09-12-2018, 07:44 AM
Long-awaited cycling link to go ahead this fall
"Designers went back to the drawing board, and came up with a compromise: the trail will be three metres wide for most of its length between Carwood Avenue near the Kaufman Family YMCA and Hayward Avenue. But beneath the highway underpass, the path will move further from the creek to avoid the need for the pricey retaining wall, and squeeze into the space between the streetside guard rails and the heavy concrete columns that support the highway. The compromise means that a stretch of the path will narrow to 1.7-1.9 metres, Parris told the city's cycling and trails advisory committee Tuesday."
Funny how there was no problem "squeezing" in 5 vehicular lanes when it was redone recently. Just like the Weber refuge this would appear to be against standard practice.
"If council awards the tender at its meeting later this month, the work could begin in October and wrap up six weeks later."
So best case scenario, early May?
"Another link in that stretch will link Courtland to the Iron Horse Trail, and is planned to go ahead next spring, but the design is contentious. Residents on Bedford Road and Sydney Street object to losing parking, or having Bedford become a one-way street, and even the cycling committee couldn't agree on a preferred design. The committee did approve a motion to move ahead with way-finding signs so that cyclists emerging from parkland trails know what streets they're on. Members called for the city to spend $50,000 now, rather than wait two more years until an update to the city's cycling master plan comes up with a standard design for cycling signs."
What on earth is on-street parking needed for on those streets? There is no nearby commercial interests. They are all single family homes, most of which can accommodate at least six cars. Why does Bedford have to become one-way? The current road is 8.7m wide and the right of way is 20m wide; plenty of room to fit 2 vehicle lanes and a MUT or 2 cycling lanes + 2 sidewalks.
"Designers went back to the drawing board, and came up with a compromise: the trail will be three metres wide for most of its length between Carwood Avenue near the Kaufman Family YMCA and Hayward Avenue. But beneath the highway underpass, the path will move further from the creek to avoid the need for the pricey retaining wall, and squeeze into the space between the streetside guard rails and the heavy concrete columns that support the highway. The compromise means that a stretch of the path will narrow to 1.7-1.9 metres, Parris told the city's cycling and trails advisory committee Tuesday."
Funny how there was no problem "squeezing" in 5 vehicular lanes when it was redone recently. Just like the Weber refuge this would appear to be against standard practice.
"If council awards the tender at its meeting later this month, the work could begin in October and wrap up six weeks later."
So best case scenario, early May?
"Another link in that stretch will link Courtland to the Iron Horse Trail, and is planned to go ahead next spring, but the design is contentious. Residents on Bedford Road and Sydney Street object to losing parking, or having Bedford become a one-way street, and even the cycling committee couldn't agree on a preferred design. The committee did approve a motion to move ahead with way-finding signs so that cyclists emerging from parkland trails know what streets they're on. Members called for the city to spend $50,000 now, rather than wait two more years until an update to the city's cycling master plan comes up with a standard design for cycling signs."
What on earth is on-street parking needed for on those streets? There is no nearby commercial interests. They are all single family homes, most of which can accommodate at least six cars. Why does Bedford have to become one-way? The current road is 8.7m wide and the right of way is 20m wide; plenty of room to fit 2 vehicle lanes and a MUT or 2 cycling lanes + 2 sidewalks.
Everyone move to the back of the bus and we all get home faster.