

O

Lanes from there, my memory isn't totally clear, but here's what I think happened.

O

When I got to yonge street, I stopped to take a drink of water. The.

O

Light was green, so I started through the intersection, a green for life, garbage.

O

Truck came up from behind and began turning in front of me, I saw it too late.

O

I tried to get out of the way, but there was nowhere to go. The truck knocked me.

O

Down and it's back two sets of tires rolled over me and my bike, I remember.

O

Thinking, oh my god, please don't let me be paralyzed. The pain was unimaginable. I.

O

Mean you really cannot imagine what it felt like. There was a lot of commotion.

O

And all I could hear was screaming. The sound of screaming was coming from me.

O

The amazing people of toronto rallied around me a nurse stayed with me until.

O

The ambulance came and she wouldn't. Let me close my eyes. I felt really cold and.

O

I just wanted people to stop talking to me and asking me questions. They were.

O

Trying to keep me alive, I was wearing a new pair of jeans, so.

O

When shaun the ambulance driver pulled out the scissors, I spared a thought for.

O

The jeans, he said, trust me, you don't want these jeans anymore. They were torn.

O

And covered in blood because the bike seat had ripped through them and lacerated my groin, the handlebars had pierced through them and.

O

Stab my thigh, I was taken to st. michaels, where I had emergency surgery.

O

To repair my shattered pelvis and had 38 blood transfusions in the first 24 hours.

O

Sorry I realize I'm running out of time. It would take more than a year to.

O

Realize that, as hard as I worked at physio no matter what I did was never getting my old life back, I went from being a full-time working mom.

O

And wife, caring for others to someone who needed constant care, blah blah blah.

O

I made it through and then in january I started taking spin class. I didn't want.

O

To because my ischial tuberosities had been cracked apart, that's my sit bones.

O

And they didn't heal sitting is painful. For me, sitting on a bike seat was.

O

Unthinkable, I took the class, it was dreadful and I cried in this instructors.

O

Arms afterwards, as much as I hated it, and it was painful, it reminded me of how.

O

Much I missed my bike. I kept taking her class and eventually I even started to.

O

Enjoy it, then, I saw kyle ashley on twitter aka tps parking pal.

O

Tps parking pal for the first time got me thinking. I could maybe ride my bike.

O

In the streets again, what I love most about my bike was the efficiency of it.

O

It was time I would spend anyway getting to a place, and I would also be getting.

O

Exercise what could be better than that kyle and I connected privately, and he.

O

Even offered to take me for a ride, I accepted, but I was shy this summer. I.

O

Bought bikes for my kids and while they were while they were away at camp, we.

O

Didn't feel safe riding in the street, so he drove her bikes to the trails. It was.

O

Frustrating I hated being another car on the road. Kids were enjoying riding and.

O

Even my husband got into it with all my injuries, I decided I needed a bike that.

O

Was just for me, I bought a bike, pretty pink comfort bike by opus, a canadian.

O

Company terrified but determined I wrote it home from the shop, it was.

O

Exhilarating I stopped at a crosswalk as people were crossing and they thanked me.

O

They thanked me has it become so rare for people to be decent on our roads.

O

That you get thanks for doing the bare minimum. People are angry in their cars.

O

And I get it, I'm angry in mine trips that used to take ten minutes now seem.

O

To take 30, but the more people there are, the lesser are in cars and no matter.

O

What you think about bikes its cars that make traffic? Thank you.

C

Okay, thank you very much. Our next speaker is franz hartmann. I think he's.

C

Here I thought I saw him sneak in earlier welcome. Thank you. My name is.

H

Franz hartmann, I'm the executive director of the toronto environmental liance t has over 50,000 supporters in all wards across toronto. First, I want to.

H

Express my condolences to the friends and the family of a cyclist killed this.

H

Morning at cowan ave in king street, our thoughts are with you during this very.

H

Difficult time next, I want to say that the toronto environment alliance fully.

H

Supports the staff recommendations to make the blurr bike lanes permanent. I am.

H

A cyclist who uses the bike lanes at least eight times a week and.

H

Occasionally, I'm a driver who drives alongside the bike lanes as a road user.

H

Of bloor street for over 30 years, I can say without a doubt that I feel safer.

H

Using blur street because of the bike lanes, I'm also more comfortable letting.

H

My teenage daughter cycle on bloor street because of the bike lanes the.

H

Staff report confirms my impressions. It presents evidence that shows these bike.

H

Lanes have made it safer to cycle safer to be a pedestrian and safer for car.

H

Drivers, yes commute times, have gone up slightly for people driving during rush hour, but this is well worth it for everyone, since.

H

It means we can all get to where we were are going safely so from a safety.

H

Perspective, everyone wins from a public health perspective, everyone wins there.

H

Are more people cycling because of the bike lanes and more people? Cycling means.

H

People are in better shape, and that means lower health care costs from an.

H

Environmental perspective, everyone wins, climate change is here, we know burning.

H

Fossil fuels for transportation accounts for 31% of our carbon emissions and in.

H

July city, council, all of you voted unanimously for transform tío a climate.

H

Action plan that sets out how to reduce carbon emissions by 80% by 2050 to.

H

Reduce carbon emissions, we need to make it easier for people to keep their cars.

H

At home, and that means making it easier and safer for people to cycle the bluer.

H

Bike lanes do exactly that. I want to speak for a moment as a toronto resident.

H

Who regularly shops in the stores on the section of bloor street, with the bike.

H

Lanes I haven't personally tracked my in those in these shops and how that's.

H

Changed since the bike lanes have been installed, but the staff report suggests.

H

Businesses in general are doing better since the bike lanes were installed so.

H

To recap: the bluer bike lanes make it safer for all road users. They improve.

H

Public health, they help us deal with the biggest environmental threat facing the planet and they help city hall achieve a.

H

Climate action plan unanimously adopted by city council: that's why I urge you to.

H

Lock in all of these incredible benefits, please adopt the staff recommendations.

H

And make the blurr bike lanes permanent. Thank you. Thank you.

C

Question from councillor mammal ad congestion under these circumstances is.

E

Okay, sorry, congestion, you hit on congestion. You recognize that that it's.

E

Taking longer for anyone with a car to get through bluer, I know that in the in.

H

The 30 years that I've been cycling ii4, I think more people are moving between.

H

In that space, in the bike lanes than problem, the space that that blur has.

H

Been bike lanes more people are moving through there now than before, but I do.

H

Acknowledge the staff report that says that there has been a slight decrease in.

H

Time and that's absolutely worth it if everyone's safer, I would much rather, as.

H

A car driver know that, having to spend an extra two minutes to go eastbound in.

H

The in the in during rush hour, save you like it's worth it. If you think it's.

E

Worth having all those people on blue street bumper-to-bumper and waiting if.

H

The alternative was there being an unsafe roads and my daughter, for example,.

H

Being a victim of that, you bet it, you bet suggestion on other parts of the.

E

Equation in toronto, brought forward by the mayor, king street, being one of them.

E

Let's talk about giving out tickets one hundred and fifty dollar tickets to.

E

Two companies that are blocking the roads, congestion from the mayor's point.

E

Of view seems to be the the thing he's challenging and targeting this term of.

E

Office, but yet knowing that on bloor street you're creating congestion, are we.

E

Not defeating the purpose here I think you and I.

H

So have slightly different definitions of congestion. Congestion is something.

H

That, in some you know, I think congestion can be dealt with, and I don't see that.

H

Introducing safer, creating friendly streets is a contributor to congestion. I.

H

See that as a way of ensuring we get to where we need to go safely, when you talk.

H

About congestion, I think about the 401 chock-full of people, eight lanes in.

H

Either direction where cars moving slowly, when I see bloor street with the.

H

Bike lanes, I see people moving at a decent rate to.

H

Get to where they want to go in a safe manner, yeah they're not moving in a.

E

Decent rate there they're held up, and I for one, have, went and knocked on doors.

E

Myself as well and the residents even in that area on those side, streets are.

E

Suggesting to me that it's even congesting the side streets at this.

E

Particular time because people are trying to get off a blower and using.

E

Their roads to do it right. Well, I guess, if we're concerned about congestion, we.

H

Shouldn't have any traffic calming measures or reduce speed limit in.

H

Residential areas, because they by your definition, that increases if you're.

E

Going to target congestion in the city and that's what the mayor has done with.

E

All of his strategy now he's creating congestion. I think that we're speaking.

E

Out of both sides of our mouth, I'm sure you have your interpretation of what the.

H

Mayor is doing, I don't want to speak on behalf of the mayor. All I can say is.

H

That having safer friendlier roads is better for everyone.

C

Councilor holiday has a question. Thank you, madam chair. So would you agree that.

J

The installation of these lanes represents a reduced capacity along the.

J

Bloor street for automobiles, because they can't go in two lanes now they have.

J

To go in one sure the capacity is less. So, if we're sorry just one proviso to.

H

That it depends a capacity over a certain period of time, all right, less.

J

Cars flow through bloor street in rush hour. That probably means cars are more.

H

Being slower through blur street during outside of rush-hour, which is the.

H

Majority of the time, cars move very very nicely through those sections. It's the.

J

Congestion, so I guess my question overall is: is you you've really sort of.

J

Pushed the trade-off on the on the on the side of the bicycle, saying yeah: it's.

J

Congestion, it's gonna be slower and so on. Where should the cars go? Sorry just.

H

To be clear councillor the trade-off isn't between bicycles and cars, the.

H

Trade-Off is between people using the road safely. That's how you've been and.

H

Absolutely I see people on roads. I see people in cars. I see people on bikes. I.

H

See people walking and what I've seen since the bike lanes have been installed.

H

Is that people are safer, you frame that to me as the bottom line frame it, how I.

J

Want to, and the numbers in here talk about the difference between cars and.

J

Bicycles, so where do the cars go? Where do they go if we take away the routes so.

H

Part of what the toronto environmental lions has been advocating for for a long.

H

Time is to make it easier, so our goal is to make it easy for people to get from.

H

Point a to point b right: we are agnostic about what the best.

H

Options are what we do say is that we want to make it as easy for people to.

H

Keep their car at home, and that means the supporting public transit. That means.

H

Supporting pedestrian infrastructure that means supporting cycling.

H

Infrastructure and not because we're anti car, but because we're pro people.

H

Moving quickly to get to where they want to go, I got it. Thank you, okay. Thank you.

C

Very much gideon foreman's next welcome gideon. I know you've been waiting all day patiently for this three minutes.

D

Thank you, madam chair members of the committee. I will keep my remarks brief.

D

I'm a policy analyst with the david suzuki foundation and we're here today.

D

To voice our strong support for making the bloor bike lane permanent, we take.

D

This position for three reasons: first, a strong majority of toronto residents.

D

Want the blue lane kept in place recent polling from the angus reid forum found.

D

That across the city- and that is important across the city, almost seven.

D

And ten torontonians want to keep the lane. Interestingly, support for the lane.

D

Is not confined to downtown the angus reid form shows the lane also enjoys.

D

Majority support in scarborough in north york and in etobicoke. Second, the bike.

D

Lanes installation is consistent with a thriving local economy. We were delighted.

D

To see the report released last week by the toronto centre for active.

D

Transportation, as you know, that report conducted in partnership with the.

D

University of toronto researchers found that business actually went up after the.

D

Lane was opened, stephen farber, one of the report. Analysts said, and I quote the.

D

Results are quite clear: visitors to blur are cycling more visitors, visiting more.

D

Frequently and spending more money in local businesses, all the while a larger.

D

Number of merchants are reporting higher customer counts when comparing 2015 to.

D

After the bike lane installation unquote, third, the bike lane has not been harmful.

D

To drivers and may offer them real benefits in reading miss gray's report. I.

D

Noted that, since the lanes installation, the pilot area appears to have become.

D

Safer for motorists, she writes that, based on preliminary data- and I quote.

D

Collisions between motorized vehicles seem to have been reduced significantly.

D

Unquote that the collision rate for cyclists would improve is not surprising.

D

But the fact that the number of car with car collisions appears reduced was less.

D

Foreseeable it suggests bike lanes enhance the safety of bike riders and.

D

Drivers alike, which brings me to my final point: the bike lane on bloor.

D

Street is a unifying force for our city, it's backed by folks, uptown and downtown.

D

Bourbon and inner-city its embraced by pedestrians and supported by numerous.

D

Businesses, it makes life safer for cyclists and it protects our drivers.

D

Thank you and I'd be happy to answer any questions.

F

Thank you coming down here pleasure, the time as as everyone has.

F

Today, taking the time out of their busy schedules, so can you just elaborate a.

L

Bit more on the support for the bike lanes right across you're in june of.

D

This year, angus reed formed in a pole. They they did a sampling of 800. So it's.

D

Statistically valid and they found very strong support. They asked a number of.

D

Questions but the key ones here. First, they asked a question about. Do you.

D

Support or oppose a bike lane network across the city and eight and ten eighty.

D

Percent said they do support the bike lane network and then they drill down.

D

And ask people further, do you support keeping the bloor, particularly the bluer,.

D

Bike lane in place and seven and ten said yes, they do and that's in the core.

D

Of the city, but also what was really interesting to us, was that in the.

D

Suburbs or the inner suburbs, you might call them. There was also majority.

D

Support for keeping blur in place. Thank you very much. Thank you. I think, for.

I

Coming down today are there any session? Are there any circumstances under which.

I

You would not support bike lanes. Are there any conceivable in any possible.

D

World- it's a very it's a very broad question counselor, but I think what what.

D

We're asking today is: do we support making this particular bloor bike lane.

D

Pilot permanent and the answer to that is a resounding yes, okay, thank you. You know I this thing about making it safer for drivers. It.

E

Just we're looking at may and june when the study was done and it's it's shown.

E

That everybody slowed down because they're not moving the vehicles. The vehicles are slow. It's it's congestion. How much safer for drivers can you make.

E

It if they're not moving is that a question that it's safer I'll.

E

Be happy there is not moving for a driver, I'm not sure what what's your.

D

Question is counselor, I'd be happy to answer it. I'm not quoting somebody just.

E

It says that that they believe it's safer on bloor street, for the for the.

E

Car and for the driver they're not moving, so how can it be dangerous? We're.

D

An evidence based organization counts that we look at the science we've looked.

D

At the city reports and the city reports suggests that, based on a year's.

D

Preliminary data there's a significant drop in collisions between cyclists and.

D

Cars moving and between cars and cars, because the cars are not moving so of.

E

Course it's going to be safer, so it's okay, it's okay! For us to do! We did on.

E

King street, it's okay for us to start ticketing, people all over the place.

E

Because we believe the congestion is bad, but in this particular case you believe.

E

It's good and we can have those cars. Madam chair, can you please she's.

E

Interrupting woodpecker headache: I'm not.

F

Allowed to appoint a privilege, but that is offensive. So an apology would be an.

F

Order, no, I believe she that would be an apology. I believe I believe I'm asking.

F

For an apology, I not a member of the committee that isn't highly insulting.

C

And you could you please just apologize to your colleague. That's not my job, but.

E

I, like it waiting, I'm gonna, try a team question again. No, I am waiting. I'm.

F

Waiting, I'm waiting for an apology, I'm going to ask the question again: I'm not.

A

Apologize, I'm if the cars are not moving chair and- and we all agree there.

E

Congestion is a factor, a point of personal privilege.

C

Just a minute we're just, I just give us a minute just to we're just conferring.

C

Here, counselor ma'am, a lady. We are asking you to to apologize to your.

C

Colleague, your counselor colleague, please.

E

So I you know, there's and you've got you got. You can't refer to got a visiting.

E

Counselor, who has who has come and and interrupted my my questioning without an.

E

Apology, she just does what she wants and I and on the other end, I'm reacting.

E

Because she's interfering with my line of questioning she doesn't get, she.

E

Doesn't apologize at all but because I referred it to the way I did. I need to.

E

Do that, yes, you do okay, so she she wouldn't give a woodpecker a headache.

E

Sorry, that's that's not an apology. We'd, like an authentic apology. I said sorry.

E

Thank you now. Can I ask my question if the cars are not moving and if it's the.

E

City's agenda to try and stop congestion, why is it okay to do it on bloor street.

E

Given that everybody agrees that everybody's going slower- and there are.

E

No accidents because nobody's really moving except two cyclists. Your question.

D

If I understand is, why is it okay to do it.

D

On bloor street, what does the it counselor? Well, you you, you've read the.

E

Report and you you're, seeing that it's slower along along bloor street.

E

Especially on at rush hour peaks- and you said that there's less there's less.

E

Accidents and it's safer, that's what the data shows council. Isn't it isn't it.

E

Logical to believe that, if it is safer, it's because the cars aren't being.

E

Allowed to move, I don't think that follows at all. They may be going more.

D

Slowly but clearly, if it's a thoroughfare through the city, they're.

D

Clearly, moving no they're not moving and in fact they're using the side streets.

E

To get off of bloor street, I think your time has to be up we're gonna, move on to.

C

Councilor holiday, thank you, madam chair, in the previous line of questioning.

J

Councillor mammal edie, asked of sorry council campbell asked about you know.

J

When would you not approve or support an installation? You said no.

J

In this case, you know I support this, which means to me that you've evaluated.

J

It in some way could you suggest what the thresholds are. That would determine.

J

A successful pilot for something like safety, for something like congestion for.

J

Something like delay for numbers of cyclists. What, in your mind, would be the.

J

Measures of success what's the bar, I think the measures that.

D

The city transportation services used, they looked at a number of metrics. We.

D

Don't need to rehearse them for you, but among them collisions economic.

D

Indicators, variety of other indicators, and they came to the conclusion that the.

D

Pilot was working that it was meeting the objectives, and so therefore they.

D

Recommend making it permanent those seemed to me eminently sensible.

D

Reasonable metrics, so they yeah we're talking about metrics and units of.

J

Measure but thresholds so in my in mice, in my understanding that you agree with.

J

Whatever their thresholds were, I, yes, I think the thresholds of the city staff.

D

Established were completely appropriate yeah, let's, let's say collisions whatever.

J

The threshold was of success. He you won one less collision a year is that is.

J

That enough to tip the balance and say this is good. I'm not sure that that I'm.

D

Not sure that that line of questioning is helpful to us one more one, less I'm.

D

Not sure that's the right way to look at it. The objective was to see if we could.

D

Make bluer streets safer and a reasonable and balanced way? City staff.

D

Are telling us that the pilot project achieves that objective, and so they.

D

Support making it permanent, we looked at the evidence and agree with it. It'd be.

J

Brought up numbers, though, like I got to understand what you know, what is the.

J

Magic number for the number of accidents that are reduced by this, that make it a.

J

Success but you must have evaluated this, I'm not.

D

Sure that there's a magic number okay, so it's just sounds good. Then you know they.

D

Looked at they looked at accident rates prior to the installation of the pottery.

D

Looked at accident rates after they found that they were significantly lower.

D

After and they concluded that the project was worth making permanent, I.

D

Think that's the way you operate when you're using evidence.

D

Based decision-making pass/fail, they passed, they passed on accidents. What.

J

About car delay, how do we know that the the amount of delay on motor vehicle.

J

Here is an acceptable level. How do we know that the amount of delay is.

D

Acceptable, well, I suppose one thing is to ask motorists: do they think that the.

D

Trade-Offs around the bike lanes are acceptable and the city data suggests.

D

That motorists themselves, a majority of motorists, believe that the trade-offs.

D

Are acceptable? Okay, so there's no magic name, it's subjective its opinion. So, like.

J

Okay, so this talked about measuring time and then there was measuring whether or.

J

Not you felt in general, it was an acceptable trade-off, so I got the answer.

J

The ladders in the opinion survey, but if we're measuring time and thresholds is.

J

There a particular threshold: that's the right one in terms of delay. How do I.

J

Know I won't take the license of this pilot and apply it somewhere else. How.

J

Will I know that if the measurements of delay of vehicles is an acceptable.

J

Trade-Off to take out of lane and dedicate it to bicycles, only that's what.

J

I'm getting at, I guess you have to decide acceptable, to whom I mean yeah.

D

I'm not sure how to I'm not sure how to answer that, except to say what I just.

D

Said, which is that motorists had an opportunity to weigh in through city.

D

Held consultations and a majority of motorists who were involved in those.

D

Consultations said they felt that the trade-offs are acceptable. Thank you. Okay,.

C

That's all your questions, giddy. Thank you. Thank you. Jennifer kline is next.

C

Welcome jennifer you've got three minutes.

P

On behalf of the mirage village, business improvement area, we would like to extend our support to make the bike lanes on bloor street permanent. My name.

P

Is jennifer kline and I am vice chair of the vi.

P

I have also owned and operated a retail store in the annex for the past 18 years.

P

Today, I am here in an official capacity by presenting all of our members, our bia.

P

Is undergoing a huge transformation with the pending redevelopment of honest, ed.

P

Site and markham street roughly half our building inventory will change to.

P

Residential use, well demolition of eds or occurs, and a long construction.

P

Process and sees we still have a duty to roughly three hundred neighboring.

P

Businesses still operating along bathurst and along bloor, we wish to.

P

Emerge as a local community that includes the increased safety that bike.

P

Lane spring for all street users for the additional 3,000 people who will be.

P

Living at bathurst and bloor, and for the patrons of all the new retail that will.

P

Be positioned there. We need to have a street design that accommodates the.

P

Maximum number of users, be they pedestrians, car drivers or cyclists. The.

P

Bike pilot lane design showed us that this was a better model for the future.

P

Than one that just treated blower like a car thoroughfare, our board was briefed.

P

On the results of the recent tcat study commissioned by neighboring, vi, a's and.

P

Also was informed about the maneras point-of-sale data obtained by the city.

P

Which validates the teeka findings for the remaining businesses still operating.

P

At present, within the bia, it is our view that the bike lanes have an economic.

P

Benefit a motion was passed unanimously at our board of management meeting on.

P

October 12th, to concur with city staff recommendation to this committee. We urge.

P

You to do the same. Thank you. Thank you, questions, councillor krusty. Thank you.

B

For being here, so I understand that the bia, the murders village bia, has endorsed this. How many members are there abouts.

B

Are in the murphy's village bia we have about 300 businesses and those include.

B

Independently owned franchises chains and others or yeah, we have street level.

P

Businesses, this is doctors, offices, scientists,.

P

Office many small businesses in the csi building, as well as in other buildings,.

P

In our neighborhood- and you yourself are you an owner of an independent business.

B

As well, yes, I am in and do you as an independent business owner, separate from.

B

Your capacity as the vice chair of the bia support the bike lanes on bloor. Yes,.

P

I do and can I ask why? Well I support it. I support it from many many reasons. Most.

P

Of which many people have explained today, what I have noticed recently, which.

P

Has been quite fascinating is there's been a lot of walk in drop-in customers.

P

That are cyclists and I've been really pleased to have people just dropping by.

P

Quickly parking their bike outside asking some questions about my business.

P

They might not have ever seen my business before, but because they're.

P

Driving by on their on their bike, and they can just lock it up and pop in.

P

They're coming to shop or to book an appointment and return, bring their kids.

P

I support it for the environment, I support it for health. I support it for.

P

Myself, my family and my employees, who all use the roads as a passenger in a.

P

Vehicle who often is frustrated when being in a car on the road, I feel it's.

P

Safer, I feel more comfortable being a passenger knowing that the bikes know.

P

Where they need to be the pedestrians know where they need to be, and the cars.

P

Also know where they are and where they need to be, I feel safer that we're.

P

Directed in that way, and if the staff recommendation, which is to make this.

B

Permanent goes through our there as part of making a permanent design. Do you.

B

Think from the point of view of yourself and the bia that there are adjustments.

B

Or changes that we can make to to improve the bike lanes, whether it's from.

B

A loading or deliveries or even more bike parking from a number of different.

B

Angles some opportunities to expand and even even better. I think if the bike.

P

Lanes were accepted is permanent, some things that can be addressed. Our.

P

Deliveries which has already shown great success for my delivery people, I rely on.

P

My delivery people to keep me in business. They bring me my product and as.

P

Soon, as the city installed, the bike delivery permanent parking spots on the.

P

Side roads, my drivers immediately were telling me, and I asked them daily- did.

P

You find parking and they were, they were finding parking in that parking spot.

P

That designated area and they were able to safely and easily make deliveries.

P

Without putting their vehicle or others at risk parking on the mainstream, thank.

B

You very much thank you. We're gonna go to a counselor.

C

A campbell cuz he's a visiting guest and then to councillor mammal a mover behind.

C

The projector, so what is your port is the nature of your business and as most.

I

Of that business walk in business or do they arrive by ttc or by car? Is it a.

I

Debt is that a destination where people would drive in that's a good question. My.

P

Customers actually come from everywhere. I am a destination shop. You know you.

P

Don't need a bra every day right. um I certainly don't welcome anytime.

I

Like and so and so service many many women in.

P

The neighborhood surrounding neighborhoods, we service many women in.

P

Toronto: okay and do you live in the neighborhood? You do okay and your staff.

B

Do they cycle or walk to work, or how do they say more of my three staff members.

P

Who have purchased bikes within the past year and a half and they ride their.

P

Bikes to work, they also take those ttc. Some live ttc distance away. Okay, so you.

B

Said you think the bike lanes provide an economic benefit? Can you just you.

B

Elaborate on that, because you've talked about some of the other businesses in.

I

The neighborhood sure I can speak primarily on behalf of my business, but.

P

When there's more people driving by your storefront right, um that brings more.

P

Business, if you're underground, driving by your store with driving by or cycling.

P

By or walking by so having more cyclists on the road encourages more people to.

P

See our business and to come in it's easy for cyclists to stop and park their.

P

Bikes- and I see that as a benefit to two businesses- a neighborhood so shortly.

I

After the bike lanes were implemented, I did a walkthrough part of bloor west of.

B

You and, and I was struck by the lack of really good data information that.

B

Businesses had as to whether or not they were up or down. I would ask them if they.

B

Were up ten percent? How is their business? Oh? Well, I'm down 20 percent, but they couldn't really. They couldn't really say if their daily sales were down. No, what what kind of data collection does do? The majority of.

B

Businesses in your bia have, is it solid or is it anecdotal or what what quality.

I

Is the is the information that they have? There is no way to quantify that.

P

Information, none, I think, daily sales, weekly sales, monthly.

P

Sales, compare your hourly sales. You can compare every sale from one year to.

P

Another in business right, but there's nothing that and say whether the bike lanes have an effect on the business, whether it be.

P

Good or bad, not sure what time you were visiting or who you were visiting, but.

P

There's so many of the things that affect the success or or the non success.

P

Of a business, whether economy, many different things, so you would have the.

P

Level of work that would have to be done to establish whether a bike lane.

P

Positively or not positively affects a business, I would have to say is almost.

P

It would just be, it would not be an economical thanks, and you know maybe.

J

I'll pop in someday, however, if you visit the maneras report, you'll see how.

P

Maneras captivated reports on business. Okay, thank you. Okay, we've got more.

C

Questions for you, councillor mammal, ladies next, thanks for coming down here.

E

You representing the bia sorry: what position did you hold in the bia.

E

Moisture and you said that the board took a vote and agreed to it. The other.

E

Day now I sit on my local bia is assumed. Your local councillor sits on the bia as.

E

Well and when these kinds of decisions are made, at least in our area, we have a.

E

Much larger invitation to all the businesses so that the board recognizes.

E

And feels like the decision they're gonna be made, make has is really they've.

E

Got the mandate to do it? Was there a much larger meeting that the bia held in.

E

Your community to ask the businesses whether they agree or disagree with this.

P

Mm-Hmm, well, we are lucky that we have a new coordinator.

P

And she's very passionate about her job and starting her position. She went and.

P

Visited every single business in our neighborhood and gathered their contact.

P

Information so each time we have a meeting, all of the businesses are.

P

Invited to attend the agenda goes out before the meeting, so we have time to.

P

Review, if there's something that we'd like to have placed on the agenda or.

P

Discuss that is, but there wasn't a much larger community meeting to talk about.

E

The bike lanes: well, when we have our board meetings, we have them once a month.

P

And that board meeting that one of the main topics was the bike lanes and.

P

Everyone was invited to attend okay, but there wasn't a call for the whole.

E

Community, the business community, yes, and no, no, that's not what she's saying.

C

I'm sure you're suggesting that people have the ability to come to the board.

E

Meeting and listen in and give their views was there a community meeting of.

E

Business people to ask them whether or not they liked the bike lanes or not a.

P

Board meeting is a community, is a community meeting of business people.

P

That just a partner professional enough to make a choice to attend it's just a.

E

Board meeting: it's not a you, never had a command board meeting is a community.

P

Meeting it is a business improvement association where all the businesses are.

P

Able to attend the city, the city conducted or had a consultant conduct a.

E

Survey or a study of some sort where your business is actually somebody.

E

Knocked on your door, for instance your door as a business person and say how.

E

Much business have you lost or gained because of the bike lanes.

E

Has anybody done that yeah and from you, and I would welcome you the next time.

P

You're in the neighborhood to come and talk to me about the impact of the bike.

P

Lanes on my business, I would welcome that opportunity. Anybody.

P

People come, and I actually don't even know who they are anymore, but I love.

P

People came around taking questions from me as a business owner. Did they ask the.

E

Questions about whether or not you've lost business over the bike lanes, yeah.

P

There was, there was lots of questions. I again, I can't recall exactly what the.

P

What what the questions were, but I know that all of those answers have likely.

P

Gone into the tcat study, so you can refer to the report for the you know to.

P

Find out what the questions were. Thank you. We have other questions from.

C

Councilor holiday, thank you madam chair. Thank you for speaking to us today. I'm.

J

Am I correct in understanding that you came on behalf of the bia? Yes, and I.

J

Noticed you had a little bit of a prepared statement at the beginning that.

J

Was yet did you yet have a prepared statement at the beginning that you had.

J

Prepared on behalf of the bia, like you used, what you said was on behalf of them.

J

Yes, great so one of the things you mentioned that I wrote it down.

J

And make sure it's I just want to validate this. You said that you were.

J

Supportive of a roadway that accommodates the maximum number of users.

J

Did I get that right? It's just what I wrote down. I did you made a comment. You.

J

Just said, you were supportive of something that that accommodated the.

J

Maximum number of users: okay, and are you agnostic on the mode of traffic, whether.

J

It's car bike, pedestrian. We just want maximum capacity me personally, no no on.

J

Behalf of the bia on behalf of the bia, I feel that everyone has to get to the.

P

City to the businesses, the way that they need to and whether it be walking.

P

Driving or cycling, I support them. Okay, so if there was a configuration that got.

J

More people through, but maybe less bikes, is that a problem like removing parking.

P

From the streets, but let's say you got no, I mean that's, that's not the question.

J

But but if you went back to the prior configuration if it moved more people.

J

Through is that something you would rather support? I support the I support.

P

The bike lanes- okay, thank you. Can I ask you if you're a chain or you're an.

C

Independent or an independent in a solo store you're the own. It's the only one.

C

Yes and what is kind of the streetscape along that stretch of bloor, would you.

C

Say it's big box or big stores or more little local independent shops? How would.

C

You describe the streetscape of that kind of the cultures and then.

P

Independent shops, mom-and-pop shops, our new development going and across the.

P

Street is going to support micro retail, so it would be a lot of independent.

P

Business is there a lot of big retail outlets along the stretch of um I think.

P

If you, if I can speak on behalf of my bia, there is not big business. If you.

P

Want to go into the annex, you know maybe there's dollarama.

C

Right, but it's limited yes, it's more. My impression is it's more smaller.

C

Enterprises- it's mostly it's mostly all small enterprises, that's my impression.

C

As well, do you use that maneras? Do you use that terminal? Yes, that's the year.

C

That's your business is that you know if you're, you know the retail outlets along.

C

Your stretch also use it and some of them don't it's a mix, would.

C

You see, did you have a percentage? No, I don't you. Can you probably can find that.

P

Information from anneristo they are the best customer service, and so I like to.

P

Pay a little bit more to use them. Ok. Thank you very much. Thank you for having.

P

Me we're gonna move on to our next speaker and that's ambu sure bookshare.

C

Nice president, is she here, ok, welcome! Vice president external university of.

C

Toronto students union welcome, and I.

C

Think the mics on in front of you- and you have three minutes so good afternoon-.

Q

I want to start off by saying that I'm thankful for the opportunity to speak on.

Q

This item- and I hope I won't be too redundant so I'm here on behalf of the.

Q

University of toronto students union, representing all over full-time undergraduate students at the st. george and mississauga campuses. We have over.

Q

60,000 students at the st. george campus and of that over 43, that was an.

Q

Undergrad students we're very lucky to be studying at a campus in the middle of.

Q

The lively city, even though most of us have no choice but to practically live.

Q

In the library we at least are comforted by the fact that there are exciting.

Q

Things happening around us. Our location also means that we're getting to campus.

Q

A lot differently we conducted a survey a month ago, tracking our students.

Q

Transit patterns and 9% of our respondents at st. george are biking to.

Q

Campus with laura street directly bordering our northernmost area of.

Q

Campus, it's fair to assume that a number of these students are using the bike.

Q

Lane it follows that a permanent bike lane would ensure the safety of our.

Q

Students, students getting to class should not have to worry about getting.

Q

Hit by a car or doored in flung into traffic, they are getting to class. It's.

Q

Not just the safety of our students, it's the safety of everyone. Cyclists feel.

Q

Safer drivers feel safer, the benefits are shared by everyone. Sharing the.

Q

Street and it's not just about safety, there's a much broader conversation to.

Q

Be had about getting around the city efficiently and sustainably bike wings.

Q

Are objectively a step towards a healthier city and a healthier people.

Q

People look up to here in toronto, I'm from a small town in northern ontario.

Q

And I'm a serious when I say that people idolize this place and see it as a.

Q

Natural leader, if we're going to lead, we cannot be.

Q

Having debates about whether or not we should be having a specific bike lane or.

Q

Not this is not a war on cars, it is not a war on small business or a dangerous.

Q

Creep or whatever else, counter arguments that I've heard so far, so on that note, I.

Q

Will just summarize my main reason for speaking today, which is that the blower.

Q

Bike lane promotes the safety of our students at the st. george campus at the.

Q

University of toronto, along with the safety of everyone else using the road.

Q

We should welcome it with open arms thanks. Thank you any questions. I just.

C

Have a question: do you know if the university of toronto did did they speak.

C

On this initially to support the blower bike lanes, do you recall it? The first.

C

Pubic when this came to people originally to develop ropes, the the.

C

Trial, the pilot they did write a letter of support so you've, not just the union.

C

Student union, but also the you, the university itself. I think it was written.

Q

By andrew thompson, if that helps, ok, that's great! Thank you. I suppose it.

C

Couldn't remember, thank you any other questions. Oh I'm, sorry, I didn't see your.

C

Hand, councillor cressy just to pick up on that because I know the.

B

Administration wrote a letter, but isn't here so you're aware that it was on.

B

Behalf of the president, the university america provided a letter of support via.

B

Andrew thompson for the pilot and now to make a permanent curse right, yeah thank.

C

You thanks. Ok, any other questions. Thank you very much. Next speaker is robert.

C

Fenton welcome robert thank you chair members of the committee. I've well.

I

I'm a senior citizen, I don't know whether how many other deputations are.

I

Headed by senior citizens, but I'm a senior citizen, long-term resident, the.

I

City of toronto, I'm 66, and I want to speak in favor, of making the blurr bike.

I

Lanes permanent I've watched our mayor go cap in hand to the premier of ontario.

I

Asking for money for transit for housing for poverty reduction, and I applaud his.

I

Efforts but here's what he's up against in 2016.

I

43% of the ontario budget was spent on health care and of that 43% 46 was.

I

Percent was spent on people like me over 65s. It's going to get worse one in four.

I

Canadians is obese at this point and childhood obesity is growing. So if you.

I

Want money for public housing or transport transportation, mass transit, if.

I

You want money for poverty reduction, you're gonna get less of it as the.

I

Healthcare crisis unfolds now, there's some potential good news here and that.

I

Is that cycling, among other things, but cycling, does a whole lot of things.

I

Especially for seniors weight loss, better heart health, improved balance and.

I

Coordination and improved cognitive ability, the last one, is really important.

I

Given what's happening in terms of the institutionalization of our aging.

I

Population who are over cognitive issues, but there's a real problem here and that.

I

Is people like me for costing you a lot of money in the healthcare system.

I

Are also those who are the most vulnerable cyclists on the road.

I

We're the people who, if we get here, are gonna cost you a lot. So here's the deal.

I

You built segregated bike lanes, you build the safe infrastructure and we.

I

Will do our bit insofar as possible by trying to stay healthy by being active.

I

You want to save money. I've heard a lot today from this. This committee, about.

I

Saving money you want to save money, nothing, you can save locally comes close.

I

To the amount of money you can save by cutting health care expenditure in the.

I

Province through having a healthier population so build the bike plan make.

I

The bike lanes permanent yeah and save some cash okay, next speaker.

C

Oh, oh, there's a question for you, no questions. No. There is one question.

C

Counselor no here there's a question right here. Sir there's a question you.

J

Got one for you, it's all right here, counselor really.

I

I'm walt I'm luckier dup for you counselor holiday, so thank god, make on.

J

The old guy, huh it's wisdom with that time, you you, you did bring up a.

J

Constituency of this city that I hear from and I've heard about these bike.

J

Lanes from, and that is the seniors population one place that either.

J

Everyone in this room is there already or going to be soon one of the things.

J

That I've heard, though, is mobility through this city is really difficult.

J

And in particular, if you layer on some some of the challenges that may come.

J

Later in life with mobility, it may be harder to take public transit. It may be.

J

No longer viable to take a bicycle, and one of the things that I worry about is.

J

How people from the west end can access the city, and you know, for instance,.

J

Topical getting to specialist appointments at the hospitals that are.

J

Downtown one concern I have with the changes to east-west routes in the city.

J

And in particularly the reduction of motor vehicle capacity on bloor is that.

J

That mobility is taken away or it becomes even more challenging or barrier.

J

Do you have any advice or or what can I say to somebody that brings up that.

J

Complaint that is harder for me to get into my city from where I live, because.

J

The capacity on roads and that can is being reduced and the congestion is.

J

Becoming higher, is there a question? What would you have to say to somebody that.

J

Brings up that point? Oh it's! Not your questions, not hypothetical. I am someone.

I

Who has been responsible for moving an individual with parkinson's disease.

I

Around the city and yes, it can be difficult, but there's also the question.

I

Of how do we balance the mobility of individuals who have mobility.

I

Impairments against trying to make sure that an aging population doesn't drain.

I

Our healthcare resources entirely. Well, let me just give you one practical.

I

Example- and I don't mean this in any this way- bike bicycles have this thing.

I

On the front of them called the handlebar, if you use it, you can get.

I

Around obstacles, if I see a wheel trans vehicle that happens to be parked in my.

I

Way, whether it's in a accident approximate to a bike lane or not, I.

I

Don't get upset about that, I simply turn the handlebars and go around it. If I'm a.

I

Driver and I'm taking the individual, who I do sometimes care for who does have.

I

Parkinson's and have to find a spot to drop them off, usually the obstacle. I.

I

Face is not a dedicated bike lane. Usually the obstacle that I face is a.

I

Vehicle that's parked in a either a disabled spot or a spot which has a curb.

I

Cut which is not supposed to be there and so there's a lack of enforcement.

I

Okay, I take your point. I take it very seriously.

I

There has to be an ebb and flow, and my understanding is that city staff are.

I

Working on just those kinds of issues with regard not only to the blurr bike.

I

Lanes, but how the bike lanes as well. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much.

C

Anne mane's and elizabeth rankin, our next.

L

Thank you for happiness, we're from bikes onblur, and we.

L

Interviewed business people in long blur street- and this is our video hello.

A

Councillors good morning good afternoon, where, whenever you're meeting my name is.

A

Veronica perez I'm the owner of cats agogo, which is a business on bloor.

A

Street in the annex right at the corner of spadina, I've been here for seven.

A

Years I love the bike lanes. I love the idea of bike lanes, but definitely it's a.

Q

Good addition to the city sometime, I feel like I'm in amsterdam, so I'm.

R

Matthew lanky, I own blackrock, coffee and basecamp, climbing we're located here in.

N

Korea, town at manning and bloor we've been in business for around a year and a.

E

Half and seen a phenomenal response from the bike lanes going in a lot of our.

R

Employees we have about 50 employees between the two businesses also travel.

N

By bicycle, my name is handle and.

E

Here is even a korean restaurant, I know I'll tell you didn't meet all huh you go.

A

Yogi dang it I mean you want a house to me that tommy took me that way. Young man.

R

Come on time to bail bond, that's all so. I love bike lane. Thank you.

Q

Hey I manses kalman's. I work at stinks and lattes.

R

We're here at 600, blur street west we're a boardgame cafe. I've been an operation.

R

On bloor, for about seven or eight years now we're very much in support of the.

H

Bike lane so here in front of us on lord street, we're very much in support of a.

H

Safer way for our customers to understand from our space, so this is a.

H

Neighborhood that we're in in koreatown- it's doing so it's doing very well when.

H

We started as a small little single storefront with about 65 seats. We.

B

Managed to expand and move next door and then move next door again. So when we.

H

Started from 60 seats now at 150, my name is jennifer kline and my business is.

P

Secrets from your sister, our store has been in the neighborhood.

P

For 18 years and I employ 15 to 18 women on average.

P

My name is canard. This is glass monica like here we're an optical store and a.

H

Doctor's office we moved in about ten months ago so after the bike lanes were.

H

Installed that a lot of our clients have ride bikes, so it's been super helpful in.

H

Making this place to be accessible, I don't think anybody expects to park on.

P

The street anymore: it's not it's not as convenient and it's more dangerous with.

P

All the traffic going by I find for me in particular, our customers are in the store for an average of 40 minutes to an hour and the green pea.

P

Parking is easy also, the green pea has a mobile app, which has brought a lot of.

P

Compliments from our customers because they can just renew their parking from.

P

Inside the store, ics fedex ups, they all deliver to us and we've never had any.

J

Companies or any issues with them, my client's help define routes based advice.

A

And service through the morning a morgue there are no bakery. So when I ride, I.

C

Ride with the fear that I'll get hit every time, it's not a good feeling, not.

C

Feel safe every time you get on a bike, that's why these bike lanes will make.

C

All the difference, that's why I'm asking for an exception. Thank you. My name is.

A

Sarah kim I'm a sports, an exercise, medicine physician practicing here in.

A

Toronto, I'm on the steering committee for a group called doctors for safe.

A

Cycling and we're advocating basically for safer roads so that torontonians can.

A

Be safe when they decide to cycle, and the thing is like there's so many.

P

Cyclists on harbor that we really need floor to help thin it out like it would.

P

Be great to have another one on you know, dupont or davenport, but there's so many.

P

On harvard it's too many, so you need to like spread them out a little bit.

S

January 2014, six residents associations all requested a pilot project for bike.

S

Lanes on bloor, and the reason for that is that we knew there was going to be.

S

Intense location in this area a lot more people moving and living in in bloor.

S

Street also a lot more people coming in to shop, so we knew that we had to.

S

Increase the capacity for for biking, I mean just think of the mirvish village.

S

Development they're putting in over a thousand bicycle parking places. I think.

A

That bike lanes are a wonderful addition to the city and I think there should be.

A

More, it definitely makes it more friendly, more vibrant dynamic. I am.

P

Really happy to have the bike lanes in the area. I support them. I use them.

P

I feel much safer with the bike lanes. Also yeah. We couldn't be happier about.

N

The bike lanes.

D

I'm madam chair, additionally, I represent the annex residents, association and the.

A

Harvard village residents, association and materials from both residence.

L

Association have been submitted and both I'd like to just say also. The point is.

A

That both residents associations support the bloor street bike lanes. Okay, thank.

C

You any questions for our deputies, seeing none we're gonna move. Thank you.

C

Very much next bryan burchell, the chair of the blur and xbi a improvement area.

C

It's bryan here, yeah there you are. Thank you.

C

Okay, you've got three minutes, you can go ahead. Thank you. Our bia lies in.

N

The middle of this pilot project, the pilot for us, represented something of a.

N

Risk so we approached the proposal cautiously. I stood before you in april.

N

Of 2016 and urge you to allow the plan to proceed to see what impact it would.

N

Have on the welfare of our main street, when confronted with the question of.

N

Whether or not the city will not to support the city's pilot lane, the bloor.

N

Annex and koreatown bia s commissioned a study on their economic.

N

Impact our bia recently voted overwhelmingly to endorse a staff.

N

Recommendation before you, the toronto centre for active transportation, tcat.

N

Worked with the university of toronto to do a baseline analysis, pre pilot in 2015.

N

A post installation assessment in 16 and another in 2017. They also established a.

N

Control group on the danforth, which has no bike lanes.

N

Some say that tcat has a bias and can't be trusted. We knew of their position in.

N

Favour of sustainable transportation modes going into this, so we shaped the.

N

Questions and the methodology ourselves and are confident in their integrity.

N

Tcat conducted over 3,000 in-person visitor surveys and nearly 600 merchant.

N

Ones over the three study periods, the major issue for merchants were the.

N

Availability of parking and how that would impact sales. The pilot bike lanes.

N

Cost 106 on street parking spots representing about ten percent of the available transient parking. Many merchants.

N

Reported in the baseline surveys, this loss would harm them. It turns out their.

N

Fears were misguided at many levels. Most customers don't drive a car to shop on.

N

Bloor street, before the bike lanes were installed, only 8% of visitors reported.

N

They arrived by car curiously, that percentage went up slightly to 9% for.

N

The 2016 and 17 surveys of this small group of shoppers 92% reported that.

N

Finding parking was easy or very easy before the bike lanes were installed.

N

Once the bike lanes were in place in 2016, this number plummeted to 51%. Then.

N

Bounced back to 86% in 2017 sales went up over the study period, as did the.

N

Number of shoppers, according to blur annex merchants themselves during the.

N

Baseline 50% of weekdays had a hundred or more customers per day a year later,.

N

It went up to 55% and by the spring it rose to 65. That's a 30% increase from.

N

The merchants self-reports visitors report a commensurate pattern, 48 percent.

N

Said they spend 100 hundred dollars or more monthly before the lanes in 2016.

N

That increase to 59 percent and by 2017 it grew further to 65 percent of.

N

Respondents, it can be said with some confidence that business is better and.

N

Not suffering as a result of this test, some business owners themselves have not.

N

Been quick to embrace change, it appears likely that some of them as individuals.

N

Who have had more negative travel experiences than their customers at the.

N

Beginning of the study, 49 percent of owners reported they drove to work by.

N

The third study period, that number is the same: the transportation challenges.

N

Endured by some owners are not felt by over 90 percent of their customers.

N

There's gonna be questions for you cycle. You could just wrap up, take transit but.

N

The maneuvers point of sale numbers appear to validate the tcat findings. I.

N

Can go into that with question yeah, I think there's lots of questions for you.

C

I know I have some councillor. Layton is up first, yes, thank you very much.

A

Thanks for being here, brian, the prior to the installation of the.

A

The bike lanes there was a significant amount of consultation. Did you.

A

Participate in the early charettes that would that were done with the business.

A

Improvement areas as well as that the city conducted absolutely, we encourage.

N

Our members to join and many did so members were invited to join these.

M

Charettes that were just for the businesses along the three bia s in in.

A

Early stages of the sort of pre design, correct.

A

There were four options for bike lanes presented at the public consultations as.

A

They went through aware that there there were more than one option presented. We.

A

Aware that, yes, I and given the the four options, do you think that they that this.

A

One particular option was an appropriate one at the time to proceed with. I.

N

Believe it's the best of the four the way I do think that there are design.

N

Improvements that could still be made one of those options of one of the four.

A

Options involved, removal of all the parking on the street. This was what one.

M

Of the four that was out there and then there were a couple different.

A

Arrangements of how the bike lane was work, correct or correct. We couldn't.

N

Swallow the option that involved no on street parking. That's that's.

M

Understandable so a trade-off was made with it, with safety and and and parking.

A

Convenience. Okay! Thank you. Thank you, councillor krusty, thank you. So.

B

I understand that the bia has endorsed this. What was the reason that the bia.

B

Endorsed making these permanent on what basis, largely as a consequence of the.

N

Tcat report, which we commissioned and the maneras data, which appeared to.

N

Validate their findings and in what has been the experience, I understand any.

B

Infrastructure change impacts different businesses differently, but what has been.

B

The overall experience that you and the b I have seen as it relates to the.

B

Economic impact increased sense of safety from all users. This is confirmed.

N

By the tcat report, certainly we feel there are. There are more visitors to the.

N

Annex and there's an increased sense of vibrancy. I.

N

Would say that our identity is has evolved significantly as a result of.

N

This pilot, it is a go-to place in toronto,.

B

Now that the bia currently has a master plan to establish news, a new streetscape.

B

And plan with par ket's does with that and that stun take place in a year and a.

B

Half's time or so does that provide an opportunity if this is to be made.

B

Permanent to incorporate any bike design changes, perhaps to improve or.

B

Coordinator longside, the bia streetscaping work.

N

Yes, our street revitalization plan. Yes, councillor is scheduled for 2019, one of.

N

The three pillars of that plan was to increase bike parking because it's.

N

Critical for us, if we were to encourage cyclists to stop and shop, that they'd be.

N

Able to lock their bikes securely, so that's one pillar, check-marked. Now the.

B

Over the course of the this pilot period, it's not like them. The implementation is.

B

Being without controversy, and so can you talk about some of the feedback we had.

B

In changes that have been made and perhaps other issues we need to address.

B

Going forward, if it's to be made permanent.

N

One of the biggest revolved around creating loading zones for for.

N

Businesses who, who previously might have been able to take a delivery of a 5 ton.

N

Truck on bloor street so with the cooperation of your office and.

N

Councillor layton's office, we yellow painted some side streets and.

N

Discouraged illegal parking, they're, essentially creating no stopping zones.

N

Unless you were actively loading or unloading, the one challenge that we've.

N

Yet to overcome, I think, and hopefully, if council supports making the pilot.

N

Permanent we're able to overcome this the safety issues created by cars.

N

Turning right onto side streets so that that's one downside of keeping some.

N

Parking on bloor is that it creates difficult sight lines for some cars.

N

Turning right- and I guess just in my last question on time, my understanding.

B

Is the vi is position is to support making the the bike lane permanent, but a.

B

Request to work with the city to incorporate additional.

B

Changes in through coordination with the bia is that correct.

B

That is correct. Thank you. I've got questions I'd like to ask, and I know.

C

Counselor ma'am lady does as well my questions I have had so many emails and.

C

Phone calls from businesses in your area that you know really their conflicting.

C

Reports so they're saying they have they've, had significant financial.

C

Impacts they're also saying their voices weren't heard through this through the.

C

Process that they tried to form subcommittees, etc, and that was not.

C

Really entertained or supported, and I think there's a poll of at least 80.

C

Retail outlets that have said that it's had a negative impact on their business.

C

Can you speak to those issues I will try to and if I don't catch them all, please.

N

Remind me if I've missed any with respect to the extent of the.

N

Consultation, I can now read what I didn't get a chance to read earlier, that.

N

We really wanted to take the the emotion out of the question like we could sense that, early on, as one of the reasons we we embraced, the tcat.

N

As a vehicle to make an arm's-length assessment because it's easy to be.

N

Swayed by those anecdotal reports and to heed the loudest voice- and we really.

N

Wanted to face it as as scientifically as we could, those voices became louder.

N

More recently that some said that their views have not been canvas, so we have a.

N

Pretty good list of our members are representing approximately two-thirds.

N

Good email addresses, so we wrote to them and said, look are we have we missed? You.

N

And despite our best efforts, you know: there's these three community.

N

Consultations, multiple a gm's, every board meeting, we talked about it. It's.

N

All over our website have we missed you if here's what we've done and we had.

N

Over the course of a thirty day, period invited comments to our website and we.

N

Had seven responses, I think four that were opposed three in favor or.

N

The other way around a very small number and none of them said they weren't.

N

Consulted they just wanted them chance to another kick at the can. So I think I.

N

Don't know that we could have done more on this vial. Okay, I'll, also ask you a.

C

Question that I've been asked many times and the studies were conducted and.

C

Gathered and collected by parties that actually spoke at p wic at the onset of.

C

This process and said that they would like to see the blower bike lanes come.

C

To fruition, would it have been better to have independent organizations conduct that portion of the study? In the analysis, we.

N

Were aware of their previous experiences and in doing that very kind of a study.

N

To try to find researchers in any field that lack of you would be fairly.

N

Difficult I'll give you an example of the kinds of things we did to ensure.

N

That this process was fair and even-handed among the among the things.

N

We did is is insisted on certain changes to the methodology, so you stopped every.

N

Third person, regardless of what they look like if they look like a cyclist or.

N

An odd or I saw them, stop people in wheelchairs. I saw them. Stop a blind lady.

N

And ask if she came by bike, you know what she did and she participates in.

N

Some blind bicycling group that primarily uses harvard because it's.

N

Quieter and so we did shadow sent out anonymous people to stand behind hydra.

N

Pools and watch them do the interviews which felt a little creepy, but one.

N

Challenge in koreatown, for example, it was around language, so I watched one of.

N

The tcat interviewers, which is a ut researcher, master student or whatever.

N

Stopped a person who didn't speak english. Well, the person spoke spanish.

N

Well, sort of the tcap researchers, so they conducted the entire interview on.

N

The way to the subway, because she was way late for a doctor's appointment in spanish. Now I don't know what they said, because I don't speak spanish, but the.

N

Fact is that we did run some checks and balances on this process to ensure that.

N

It was fair and if you read the report- and I hope you've had a chance to madame.

N

Chair, it's it's! Yes, I have pretty thorough.

N

I have read the report. Trust me: okay, counselor m'lady. Thanks for coming down.

E

You said that there was a trade-off, at least in counseling. Now, sir, the question.

E

Of there's a trade-off with parking. What is that about? We didn't know what effect.

N

Removing on street parking would have counselor emilie dion on sales, so we were very cautious about about cleaning the slate.

N

It would have been easier to drop to design a street without any car parking.

N

At all, but that was too extreme for us, so in other words, you did not want to.

E

Lose the the parking in front of the you of the front of the stores, not not all.

N

Of it, no, so what was the trade-off? Did you lose some correct and how many did.

E

You lose, I believe the number is 160 from sha-2 to madison how many parking.

E

Spots were there in total, the 160 is 10% of the whole. So I'm looking at staff I'd.

N

Have to refer to my notes to give you them a 10% of. What's there correct.

E

What is this idea of turning right, what you alluded to that? What's, what are we.

E

Looking at it because it, what this tells me is we're about to venture into.

E

Passing this thing and then try to resolve some of the bia issues later is.

E

That accurate the process has been. I would I would I.

N

Think it fair to describe is iterative where we observe a concern and the city.

N

Seeks to accommodate us well, while the pilot was unfolding, but now that this.

E

This exists, it sounds like you haven't, resolved some of those issues that.

E

You're waiting for this to be approved and then going back and trying to.

E

Resolve some of those issues is that accurate, I think that's a fair.

N

Assessment, so so what are those issues? Because I 28 years almost I I've come to.

E

Realize that you don't pass a particular policy before you try and resolve some.

E

Issues that they may not be resolved at all. So what are those issues? Because.

E

Somebody may be just saying yeah: this is going to happen and you'll find that.

E

It's not going to what are the issues that you're looking for the issue.

N

As I described it, counselor was the right turns of cars on two side streets.

N

Doesn't mean once the car gets into a certain attitude perpendicular to the.

N

Street they're sideview mirrors don't allow them to see the bike lane any.

N

Longer without physically turning their neck and looking down that lane, so it's.

N

It's one design problem: what's what's the solution to that.

N

I believe that paint would go a long way to alerting everybody to the fact that.

N

There's a potential collision, we haven't seen the collision so in a way. What.

N

We're experiencing it's awkward awkwardness at a turn, rather than than.

N

Then safety incidents with staff and the city saying let's pass this and then.

E

We're gonna go there and we're gonna we're gonna paint or I don't know what.

E

What bylaws need to be passed, but there's something that they're saying.

E

They'll do later, have you done an analysis on what needs to happen or is.

E

It just we're uncomfortable with this. We need to do something about it. We have not done an analysis. We've stuck to the our.

N

Knitting on this question, which is the members experience of the bike lanes.

N

Councilor holiday, thank you, madam chair. Thank you. um What do you say? The bia is.

J

To the east and west of you jump on board advocate for this as well. There is.

N

No bia to the immediate east of us further down, though,.

N

To the west of us, you heard from mirvish today there immediately to our west and.

N

They support it. No, but I mean, as blue as a whole larger do you would you would.

J

You advocate to those be ias across the city. To do this, I guess it would depend.

N

On their street width and well not they have streetcar tracks. What other options.

N

Are available to car drivers and cyclists alengka? What if the queue.

J

'mobile of a cumulative effect on bloor street began to compound, so you this is.

J

A very short section of bloor street that has a delay, but if that delay.

J

Starts to compound further and further and further.

J

Bleuer begins to become less and less attractive for anybody to go anytime. We.

J

Just just avoid it if you're in a car anyways is there, is there a concern of.

J

Bia s that you know that, maybe you got a you got something here that works for.

J

You, but if everybody gets on board, suddenly things begin to change so any.

J

Thought to that at all. Well, forgive me if I keep coming back to what are we.

N

Feel our job is and that's to look after the business. The business is within our.

N

Catchment in your area, okay, and so the are experiences that car drivers as a.

N

Subset of our customers is a relatively small percentage, even though it's.

N

Slightly went up, curiously during this, this process to 9%.

N

So we don't it's not been our experience, that fewer people are driving to the nx.

N

Or fewer people are driving through it. That's a macro transportation question.

N

That it's not from you, okay, fair enough! I understand the report that there's.

J

Some tinkering done to the side streets because I guess there's spillover.

J

Traffic right there were once quieter streets. Does the bia support or not.

J

Support these changes, knowing that that kind of freezes, mobility parallel to.

J

Bluer- and I suspect it's it's probably- to help the residents that live there.

J

That just didn't want to see more traffic. You have a position on. Are you.

J

Just well, we witnessed the changes and- and we were very closely aligned with.

N

Our colleagues and the residents associations who appear to be still.

N

Supportive of this pilot, which really they were ahead of us on okay, fair.

J

Enough, I'm just trying to understand the maneras data, so in my correct not every.

J

Business has that, would you say that transaction profiles have changed in the.

J

Year, I need to make sense of what I understand is maneras, that it serves.

J

Only some of the stores along there what's cash translations like what are.

J

The trends is, this: is the use of these credit card or debit cards growing or is.

J

It flatlined or is that an apples to apples comparison of overall sales, we've.

N

Not done in a separate survey of our members with respect to who uses.

N

Monarus and who does not, we understand they're, the largest provider of.

N

Point-Of-Sale technology: we do know that within the pilot area, that the maneras.

N

Data indicates the sales went up by four point: four five percent and immediately.

N

Either side of the pilot they went up as well, but only three point: seven three.

N

And most importantly for the control group, which has been, I think, a pretty.

N

Important scientific vehicle for this study is sales went up, but only two.

N

Point two one percent, and we have no reason to believe that maneras. If it's.

N

The majority is higher, of those services is disproportionately representing.

N

Businesses either way in our in our catchment. Okay, that's all the time we.

C

Have for that I think that's it for you. Thank you very much. Q we're answering.

C

All those questions our next speaker is alex lowe. He'd welcome, alex okay, we'll.

C

Give you a minute to do that. Oh great.

C

Okay, there we go well done.

A

The city I've been here for five years. I live along bloor street, close to.

A

Lansdowne and I work in the university of toronto area, I cycled to work pretty.

A

Much every day, ten months out of the year and I've been using the velour bike.

A

Lane, basically, every day, you've heard from professionals on the clear evidence.

A

Base for cycling infrastructure, the evidence is clear on health, the evidence.

A

Is clear on environmental factors, the evidence is clear from the very.

A

Businesses along the bike lane at this point, who all seem to be supporting it.

A

And we've also heard from law enforcement today as well. Do you support.

A

This, I'm not here to reiterate their arguments, they're the professionals I am.

A

Not I'm here to today to instead offer an analogy that I hope can increase the.

A

Empathy of this committee, while also tabling some data behind you, imagine.

A

You're in a car driving to work it's just a regular day. The sun is shining.

A

And your commute is 30 minutes to get to the office. Now. Imagine there's a train.

A

Blocking your usual commute home, it's weird that the city built train tracks.

A

In the car lane, but you figure they must have had a good reason in order to get.

A

Around the train, your only option is to turn left onto the train tracks where.

A

Oncoming trains aren't necessarily expecting you odds, are there's no income.

A

Coming trans to hit you odds, are there isn't even in a train around? It makes.

A

You nervous because just yesterday or maybe even today, a train hit someone.

A

Driving a car and that person died, so you do what you always do you shoulder.

A

Check you hope that your shoulder checked well and you take the left turn.

A

Onto the tracks you're safe and you get around the train with that in mind, this.

A

Slide show behind. You is 14 months worth of photographs of vehicles that have.

A

Forced me to take that left turn onto the train tracks. I've taken the left.

A

Turn at least a hundred and four times in the past 14 months on the photo right.

A

There you will see someone taking that left turn you'll also see a cab immediately to their left. I'm fine, I'm lucky not.

A

Everybody is lucky and every time I take that turn. I know that I'm putting my.

A

Safety at risk. This turn injures people. The spike lane is a pilot. It's not.

A

Enough, we need strong physical barriers to separate vehicular motorists, traffic.

A

From cycling, traffic bullards will only get us part of the way there.

A

When they're readily knocked down and with that I'm open to questions, thank.

C

You any questions for the speaker, I don't see any. Thank you very much. We're.

C

Gonna move to our next speaker: jordan, jordan, bachus, oh okay, you're right.

C

You're absolutely right: okay, paul maclean! Thank you! Paul maclean, chair of.

C

Palmerston area residents, association.

S

Which is the one just to the north of us and we could make our two presentations.

S

And then take questions absolutely okay! That's thank you very much. Okay. You.

C

Can go ahead. Thank you just to let you folks know the.

S

Boundaries of our residents association go from bloor long bloor, going from.

S

Bathurst to grace or kristy, and therefore the that part of these lanes.

S

Falls within our area now, peres, the residents association, supports.

S

Biking infrastructure in general as an effective way to manage or mitigate.

S

Traffic and congestion, and to protect neighborhoods from the detrimental.

S

Effects of an excessive number of vehicles, residents in our area, typically.

S

Use all four methods of transportation, we walk recycle. We take public transit.

S

And we drive cars, many of us own and use both a car and bicycle.

S

We're not anti car, we all use our cars for various purposes, but we see the need.

S

To encourage cycling wherever possible- and this includes the current bike lanes.

S

On bloor there's one important and decisive fact in this debate about the.

S

Bike lanes, which has been mentioned by a few folks before that, is the dramatic.

S

Increase in population both real and anticipated along the bloor corridor and.

S

Nearby mervis village development at the southwest corner of our area slightly.

S

More than 800 units anticipated population 14 to 1500 b street condos on.

S

The east side of bathurst 195 units that's in place now further developments.

S

On at least one of the remaining corners, probably the northwest corner. Now these.

S

Units they're just the intensification on four corners within or approximate to.

S

Our boundaries, the population increase, is much much greater if we consider the.

S

Area of the entire bluer corridor and other areas of nearby and santa fication.

S

Such as dupont to the north, this represents a really incredible massive.

S

Change for the area where very few people have lived in five years. There.

S

Will be at least several thousand, if not three thousand, amongst other impacts,.

S

This change will radically alter the use of bloor street the only way to adapt.

S

Existing infrastructure to this influx of new residents is to encourage walking.

S

Public transit and cycling, we simply have to accept that with the.

S

Intensification mandated by the official plan of the city bloor street and its.

S

Usage is going to change with exponentially more pedestrians and.

S

Cyclists needing to be accommodated the north side across from paris. So it's our.

A

Boundaries are bathurst to the east christie to the west.

A

Bleuer to the south and dupont to the north and and I'd like to also add you.

A

Do need to go to jennifer's store because it's life changing and it will be life changing for your partner if you go so I thank her for being in our.

A

Neighborhood um right, so um thank you for having us. I agree with paul.

A

Well-Designed networks of bike lanes for trying to ensure safe routes for cycling.

A

Commuters of all ages and abilities- and of course it promotes healthy and.

A

Environmentally friendly modes of transportation, it's long overdue. It's.

A

Win-Win in our neighborhood, we have a lot of development. That's coming in.

A

Along dupont from deferent street so concomitant with what's happening at.

A

Dufferin and floor we're looking north dufferin and dupont all the way over to.

A

The dupont circle there are, there are, what's the number.

A

Joe, it's like 28 29, new condominiums along that route, so so the development.

A

Is real, it's intense and it's coming. We know our community's really really well.

A

And we know our what our residents are saying and we have studied and revision.

A

And envisioned and revision dand gone to design charettes and the neighborhood's.

A

Have participated in and the neighborhood's have been invited to to.

A

Participate in in this bath or street bike lanes project and.

A

And this is something that we need to have in our neighborhood, because we walk.

A

We bike to our mom-and-pop shops and all of the candy store has long gone. We do.

A

Go to other stores and we do shop at weiners, hardware and other places where.

A

Where our neighborhood likes to shop, so you know in november of 2009 gary wright.

A

The former chief planner in the bloor street visioning study phase one.

A

Recommended active transportation, the design of rights-of-way in the bloor.

A

Corridor will recognize and enhance the primacy of pedestrian safety and.

A

Movement and will reinforce and support transit use in cycling. So this is one of.

A

Those opportunity to provide bike areas and to provide an enhancements to.

A

Towards streetscape, you know we live and play and work in these communities. We.

A

Know what these communities are all about and and I and I and I we do.

A

Support and equivocally nursery bike lanes. Ok, thank you. Any questions, council.

C

Question counselor m'lady. This is a huge issue for me because I do get phone.

E

Calls along the bush, the blur streets trip, many of them businesses and.

E

Residents I have relatives that live on your streets, there's a lot of mammal.

E

Ladies, that live on your streets, there's a lot of rasuls and nassos, and second.

E

Cousins and third cousins, our seeds go everywhere, but in this particular pocket.

E

In this particular pocket we have a lot and they're all telling me the same.

E

Thing that they don't want the bike lanes that that that they're upset that.

E

We're creating an infrastructure that that can only be used a few months of of.

E

The year, even the study itself only did it in a couple of months. They even take.

E

Into account the fact that nobody really uses them in the winter, how is it that.

E

The residents in your area can't see that I don't understand it, because I'm.

E

Hearing the councillors I'm hearing you, but I'm also hearing all the phone calls.

E

That are coming my office and yes, even my relatives.

S

We use the bike lanes in the winter. What can I say you know I've got my was a guy. I had four. I have six grandchildren and.

S

Four of them live, you know within you know, about a half an hour walk from me.

S

They use these kids they're six years old to twelve years old. This is their.

S

Only method of getting around they actually now use the bike lanes. Twelve.

S

Months of the year and there- and there are people older than me- who used by.

S

Cranes as well and they're used all year round. Obviously there's more cyclists in.

S

The summertime than there is in the depths of winter, and that is certainly.

S

True, but to say they're not used is simply an accurate. Why didn't we do the.

E

Study in the winter time, why didn't we want to know the difference between the.

E

Summer months, the fall months in the winter months, why why did we just choose.

E

To do a couple of months in the end of the year, do you do it with somebody.

E

Describe that to you or no wouldn't we want to know how many people actually use it. You know this is a very expensive project right, so it comes from the.

E

Taxpayers, wouldn't we want to know the amount of people that are actually using.

E

It twelve months out of the year, if that's the case well being one of those.

A

Tax payers, I do use them like twelve months of the year and I've seen lots of.

A

People using them twelve months of the year and from what I understand that.

A

This was a year-long study, so you know, and I'm very sorry I haven't been able.

A

To meet any of the man, ladies in my neighborhood, that's too bad.

A

I agree, sir, because I think that they would enliven our meetings greatly.

A

Maybe it's what you need well, I think you're actually hearing from maybe one.

A

Of the people that lives in my neighborhood, who has some issues with.

A

The blurry bike lanes- and we can chat about that later. If that's one of the.

A

Individuals you're hearing from but but what I will say is mecan't remember what.

A

I was gonna say it's really funny right all the millions of dollars that we're.

E

Spending on this infrastructure, nobody knows how many people are actually.

E

Riding this thing, and it's really funny to everybody, I'd like to know the number.

A

Of the the majority of toronto, who doesn't want that, I can you give me that.

A

Number perhaps yeah in fact, I've seen a number of polls already in the majority.

E

Of torontonians, including the the area I represent, do not want to pay for this at.

E

All okay, all right, they don't want to pay for it.

E

At all, and in fact I don't understand where the numbers are coming from.

E

Because it was only two months that they did the study in may and june. We that's.

A

Not my understanding, well we're good we're gonna we're gonna bring that.

E

Information later, okay, yeah, let's move on, thank you very much. Is there any.

C

Other questions, thank you very much to the both of you who are waiting all day.

C

To speak, eric mills us next. Thank you. I am a resident of seton village. Actually.

A

And I live and work near bloor when I grew up in what was then north toronto.

A

In the old city, bicycling was an intermediate step between tricycles and.

A

Driving a car so and bicycles were put away in november and they weren't.

A

Brought out until the following april generally so shortly after my 16th.

A

Birthday my forward-looking parents sent me off to an ontario motor league.

A

Driving course- and I got my license- I've kept renewing that license ever since.

A

For what is now five decades hard to believe, that's true, but times have changed in the last 50 years. I don't need to own a.

A

Car I rent from auto share for trips within the city and, if I'm going on.

A

Jeonse outside I ran from a car rental company.

A

My main daily transportation- all I need now and occasionally ttc, but mostly is a.

A

Bicycle: it's! How I got here today and I biked all year round, including in the.

A

Winter most winters, which are increasingly warm in toronto. Of course, I.

A

May be five to ten days. I don't bicycle if it's snowing or if.

A

It's icy as I have grown up, so is the city, so so I'm here today to.

A

Congratulate the city of toronto for maturing as well and recognizing the.

A

Enormous benefits of cycling and fostering it with infrastructure.

A

Including in this is instanced the commitment to the laura street bike.

A

Lanes I use that bike lane virtually every day and I'm with the majority of.

A

Respondents and the city surveys I feel safer and more comfortable on bloor, more.

A

Than that, my partner, who used to be weary of cycling, onblur street and other.

A

Arterial streets without bike lanes is now much more comfortable using them on.

A

Bloor harboured st. george beverly, simcoe, etcetera by richmond adelaide. I.

A

Count that as a success- and I count the blue bike lanes as a success bike lanes.

A

Used to be for kids, but now they're for anyone over about eight years old until.

A

They can no longer do it there. It's a year-round transportation medium as well.

A

As recreation, which is what it used to be so I congratulate the city of toronto.

A

For moving into a modern mode of thinking and planning and promoting.

A

Cycling by installing permanent infrastructure like bike lanes, thank you.

A

For trying out this pilot project on bloor and for evaluating it so.

A

Thoroughly now that it's proven success, I look forward to it being made.

A

Permanent and standard, thank you. Thank you eric. I.

C

Don't have any questions for you, so you're you're finished. Thank you. I love.

C

Boston's is next, then: after ila, we have allen wainscott.

C

And chris glover, if he is still here, welcome, thank you very much a long time.

L

Ago I chaired this committee: did you oh yeah, the equivalent on the metropolitan.

L

Level, I'm here mostly for almost romantic reasons to blur street strip.

L

That's been discussed or morning afternoon used to be my word. The.

L

Southern boundary of my word, my old neighborhood. I also have psycho to work.

L

For 40 years, when the only bike lane was actually bay street, where the electric.

L

Trolley bus would go down and you shared the bus lane. That was all I've learned.

L

From another pilot project, which was finalized in my old ward for the years.

L

Ago at least knits up near yonge and st. clair, the first installed eaton speed.

L

Bumps and they were actually very sharp original now, they're just bumps yeah.

L

Because that city council of that day recognized that if you want to force.

L

Motorists to do something you really have to for some me put bump, sir, doesn't.

L

Say much about torontonians about respecting speed limits, so you put.

L

Something physical there well, the same is true for bike lanes. If you just paint.

L

A white lane has quite a few of the deputies, have shown the white lane is.

L

Not respected, so what you need is what is being proposed here, so I'm here.

L

Obviously, to support that now, council member leety has repeatedly worried.

L

About the delayed the slower speed, it's two minutes takes two minutes lumber now.

L

It takes two minutes longer means the traffic is moving, and since I no longer.

L

Can bike and 80 years old, so I'm supposed not to be on bike? I drive and I.

L

Can tell you that birth street actually moves surprisingly well, I do some.

L

Shopping and blue, I go to the back barn. I go to the korean store and I sharpened.

L

On chrystie street, I know it very well and I'm forced to use the car. Anyone who.

L

Is commuting by car long distance to downtown toronto along bloor is an utter.

L

Total fool: this is not a commuting area downtown you take transit, you take an.

L

Expressway at your own risk, the expressways are actually more congested.

L

I retired in 2000, from console in those 17 years. Three hundred and fifty.

L

Thousand more human beings have moved into toronto and they are not poor.

L

Immigrants who wash dishes there are people who own cars who have jobs. That's.

L

Very come here: 300 250 thousand, more people we've got to accommodate them. We.

L

Haven't built a single road in the last 50 years, there's no space. Toronto was.

L

Built like a small scottish town with very narrow, presbyterian streets, three.

L

Lanes and there way below standard those lanes- and I always know when someone's.

L

From the suburbs, because they get nervous driving on some of our.

L

Arterioles because they look so tiny, go to mississauga and see what the standards are lanes are usually wider. So I would.

L

Simply like to point out that what you're doing here is something which, in.

L

My home country, which is germany, has been done for half a century. There are.

L

Bike lanes even out in the country between dodges, so kids can bike to.

L

School and the climate, the climate, isn't really that much that much warmer the.

L

Costs of your hitting someone going up young street with a bike in the right.

L

Legally are problematic, they cost our system, enormous numbers of dollars and.

L

If you just think they're five thousand cyclists on board street well they're.

L

Five thousand passengers on the leslie subway station on sheppard that station.

L

Costs five hundred million dollars but you're putting down with this pilot.

L

Project which our little booth line spending because a whole lot less than.

L

Half a billion and the more people we can get out of cars more commuters, more.

L

Local shoppers because of the reduced risks, so I think on this committee I.

E

Think, I'm probably the only one that's had the privilege of working with you in.

E

The past and I want to welcome you to city hall and you look fantastic and I.

E

Don't want to get into a debate with you.

C

All right, thank you for that on to allen wainscott, so alan and I had a previous.

C

Conversation he's had some medical issues in his throat and so he's asked.

C

For the full five minutes- and I think the committee would be happy to indulge.

C

At request, all right so off you go with your five minutes. Thank you very much sure I'm sory about the as I'm hard to.

S

Understand I had a surgical procedure on my throat.

S

At toronto general in july, and I haven't fully rehabilitated myself, I've been.

S

Dealing with the fencer for seven years now, but I thought it was important to.

S

Come down and and just share some of my observations because sounds hermamma.

S

That he says he barrois, but on this subject.

S

I've been around longer than most and I've been out on the street. I was born.

S

At the same hospital, I had my surgery recently in 1950 and I'm happy to.

S

Continue the parade of singers that are here today talking about this, but I'm.

S

Slightly different in when I was 16 growing up in councillor, peruses ward,.

S

And gallons you I vowed that I would never drive a automobile in this city.

S

Because I didn't like the idea of taking that responsibility for all of my.

S

Neighbor's safety and their health for the ranch's, which I see many motorists.

S

Doing so, I decided I'd, never drive a car and at this point in my life I've kept.

S

That vow, but in my early 30s I decided it wasn't enough to just within the arts.

S

Community to help our city, I wanted to get my hands dirty and make a difference.

S

On the streets, so I became a bicycle courier in 1981.

S

And I worked for 25 years in the city and I've done hundreds of thousands of.

S

Documenting kilometer delivery phenomenas in the city without ever.

S

Found in the atmosphere or contributing to congestion on the streets of actually.

S

Not only that I in 1998, I won a federal court decision against revenue, canada to.

S

Say that our food messengers was in fact fuel and we shouldn't be charged income.

S

Tax on the cost of that rule, we've run that decision, but it took 16 years of.

S

Fighting with the federal government and.

S

It was for my my victory with the federal government as a matter of fact,.

S

Councilor lady's father came down to the old messenger, far on sheppard street and.

S

Presented that to me 19 years ago, when on international bicycle messenger.

S

Appreciation day which this city used to recognize now the authority here we.

S

Released this so thing of suggest the air pollution traces, its effects on.

S

Basis of messages which is adopted by this city couple years after that, the.

S

Group, I'm with safer one, the toronto marine awards the first two years that.

S

Because of our contribution to helping the atmosphere in the air quality in the.

S

Sea by the river hood, all around the downtown core, without.

S

Fouling in the air, the fact that we're discussing whether or not to retain the.

S

Blue or by flinch, it's like the word whore, my generals fighting in the.

S

Previous war, but you should be discussing, is how soon you can extend.

S

Those blue bicycle lanes and whether or not going to retain any party at all on.

S

The streets has that's the biggest impediment to movement skills. Why would.

S

We store dormant motor vehicles on our throughways. Are the passes where we move.

S

Through the city, it makes no sense, it never has, and I've been down here all.

S

These years, trying to tell people this, and it hasn't worked so unfortunately, as.

S

Much as this means to me, it's not worth the paper, it's written on.

S

I start doing your work. Thank you, madam chair and committee.

Q

Members for affording me this opportunity to speak to you. My name is.

Q

Lois delia fig, and I strongly believe that the retention of the protected bike.

Q

Lanes on bloor is in the best interest of torontonians.

Q

I'm a longtime cyclist in the city, I'm a professional, I'm a lawyer. I work for the.

Q

Federal government, and until very recently, what I was a longtime home.

Q

Owner in the city as well, I do own a vehicle, but I have primarily commuted by.

Q

Bike to my workplace from davisville to the financial district, virtually daily.

Q

Since 1995 commuting via cycling has well-established health benefits as.

Q

We've been told today to an individual, it also has health and also benefits.

Q

Rather, the wider community by ultimately mitigating a strain on the public health.

Q

System and by mitigating damage to the environment, as well as helping to.

Q

Relieve traffic and ttc congestion, we know that cycling is good for.

Q

Individuals- and we know it's good for the health of our city, but for a cyclist.

Q

To bike in the city typically requires one to take an unconscionable risk, as.

Q

Doing so, as doing so requires when I beg your pardon as doing so without proper.

Q

Protected bike lanes is quite dangerous. It's not fair for current cyclists to.

Q

Have to put their lives at risk to participate in cycling further, it's not.

Q

Wise and indeed it's short-sighted to in effect, deny torontonians in the future.

Q

The opportunity to partake in cycling in their city, as all the evidence shows the.

Q

Blur bike lanes have been well used during the pilot project and as the.

Q

Staff report has under gord there's been virtually no negative.

Q

Impact having protected bike lanes and particularly having one on a major.

Q

Artery into the city core ensures that many cyclists do bike in the city. Can.

Q

Now do so more safe, more safely and, moreover, it encourages those who wish to.

Q

Cycle, but are too fearful to do so in the absence of proper cycling,.

Q

Infrastructure to do so, I feel that toronto is really at a tipping point.

Q

Right now, on the issue of cycling in the city, it's my hope that the retention of.

Q

The of that protected bike lanes on bloor is but the first big domino to.

Q

Fall and that we see real commitment to safe cycling infrastructure that and.

Q

That, eventually toronto can be a leader in north america when it comes to.

Q

Building safe cycling infrastructure, my sincere belief is that this culture.

Q

Shift will result in a much stronger and wealthier city. It always including.

Q

Fiscally we looked, we look to this committee to acknowledge your duty to.

Q

Ensure the health and safety of residents to acknowledge the evidence.

Q

Regarding all of the benefits of cycling and to be the strong, visionary, civic.

Q

Leaders that torontonians expect you to be thank you for. Thank you very much.

C

We're gonna move on to our next speaker, mijita sota. Is that gone no okay? So our.

C

Next speaker is grammed as well. It's graham here and I thought, were you gonna.

C

Speak to with others, okay, so that's barry, alper and michele or macau. So.

C

Whoever wants to speak together come up all right. Thank you and we'll give you.

C

The full the full time all right. Thank you very much.

C

Or maybe you just you just identify how many speakers there are. I mean I'm.

C

Seeing three there are six on the list, but only three of us will speak here.

T

Today, okay, so are the six registered, because if they are then you'll get that.

C

Amount of time not here they were registered but being small business. They.

T

Weren't gabe, you can't wait all day in that wait all day, so most of them have.

T

One or two employees, so they weren't able to come here today. Okay, so we will.

C

Give you the time we did that for another group, the full time all right.

C

Yes, go ahead, trying to figure out the people that are here which ones are on.

E

The list people who are here are barry alper, which is myself.

T

Michelle sabe and miranda, black and nancy carvalho, four of us, the two that.

T

Aren't here are mike murray from bm bm v books, both ree greg's ice cream and gram.

T

Dad's well from alternative arts. So there's seven on the list and we.

T

Couldn't get all of them here? Okay, they were here, but I know they couldn't wait.

C

All day, I understand when it's a small business, all right.

C

Okay, go ahead, hello, everyone, my name is barry alber and I'm here with a group of.

T

Us to speak to you on behalf of the annex bike alliance. We keep them.

T

Together in march of this year, after repeated efforts to work with our local.

T

Bia I want to open today by enforcing one.

T

Thing, we are cyclist and we are supporters of bike lanes.

T

We are also business owners and operators in the annex, a neighborhood.

T

That has always been known for liberal ideas, acceptance and diversity, since the.

T

Beginning of this conversation, our position has never wavered bike lanes on.

T

Bloor are a good thing, and the safety of cyclists is of paramount importance. We.

T

Are happy that bike lanes on bloor will be a permanent fixture? However, we are.

T

Concerned because we don't feel that this pilot project is being responsibly.

T

And productively reviewed, and we don't want to end up with permanent bike lanes.

T

That aren't as effective or as safe as they could be due to insufficient time.

T

And resources dedicated to the review of this pilot project for some reason.

T

This issue has become polarized and oprah and oversimplified leaving people.

T

In one of two camps, these bike lanes or no bike lanes, we are suggesting a.

T

Different alternative: we suggest a solution that is reflective on the.

T

Community feel of the annex where people work together and different voices are.

T

Heard considered and accommodated figuratively and literally, we are.

T

Looking for a middle path in which we say yes to bike lanes, but we also say.

T

Yes, to potentially redesigning these bike lanes to improve cyclist safety.

T

Motorist flow and the success of neighborhood businesses, bike lanes on.

T

Bloor should be a certainty, so if we all agree that that's the case now is the.

T

Time to assess what can be done to improve them, let's do the work now to.

T

Make bike lanes a vital and welcome part of the blur street infrastructure going.

T

Into the future, please, let's learn from other.

T

Neighborhoods and cities that have successfully implemented bike lanes in.

T

Order to create a permanent holistic solution that benefits the entire.

T

Neighborhood, cyclists, businesses, pedestrians and motorists included. We.

T

Need to look at the whole picture, thinking about what everyone's needs are.

T

Or we call the middle path. That is how we continue to build a flourishing 21st.

T

Century city and looking at how to improve the pilot project, there are four.

T

Main concerns here, though, that we would like to talk to you about data safety.

T

Traffic flow and design this in for the first data, the information that is being.

T

Gathered to assess this pilot project is sorely lacking. One thing we know to be a.

T

Fact, from speaking to all the members of our group is that business is down.

T

Onblur street the city has asked a bunch of questions of the business owners.

T

Along bleuer, however, they have failed to ask the one question that matters to.

T

Businesses, which is how are your sales now compared to before the bike lanes.

T

Came in instead, businesses were simply asked. Do you think the bike lanes are.

T

Worth the trade-off out of a hundred and fifty.

T

Businesses 53% said that the bike lanes are worth the trade-off. There was no.

T

Other information provided that pertained to business and no definition.

T

As to what what worth the trade-off means, this question is far too.

T

Subjective and the answers don't offer any concrete data. Then our b8 bia.

T

Commissioned tika a cycling, avid advocacy group to do the economic impact.

T

Report which would be okay if businesses were asked direct questions about the.

T

Economic impact of bike lanes instead, here are the questions which were not.

T

Relevant or india, dick hood indicative of the impact of bike lanes on.

T

Businesses and their economic development, please feel free to take a.

T

Look at the questions asked in the document I provided in my communication.

T

Before this meeting during that meeting, the city met with us at the bia meeting.

T

Along with tcat and the city, and after listening to us, ask questions about the.

T

Tcat they suggested that I create a study group. The study group became the.

T

Annex business bike alliance group, we did our own survey. Oh excuse me their.

T

Report came back saying that businesses up more than 90 percent is up more than.

T

90 percent of business customers come from the neighborhood and cyclists spend.

T

More and stay close to home, that is, data which is significantly flawed as it.

T

Pertains to our own sales, we did our own survey, which also we, which we also.

T

Provided for you, our survey shows that 70% of business reports sales are down.

T

70% say traffic is down both day both day and evening. Loss of jobs outweigh.

T

New hires by 6 to 1. After sharing these findings with tcat in the city, the.

T

Department of rep transportation recognized that the economic impact.

T

Conducted by tcat was biased and insufficient, so they continue to pursue.

T

Facts to support their claims. It was at this point. They began to reference.

T

Maneras to suggest that businesses, in fact up on bloor street, knocked down as.

T

The businesses are reporting. However, this claim is misguided in two major.

T

Ways first, maneras is only one of four credit card processors. Therefore, if you.

T

Want to use this kind of data, they need to get it from every processor in the neighborhood. Second, finally, and most crucially, more.

T

Credit card transactions doesn't indicate more sales. All it means is that.

T

More people are using credit cards instead of cash and, as only as as we all.

T

Know with tap being available on most credit card machines for small purchases.

T

Now it is easier than ever to use your credit card more credit card.

T

Transactions just means that more of the purchases that happened are be done with.

T

A credit card not that more transactions are occurring, that the city asked banks.

T

In the control and pilot area, if commercial cast deposits increased or.

T

Decreased during this period, no, so I'm going to explain to you the equation.

T

That they're using and we're gonna go a equals b, plus c plus d, a our sales.

T

Equals b, which is maneras credit card and interact transactions plus c, which.

T

Is check plus d, which is cash, a city and or through maneras? The the what we hear.

T

Is that an increase in b of four and a half percent is automatically an.

T

Increase in a so that b goes up four and a half percent, and then your sales.

T

Automatically go up four and a half percent, but that's not the truth. Cash.

T

And check, as we know, was part of the business income and that's not reported.

T

Here so a business like my own, when I heard that report from maderas, I did my.

T

Own study in september- and I discovered that b, which was credit card.

T

Transactions, I don't use maneras, I use another processor name. First data went.

T

Up four and a half percent, because I'm a restaurant, I don't accept checks and my.

T

Cash was down 25 percent, and so my overall sales were down. 2 percent talk.

T

To any business owner in our group- and they will tell you unequivocally that.

T

Business is down or has been made more difficult since the introduction of bike.

T

Lanes again, we are: it feels to us that no one's asking us direct questions, no.

T

One is no one is doing a survey that comes to our business and.

T

Ask questions about how the business is. Instead, the city spends what we hear to.

T

Be twenty five thousand dollars to contact maneras and gather that data? I.

T

Don't know how much a survey would be to approach local businesses, but I don't.

T

Think it's gonna be twenty five thousand dollars. The point is: is business down.

T

Enough to remove the bike lanes absolutely no. However, it is down enough.

T

To include us, as part of the conversation to try and mitigate our.

T

Losses or see if there are ways to increase business, as was promised to us.

T

When the pilot started, thank you miranda. We'll talk about safety. I am. I am one of.

P

The 70% of businesses not captured in the monaro stata, we were told yesterday.

P

At city hall that it only captured the 30% of the businesses along along the.

P

Lore, but this is my partner- that's safety and cyclist safety should be one.

P

Of the major concerns in the design of any bike lane, according to the city's.

P

Report, the number one cause of accidents is during and I have been adored on.

P

Bloor, the current bike lanes on bloor are designed in a way where passenger.

P

Doors now open into the bike lane, and this we believe, is not the safest design.

P

For cyclists, we know you asked the question of whether people feel safer. Do.

P

You feel safer or not safer, with the bike lanes on bloor. However, no one asked.

P

About comparative safety of other bike lanes in this city, cyclists should be.

P

Consulted if they felt safer on harboured versus blur our wellesley.

P

Versus blur not just cycling on bloor, of course, cyclists would feel safer on a.

P

Major street, with bike lanes than without bike lanes, however, it makes.

P

Sense to also ask which bike lanes in the city you feel safest in and consider.

P

Implementing that design on bloor, I don't personally like biking on bloor.

P

Right now, because it's dangerous with the doors, the current.

P

Design has also created issues because of the lack of curbside access people.

P

Have no clear place to get in and out of taxis nowhere to let guests out during.

P

Bad weather know where to help people with mobility issues to be dropped off.

P

At the door, and no way for parents to get children safely to the sidewalk.

P

People have to enter and disembark in the middle of the road. All of these.

P

Concerns have to be taken into account and implementing the most efficient and.

P

Safe bike lanes for the neighborhood- if this is a pilot project, let's really.

P

Make it a pilot project and listen to have what's happening on the street? Okay.

O

Traffic flow, according to the city's report, the growth overall since the bike.

O

Lanes started as 4% or 371 riders per day, the numbers being disputed by.

O

Cycling groups who are reporting much higher numbers, regardless of the exact.

O

Numbers we can all agree that growth is in the commute and it goes east in the morning and west in the afternoon. Furthermore, the report states that the.

O

Ratio of bikes going east versus west is four to one in the morning or two to.

O

Wanted me out in two to one in the afternoon I rush over the scale between.

O

East and west traffic seems way off. If you stand on bloor street and observe.

O

The actual traffic bikes are lined up twenty to thirty deep on board street in.

O

Harvard almost at almost every traffic light in the summer, while the opposite.

O

Side would have one or two bikes in the morning. Traffic on bloor street goes.

O

From east goes going east from shoddy university is always backed up, while.

O

Westbound moves with no traffic, the opposite occurs in the afternoon. The.

O

Ratios would seem low because from observation, the commute is when the.

O

Majority of the cyclists are using the lanes again before implementing.

O

Permanent infrastructure, the following questions need to be addressed. What are.

O

The hours of peak and off-peak times that you mentioned in the report, why did.

O

You not choose to include winter numbers in your study. Can we no? Can we not I'll.

O

Just admit that bike traffic is down in winter because other alternatives exist.

O

And so I think cycling is not the safest winter mode of transportation.

O

Motorcycles are put away in the winter. Most people also put their bicycles away.

O

Those who don't are a minority they need to be heard, but they should not be the ones to lead. The debate. Do you have? Do you have the data on the traffic flow by.

O

The hour and its, where is it our fourth beam is she was.

T

Designed there are many examples of diverse by claim design and operating.

T

Hours in toronto and around the world st. george harbored spadina bay,.

T

Wellesley sherbourne, richmond and adelaide all have bike lanes montreal in.

T

New york have summer in winter paths, vancouver and ottawa have bike lanes on.

T

Side, streets and back alleys- currently the city chose to take the richmond and.

T

Adelaide lanes, which are both on one-way streets and superimpose them onto bloor.

T

Street on both these streets during off-peak hours,.

T

There is curb access, richmond and adelaide have vastly different.

T

Demographics infrastructure and street scapes in blur street bike lanes should.

T

Not be a one-size-fits-all proposition in the annex, for example, cyclists have.

T

So many more options: they have harbored street bike lanes or the side streets.

T

Through the annex, these options don't exist on richmond and adelaide, so we.

T

Need to factor in the specific of the neighbourhood and what kind of lanes.

T

Would be more effective and achieve the objectives for everyone? We propose that.

T

We look at the whole picture. Thinking about what everyone's needs are, what we.

T

Like to call the middle path, the middle path is hard to get to in today's.

T

Climate people want easy solutions where one side is clearly right or wrong by.

T

Finding the middle path is how we continue to build a flourishing 21st.

T

Century city, we were told that this was a pilot, that it was not a choice between.

T

These big lanes or no bike lanes. Rather, we would gather data study the results.

T

To figure out what worked about the project and what can be improved.

T

We believe that improvements in safety, traffic flow and design still exist and.

T

These changes will help residents, businesses, cyclists and motorists. We.

T

Think the main focus should be on finding a solution that works for the.

T

Most people the most times, one where no one feels overlooked the only way we can.

T

Do this is actually listen to one another except compromise? Let's aim for a solution that reduces tension, increases.

T

Understanding and moves us forward, the annex is unique and we deserve a unique.

T

Solution, it will take a little openness and we can increase safety and.

T

Satisfaction for everyone right now, if you have a mobility and disability issue,.

T

You are no longer welcome in the annex if you want to drop off your child and.

T

Park and go and come back, we don't. We don't accept that anymore in the annex.

T

If you're, old or you're scared of falling on ice and snow and want to be.

T

Dropped off or picked up at a business, we don't offer that anymore in the annex.

T

And the annex is all about accessibility. It's all about welcoming it's all about.

T

Being a neighbourhood of ideas and progress, and these bike lanes as they.

T

Exist now take a lot of the spirit away from art from our neighborhood. So in.

T

Designing bike lanes in the annex there are two environmental concerns that we.

T

Think should impact design. First of all, there is winter and summer hours for.

T

Blur street bike lanes and then have a different design for rush hour and non.

T

Rush hour periods in the summer, and we would like to extend those right now, we.

T

Understand that the peak hours are 7 9, 4 6, we would like to extend those.

T

Hours in the summer, during on peak hours, we would like to see the following. We.

T

Want removal of all street parking as it as it exists today on bloor street, we.

T

Would like a painted and named hov lane for cyclists only in the summer, during.

T

Off-Peak hours adopt the same system as the bike lanes that exists on college.

T

Street and along blur east of avenue, road reinstate, curb access for cars in.

T

The winter the streets revert to the same same rules as any street without.

T

Bike lanes, under this scenario, we see the following benefits: businesses. We.

T

Will get curbside parking back and our customers will feel safer.

T

Motorists they will get the incentive to cycle to work during the summer and have.

T

Winter experience residents will have more parking and less vehicle traffic on.

T

The side streets, cyclists will have a true separated, rush-hour lanes when the.

T

Lanes are being used, the most they will enjoy increased safety with the.

T

Elimination of the potential for passenger during plus an hov designation.

T

That motorists are used to following the lane will be wider to allow cyclists to.

T

Pass without going into the traffic flow, we want signage, lower speed limits and.

T

Other indicators that this is a shared community, where everyone is welcome and.

T

Everyone should be safe, the design we are proposing for our portion of blur.

T

Street can work and almost need every neighborhood along blur street. We hope.

T

That this path of acceptance and compromise can be extended along brillar.

T

Street from scarborough to etobicoke is now up to the committee to put forward.

T

Some amendments to staffs recommendation or ask staff to do more work on the.

T

Matter, the middle path is the solution. Thank you for considering our proposal.

T

And we are very happy to answer any questions now. Okay, thank you. We do have.

C

Questions for you, councillor m'lady, so have you been able to give staff these.

E

Recommendations at all, yes, we had. We had a meeting with staff yesterday and we.

T

Provided them with recommend we've provided them with our recommendations.

E

And before yesterday, no was there an opportunity for you to do that. We we.

T

Have been tried to communicate with staff and counselors to arrange a.

T

Meeting to give our opinions, but no there's been no, no, no meeting. No, no, no.

T

One no one from our from our local councillors office has contacted us.

T

Since we began with the group and work the bia, we're not allowed to speak at.

P

The bia, because we're not but but earlier I asked a question of the bia.

E

And whether or not there was a community meeting held and the response was that.

E

The bia board meeting is the community meeting. It was a different video. It was.

P

The mirvish village bia- I can tell you that for the bia meeting.

O

For the decision that this was made, it was not, it was not made aware to the.

O

Members, so is that bia supporting this.

E

Initiative has come out in support of the is there been a community meeting to.

E

Determine what the community might want and a few public consultations, but.

O

They're but they're really just an open and they don't really have a direction.

O

There's not they're not hosted or anything like that. Really there been a.

E

Community meeting specific to the business owners know so nobody's really.

E

Giving you an opportunity to give these recommendations. I think yesterday, I'd.

T

Like to give you some background information on that question, counselor.

T

We approached the bia in mark. We had to attend to two board meetings in this.

T

Year and at the second board meeting, we provided a petition of which I have in.

T

Front of me, fifty or sixty businesses that wanted the bia to create a.

T

Subcommittee to support an independent evaluation of the economic impacts of.

T

Bloor bike lane: that's what the bia with our we went to the bia and we asked.

T

Them we wanted a subcommittee because this was february and march and we.

T

Understood that business was was not going so well. Okay, we wanted to.

T

Understand why and your be, I didn't didn't come forward with any resolution.

T

No, no, they didn't allow us to even do a subcommittee. We weren't even allowed to.

T

Create a subcommittee to study it did you, you didn't, have an opportunity to.

E

Tell this to city toronto staff at all, ever no so the city of toronto or its.

E

Consultants never gave you an opportunity to talk about all of this.

O

Well, we've been emailing the mayor, so the mayor you've contacted the mayor.

O

He came to my store and I and and did you tell him all of this all of this.

O

That sales are down that we weren't feeling heard by the bia that the tcat study was the maneras study reached out to 30% of the businesses in your.

E

Quadrant, that's it 70%. They did not hit. No, no. The the wayman arras is the.

T

Explanation is that maris is the largest processor of credit card transactions in.

T

The country and they have a market share of 30% and therefore they're just.

T

Extrapolating in your community there's a lot of cash that goes on in these.

E

Mom-And-Pop shops first nobody's bothered to ask you those questions with.

E

Respect to whether or not your business has declined or not correct, correct and.

E

That's why you're here today, yes, there seemed that's part of why.

T

We're here today we have other issues, but but the number one issue for us is.

T

If this was a pilot about business and our business is suffering, it may not be.

T

The bike lanes, but businesses down so we're looking to the city to either do.

T

Other you get santos, do you get that this organ yeah? So so, do you get that.

E

What we've heard here in a very consolidated.

E

Organized effort by others they're telling us that that all of the answers.

E

Are in this report and that that's 76 pages and safety is mentioned over 100.

O

Times they don't focus on business questions at all. One question: do not.

E

Have liked to see the audio tape that the city has as made of the cyclists.

E

Along bloor for yourself to see whether or not the numbers were accurate, they.

E

Are refusing to give it to me as a local counts, as a councillor and and for us to.

E

Have here, would you not want to make sure that the numbers that they're.

E

Advocating are actually factual by, by a count. What I would I've spoken to, the.

T

City about- and I I accept- I accept some of their numbers and some.

T

Of their numbers, I have a hard time believing our concerns. Everyone has.

T

Their own numbers- I don't know they, they hired a really professional traffic flow.

T

Company to provide these this information, where, where we have an issue.

T

With is that, when you're, when you're on bloor street or harvard in the morning.

T

And you're looking at traffic going either way. Eastbound is lined up from as.

T

Far as I can see from from front last, question promise all right, no problem.

E

Before the bike lanes were the pilot project hit was the vehicular traffic.

E

Faster than the bikes at that time, the ones the bikes that were using blur.

E

Street was the vehicle air traffic faster, so my experience is, I haven't the.

E

Bike lanes have been put in place, right is what's faster, the bikes or the or the.

E

Cars and before the bike lanes were put in what was faster. You know I I live at.

T

Blur and spadina and my business is a queen and crawford, and I cycle I've been.

T

Cycling for eight years so on a long blur, streon harbert street there's.

T

Always been red, lock, harbert, as since the bike lanes go from queens park, all.

T

The way to shaw the blur street traffic has definitely increased and definitely.

T

There's a lot more cyclists on the road and they are certainly moving quicker.

T

And I don't, I don't see a problem with that. Honestly, I don't before the bike.

E

Lanes were put in what was faster, the car or the bike. I can't.

T

I don't know I can't I can't assume it's the cars councilor prude. So so you said.

M

That your business is down two percent. Your particular business is down two.

M

Percent, based on what you the work, you did yeah look at your own business.

M

Mm-Hmm and I would believe that statistics since you have access to your.

M

Own cash register- oh yeah, that I believe your study, I'm saying I'm believe with.

M

That you, when you say your business, is not represent but you're saying as well.

M

That it's not necessarily down because of the bike lanes right.

T

I can't you can never prove I can never prove the number of disparate businesses.

O

Though we've got everything from high-end men's clothing to ice cream to sit down restaurants, I mean there's a it's a wide enough. Two bakeries there's.

O

A wide enough range that it doesn't, it stands to at least be part of the.

O

Question, I guess we could. We could always like to some degree debate that.

M

Ad nauseam right now, you've proposed a number of changes to, and I heard that.

M

Some bitchin hov take it out in the wintertime. You also understand that, and.

M

I suspect that our traffic experts, the people that designed bloor street and.

M

And I guess you could, you could alternate between you know hundreds of.

M

Different options right in terms of what alignment? How could work where you could.

M

Put parking when they're loud when not obama, take it off to you, but I said I.

M

Suspect from a safety perspective, they would look at one need to create a.

M

System with some predictability so that users get to know what that road looks.

M

Like all seasons, so that it it becomes safer for for the people that actually.

M

Use it as opposed to perpetually making changes, and I know, and I understand that.

M

You're you're making some thoughtful suggestions that you want to put on the.

M

Table for people to consider, but you also have to understand that at the end.

M

Of the day they have to come up with a design that kind of works for everybody.

M

And that is predictable and it's made safe and people don't agree with you.

T

We're not we're, certainly not experts in traffic management and we're certainly.

T

Not experts in bike lane design what we are, our local businesses on the streets.

T

And seeing seeing the impact of this new design in the neighborhood and trying to.

T

Figure out a way where we all kind of live and exist and benefit from from in.

T

The neighborhood there's there's many different solutions and I hear you I've.

T

Heard from the same staff, they people aren't smart enough to understand that.

T

There's rules in winter and summer so exactly yeah and I'm glad that some.

M

Degree, you came here with her open mind as opposed to sort of having a.

M

Position and then trying to get information to fit that position. So you.

M

Can you can sort of make that argument? Did that antica that's answered asked.

O

Only questions- and I understand that sometimes that's variably- that that that.

M

Kind of happens, because people come to these kinds of issues with them.

M

Predisposed notions of what's right and wrong, and and what you know ones right.

M

Over here someone else's right is it? Is it do you as a business on blur street.

M

Have more right to to have a successful business over someone who cycles, who has.

M

A right to ride on a safe street, safe public road- I mean that that's that's!.

M

Something that we could debate at length as well. So what the question was that.

M

Once you have put those proposals of yours on the table and they've been.

M

Considered thoughtfully considered by the transportation experts and let's.

M

Just hypothetically say that they were it's the first question: I've asked all.

C

Day, yes, george, nobody bothered you like, I don't get it. Okay,.

C

Hauser holiday, we have to keep moving. Thank you chair of a lot of time. Thank.

J

You for speaking to us, you talked about the issues around the gathering of the.

J

Information about the sentiment of businesses council before I think I.

J

Proposed a clerk survey and people looked at me like I was crazy.

J

Do you have any suggestions on how we could go and gather that data.

J

Independently, because that was the assert asian is that it's not.

J

Independent and even if it's true or not people's feelings about that are.

J

Important to their confidence, are you saying like what who do you hire kind of.

P

Thing or how could we do it? We just really need four. We would just like for questions asked your business up or down by what percent.

P

Have you hired or fired by what percent? So if I told you that we we could get.

J

The clerk's to do that, for I don't know, on dollar fifty a survey or a ballot and.

J

I don't know whether five hundred businesses down the street on a million dollar project. I don't think it would be that hard. I don't know if it's worth it.

P

No, I don't know you know it's sort of like the time has passed. I think I think.

T

In terms of getting a survey done of businesses, it would have been nice to.

T

Have done it, you could either do it going into businesses with one of us to.

T

Ask the business the problem along bloor street you have to understand is there's.

T

Some small businesses, like I like us, I'm a little bigger than than these two.

T

Because they don't work out of the out of my business, but a lot of them are franchises, a lot of other bigger corporate stores. So it's hard to get.

T

That data from them, but what, in our experience in doing our survey, it's.

T

Really about the owners going into the business because anytime, someone comes.

T

Into the business you're just like forget it right and- and I think the.

T

Questions you got to understand for us is that the questions the tcat asked I.

T

Don't know if any of you have been able to look at their quiet house here just.

O

To kind of illustrate we got, am I I got 50 seconds right. Can you tell me a.

J

Little bit about the changes because you're the only businesses, I think that.

J

Have being here today, other than the bia is like the only independence that have.

J

Come and forgive me if there was others, but I I you're saying about the the.

J

Behavior of the cyclists on the road and is it, would you see it's a thoroughfare.

J

Like it was reported in the news, are they stopping not stopping? Okay, the.

J

Report says a thousand of them came over from the harper lanes on to bloor. Do you.

J

Think the sales are down on harvard, maybe because of that or I don't know.

T

The economists, the senate around it it's not it's not about cyclists, coming into.

T

You know to shop in our places and whether they're stopping and robbed.

T

There most of them most of it, is used as a commute. That's what it's mostly used.

T

That as to it's a commute and during the commute, we believe that.

T

There's a competitive advantage to cycling rather than driving. It makes.

T

Sense to us it may not it. We just believe that one person in a car driving.

T

To work parking getting in their car driving home should should not have any more rights than the same person who cycles.

T

And in fact, if you cycle it's it's a better way of getting there so we're.

T

We're not about criticizing the cycling and we're not about being anti bike or.

T

Whether they, you know, increase our business or not, I mean most of the.

T

Business is down, but that's fine. We want cycling in the city, but what we want is.

T

To be heard, and if our business is down, we want some help from from from counsel.

T

And not not have every report come to us and say that your business is up your.

T

Business is up your business is. It reminds me of the adage of advertising.

T

Where 50% of advertising works, you just don't know which 50%, but you know it.

T

Works, cuz sales are up in this circumstance. All we get is everything.

T

Tells us our business is up except not who looks at our business. It's just it's.

T

Unfair and it's not the right way that it should have been conducted, and we.

T

Should have been heard and we should have been and we should be, we should be.

T

Discussing our issues and our ideas not 10 hours before you're, about to vote on.

T

A on a proposal this should have been a done months ago and our local bia knew.

T

Our local councillor knew the mayor, knew and, and still we're here today, making a.

T

Deputation, so it's very frustrating for us. We like cycling, we like bikes, we want.

T

The safety for cyclists- that's not what this is about. This is about being heard.

T

And saying, is there a middle path? Is there a way we can change this for.

T

Everyone, and and no one wants to talk. I want to take back saying it's not worth.

P

It because I think if we had, if maybe if we did have the numbers, you could go.

P

Back in five years and say: what's your business now and then people other.

P

Business communities looking at what will happen to your bike when bike lanes.

P

Are introduced you could say for the first year. It might not be so good for.

P

The first two years, but we've done the study and it was a numbers.

P

Study and in five years business got better because because the changes they.

P

Got used to the changes, but right now we don't have. We don't have the monetary.

P

Data to go back not to we have how many people came into your store. How did you.

P

Get to work today, okay, I guess I've got some questions. I'd like to ask you so.

C

I'm struggling with a little bit of this manera is a is very well known as a big.

C

Retail outlet operator- that's not my impression of the.

C

Streetscape, it's more on ma, pawnshops! It's a mix, it's eclectic, but was this.

C

The right choice, I think that if I think the right choice was what they were.

T

Trying to do is substantiate that sales had gone up by looking at credit cards.

T

They were desperate as they realized that the tcat study was so false and had.

T

No direct questions to sales that they had to look at other information, so they.

T

Quickly, looked around and paid money to maneras, who was also the city of.

T

Toronto's credit card processor, and so what they came back with you could have.

T

Maybe you could have gone to chase, you could have come to first daddy, you could have gone to any one. Probably the numbers would have been the same. It's.

T

The formula it's the formula: it has nothing to do with who got the.

T

Information, it's the formula just to be clear. It somebody said it was 30% of.

C

Blur street that is actually not accurate. That is not true. No one knows.

C

Nobody, no one knows. Oh, I don't want to mislead the committee yeah to think that.

C

It was 30% because it absolutely was not 30% also, they were supposed to be.

C

Walking door-to-door a merchant survey and yet in the report it doesn't.

C

Indicate how many of those there were? Are you aware of that happening and how.

C

Many people have that door-to-door merchant survey.

O

Can I just speak to that, actually, um I'm actually in a unique position in that I.

O

Have got location both in the pilot area and in the control area. At my danforth.

O

Location, so that's the control area survey takers actually attributed.

O

Answers to my store manager that she didn't give I want to just have.

O

Everybody hear that she that my my store manager was told she had given answers.

O

That no one in my company gave any answers at my danforth location and yet.

O

Tcat attributed answers to her and and the chair, the the lead person on the.

O

Study knows about this, and nothing was no steps were ever taken to get to the.

O

Bottom of what happened I was told I could retake the survey, but I mean.

O

That's not that just really throws some holes in the data collection process so.

O

I forget your actual question. I another do something. Was there walk-ins, there's.

C

No in the reward, so I can tell you I, the number of the I'd like to know how many.

C

Door-To-Door merchant surveys were conducted. Yes, we wanted every door to.

C

Have a survey every every single business to be have some type of.

C

Interaction, I believe, there's some information of that in the report, but I.

O

Don't have it no, there isn't there's no number there. Okay,.

C

The ice mentioned this earlier to the chair of the annex bia. But when, when a.

C

Corporation, does a survey or a study they're often mocked when they pay for.

C

It what what my question is here is what a lot of people I think are struggling.

C

With is that there was two bodies that did a lot of this legwork on the study.

C

That were vested parties, they came and they spoke at the piaac meeting, where we.

C

Debated going forward with the pilot had spoke in favor of the bike lanes and.

C

Then they were enlisted to actually do the study that just doesn't sit right.

C

With a lot of people, so could you speak to that? Definitely I'm during the time.

O

To at least in 2016, I know that at least two of there were at least two rallies.

O

If you want to call them pro pro bike lane rallies business me, bike lanes mean.

O

Business on bloor street I've got the I got this all at home and and why.

O

Business why bike lanes are good for business? They had made up their minds essentially in 2016 before any kind of study resulted comment come to about.

O

Come to come to be published that that these.

O

Were gonna be good for business and they were going to do whatever they needed to do. It seems to to establish that, furthermore, the the the bia.

O

Essentially, just gave a platform and a budget to a special interest group to an.

O

Activist group to propel their their mission statement, which is very clear on.

O

Any there any of their websites any other literature for the more. I think.

O

The reason they ask such questions about how merchants got to work that day, which.

O

Has obviously nothing to do with their sales or the economic impact? I believe.

O

That they were doing that so that they could promote this idea. That merchants.

O

Are predominantly drive, their cars are gas guzzling anti progressives, which of.

O

Course is completely untrue. Ok, my times up is there any other questions seeing.

C

None we're gonna move on to the next speaker, so just to be clear. We're gonna, cross off 47 barry alper we're crossing off.

C

Miranda block yep, 48, 49, 51; okay, these 656 number 60.

C

So all those individuals weren't able to stay yes. Well, that's unfortunate. Okay,.

C

Well, thank you for telling us you very much alright, so I believe, if I'm not.

C

Wrong we're on number 53 heather kelly heather welcome just want to make sure.

E

That the people that weren't able to stay that this group actually represented their voice, is that accurate, it's accurate, okay! Thank you. I just.

E

Wanted to make sure that the people that didn't show that this voice, that we.

E

Heard represents all the people that had to leave, and he said yes.

F

Thank you, my name is heather kelly and I am the founder and director of the blur.

F

Street culture corridor, as well as the director of marketing for the royal.

F

Conservatory of music sconce arts division, which is turner hall and two.

F

Other music venues on bloor street west I'm here to express continued support.

F

For the bloor street bike lanes, we've seen the project implemented over the.

F

Last year and we'd like to see the bloor street bike lanes made permanent and.

F

Continue to evolve and be improved. I do believe that bike lanes in our city are.

F

An essential element in developing toronto's safety, accessibility.

F

Affordability and prosperity. The city has now increased. The number of people.

F

Cycling along bloor street by more than 50 percent. This is incredible. The pilot.

F

Project the official city of toronto, evaluation of the pilot project also.

F

Does document a reduction in collisions and conflicts that motorists cyclists.

F

And pedestrians all feel significantly safer that businesses reported growth in.

F

The number of customers and that the visitors are coming to more often to.

F

Blur street these are all indications of success, of the pilot project and they're.

F

Good news for the 10-year cycling network plan for the city of toronto's.

F

Vision, zero road safety plan and for the cycling infrastructure network. That's.

F

Detailed throughout the teo core proposed downtown plan, and it's good for.

F

Our local culture destinations the blur street culture corridor is toronto's.

F

Most diverse arts and culture district located along blur street west between.

F

Bathurst and yonge streets, its multi-organizational multidisciplinary.

F

And multicultural: it's a consortium of 19 arts and cultural organisations that.

F

Attracts more than 3 million attendees at our destinations per year and our.

F

Organizations employ more than 5,500 culture workers, our organizations.

F

Started to notice an increase in the number of people coming to arts and.

F

Culture, events by bicycle and a significant percentage of our employees.

F

Are cyclists both as their primary mode of transportation, both seasonal and.

F

Year-Round, I do have some quotes from a few of our employees and management that.

F

I'm actually going to skip over in the interests of time, but I would like to.

F

Note that their key points in their quotes are first and foremost about.

F

Feeling safer in their daily commute to and from work on, the blurr street.

F

Culture corridor, as well as health benefits, seeing attendees at our culture.

F

Events coming by bike transportation issues, environmental issues also.

F

Touching on tourism, livability and other and navigation of our city, we know that.

F

There's issues to address and improvements to be made continued.

F

Incremental improvements to a permanent bike lane on bloor street should address.

F

These and should address these issues. The solution is not to set the city back.

F

By moving bike lanes, we'd like to see the city, please move forward with.

F

Permanent bike lanes on bloor street and continue with the forward evolution and.

F

Improvements, thank you. Thank you. I just wondered again because I haven't heard.

F

Of this organization, your, what is the name of the organization and well the.

F

Bloor street culture corridor: okay, we're a partnership consortium between.

F

Nineteen arts and cultural organizations on bloor street west- oh, we can name them.

F

If you'd like, but you could name a few, that we might know sure everything from.

F

The hot dogs head roger cinema to the royal conservatory of music to the royal.

F

Ontario museum, the gardner museum, the baddest shoe museum, the instituto.

F

Italiano de cultura, the native canadian center of toronto ally ostracize to.

F

Toronto, the miles nadal jewish community center.

F

Tafel music 9:18 bath, our center for media arts and creativity, the randolph.

F

Center for the arts, a different booklist cultural center, which is african and.

F

Caribbean, the museum of estonians abroad, a virtual reference library and the.

F

Japan foundation of toronto and sound streams- and I really hope I haven't.

F

Forgotten anybody wow, but that's our consortium. Yes, so those.

F

Are major cultural institutions and your organization has officially discussed.

F

And endorsed and are coming forward today to say continue the lanes yes and.

F

The reasons you gave mostly were about safety, increased bicycle use and your.

F

Employees, yes, both employees and attendees. We have both interests in the.

F

Safety and transportation options for more than 5,000 employees that are.

F

Cultural organizations- and we also have an interest in people coming to the.

F

Neighborhood, more often spending more time and more money at culture.

F

Institutions at businesses in the neighborhood and that cultivation of.

F

Attendance at all of the different kinds of elements of the ecosystem of the.

F

Neighborhood so just to confirm this is the official position of your.

F

Organization, thank you hi there, I'm sarah and my son tom. I was.

L

Just hearing what the businesses were saying, these businesses were saying and.

L

I just wanted to say I I shop at gregg's, I go to fresh and I was just talking to.

L

Them and saying we absolutely want to work together. People who bike people who.

L

Walk people who take transit so any if business has a concern. That's my concern.

L

Too, because I love bloor street and I love the businesses on bloor, so we all.

L

Want that, but I came today primarily because of my eight-year-old son and he.

L

Is the reason that I support the bike lane being made permanent? We travel from.

L

Our home in st. clair west to the businesses on bloor and we traveled by.

L

Bike, we also go through blower to get to other destinations when, if we're on.

L

Bloor and there's no separated lane there's nowhere safe for my son. I can.

L

Ride anywhere, I'm a comfortable cyclist, but he cannot so when you're, considering.

L

It and I know it, everyone has different opinions and it were a diverse city with.

L

A lot of different opinions, so I appreciate your listening to everybody.

L

Including myself, but when you're saying to me and to other parents with children.

L

Is either if you're not going to give us a lane on bloor street, that's safe for.

L

Him to cycle on so you're either, then you would be saying he should ride his.

L

Bike on the sidewalk which people don't want, or I should get a car and drive and.

L

Take away other people's parking spots or be in front of you on the lane on.

L

Bloor street or we should stay home so to me those three aren't viable options.

L

For us as citizens- and I think we need to have our streets be safe, so our.

L

Children can bike ride and get around and not have their lives at risk. So I'm.

L

Here to ask you to please keep the bike lane. Thank you. I and.

L

Design improvements sure all the way, but let's keep the lane. Let's keep him safe.

F

Actually, I was going to ask if tom wanted to say anything about cycling and.

F

Whether or not he likes to cycle- and he has any ideas about cycling on bloor.

F

Street tell the machine, and do you prefer it where there's a lane.

L

Do you like the sidewalk better or do you like a bike lane better and why do.

F

You, like the bike lane better yeah, you crash into signs on the sidewalk and.

F

Other people sometimes doing yeah. Ok. Thank you very much.

F

Thanks for your time there any other questions from members of the committee.

J

J

Is vanessa hertz here I've been, I so.

J

Welcome you have three minutes. Ok, so, as stated, my name is vanessa and I.

Q

Work for a company called bike. Oh, as some of you may have heard bike, it was a.

Q

Mobile app that partners up with local businesses to reward cyclists for every.

Q

Kilometer that they pedal doing this in the belief that positively rewarding.

Q

Those who choose to leave their cars at home will have measurable impacts for.

Q

Not only the environment but the mobility of congested cities and the.

Q

Health of those who live there as more and more urbanites are choosing to stay.

Q

In the city center, active transportation of course needs to continue to be a.

Q

Primary folk of city planners and engineers, which includes the implementation of bike lanes, this city, is undergoing tremendous.

Q

Change in terms of active transportation and the mindsets around it, and while.

Q

Change isn't always easy. It is necessary encouraging people to ride bikes, not.

Q

Only gets everyone moving around more easily, but again it reduces pollution.

Q

While encouraging a healthy lifestyle, cyclists in toronto have been.

Q

Historically, underrepresented and the popularity of the blur lane has concrete.

Q

Evidence that we are here- and we continue to contribute to the multimodal.

Q

Nature of the city. We know that without a doubt, protected bike lanes are the.

Q

Only thing that get more people comfortable riding bikes- this is.

Q

Reflected in the most recent study put forth by the city, showing a 25% increase.

Q

Of new riders on bloor street and an overall usage increase, the 49% through.

Q

Our own data analysis bike, jose both able to fully support this finding and.

Q

In fact, we found that more bike, o trips have been recorded on blur street than.

Q

Any other street in toronto. There are so few bike lanes that are built on.

Q

Destination streets that putting a bike lane on a street light floor where.

Q

People are ending trips and not just biking by is monumental, making a move.

Q

Like this shows that toronto is the world-class city, it is often thought to.

Q

Be and making these bike lanes permanent shows that the city is taking a stand.

Q

Making active transportation a priority and not just funneling cyclists onto.

Q

Side, roads outside of optics alone, these lanes onblur critical to completing the.

Q

Cycling network plan joining the other projects that are currently under.

Q

Revision, if we want to make vision, zero or reality, we need to be keeping and.

Q

Implementing more protected bike lanes, not removing them, as reported by the.

Q

City, however debatable it is today, the businesses on bloor have not been.

Q

Affected in the negative way that had been anticipated and in fact many.

Q

Businesses have seen an increase in sales bico plans to work to support these businesses by bringing cyclists to their.

Q

Stores and breaking down the age-old assumption that people don't bike to.

Q

Shop, our partnerships already around the city prove that the shift in mentality.

Q

Is becoming a reality bikes to bring business? In fact, cyclists are even more.

Q

Likely to make discretionary trips than those in a car, so while these bike lanes may not have proven their worth to everyone here,.

Q

Today, they demonstrate a huge step into the future for the city of toronto. In.

Q

Summary we fully support making the bloor street bike lanes permanent. Thank.

J

You from visiting councillors, members of the committee councillor m'lady, you're,.

E

An advocate- and I and I can I get that what you're an advocate advocate before.

E

The bike lanes and I get that we've had some businesses as much as you.

E

May or may not believe them say that their business has dropped and that.

E

Nobody has really consulted with them. You think that there would be any harm.

E

At all, for us to give them an opportunity to be consulted to talk.

E

About their ideas and to bring it back here so so, do you think we should.

E

Implement this right away, or do you think everybody should be consulted and.

E

Maybe do this next month. I know. I absolutely think that they should be.

Q

Consulted and we've actually partnered with some of those businesses that that.

Q

Were here today speaking so, you know, while change does take time to be.

Q

Adopted, obviously, there's going to be a traffic flow change on bloor street and.

Q

People are gonna have to maybe find new ways to get to where they were going.

Q

Whether they're on car or or by bike, those changes just take time to get used.

Q

To and while a year is, is this efficient pyatt is you know a sufficient pilot.

Q

It's not representative of of that behavior, but it's worth it to take a.

E

Step back of breath of fresh air consult with everybody and then come back after.

E

Yeah, that's that's! Definitely not what I'm saying, I'm not suggesting that.

E

Anyone else be consulted, no, they can continue to be consulted as the project.

Q

Evolves for sure, but even as these businesses that were here questioning if.

Q

I may the use of the lanes they still fully.

Q

Support it, so, yes, we can, we can evolve and the project can change as as no they.

E

Didn't say that they didn't know they didn't. They said they support bike lanes.

E

And they gave some some options for themselves that were not listened to by.

E

Staff or consultants or anyone, they said that if it's between these bike lanes.

Q

And no bike lanes, they choose these. No, they said that they want an opportunity.

E

To talk to someone, what did we just say that you keep it to questions if you.

J

Could and threw the chair? No, it's just that he's interrupting it continually.

E

Does it you interrupted me, I asked one questioning of supports. Imagine me I'll.

M

Go through, he asked he's just going back and forth department think she.

M

Understood another: let's move on, he can ask the question 100 different ways: he's.

M

Gonna get the same answer: councillor m'lady, please ask the question, but in.

J

The form of a question, I think you just kind underst.

E

We didn't understand, I guess the same way. I had understood that the group.

E

Wanted to be consulted wanted an opportunity to give their their.

E

Particular view to the city, and they wanted an opportunity to do that before.

E

Council dealt with it, that's not what you heard. You heard that they wanted it.

E

If I claimed the way it was go ahead and I'm unsure of fully how to.

Q

Answer that, because I think it touches on a few different points: it's okay! They.

Q

Asked question: yes: okay, thank you. um If I may, as long as it's an answer to.

J

The question: okay: would you would you like to ask a question.

J

Councillor permits, um so so what you understood, I think what I understood was.

M

That they would like to have some other options considered, but at the end of the.

M

Day, if it's bike lanes like this or no bike lanes.

M

Back to no bike lanes, they prefer the bike lanes. That's what they said. Correct.

Q

That is what I took for free, thank you and, and one last point I may I heard you.

Q

Earlier questioning the validity of the studies on bloor yeah, I like through.

Q

Usage, so just answer the question, though yeah. Thank you. I have a. I have a.

J

Question I'd like to ask you actually, madam chair, I wondered if you wanted to.

J

Take the chair just go ahead. All right, so biko is an app that you represent.

Q

Right, yes, I'm their market man and I thought I heard that works on the.

J

Principle of you log kilometres or travel time, yeah have you ever.

J

Considered sharing the data with the city? Yes, so that's to the point I was.

Q

Just hoping to make one of the great things that we're doing is collecting.

Q

The gps trip data right. We have been chatting with members of your urban.

Q

Planning department, through sharing that that information to help make informed.

Q

Infrastructure decisions- one of the things you mentioned- is there's a reward.

J

System when you log kilometres and although the debate is not alive, it may.

J

Come back another day when I proposed licensing cyclists, one of the things I.

J

Asked people to look at is: can you get an app and can that app work in a way.

J

That, maybe once you install and and log some kilometers, the the cost goes away.

J

Or there's some kind of reward? Do you think the system that you've got could.

J

Interface with that kind of an idea or be support of that kind of an idea, yeah.

Q

So that's a great benefit to working in technology. Is there there are lots of.

Q

Opportunities and options to co-create programs, a discussion that I had with a.

Q

Representative of aviva insurance at the beginning in the summer was something.

Q

Along these lines again, I don't want to say that I'm for or against licensing.

Q

Bicycles, but it's fine, definitely yeah we're lucky to I'm lucky to work in.

Q

Technology where things are but the technology you have can support that.

J

Kind of an idea by the sounds of it I mean you're rewarding with businesses.

J

But you could okay, all right, you know thinks that helpful yeah, any other questions from the committee. Thank you for coming jared.

J

Kolb you're next welcome. How do you think you know you've.

J

Got three minutes thanks very much. My name is jared kolb and I'm executive.

R

Director of cycle toronto and I'm pleased to be here in front of the.

R

Committee, thanks to the committee for your time today, this has been a long.

R

Session and thanks to staff, I also want to thank staff for a very impressive.

R

Report that has outlined a variety of the metrics that I think we need to use.

R

To judge the success of this bike lane, we know this bike lane is working, but I.

R

Want to inch, I want to underscore with this committee that really you need to.

R

From our perspective, see this as three top ways to analyze the effectiveness of.

R

These lanes the first regards safety. What we know is that from the report is.

R

That, thanks to the blue street bike lanes, near-miss collisions are down by.

R

Nearly 44 percent and that's over the course of a ten month period. We have.

R

Heard from the the recent deputies advocating for on a hov lane for.

R

Cyclists and what an hov lane for cyclists looks like is this in.

R

Particular on spadina, these are sharrows. This is not a form of.

R

Bicycle infrastructure that cities that are trying to design safe, cycling.

R

Networks build in the 21st century when we want to build bike lanes, we build.

R

Protected bike lanes- and that is essential from our perspective- we're going to move forward with bloor. There are.

R

Improvements that need to be made- and I think the cycling community recognizes.

R

That as much as the business community does but to move forward, we need to move.

R

Forward in a way that looks more like this, the lanes on laurier avenue in.

R

Ottawa there's significant analysis that these lanes have have come back to the city that have demonstrated that collisions.

R

On laurier avenue are down significantly thanks to.

R

Truly protected bike lanes, so please remember: sharrows are not cycling.

R

Infrastructure, protected bike lanes are the gold standard and that's where we.

R

Need to go in this city I'll also note ridership, that's the second area where.

R

We need to focus. We know that, thanks to the bike lanes,.

R

Ridership is up over that ten month period by 49% percentages mean what that.

R

Means that we're over five thousand cyclists per day by june, that's ten.

R

Months in by september, thanks to bells on bloor, we know that those counts are.

R

Now, between 62 and 67 hundred we're near that is a doubling which is an.

R

Impressive feat: we are getting torontonians moving. The third thing I.

R

Want to note- and that is to analyze this report rick is the third piece is the.

R

Economics we know that the ontario association of bi 1/2 b, ias have.

R

Specifically recommended against the style of consultation that that the.

R

Anacs bike business alliance is proposing. There is far too much bias.

R

That is allows the and the methodology that was used in the study was used by.

R

The city of calgary and analyzing their cycle track network to move forward on.

R

This analyzed safety, ridership and economics and let's build bike lanes on.

R

Bloor, let's make them permanent and let's expand them. Thank you very much.

R

Jared, were you surprised at the results you've seen in the report based on a.

B

One-Year pilot you know considering that the bike lanes were installed in in.

R

August and that the data points, the final data points when we're talking.

R

About ridership or from june, and that we've seen such a significant increase.

R

In that small amount of time, I think that is really telling when we look at.

R

Richmond and adelaide, which in 2014 there were bike lanes, of course,.

R

Installed on richmond and adelaide before the lanes were in, there were.

R

About a thousand cyclists using them per day, the two streets 500 in each.

R

Direction lanes were installed that summer by 2015, that number had increased.

R

To three thousand cyclists per day in 2015, thanks to the guidance of this.

R

Committee, we expanded those lanes to parliament and by 2016 that number.

R

Was up to 6500 cyclists per day? This is a 3.3 kilometre stretch, we're talking.

R

About on richmond and adelaide, and to see the growth and explosion of that is.

R

Incredible so I think that the numbers we're seeing here are really impressive.

B

To 21st century cities tear-out bike lanes; um no, no, they don't they build.

R

More of them and they build complete networks of protected bike lanes, yeah.

B

There's some talk that the data collected isn't enough, that this should.

B

Be deferred, what would be the impact, as you see it, a bit deferral if that were.

B

To happen I mean, I guess, the 50 or so deputies that have been here today.

R

Mothers seniors children, you know students, doctors would all have to come.

R

Back to tell you again why once again, why they support these lanes so be a.

R

Huge suck on everyone's time, what's more, though, is that we will lose.

R

Precious time that city staff are have to move forward with designing a, I think.

R

A really impressive and quality cycle track protected bike lane that can help.

R

To address some of the concerns that the cycling community has had, and some of.

R

The concerns that the business community's had yes, just as a last.

B

Question a lot of the debate today and the questioning has troubled me because.

B

In reading the report, I would have thought we should be debating about how.

B

Far to extend them not whether to keep them what's the position, a cycle, toronto.

B

On that yeah, I think that it in terms of the corridor in the city. You know the.

R

The 10-year cycling network plan noted bluer and danforth as key cycling.

R

Corridors- and you know, I think that we've heard from people right a clot.

R

Across the political spectrum that say, we need to move forward with this.

R

Campaign research did a poll in september indicating that citywide 57%.

R

Of torontonians want to see the blue lanes approved in june. Angus reid did a.

R

Poll is that 69% of the city wanted to see these lanes approved. I mean enough.

R

Is enough, let's get this done, let's move on and let's keep working on building.

R

Toronto's minimum grid.

F

Thank you jared. He started to answer what my question was going to be and.

F

That is public opinion and I wondered if you could share any other information.

F

About public opinion, particularly, what was what the results.

F

Were related to the lord lane, in particular sure yeah, the city staff.

R

Report notes that, in terms of motorists before the bike lanes, fourteen percent.

R

Of respondents reported feeling comfortable driving next to cyclists on bloor, compared with 66 percent afterwards, so motorists feel more.

R

Comfortable since the bike lanes have been installed cyclists, this is no surprise. Eighty-Five percent of cyclists say they.

R

Feel more comfortable riding a bicycle on bloor. They say it's very safe versus.

R

Three percent before the installation and pedestrians 86 percent say that.

R

Those surveyed say that they feel a better or they feel better or the same.

R

As before, in terms of citywide, I'm listening, thank you. Thank you.

R

In terms of citywide support, we've got a break down from the angus reed poll that.

R

Was done and we we know, I'm gonna just pull it up for you. What we found was.

R

That I'll just put it up on the screen, so we found that the youngest reed poll.

R

That surveyed 802 torontonians, equally distributed across the city, found that.

R

57% of residents of etobicoke wanted to keep the bloor bike lanes 69% of north.

R

York residents wanted to keep the bike lanes 70% of east york. How many percent.

R

Of east york and 75% downtown, so I think the consensus is clear. We need.

F

So, on that note, speaking of east york and the east end.

F

Of the city you've been doing some outreach on the danforth indeed, and.

F

What's your sense from talking to businesses and people on the east end as.

F

You know the corridor study was supposed to be reported on with recommendations.

F

In this report, it's not and I'm wondering what you might like to say.

F

About the east end yeah, you know, I think that when, when we're talking about.

R

Danforth we're really looking at and a when we're.

R

Talking to businesses to which is something that cycle dharana does often.

R

Business is there's, there's many businesses that are in favor of the.

R

Lands and bringing lanes to danforth there are others that have concerns and.

R

There are others that are opposed, we're not going to be able to make everyone happy in the business community. But I think that what the what the stats.

R

Demonstrate what studies have demonstrated is that over time, bicycle.

R

Lanes are good for business and they create a more economically I'd, say you.

R

Know prosperous part of the city in vancouver in 2011 the downtown vancouver.

R

Bia came out in opposition to their downtown cycle track network flat out.

R

Opposition, the city moved ahead by 20, but five years later by 2016, they had.

R

Reversed that position- and they have fully embraced a network of cycle tracks.

R

In the downtown of vancouver and the primary reason for that is because it is.

R

Good for business, it took a little time, but it demonstrated it to itself. Thank.

J

C

To continue from councilor holiday, all in favor that carries sorry, I think I'll.

J

Be quick, I understand who you represent in your position on cycling in the city.

J

But I wanted to know if you had any concerns if the pilot was extended.

J

Across bloor street about the cumulative cumulative effect of delay on motor.

J

Vehicles and what that might do, because, looking at something in a segment, is.

J

Much different than looking at something as a whole, so that's a that's a good.

R

Question so what we saw from the bloor pilot was that the number of motor.

R

Vehicles using the corridor declined from 24,000 down to 20,000 yeah, the.

R

Parallel routes of dupont and harvard absorbed about half of that so about.

R

2000 there's another 2,000 vehicles that are unaccounted for.

R

Those could be on side streets, those could be people who have switched to biking. Those are people that could be of switch to transit.

R

Well. We've. Seen, though, is that there is a small delay that city staff worked.

R

Hard actually to cut down to two minutes in the in the morning and four minutes.

R

In the evening- and I think that this is something that we certainly need to.

R

Study as we move forward, but as we continue to embrace and and really to.

R

Invest in our cycling network, I think what we'll see is an evening out over.

R

Time people will choose other options and they will whether it's biking or.

R

Transit or other routes- and I think we do need to send a strong signal on that.

J

But you didn't answer the cumulative effect. Are you not concerned, though, that.

J

Motor vehicles will still continue to use these routes, and, if that delayed.

J

Across a larger segment of bloor becomes 10 20 30 minutes. Is that not a problem? I.

R

Mean I would I don't think that we'd see a delay like that councilor. I, in terms.

R

Of the work that other jurisdictions have done, we haven't seen 30 minute.

R

Delays thanks to bike lanes. What we have seen are small delays and so from the.

R

Literature, I think it's actually quite clear.

R

Of course, our city city staff will be empowered, would be empowered to.

R

Investigate that into it analyze it, which is really important.

J

There's motor vehicle delay figure anywhere in the calculus of your group.

J

Deciding whether or not to support a project such as this, is it evaluated and.

J

If it is, how do you measure the threshold at which you could accept a.

J

More turrican vehicle delay versus no doing yeah, so in 2012 we adopted a.

R

Position to support building separated bicycle lanes on harvard street and we.

R

At the time were we were petitioning, you know we were generating signatures.

R

Around city staff did some great work on that they came back and they said that.

R

From within the corridor between ossington and st. george, the the delay.

R

To travel time for cyclists, as well as for motorists, would be opted by in the.

R

Order of magnitude of 8 to 10 minutes, and we didn't think that that was.

R

Appropriate and so we changed our position and we said that you know.

R

Harvard is not the ideal place for separated bicycle lanes, so I think that.

R

Is we are evidence-based and I think that's an important part of the.

R

Discussion, so what is your? What is your game plan? What would you really like to.

C

See happen in the city, would you like to see separated cycle tracks on every.

C

Street, what what is your big picture vision for toronto? Would you love to see.

C

It everywhere for cycle toronto. Our position is: is we really supportive of.

R

The ten year cycling network plan and in building that out that was adopted by.

R

City council last june, within that there are separated bicycle lanes identified.

R

For study on a variety of corridors, from our perspective, we do need to invest in.

R

Big gestures to help encourage people to feel safe, riding on our streets, and you.

R

Know the middle path that was advocated by the bloor bike, annex alliance, that is.

R

Not an approach that is safe for for parents, for children, for seniors, for.

R

Common people who want to ride sure the kamikazes are going to.

R

Of those lanes, they're gonna ride every anywhere that 1% always does. But if we.

R

Want to be serious about investing in getting toronto moving by bike and.

R

Encouraging people giving them options where we are building all ages and.

R

Abilities infrastructure we've got to commit to safe, protected lanes, which I.

R

Know the chair. Okay, so did you know it's really not very highlighted in the.

C

Report but there was a their husband, near-miss collisions conflicts, I'll call.

C

Them to use the proper terminology between pedestrians and cyclists, so.

C

Those are up, those are up by 61 percent, since the lanes have been put in what.

C

Can cycle toronto do to address that conflict between, because that really.

C

Concerns me and I'm sure you too, so what can you do to help us with that.

C

Yes, I think that's that's a real. You know an important point, something that I.

R

Highlighted when I was reading through the report, I think that, in terms of the.

R

Sight lines there is a design aspect to this. The sight lines are a concern and.

R

That that is something that I think, that empowering city staff to study it and to.

R

Come back with a permanent design that helps to ameliorate, that is a really.

R

Important step, I also think that cyclotron tow can help to play a role in.

R

That as well and encouraging people who are using the corridor to ensure that.

R

They're, I'm slowing down using you, know, good cycling, etiquette passing. You know.

R

Other cyclists, by using their bell and by you, know, honoring, I think, on our.

R

Streets that are most vulnerable are our pedestrians, so I think there's messaging.

R

That we can help with that. I just want to also note that those laurier bike.

R

Lanes that I mentioned they were studied, there was a four year, pre and 4-year.

R

Post collision analysis that went along with those separated cycle tracks and.

R

What they found was is that, while the cyclists, these are pedestrian, collisions.

R

The bars on the left, the the first in the third bar, are motor vehicle.

R

Pedestrian collisions, the second are cyclist, pedestrian collisions and what.

R

We've seen on those lanes is a significant reduction in the number of.

R

Collisions between motor vehicles and pedestrians, there's a slight increase.

R

From cyclists and pedestrians typically cyclists, you know there.

R

They're slower moving vehicle, the kinds of collisions they're, not generating ks.

R

Is but I think it's important to note that when we do have a long term view.

R

What we're seeing is across the literature from other cities, a reduction.

C

This is the photo he showed. This is a this best practice. She showed this graph.

C

Is really nicely and then it's just quickly lost. I didn't catch everything.

C

You were saying councilor holiday, about dupont versus blower cuz. I think a lot of people said that to me I'm sorry not dupont harboured, but also.

C

Dupont right is north off, so a lot of people have said to me: I guess the.

C

Original ea was between blurring and dupont north and harvard, if you really.

C

Buff those up and made them bigger people have said why not those options.

C

Versus bloor, what's your answer to that I'd say two things in particular: one is.

R

That harvard doesn't offer the connectivity options that bloor does and.

R

In terms of you know, the harvard bike lanes end ossington and your options are.

R

Nil you're effectively stranded and that's a really important point on bloor.

R

There are far more options and in terms of studying expansion, that's a into the.

R

West is an important piece to that equation and the other piece around it.

R

Is that, in terms of traffic diversion what I would the point I was making.

R

Councilor was that motor vehicles have been diverted to a small degree. The.

R

4,000 that have been diverted 2,000 of them have gone to harvard or dupont. Okay,.

C

So that's: okay, yeah! I was aware of that. Okay, thank you very much. I think you're.

C

Our last speaker, okay, you're, the the final act, rock and roll.

C

Thank you before we proceed to the in committee portion. I just want to thank.

C

All the the deputies for their excellent presentations today and their patience.

C

It's 20 after 6:00 we've been at this since 9:30 so and they do want to ask. I.

C

Think the committee members who have been sitting in their chairs all day as.

C

Well so now we're moving to questions of staff and then we'll move to speakers.

C

And then the final vote. This is our last item of the day. We don't have any items.

C

After this, so the next portion is very important, because this is where how we.

C

Determine how we, how we vote on this issue so we'll start with.

C

Questions it is five minutes yeah. So yes, because a lot of people, people have a.

C

Lot of questions right, and so we've been waiting for this these moments, so we're.

C

Gonna set the clock for five and start with councillor krusty. Thank you, chair.

B

So I guess to the general manager of transportation services is: has this been.

B

One of the most comprehensively evaluated transportation studies for.

B

Cycling, infrastructure or any project in that matter in recent history through.

A

You, yes, it is in my experience, so this is in the city of toronto. One of the.

B

Most comprehensively study projects we have ever undertaken absolutely and I.

A

Would say in north america, in north america, in the results I've read the.

B

Report in detail and we've spoken cycling is up. Is this one of the largest.

B

Used cycling, corridors or lanes in the entire city.

B

Through you, it's number two in the city. Now it's been a significant increase and.

A

It's now the second highest used cycling facility in the city. So when a one-year.

B

Pilot, it already has become the second most popular bike lane in the entire city. Does that surprise you that that level.

B

Of increase took place in one year through. You doesn't surprise me. I think.

A

It's a really strong increase. I have seen in other places that the increase.

A

In cycling with this type of infrastructure is typically pretty.

A

Significant, so I think it's a it's a great and strong testament to people.

A

Feeling safe using those lanes now you just mentioned the word safe there. One.

B

Of the objectives we've always talked about in this project and and in all.

B

Projects is to make our streets safer in your professional estimation as the bike.

B

Lane on bloor made the street safer through you. As you know, we don't have a.

A

Fulsome collision analysis yet, but in terms of people feeling safe from what.

A

We heard from the surveys from the separation that is afforded from the.

A

Predictability of where cyclists would be located, I think, by all of those.

A

Measures and probably some that I'm not thinking about it, is certainly a safer.

A

Facility, then not having a separated lane. So in.

B

Your professional estimation it's safer can I go to some of the data. The.

B

Qualitative data we've got back based on the surveys.

B

What percentage of cyclists now feel safe, safer riding on bloor compared to.

B

2015 before the installation, true chair before the installation, 3% of cyclists,.

K

Felt safe riding bloor street and that number is now grown to 85%. The other.

K

Perception factors in terms of safety are that 86% of pedestrians feel that.

K

Their experience, walking on bloor street is about the same or better than it was before the installation and about 14% of motorists felt comfortable driving next.

K

A cyclist on bloor street prior to the bike lanes compared to 66%. After so.

B

Cyclists 85% of cyclists feel safer. 86% of pedestrians feel safer and 66% of.

B

Motorists feel safer with the bike lane. Is that correct? That's correct, councilor.

K

All right on the impact on vehicle travel times through signal, changing and.

B

Other measures, it's my understanding, you've been able to reduce in half the.

B

Increase in travel time in the morning and rush-hour peak, and is that accurate.

B

And what is the increase in travel time? Currently, that's correct. Councilor, the.

K

Increase in travel time in the morning peak in the eastbound direction is 2.

K

Minutes and the pm peak in the westbound direction is 4 minutes and that's being.

B

Reduced in half over a nine month period due to operational changes, that's.

K

Correct councilor, we use the first count in october of 2016 to inform changes to.

K

Optimize the operation of the street: ok, no there's been some conversation here.

B

Around the level of consultation that's taken place, I wonder in the time- and I.

B

Only have a minute in 15 seconds if you could go into the number of surveys,.

B

Responded to the number of meetings that took place and the number of points of.

B

Contact with businesses councilor sure we had two public meetings prior to the.

K

Bike lane being installed one in december with about 230, attendees and.

K

One in march, with 270, we had a public survey online before the bike lanes of.

K

The 2,000 responses after the bike lanes with 14,000 responses, which is the.

K

Highest of online responses that the city has ever had for a transportation survey in terms of engagement with businesses, we.

K

Had two stakeholder meetings prior to the the prior to the bike lanes engaging.

K

Face-To-Face with stakeholders did walk, throughs and hundreds of hand, delivery.

K

Of staff, and speaking with businesses by staff and after the bike lanes were.

K

Installed we had a series of site visits with businesses, as well as the bis.

B

You mentioned site visits in addition to stakeholder meetings, the survey the.

B

Public meetings, the site visits the four representatives who spoke to us who said.

B

That they did not speak to city staff. Did you or any members of your staff.

B

Speak to them, and did you or any of your staff go to meet with them on-site the.

K

Businesses for the blue bike alliance. They contacted us at the meeting of the.

K

Blue and x bia and asked to speak further. There was back-and-forth email.

K

Correspondence with my staff after that meeting and on last week thursday, they.

K

Asked meeting with me and we met yesterday. Thank you very much.

F

Yes, I have a question about the maneras data. Can you just summarize what you learned counselor over all the maneras data.

K

Which is point-of-sale transaction data showed that in the study area the there.

K

Was growth in the value of customer spend a four point? Four five percent.

K

Compared to a growth citywide, a four point: nine six percent and more than the.

K

Growth in the seat control area of two point: two one percent, so that's growth.

K

In the spend of customers using debit and credit transactions, the monaro.

K

Stated also provided us information on average per transaction size, which has.

K

Decreased across all industries in the pilot area and citywide- and that is this.

K

We anticipate it's really because people are topping for smaller transactions.

F

Okay, could you just tell us more about the.

F

Tcat study, how is conducted, how was reviewed, was it independent, there's been.

F

Some question about that: was it a professional study so in october of 2015.

K

The blur annex, bia and koreatown bia commissioned a study by.

K

Tcat and the university of toronto, also funded by the metcalf foundation and.

K

They they put together the study terms at that point, when we brought the.

K

Proposal for the pilot to council- and we were directed by council in may of 2016.

K

To partner with the bia s on an academic impact study, so both the city.

K

Transportation services, staff and economic development and culture staff.

K

Sat down and went through the questions being asked in methodology and agreed to.

K

Proceed with partnering, based on that council direction, I understand that's.

K

That sooner a undertook merchant surveys door-to-door and achieved a high rate of.

K

Response rate from their merchant surveys, as well as random pedestrian.

K

Intercept surveys in both the pilot area and the control area, and so in terms of.

F

The methodology and the results you have confidence in the results councilor we.

K

Do have confidence in the in the results. The methodology is consistent with.

K

Methodology that was used to measure economic impact of cycle tracks in.

K

Calgary as well great, thank you very much now I have questions about the.

F

Danforth, when the ten-year cycling plan was approved, there was a recommendation.

F

Approved that you were going to bring forward recommendations for the.

F

Initiation of a quarter study on the danforth, what we have in this report.

F

Instead is a comment in the last paragraph of the report, which says you.

F

Are going to bring forward a framework for councils, consideration of the.

F

Benefits and impacts of extending the facility further east and that you would.

F

Know its proposed that, as part of the council directed review in 2018 staff,.

F

Would include a recommendation, so are you simply deferring this recommendation.

F

Or is there still a question of whether or not we are going to initiate a.

F

Danforth corridor study in june of 6 2016 when council was debating the the.

K

10-Year cycling, network plan council directed 20 services to report back as part of this report on the appropriate timing to.

K

Initiate a major corridor study for danforth when, as city council considers.

K

Of these findings, since that time, our we've received a extensive amount of.

K

Funding from the public transit infrastructure fund from the federal government there was announced in august 2016 and the project list approved by.

K

Council in december of 2016 and that program has a very aggressive schedule.

K

And has been a significant demand on our resources as a result of our commitments.

K

In with that program and already programmed work, we recommend that, as part of the council directed 2018 review of the ten-year.

K

Cycling network plan. At that point we would recommend about the appropriate.

K

Time to start a major corridor study on the danforth, so you're not saying it's a.

F

Question of whether it's a question of when you're going to start it, we've got.

F

Five minutes councilor, so this isn't a question of whether we will have a.

F

Corridor study, it's a question of when we're going to initiate it through your.

K

Chair that kept the tenure cycling network plan recommended a major quarter.

K

Study for the danforth, we wouldn't need to have council direction to initiate.

K

That study, and so we would be making recommendations about when to initiate.

K

That study after the council director review of the ten year. Second, that were.

F

Planned in 2018, so that's very ambiguous the chair. It's just that we need to.

K

Follow council direction on when to initiate the study council direction was.

F

To bring forward recommendations for the initiation of the major corridor study.

F

On danforth, at the same time, it's when council considers the findings of the.

F

Blur street pilot project through chair, our recommendation at this time is that.

K

We don't have the resources to initiate a study at this time and that we would.

K

Have an appropriate level of understanding of when we could initiate that study after we complete the review of the ten-year plan in 2018.

K

Are there any funds available in the federal allocation to be able to use.

F

Towards doing this, the ptf program is allocated as per.

K

Council direction to date.

E

E

Obvious question of you about eight months ago I asked you for some.

E

Information, do you recall the information I asked you for through the.

K

Terror, yes, council, you asked for a raw data from the video footage and when did.

E

You get back to me on on reply of that request. I believe the initial request I.

K

Responded to on the same day and we've had a series of emails between that day.

K

And late september, when we had a final review of that request from the privacy.

K

And information office, my emails suggest that you waited eight months to get back.

E

To me, on the first request: counselor the final decision from the privacy and open.

K

Information office came at the end of september, but we've had a series of.

K

Correspondence between your request and at that time I would like to share with.

E

This this group, the actual emails and the responses, if that's okay, are you.

E

Sure that you replied the same day through the chair, yes counselor, I have.

K

An email that you requested the video on february 27th on february 27th. I.

K

Responded indicating that we would be unable to provide the video for privacy reasons from what I understand, but that I could provide the raw count. Data in.

K

Spreadsheet format- and there were a series of email correspondent dates that.

K

We can go through following that, if you like and and didn't my staff suggest.

E

That that you give us the count with with all of the privacy issues dealt.

E

With so, in other words, if its faces that need it to be blurred out and if it's.

E

License plates that needed to be blurred out that that you provide us with that.

E

Copy didn't we suggest that that be done, counselor. That's not the format that the.

K

Video is in through the chair, the we don't have the resources to scrub the.

K

The personally identifiable information from those videos, the ruling of the.

K

Privacy office was to say that it would be against the terms of mafia to release.

K

That video to yours that were blurred, you could release it. Could you not.

K

Through you chair, that would be the spirit of the legislation, but when we're talking about the number of the amount of video we're talking in the range of four, a blue or street alone, it's um it's over a thousand hours of video footage.

E

But wouldn't we want to see that if there's numbers of people that are that.

E

We're relying on based on the footage, why can't counselors get that footage so.

E

That we can do our own count to three amount of chair with respect to the.

D

Specific question it was referred to the deputy city manager's office, who.

D

Provided a response that, in its raw form it would the this staff responded.

D

Appropriately by following the policy with respect to the traffic monitoring.

D

Cameras that they had, they referred the matter to the city, clerk's division, who.

D

Then, provided the response that providing that data in the raw form.

D

Could not be released so with respect to a a question of the way it was respect.

D

To your question of then, making modifications to the video that was not.

D

Within the budget or the scope that staff had, that would be a significant.

D

Cost all right then prepare that that data for for release, that concealed.

D

Lights within fit, but I can still be done if council gives you that directive.

E

Right through the chair that, if council directed that staff could provide a.

D

Council, with a time estimate a cost estimate in order to scrub those tapes.

D

And they can make that decision accordingly right, so they would have to.

E

Alter the visual of the face and any license plates or any businesses or.

E

Whatever it is that that's correct the policy that council has is concerned.

D

About, then, releasing that the visual image or being able to.

D

Personally, identify people are property, so I just want to go on to how we.

E

Actually surveyed or talked to the businesses, because it's clear to me that.

E

There's a total misunderstanding, then, of the businesses along bloor street. Some.

E

Say that they were consulted and others are saying they weren't consulted at all.

E

Cash has a lot to do with it and maneras didn't do the due diligence that at.

E

Least, a good majority to the business wanted. Why? Why wouldn't we have asked.

E

Them directly about that, true, you chair the the nature of the consultant.

K

Consultation with businesses involved the online survey prior to and after the.

K

First survey involved one hundred and twelve responses. The second survey had.

K

One hundred and forty responses from people who identified as being from a.

K

Business of providing a business name and address and their and their name so.

K

Reputable responses through the engagement with the economic impact.

K

Study with tcat there was door-to-door efforts made to reach 67% of businesses.

K

Including sixty five percent in the blur annex area, seventy three percent in.

K

Koreatown area and fifty-six percent in the control area that involved one.

K

Hundred and ninety one in person surveyed extension for the councillor to.

M

Continue his questioning this by the way is not my. This is not mine. I did not.

E

Spend five minutes you're having so much fun. It went by that quickly, but it was.

C

Yours, how courteous of you counselor perutz up? How is it that he gets away.

E

And and anybody that sitting beside me gets one more question like a question.

E

Before the howling in the howling be put to end, can the howling be pretend I've.

M

Moved one minute extension for the counselor to continue to speak, to ask.

M

Questions I would like to, can I just ask a question: can I get.

E

Through a question, that's just this is your last question. I moved the motion.

M

We're over the time donating a motion, you-you-you broke me up when I was.

M

Asking my very first question extension for the councillor to be able to ask his.

M

Question legitimately you break me up all the time the motion has been put.

C

Forward to the committee I just want, I just want to ask one more question.

E

Without all those in favor opposed that carries, the group does in front of us.

E

Was a very serious alliance, that's been put together. It's a group of businesses.

E

That feel unheard. This is the first time you heard from them today. Were you aware.

E

Of their concerns and the concerns that they brought forward today, or did you.

E

Know about them through chair. Yes, I was aware of their concerns. My staff have.

K

Corresponded and the public consultation unit have correspondent with their.

K

Businesses in their group in the past- and I they asked me personally- to meet.

K

At the end of last week- and we arranged a meeting yesterday on that basis and we.

K

Spent an hour and a half for several months prior to that, once their group.

K

Formed they formed after a meeting that I attended where I spoke with them in.

K

Person at the blue, onyx bia meeting where we had a conversation in person.

K

And my staff have had correspondence with their organization and what.

E

Happened to their information, what happened? Everything that they suggested.

E

Today they clearly have told you that, so what what happened between that meeting.

E

And and and now why wasn't it included in any of this okay, I hope that's.

E

Answered so it's not in the report for the chair, we've indicated in the report.

K

That there are diverse opinions from business. Oh not that's your response.

K

That we get into the fact that there are concerns about customer opinions was the.

E

Response noting issues thank you, chair. Can someone describe the.

J

Methodology used to put up the cameras, so they put up on poles.

J

Judit air- yes, they're, put up on poles, okay, and how many days did they count.

K

Through the chair a minimum of three days midweek for each of the that count.

K

Periods on the poles cameras are up on the poles for video 24 hours a day for.

K

At least 72 hours were the cameras up from monday to friday, like for the.

J

Entire week and then the days that were required were taken, so it was there, sort.

J

Of a lead time where they were up, and then they were there's a after time when.

J

They were taken down over they just up for those three days through the chair. I.

K

Don't have the details on the lead time put up and down, but it does take few.

K

Hours to get all of the cameras up and down, but the cameras are up for a three.

K

Day continuous period for each count cycle. Okay, thank you wonder if somebody.

J

Could talk to me a little bit about winter habits and cycling.

J

We know that the counts were taken in october in june, and those are kind of.

J

Mid shoulder season with with it, if you plotted bicycle activity on a sort of a.

J

Sine curve over the year, it would go up and down, but what do we know empirically.

J

About cycling in the winter, what's the percentage of use through the chair, we.

K

Have two locations in the city where we have winter cycling counts, have more.

K

Count locations where they're counted all year round and we find that it's.

K

About 30 percent of the of the the peak season cycling takes continues to take.

K

Place in the winter based on those two locations, and where are they there's one.

K

Location at blur three days at castle, frank- and there is a location also on.

K

Sherbourne, okay, can someone talk to me about the maneras data so how many.

J

Businesses are along the bloor street stretch through the chair, approximately.

K

Six hundred businesses, including ground-floor, and an upper tier business, the group that was in here is mentioned. The number.

J

Of 30 percent, as the percentage of application of maneras to these.

J

Businesses would you say: pura cle, that sounds about right through.

K

The chair, yes, the monarus is the largest payment processor in the country and and.

K

The range of 30 percent is about accurate, so the sample size then would.

J

Be around 200 if it was 130 600 approximately yes, okay, would you say.

J

That the maneras data is a comprehensive representation of the economic activity.

J

Or is it more just a data point? It's another data point we considered as.

K

Part of this process, so it wouldn't be fair to say that that is the be-all and.

J

End-All of knowing whether these businesses flourished, or they did not.

J

That's correct, councilor, fair enough. You talked a little bit about near.

J

Misses and I wondered if we'd ever used this methodology and evaluating a.

J

Roadway before through the chair, no, we have not used this methodology before it.

K

Is quite a new methodology and transportation engineering generally can.

K

You tell me how it works, how do you, how do you figure out a near-miss through.

K

The chair so just to be clear. This research was completed by the university.

K

Of transportations, sorry at the university of toronto's transportation.

K

Research institute and the engineering school what the methodology of.

K

Completing the conflict analysis is to review video data to confirm if there.

K

Are the opportunities for collisions to take place, so a conflict is a situation.

K

Where two road users are or if they continued along their same trajectory,.

K

Without changing direction or speed that they would have result in a collision, so.

K

It it identifies potential, collisions, ie conflicts. So one of the things I hear.

J

The community is councilor, we need to stop saying here right away. I mean that.

J

All you should have seen the near miss the other day or I was backing out of my.

J

Driveway I just got just above got mowed down by a truck. This word near miss is.

J

Used all the time to try to articulate a situation which is scary or dangerous or.

J

To emphasize a point, would you advocate that, because there's this new technology.

J

Emerging we can start using near misses as an idea to evaluate traffic.

J

Situations all over the city future. It is a very complex and.

K

Charging field of understanding what the benefit is for a situation like this is.

K

That it's a shorter observation period compared to looking at what we would.

K

Usually like to see is five years of collision trend data to be able to make.

K

A meaningful comparison, so what was the observation period through your chair.

K

It's looking at number of hours versus a number of days for collisions, so it.

K

Looked at the video, the daytime video conflict opportunities through the.

K

Before and after count periods, so was it one of the? U of t researchers looking at.

J

The screen, or were they actually sitting on a on a lawn chair on the side of the.

J

Road kind of taking notes on a clipboard viewing a screen counselor, so they took.

J

The data they looked at the screen, they said look those two cars are pointed at.

J

Each other they might collide, so I'm going to tick that off as a near-miss or.

J

Is it am I getting that right or there's a bike in a car going at each other, but.

J

They swerve the other way. Is that kind of what what that means.

J

Are you turrets along those lines? Yes, counselor? Okay, all right! Thank you.

J

That's very helpful. I just the maneras study, there's a lot of back and forth.

C

And up and down, I guess the bottom line is my understanding is, if you compare it.

C

To what happened across the city, if you do that comparator, it actually went down.

C

In a small way, it marginally went down on this corridor during this past year.

C

Compared to the rest of the city, through you chair, there was about the same.

K

Amount of growth in this area, as there was across the city same amount, was it.

K

Up down or the same slightly less growth, but about the same amount of growth. Oh.

C

Sir, I don't understand that they're always right for the miss for not being.

K

Clear about the across the city, we had almost 5% growth and in the pilot area.

K

It was 4.5% growth, okay, so a little bit a little bit down from what happened.

C

Across the city, a tiny bit, yes, that's correct, but more than a control area, but.

C

More than the controlled area, and then this this terminal, we can't say.

C

Too much about it, I understand their sensitivities, but how do we know if the.

C

Retailers in this corridor use up that's really hard to understand fully, for I.

C

Guess stuff, but how do we know who has it and who uses it and who doesn't along.

C

That corridor forget the rest of the city, just if we zero in on that corridor.

K

True chair, we know that they are the largest payment processor in the country.

K

And they've indicated that they have a high enough market share in this part of the city around the range of thirty percent. That would mean that they can.

K

Give us sufficient data about transactions in this area. Okay, thank you.

C

That's that's it cuz the rest of my questions. I've actually been answered so.

C

I'm sure I do have a couple of questions. I know you, you want to ask something so.

C

You want to start now with your clock started or is there? Are there options.

M

That can that, where the cycling can even be made safer, in your view, ryu chair.

K

Separated bike facilities are documented through independent research to be safer.

K

We do have recommendations and outlined in this report for improvements that we.

K

Could make to improve safety on this particular corridor if it were to be.

K

Made permanent so just very briefly what what what changes would you consider to.

M

Make them safer stuff for you, tara in terms of safety, we would recommend.

K

Additional payment markings green markings tend to indicate conflict zones.

K

In certain locations, more fulsome separation, rather than just a painted.

K

Buffer and bollards in in locations where that's possible at the time when.

K

There would be future capital work on the street. Thank you.

C

I guess it would be a point of order. If you don't mind, I ran into this.

E

Difficulty of one of the other votes earlier, I want to vote against the.

E

Package, so if there are amendments to this, does there need to be a motion to.

E

Vote for the package or against it or will we have an opportunity to vote.

E

Against them, in other words, should I be moving a motion of receipt yeah, I'm just.

E

I just the fact that I do want to vote against the package. Motions are.

M

Introduced to see what what the rulings might be around that now, the reason I'm.

E

Asking is I'd like to know whether or not I need to move a motion of receipt.

E

So of receipt, so it's in my back! So if I want to vote against this, it's in my.

E

Best interest to move a motion to receipt. Yes, I'll, advise the clerk to.

E

Cancel a commotion: this is a public meeting councilor and everybody out.

E

There deserves to know what that what councillors are asking in the way of questions. The councillor cannot move a motion to receive, as the report before.

L

Them contains a recommendation and it's it will be reported to council. So is.

E

Will there be a moment here where I have the right to vote against the package.

E

And the reason I say this is because earlier I wasn't able to do it there.

E

Were there there were motions put forward and then there wasn't a final.

E

Vote of an issue we dealt with earlier, that's why I'm the counselor can request.

L

That motions be split and be voted on separately, and if the chair agrees, that.

L

The motion contains different propositions and can be split then that.

L

Can happen what can happen if the counselor proposes that all.

L

Motions be voted on separately and individually, and the chair agree is that.

L

All the motions contain separate prepositions and can be voted on.

L

Separately then they can. Then the committee can bow on them separately, but.

E

At the end, will there be a vote, a separate vote for the package together.

L

No not unless the items the motion to adopt the item has been placed and then.

L

There would be a motion to adopt as amended. I would run the risk of not.

E

Being able to vote against so is there a way? Is there a way for this counselor to.

E

Move a motion that allows me to vote against this package. No, that would be a.

L

Contrary motion and it would be a vote against no I'm being told, I can't do.

E

That, okay, the counselor, can vote against the counselor can vote against the item.

L

As amended, okay, that was the question. Okay, that was the question. Okay,.

C

Go ahead, thank you very much chair and let me.

B

Begin, first of all, by thanking our city of toronto staff, who have been working.

B

Tirelessly to design implement and successfully implement a bike lane on.

B

Bloor, I want to begin by thanking them and then the deputies, many of whom have.

B

Been here just as long as us today, at times over the course of today, it has.

B

Felt like we were in the 1950s for goodness sakes this morning, a cyclist.

B

Was killed on our streets that happened today, so let's talk about what we should.

B

Be focusing on for 40 years people have been working for bike lanes on bloor. I.

B

Grew up just north of bloor cycling on bloor, I lived just north of bloor today.

B

I ride it still and our city of toronto staff have stated unequivocally that the.

B

Pilot bike lane on bloor not only worked. It was a tremendous success and should.

B

Be made permanent, I agree with them. Bike lanes on bloor are here to stay. So, let's.

B

Make it so for far too long in this city and, frankly, today's discussion.

B

Reinforced a debate of the past for far too long bike lanes were seen as.

B

Divisive that somehow it was bikes or cars that it was bikes or business. This.

B

Report has shown that that debate is gone. It's passed, in fact, when you design.

B

A bike lane and you implement it well, it is a win-win for everybody. That's what.

B

We heard all day long from nearly 60 deputies. That's what we have seen in the.

B

Most comprehensively evaluated transportation project in the history of.

B

This city in the history of the city, now this pilot project, let's look at the.

B

Data: let's look at the evidence. It is moving more bikes in just one year. The.

B

Number of cyclists have been increased from nearly three from just over three.

B

Thousand to more than 5,000 cyclists, the bike lane on bloor is now the second.

B

Most popular bike lane in the entire city of toronto.

B

In just one year, wait until next year, so biking riding is a. It is safer on the.

B

Day where a cyclist was killed on our roads, this bike lane has made this.

B

Street safer pedestrians, 86% say they feel safer drivers. 66% say they say they.

B

Feel safer, cyclists 85% say they feel safer. Near-Miss collision shows that it.

B

Is down 44% vehicles? We have been able to minimize the impact on travel times.

B

In half over the course of the study, it's now just two and four minutes by.

B

Making it permanent it will go down further, but it's two minutes and.

B

Adequate pystep it price to pay to make our street safe. Do you bet you bet.

B

Anybody else can go to the ballot box and say sorry: two minutes isn't worth.

B

The extra safety for our kids or our cousins or our family members, and as it.

B

Relates for business and as it relates to business, staff have said very clearly.

B

Here that, in a project where we studied economic impact for the first time on a.

B

Transportation project that it has been a success, we had a professional study.

B

Carried out by tcat that staff, our professional staff stand behind that.

B

Found that 9 percent of customers are drivers, and while I understand that.

B

Change may be hard. The maneras data, the largest provider of.

B

Retail transaction data has shown that business transactions went up four and a.

B

Half percent to those who would say more people are using cards, it went up more.

B

Than the adjacent areas of bloor and danforth, which would say the business is.

B

Doing well, and so is this bike lane perfect, of course not it's a pilot. We.

B

Put down some paint and bollards, but by making it permanent, we can address the.

B

Outstanding issues- and I understand that our chair councillor robinson, has a.

B

Motion to that effect that I encourage you to support now for 10 years. If you.

B

Would ask people 10 years ago in the neighborhood? Do you support bike lanes on bloor in my neighborhood? You wouldn't have got a resounding yes, but today this.

B

Bike lane is supported by the five local residents associations, all of them to.

B

Local bia s, 17 local institutions from the.

B

University of toronto to blur hot docks to the royal ontario museum to cycle.

B

Toronto and bells on bloor, who are there long before the rest of us? Listen? We are.

B

A growing city we have no choice but to redesign our streets to move people and.

B

Move people safely, 21st century cities do not tear out bike lanes. They build.

B

More of them, you have a big decision here in front of you and at council an.

B

Even bigger one, I want to thank and commend mara tory for his thoughtful.

B

Data-Driven support for this, along with my comrade-in-arms councillor, layton, who.

B

Could not be here he's tending to his younger daughter, but it is time to make.

B

The bike lane on bloor permanent, let's get on with it,.

B

The data is crystal clear. Thank you very much. Thank you.

C

Our next speaker is councillor davis. Thank you. How do I follow that? Thank you.

F

You haven't taken any potshots at me, so go ahead. George! You! I've been watching.

F

On tv all day, I too think I, in the time that I've been here, that I have never.

F

Seen a report as comprehensive as thorough and as clear a result as a.

F

Report that came with as clear a result as what we have before us today. What you.

F

Have before you today a report that says this pilot project demonstrated through.

F

A very professional study, plus additional work done by our staff that.

F

Bloor is safer for everyone. The majority of people who use it feel incredibly.

F

Much much safer, only four percent felt safe on bloor. Before and now it's 87.

F

That 25% more of 25% of the new riders, 50%, more riders but 25%, were new riders.

F

New well hadn't, ventured out on this street.

F

Before but they did now because they feel safe riders. Like me, it is a great.

F

Bike lane and I've now traveled from east to west across all the across all.

F

These lanes and they are fabulous. We also have a report that not only showed.

F

Increase ridership and usage and confidence it showed there was less.

F

Fewer incidents less conflict between users on the road now, the one one piece.

F

Of concerning information was the conflict between bikes and jaywalkers.

F

And I don't know that there are easy solutions there jaywalkers.

F

I'm sure transportation services will tell you trying to stop. Jaywalking is.

F

One of the largest challenges we have so obviously we will look to see. Are there.

F

Other things we can do there, the public opinion was absolutely clear users non.

F

Users, residents and virtually everyone who came out today said bike lanes on.

F

Bloor should stay and I was completely struck by the cultural corridor that the.

F

Official position of all of those huge cultural institutions right along bloor.

F

They want to keep the bike lanes on bloor because they believe it's better.

F

For their business and it's better for their workers, those largest cultural.

F

Institutions in the country have said to you today keep the bike lanes on vellore.

F

So I don't know what evidence more evidence. You're gonna say you need, and I.

F

Don't know what you're gonna say to critique: either our staff and by the way.

F

I think some of the questions were completely inappropriate and on the.

F

Verge of harassing about the distrust of our staff- and that was completely.

F

Unacceptable because I do believe our stuff, it's.

F

Evidence-Based that have been brought evidence-based analysis and a very solid.

F

Recommendation, they reviewed the tcat study and they believe it is valid and.

F

To question that I think, is completely unacceptable, so I don't know, as I said,.

F

What evidence anyone thinks they need to demonstrate that this should be removed.

F

Remember the four hundred and twenty five thousand dollar price tag by the way, but I don't see any evidence that says this should be removed. I am.

F

Concerned and I'm very disappointed that we do not have a recommendation to.

F

Proceed with the major corridor study on danforth, because the pressure on us to.

F

Expand the lanes on danforth is huge and it's being used heavily, and we now have.

F

To move from this- and I hope that between now and well I haven't figured.

F

Out quite what we're going to do about this, because we do have an avenue study.

F

And we're supposed to be coordinating the avenue study with major corridor.

F

Study transportation corridor study, but we will be working to make sure that the.

F

Blue bike lane is extended both east and west, and to make sure that residents of.

F

The city of toronto have the ability to ride right across the center of the city.

F

And bring toronto to the standard that other large modern cities have achieved.

F

Thank you moving motions and speaking on.

C

This item and everybody has five minutes each so who would like to speak next.

C

Counselor counselor jin lee. Thank you very much. Ma'am.

Q

Chair and I'm gonna start by saying that I'll move the staff recommendation and.

Q

I'm very sure that there'll be amendment in port forward. So but first of all, like.

Q

To move staffs recommendation, I know the strong support for the bike lanes to be.

Q

Made permanent on a blow street and when the report first came out, I was.

Q

Interviewed by the chinese media on a talk show, and I basically she challenged.

Q

Me why it should be done and what happens with the businesses that they.

Q

Think you're hurting from it and also I got emails from people saying there's.

Q

Someone there more cyclists on blue street than they are cars, and the report.

Q

Came out, no, there are less cyclists and cars, but the increase in cyclists has.

Q

Gone up by 50%, so is increase, is safer, less conflicts between other users on.

Q

Blah street, so we have to do the right thing in erecting is to make it.

Q

Permanent so, and people in my area that opposed to it become estonia, says how.

Q

Can you do this? You know you're gonna create problems for us when we go.

Q

Downtown so my my we totaled them is that when.

Q

Was the last time you drove downtown, you know what the bike lanes are like.

Q

Downtown and I encourage you to take a subway downtown if you really want to go.

Q

Downtown, okay, don't create any more problems for people and I don't want.

Q

People driving through my area as well when they're going to markham that's why.

Q

I'm proposing to make transit available a better transit network for everybody.

Q

To use so it's something that we all have to cano to gear, towards a change in.

Q

Terms of demographics, a changing world. This is why I fully support this, and in.

Q

Fact my own children have asked me, you know: when can we get safer bike lane.

Q

That comes from our air route to downtown, so they can back down. So I says.

Q

It is a long way off so take the transit downtown and go get.

Q

On one of those bike share bikes and bike around all right.

Q

So that is the best way for us to try to adjust our own life song to a changing.

Q

Environment, a changing city, so I'm moving the software condition. Thank you.

Q

All right, you can do this, though that's okay, let's move on to our next.

C

Speaker- and I don't know who that is, is it councillor, holiday or councillor.

C

Are you speaking no you're, not speaking, that's really spoken, I don't have any.

M

Motions: okay, no, we don't need any more motion, so you've got a whole rock of.

C

Them so, okay, councillor holidays. Next, thank you, madam chair.

J

I have a few motions: I'd like to start with motion c. Can you put it on the.

C

Screen motion c you can just keep going, should be no surprise that I'm a.

J

Skeptical of this and I'll explain why, in a moment, but this is, is the motion to.

J

End the pilot project, and I would like also to place a second motion which is.

J

Motion a and that is requesting someone to have a look at what the abba group.

J

Had to say and report back on some of their ideas.

J

And and let council know what what can and cannot be done, I think they had a.

J

Lot of good things to say so I I've thought about this report and this this.

J

Pilot project has struggled me right from the start, because I rewind back to.

J

A year ago- and we first talked about it- a number of members of council debated.

J

This and tried to understand what success looked like, but that was dodged.

J

And and curved and nobody wanted to admit what a successful pilot.

J

Going to be so here, we are a year later trying to figure out what success looks.

J

Like and you know what the theme has been today- something about safety, yeah, a.

J

Lot of cyclists feel safer and separated bike lanes. There are 22 collisions that.

J

Were reported, those are down, I'm not surprised, I'm not sure I needed a 1.

J

Million dollar pilot project to tell me that when you convert a live lane, it has.

J

Mixed-Use vehicles in there with bikes into a dedicated cycling lane. I guess.

J

People are going to feel safer in that infrastructure. The one number that is.

J

Not being talked about in all of this discussion of numbers is 371. Why is 371.

J

Important, no one's reported it, no one's debated it. No one's discussed it. If you.

J

Look at the volume of people that go through this corridor at the start of.

J

The project there were three thousand three hundred and nine cyclists and.

J

There was about 24,000 cars made some changes. We introduced the bike lanes.

J

Those numbers changed no surprise more people ride along blur in a bicycle.

J

Didn't need a 1 million dollar pilot to tell me that, but there we are and the.

J

Volume of cars went down, it went from 24,000 to 20,000 cars, but the other.

J

Thing that was important that nobody wants to talk about is that the volume of cyclists on the parallel route, the routes that I identified in the last.

J

Debate that need to be looked at and for me to understand why we need additional.

J

Cycling infrastructure, when we've got two parallel routes, went down. There's a.

J

Thousand west cyclists on harbert, so the net increase of cyclists is three.

J

Hundred and seventy-one, that is what the project brought us. 371 new riders along.

J

This corridor, what's the cost? What's that's 11%? What's the cost anthony the.

J

Cost is, as was brought up by one of the deputies. 2,000 cars vanished into the.

J

Ether, we don't know where 2000 them diverted to parallel routes, because they.

J

Just couldn't make it along bloor street. We found out that midway through the.

J

Project there was an 80% and a 40% delay time in.

J

Those vehicles to go through, thank goodness there was some changes made and.

J

Those were cut in half, there's still 40% and 20%. Everyone watched it's just a.

J

Couple of minutes, you know what a couple of minutes here there and everywhere.

J

Along your route delays somebody trying to move across the city, why is that.

J

Important because, as we frustrate drivers, as we frustrate cyclists, as we.

J

Frustrate anyone trying to use a congested corridor, people get aggressive.

J

And people take chances and that's where the conflicts happened and that's where.

J

People get hurt on the street is when people are competing and vying for space.

J

Because they've had this incredible pressure under them, so why is the.

J

Councillor from the west end care about something in the middle of the downtown.

J

Core well another deputy and said today you know what there aren't very many.

J

East-West roads, it's true what choice to the citizens that live in the area that.

J

I represent and central etobicoke have to get in the city. You might be able to.

J

Get into thank you, the subway, thank you, but but isn't that a high rich way to.

J

Say the heck with you to hell with you, take the subway or stay home. You know.

J

What there's some people here that still need to be driving because they have to.

J

Maybe they don't have another choice, maybe they got to move a work van, maybe.

J

They got to move some tools, maybe they got to move a couple of kids and it just doesn't work any other way. You know what the message from city hall.

J

Is the heck with you stay home? That's not the message, I'm bringing back to my.

J

Constituents I'm not supporting a project that destroys their commute into.

J

The city for 371 people- okay, thank you, councilor holiday next speakers.

C

Councilor ma'am, a lady who also has, I believe, motions two motions so put them.

E

Up the first one speaks to a poll that it'll be conducted. I think it's simple.

E

To do before council give us an idea of what what the businesses are actually up.

E

Against and the second is about the the video account I'd like it's very clear.

E

Without the without were either freedom for me and issues give it to your every counselor so that we can take a look at.

E

Exactly what that says, madame madame chair when the mayor was in here earlier.

E

I didn't know he was here just for quorum count. I was I walked in and I.

E

Actually thought well: this is a good opportunity for me to ask him some questions on this, because he seems to be moving in a direction to to put this.

E

Through as quickly as possible, and I seem to think there's motive to.

E

That I wanted to ask him whether or not it's just simply simply a political.

E

Stunt wanting the votes that sort of thing and I'll ask him a council. If I.

E

Have to, but I really believe that that's the case and now that I'm diving into.

E

The information and how it came about and who's been talked to and who hasn't.

E

And how orchestrated and I must I must commend councillor krusty for the for.

E

The wonderful orchestrated movement that was here today, everybody had their lines.

E

In they knew exactly what they were talking about, except one of the largest.

E

Pockets of business people who were not consulted and when they hit noticed that.

E

Nobody asked them any questions because they were right. They weren't consulted.

E

The argument that comes out of the mayor's office and some councillors on.

E

Congestion is incredible: we need to stop congestion, we got to.

E

Make changes to king street. We got to make sure that a 150 dollar tickets are.

E

Handed to anybody that stops when they shouldn't, we have to make sure that the.

E

Tickets are issued by the police department when we see vehicles on any of the streets downtown, because congestion is not needed or wanted in.

E

This city, but yet a report that very clearly says that removing two lanes on.

E

Blur street and the way it is and recommending the congestion the way it.

E

Is now increased in the city of toronto is now being supported by the mayor.

E

Who's art, who's, arguing against congestion and councillors that are.

E

Doing it, it's a complete flip-flop, we're talking out of both sides of our mouth.

E

Here, that's what's happening, it is slow on bloor. Businesses are going to suffer.

E

And they are already suffering. We've already heard that I've seen the polls.

E

Taxpayers do not want to pay for this, whether you like it or not. It's it's out.

E

There people do not want to pay for this, and in particular I must add that I've.

E

Looked at the polls directly in every single ward council, fruit says councilor.

E

Karma grabbed councilors holiday in council robinson, I haven't looked at.

E

Yours yet council days, I'm sorry, but in every single one of the wards that we're.

E

Talking about your taxpayers, do not want you to vote in favor of this, because.

E

They don't want to pay for it and that's real and it's huge. The difference in.

E

Percentage huge, I wish you could see it. I know it's there. I think most people.

E

Know it's there and I think this thing is being rammed down everyone's throat.

E

For the wrong reasons, I know the next administration, I may have a good role to.

E

Play in that- and I know I know that- I'm one of the first things that I'll do is.

E

Untangle everything that we're doing down here with respect to this, including.

E

This particular bad decision that we're about to make right now I'd like that.

E

Opportunity next term of office- I I can't force you to do what you you, you.

E

Want to do today, I know the next time I might have an opportunity to untangle it.

E

And I will or I'll try to counselor cressie you. You spoke eloquently about.

E

The amounts of people that that wanted to support this and are supporting it.

E

And- and I hear that and it's very it's very it's very orchestrated, okay, but.

E

What you have not, I think, been able to read in your own ward, and I apologize.

E

For this are the amounts of people that just do not want it and they've been.

E

Shut out of this whole equation, and so one councillor davis looks at me and.

E

Says you, dare you say these things how you know you shouldn't be saying this.

E

About staff and all that I don't have to believe staff, and I could say that if I.

E

Want on behalf of my taxpayers, I could say that I don't believe the report sits.

E

In front of me for a lot of reasons, I don't believe that the drivers along.

E

Blue street were consulted. I don't, I don't believe the business.

E

Were consulted properly, I don't believe the consultants both of them that we.

E

Hired did the job properly and you're starting to hear it. Finally, from the.

E

Businesses and others, and now that they know that this is going to be a permanent structure. Okay, who would like.

C

To speak next, oh you know I actually have a question I this is what I was.

C

Distracted a bit, I don't understand the difference between counselor m'lady and.

C

Counselor holidays motions related to the polling, so if either counselor.

C

Mammal lady could answer that question or if the clerk's could answer the question and I they flashed up on the screen quickly, so I don't. They both had.

C

Questions about going out and talking to the bia, so just they seem very similar.

C

To me, so I guess I'm just doing this because I'm actually asking you.

C

Counselor mana m'lady, I'm asking the mover well, how does it differ from.

C

Counsellor holidays, we put up counselor holidays, madam chair, on a point of order.

J

As well, if it's suitable, I would accept a friendly amendment to remove a.

J

Redundant piece, counselor milady and I didn't prepare our motions together so.

J

We may have had the same thought. Well, I think we did. I think we should it.

C

Resolve that and then move on with the speaking well, you know what counts. Madam.

E

Chair you're you're right, I'm gonna withdraw my motion.

C

Okay, so we've consular mattli he's withdrawing his motion. All in favor.

C

Opposed carried and on to the on to the next speaker.

C

Okay, so the next are you gonna. I have a few.

C

Would you like to speak next, okay, okay,.

C

You go ahead, so I can speak you five minutes. I.

M

Realize that that you're gonna give me five minutes, start interjecting in five.

M

Seconds before five minutes, but I'm okay with that too, so I'm gonna, I'm going to.

M

Support the the the extending the pilot onblur straight in making them making.

M

Noise, oddly those bike lanes permanent, so I hadn't been on bloor street for a.

M

While but monday, I I basically started off and on the danforth in my car.

M

Because I've done bloor street on my bike on my motorcycle and in my car and.

M

I hadn't I hadn't been on bloor street for a while, because I I'm gonna.

M

Reference ela boston's in in a second because she gave us really sage advice.

M

But I got in my car just to see what blur street would feel like. It was.

M

Monday, probably would have been around 11:30 in the morning, something like that.

M

Quarter to 12:00 and a little congested at yonge street, as I would, as you expect.

M

It to be, but then, when I got to that track, just on the other side of avenue.

M

Road with the bike lanes, lots of cars, lots of bicycles, lots of people out on.

M

The sidewalks and as I as I sort of moved through that and I got to to do.

M

Knees knee rossington because I stopped off for a latte. There are duties to see.

M

My good friend grats, I blue street hadn't, fallen apart. It hadn't just gone.

M

Kaput- and I knew I had this rapport with all these statistics and- and you know.

M

What for me, the only statistic that I needed to see was bloor street.

M

Functioning people moving on bloor street driving cycling, walking.

M

Scootering motorcycling, it was like a really really active, vibrant street. I.

M

Did notice one thing in sort of thinking back on how blue.

M

Street felt before I needed to be more aware before, because I bicycle down.

M

Bloor street and I bicycle din the middle lane, not in the outside lane.

M

Not in the park car lane in the passing lane, that's where I rode with my bicycle.

M

And you had to ride behind me and I didn't care either run me over or I have.

M

The right to the cycling lane to the lane- and I cycled there because that's.

M

Where I felt safest, but when I drove bloor street before in my car, I needed.

M

To be more aware, people parked cars, opening doors, bicycles coming in out of.

M

Those cars some pedestrians, people walking off the curb like they always do.

M

Without looking left or right, you know because you know and and and I need it.

M

To be more aware, as a driver, I don't know whether that's a good thing or a.

M

Bad thing going forward, but making it safer from.

M

My perspective is a good thing and I have a great like for councillor holiday.

M

I know he means well, I mean, I know he means well, and he put it all in.

M

Perspective for me right at the very end of his speech. This debate is not about.

M

Statistics: it's not about facts; it's not about who's up who's, down who's, winning.

M

Who's losing it's all emotional, because he said it right at the very end of his.

M

Speech, if you were listening, I'm not going up for 350 cars get a guy.

M

From a topical to have to hold two more minutes in his car because he's not.

M

Gonna be able to make the doctor's appointment in time. That's what it is.

M

It's an emotional debate. Well, if you get an additional 350 people on bikes, I.

M

Would assume that you're getting 350 people, mostly out of their cars, so.

M

You're getting 350 fewer cars on bloor street there's a bigger. This is a much.

M

Much bigger debate, you know: ela bosen's, god, lover, she's, 80 years old,.

M

Here and said, something dropped: a pearl of wisdom on the desk and everybody just.

M

Kind of like missed it, the pearl of wisdom was this: if you're gonna use blue.

M

Street to travel from etobicoke to the east end of toronto, you're an idiot right, that's what she said. She said it. I couldn't believe it. I.

M

Guess when you get to be 80, you can say what you like she did and she made.

M

Perfect sense and she also another pearl of wisdom. You know what she said. She.

M

Said you know what the problem is with our traffic here? Why we have congestion.

M

Because we have an additional three hundred, fifty thousand people vital from.

M

She's listed a date and we haven't built one new single road and we put in a lot.

M

Of unwarranted stop signs and all kinds of other traffic stuff and we're like.

M

Sort of its grinding down- that's, what's causing the problem. It's not bicycles on.

M

Bloor street, or on harboured or any other street cyclists, have just as much.

M

Right to use our public road space as everyone else and and and and I would.

M

Even venture to say that if you're a collection of businesses on bloor street.

M

Do you have the right to use a public roadway for your own business over the.

M

Rights of somebody else to public to use that public roadway as a public roadway.

M

Your time's up, that's that's another question that we need to grapple with. I.

M

Think, as we okay speaker, you've inspired councilor.

C

Carmichael grab to speak so she's going to take the floor now, anthony always.

A

Tells mary councillor plorts always tells me at council. I need to speak more.

G

So that he can get on camera more, I I have received many emails. My ward is is.

G

Far enough away from from this area that not a lot of my residents use blur for.

G

Biking but I've received numerous emails upwards of a hundred which, for an issue.

G

For my ward is a lot in support of the bike lanes.

G

I have eglinton running in my at the bottom end of my ward, which eventually.

G

Will have protected bike lanes, which I wish this type of data-driven research.

G

Had been done on eglinton because I may have shown a different result rather.

G

Than just planning for bike lanes on eglinton and 10% of traffic flowing into.

G

Into the neighborhoods, my neighborhoods that I will have to deal with once the.

G

Lrt is finished, but I I wholeheartedly support the bike lanes on bloor. I.

A

Believe that they have worked, I I think with some tweaks we can, we can make them.

G

Work even better, so I just everybody else was speaking so I just wanted to.

A

Make sure that that my voice was there saying that I will be supporting them.

C

Okay, thank you. Councillor, carmichael greb. I've got a number of motions. I.

C

Guess I'm the last speaker, so I've got a number of motions that will take me.

C

Basically, my entire speech to go through all five minutes. I saw I just don't.

C

Think we have this right at this stage. I think we have to take into consideration.

C

All the various users, which is pedestrians and motorists and cyclists.

C

And transit users, as well as businesses and I've certainly heard loud and clear.

C

From tourists, local residents, south of bloor, which I've shared with councillor.

C

Krusty, certainly with a lot of feedback from from businesses and pedestrians and.

C

So my emotions really try to address all those user groups and all those.

C

Stakeholders and try to just make things a bit better, so I'm gonna run through.

C

Them very quickly number one is to really address local businesses. We've.

C

Heard from them loud and clear today, they don't feel they had a voice in the process, whether you believe that or not it doesn't matter, because we need to.

C

Support them, you know this. The small business in the city is critical to us.

C

Being a livable city and we want to support them, so this first motion will.

C

Do that and what I'm try to do is get this implemented as soon as possible. That's not wait till 2019. Let's, let's go so. Let's try to make this cycle.

C

Track improve improvements in 2018 so to try to mitigate the concerns raised by.

C

Local businesses, whether it's related to commercial loading, customer access, let's.

C

Let's rock and roll number two is again trying to move this.

C

To 2018 and I'm gonna go through abc I'm not going to go through abcd, but I'll.

C

Just tell you quickly: its traffic signal modifications, setbacks, green area.

C

Markings in the conflict zones altering the streetscape to provide curb.

C

Protection further separating bike lanes and parking areas again, which I think is.

C

Important, so this should really improve again for all stakeholders. All users.

C

This should improve things significantly from a traffic flow perspective, which is.

C

Also important number three: if we can just pull up to that again, focusing on.

C

Traffic flow and traffic signals and again a greater degree of separation.

C

Number four is everybody's favorite topic winter data.

C

I wish councillor denzil minute-long was here. He would love this one, so this is.

C

To introduce permanent bike count station technology to collect year round.

C

Data on cycling volumes along bloor street: let's have the big picture.

C

Because we want to see what's happening, all seasons and we heard from some of.

C

Our our consent constituents their trustees constituents, but we heard from.

C

Some pardon did I speak during your speech you're right. Thank you for that.

C

Apology, so this is, I think, important. I think a lot of people would like to see.

C

This happen, and I think we should we should support this and then number five.

C

Is to speak to again I mentioned it earlier.

C

Near-Miss collisions conflicts between pedestrians and cyclists has gone up. 61%.

C

Since the pilot- and we have to think about pedestrians- and we have to think.

C

About specifically seniors and people with mobility issues, so this is what.

C

This motion is about, and I would hope that you would support this so that we.

C

Can make those modifications again as soon as possible to improve.

C

Accessibility and safety of pedestrians in eliminating those conflicts. The last.

C

Motion- and I didn't know what to do with this- I struggled with this one. I just.

C

Wanted to do a bit of a motherhood motion to say you know I felt badly for.

C

Those businesses that were here today and the ones that have contacted me and.

C

Called me and emailed me, and I think we have to identify any method we can to.

C

Support those businesses and promote them. So I that's a but a bit of an.

C

Open-Ended one, it's not directed to the general manager of transportation.

C

Because that's not her, that's not her under her jurisdiction, but I did direct.

C

The city manager to look at that, so I feel comfortable supporting this with.

C

These amendments, if these are supported, I wanted to do a quick shout-out, because.

C

I just have a few seconds left: milena, kristen and cameron. Our student speakers.

C

Today they inspired me, they blew me away with their enthusiasm. That was.

C

Infectious and I thought they were very brave to come here to this- this big.

C

Committee, room and a very intimidating setting and hear them speak was, as I.

C

Said very uplifting and inspiring also gideon who emails me every other day. It.

C

Never ends with gideon you've. Also inspired me so and, as you know, safety is.

C

A big, very important, very important safety is to me whether it's pedestrians.

C

Cyclists seniors schoolchildren, vulnerable users. I have to say that.

C

That's what drives me as safety is number one. So you heard my questions.

C

Throughout the day, I have some concerns about how things unfolded, and I.

C

Identified those three today, so I won't reiterate those, but I.

C

Will say it is time to vote. Yes go ahead, counselor mammal lady, madam.

E

Chair, if you can put them back up again, there is a few of your emotions that.

E

Have asked staff to consider something? What does that mean if they don't like.

E

It that they don't have to do it or are you asking them to do something? Well, I.

C

Would be open to an amendment to the motion to strengthen it if you would.

C

Like to consider so that's in the second one is to consider the first one doesn't.

C

Have consider the third second and third have construe, consider the rest do not.

C

If you want to change that language to implement, I'm open to that, I would if I.

E

Mean I would support it if, if that were the direction having staff consider.

E

Something could very well mean it's not going to happen, so I will take that as a.

C

Friendly amendment, what word would you like to use to implement? It sounds good.

C

To implement so we're changing the wording and number two from to consider.

C

To implement and then you were also requesting number three you're: okay with.

E

It yes, I am definitely okay with that and to.

C

Implement in number three so we're taking out the wording to consider deleting that and changing it and putting in place to implement and with.

E

Those I would be supporting your motions. Okay, councillor lee, you had a question.

C

My specific question is on six number: six number six number six go ahead and.

Q

You did see this open-ended and so on. So I'd like to tighten it up a little bit.

Q

Go up to number six, please the last one all right! So if the city manager.

Q

Identifies methods should we not get a report back to economic development.

Q

Because this is specific to economic development.

Q

And to fought back to economic development, hopefully by the first.

Q

Quarter of 2018: okay, that's a friendly amendment; yeah fenya! Okay! So if the.

C

Clerk could just I'm absolutely comfortable with that's a great suggestion, counselor lee and to report back to economic development committee.

Q

In q1 2018, thank you, okay, counselor lee. Thank you.

C

For that that that amendment will be put in place, I'm just we're just identifying.

C

Something that's important in two and three in coordinating. We have to make.

C

Sure we're coordinating with capital the capital, either capital- that's occurring.

C

Including water mains- and we have our water main guru here,.

C

We're picking the data window so counselor mannalie, what we're being what.

C

We're being advised- and I think it's good- it's a good advice just so we're.

D

Not recommended yeah so that we recommend it. We forward this to the.

C

Capital of coordination, then I would be a instead of changing two and three at.

E

The end of your motions, you would you would refer it off to the capital yeah.

C

Because we don't want to take the point, the point is the directions they're, the.

E

Directions: they're: the design elements want to give it over some accounts for.

C

Emily you're you're comfortable with that.

E

I'm not comfortable without any of this, but I'm glad we accommodated your.

C

Concerns all right, so does everybody understand what we just did and two and.

C

Three chair: I just want you to pull out that one. Well, there's! No there's no.

C

There's no financial impacts; we just leave them up. It's a video. It's a video.

C

It's not people. Okay, could you could you think it's important? We changed that so.

C

Two and three need to be changed too.

E

Group huddle or group hug, I am voting for it like this. You know I am the way.

E

It is from stuff is that advice center would allow us to proceed if it's, if it.

D

Fits within the capital program, then we would consider and put it in the program.

D

If we run into timing implications as if we can't hit that 2019 year, because we.

D

Have to coordinate with bia work and water main work. It may occur in a.

D

Subsequent year, it's just that's all that's why we need to consider when that.

D

Work would it's not the consider, isn't an instruction consider is up to you at.

E

This point no, but I think what we're what we would like to do is just get it.

C

Right because we're not, I think, of all people in this room, you don't want to.

C

See waste and that we build something and then have to rip it out when we have.

C

To do water main work ripped out next administration anyway, okay, so I think.

C

The best approach is to stay with to consider at this point for two and three.

C

Just so everybody's clear and then we can look at modifying or amending that.

C

At council, if we, if we get if we can strengthen the language, I would be.

C

Absolutely open to doing that manager just so we're clear what the way I.

D

Interpret this is, I read it as you're asking us to consider the timing and.

D

Those specific dates, so, if you leave the 2018 and 2019, we will consider whether.

D

We can make those two, those dates and that's that's. The key consideration is.

D

About timing, the number number one is actually you'll see is to do as soon as.

C

Possible in 2018- and that is, I think, one of the key issues were brought forward.

C

By the local businesses today, so that is 2018 all right, so as if so, everybody's.

C

In the loop, the two entries is going to remain as.

C

It reads on the screen, which is to consider I'll, be supporting your.

C

Amendments you're gonna make ashley curtis very unhappy. He was very excited.

C

About that and I'm sure I'll be supporting your amendments, but not well.

M

I really don't care about who I'm upsetting. I just okay, we're ready to.

C

Roll- and we have to do this in a very specific order which the clerk will.

C

Advise us on so. The first motion is before us: it's counselor steven holidays.

C

That city council direct, let's be clear,.

M

On what we're doing right, the two agree: okay, so the the motion before us is to.

C

Direct that the cycle tracks on bloor street west be removed and the estimated.

C

Cost to reinstate the previous road configuration of approximately 425.

C

Thousand be included in the capital budget for transportation, all those and.

C

Oh, I guess I'll, let you do it all those in favor of the motion before you. That's.

A

Her holiday counselor ma'am lady, all those opposed.

A

Mr. carmichael grab councillor robinson counselor channel a councillor perutz.

A

How that motion fails next motion, and so is this? Do you want all of them recorded.

C

Or just that last one, this one recorded as well. Yes, okay! So a recorded vote on.

C

Steven holidays motion related to the abba and feasibility of modifications on.

C

The bloor street bike lane project feasibility of direct polling by the city clerk to businesses. So all those in favor of the motion before you.

A

Councillor holiday, councillor mammal ad, all those a councillor j robinson all.

A

Those opposed councillor carmichael, grab councillor chinle councillor piazza, that.

A

Motion fails on a tie, vote. Okay. The next motion is, I'm not sure.

C

What the next one is, it's mine, I think the video counter. Okay,.

C

The next motion is going to come up on the screen.

C

This is councillor matt milady's about city city's, video footage of bloor.

C

Street bike lanes modified in a way that it it's permitted. Do you want a recorded.

C

Vote? Okay, all those in favor of motion before you councillor, m'lady.

A

All those opposed l, sir carmichael grib councillor holiday- no, no, I I was I was.

M

With my malini on now- and I didn't want him to be alone on the video- I think he.

M

Should get a thousand hours of video footage right? Okay, that's a wrap! Next.

C

Motion, yes, we we made sure we had you recorded in the positive next motion. Oh.

C

This is a good one, all right so councillor parata has requested that.

C

Number four be pulled out, otherwise we're gonna vote on it as a package and.

C

So these are amendments, and I think I hopefully clarified them. If you had any.

C

Questions I hopefully I've answered them so so really just let's vote on four.

M

I'll vote against four and then I can support the rest, no worries. Okay, so you.

C

Want to pull out four and do that now I don't know I mean okay, so number four.

C

First, so all those in favor of can I ask for a clarification on this. If.

M

It does pass if you if it does pass and you do the counts, you're counting cars.

M

As well, right, you're, not just counting bicycles, you're, counting cars, and you.

M

Want to see changes in in-car traffic over times that part of that as well.

C

It's the whole picture, but it does say cycling in volumes so so good. Let's look.

M

Over can you can you, can you do the entire gamut, please? No cars and bicycles.

M

Stephen councillor holiday wants to know how many additional written by staff.

C

Okay, all those in favor, I said all those in favor on the clarification it doesn't.

M

Include car, so it doesn't you're only going to count bikes, okay, that is so.

C

Minor, that was a record on that. One too, I were recording votes. I know you didn't.

C

Ask for this one to be reported. Yes, I I'm sorry. I please record this one as.

M

Well: okay, all those in favor, all those in favor of the section in yellow before.

A

You councillor carmichael, grab councillor holiday, councillor of robinson council early accounts from a milady. All those opposed councillor.

A

Parisa that motion carries, and would you like a recorded vote on this last one.

C

The package we just have him counting cards in the middle of the street. You.

C

Have to write a motion: okay and then our final motion for the evening and no to.

C

All there's two more right: yeah amend the report. Yeah we have councillor lease.

C

Okay, so all those in favor of you have to say it because they all those in.

A

Favor of the balance of the motion- that's before you from councillor robinson, all those in favor accounts for carmichael grab, councillor holiday.

A

Councillor robinson council, early councillor mammal edie, councillor piazza.

A

Carries unanimously: okay: now we have the item before us. I.

A

Guess we could adopt the item as amended recorded vote the item as amended.

A

Councillor carmichael greg can councillor lee no councillor robinson.

A

Council early councillor purusa all those opposed councillor holiday.

A

Councillor m'lady that motion carries wow. It's quarter to seven good work.

A

Everyone thank you for all your efforts, we're what oh yeah you're right.

A

I'm so tired, just the windows austin, but what fun, what fun ones bill right. I was.

A

I guess I was wishful thinking.