Logan Ave is a key artery in Ward 30. Running north south past Frankland Community Centre and junior public school, through residential neighbourhoods, alongside Withrow Park (a hub of community activity!), down through Leslieville and finally to Lakeshore, connecting us to the Lower Don Recreational trail.
Logan has been blessed with some bike lanes, but unfortunately it's a bit of a patchwork.
There are bike lanes are on the stretch between Dundas and Gerrard (which links up nicely to the Dundas bike lanes).
Along Withrow Park a one way bike lane has been added.
And in a small section south of Eastern ave there is a contraflow lane.
Red = bike lanes
Yellow = Contraflow bike lane
Purple = legally allowed traffic flow for cyclist (car access is different in some areas)
1. No dual-direction access
Cyclists can legally travel north from Lakeshore Ave all the way up to the Danforth. Travelling the other direction however, a cyclist starting at the Danforth going south, cannot use Logan until Gerrard forcing cyclst traffic over to alternative southern routes along Broadview or Carlaw.
We've heard feedback from the community that even though Logan is legally a one-way street, cyclists frequently travel the wrong way down Logan, or on the sidewalk, along Withrow Park. Local parents from Withrow Public School have expressed concerns to Ward30bikes for safety of their children as cyclists speed downhill along this illegal route.
2. Cyclist safety between Dundas and Eastern Ave
After enjoying the safety of bike lanes between Gerrard and Dundas, cyclists are lead down to a section of Logan that is no longer protected.
Solutions:
1. Contraflow bike lanes should be installed from the Danforth down to Gerrard.
This would filter cyclists down a safe contraflow lane, and away from children playing in Withrow Park. As well, contraflow lanes have the added and proven benefit, of decreasing car traffic speeds and increasing neighbourhood safety.
2. multi-directional bike lanes between Dundas and Eastern Ave
Ward30bikes is assessing if the width of the street can accomodate bike lanes.
However, connecting the patchwork with a continuous bike lanes and implementing dual-direction cycling, would be a tremendous improvement for cycling infrastructure allowing safer access to the Frankland Community Centre, Withrow Park and Lower Don Recreational Trail.
What has Ward30bikes done so far?
During the South of Eastern Strategic Direction planning study, our feedback was given on Logan bike lanes.
During the Carlaw/Dundas corridor study Ward30bikes provided their feedback there as well.
Next steps [update in process]
I live along Logan Avenue, the one-way northbound section of this one lane residential street where planners are proposing the installation of bike lanes that will go southbound against traffic. I see firsthand the major safety issues with this proposal all along this one-way section that I feel must be addressed to ensure the the safety of bike lane users and the surrounding community.
ReplyDeleteLogan Avenue from Danforth to Gerrard:
The idea of southbound bike traffic down Logan Avenue from Danforth to Gerrard is something that keeps me up at night and anxious whenever I think about it. Why? Safety mostly, followed by community disruptions, then the idea of the cost of such a project knowing that a perfectly logical solution requiring no more than painting a shared bike stencil on the road, is located one street (Carlaw Avenue) to the east all pile on top of one another making my head spin. Please let me explain.
1. Safety #1. Logan at this section is very steep. Steeper than Carlaw Ave to the east.
No matter what the planners do, they will not be able to fix this steep hill in any bike plan going down this section.
2. Safety #2. Cars pulling out of parking spots along the west side of Logan or turning north (left) onto Logan from perpendicular streets are blind to southbound bike traffic as a result of parked cars. More danger if bikes are hugging the west side of the street where cars are parked
3. Safety issue #3 Stop signs must be added for bike traffic contra-lanes if this ever happens. Speed limits for bikes should also be set.
4. Community #1. People live here and need access to their homes -- moving trucks, maintenance vehicles and yes, their cars. There is no more room on this narrow strip for another bike lane - using the Withrow parkland for the steep section is an option, but that leads me to number 5 and Community Issue #2.
5. Community #2. South of Withrow park, several concrete barriers were installed to slow traffic and make the intersections narrower/safer. Removing these barriers and removing parking here is expensive (tax dollars) and has no value add for the community
Conclusion: Use Carlaw Avenue as the main southbound bike lane starting all the way at the top at Cosburn or Pape if possible.
If the planners and cycling advocates would consider it. All that is needed is a little paint. The speed limit is already 30 km and hour along Carlaw, no parking is taken away, no extra stop signs needed and no removal of concrete barriers. Easy. Using Carlaw Avenue for the southbound traffic would save the City thousands upon thousands of dollars that can be used elsewhere for other more suitable bikes lane locations and infrastructure.
A concerned, mom cyclist, car driver and citizen of Toronto