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Active Transportation - Comment
While the issues brought up in this comment are important, they are not specifically addressed in the Urban Design Standards for two reasons:
1) The Town is about to undertake the development of an Active Transportation Plan which will provide the structure/guidance under which new active transportation infrastructure (such as that identified in the blog comment) will be developed; or in some cases perhaps even retrofitted to existing areas. Without this background in place, it would have been inappropriate to include the kind of specific suggestions highlighted in the comment.
At such time as that the Active Transportation Plan is complete, the direction provided by it will be integrated into the design/review process (with Engineering best management practices and standards), along with the UDS.
2) The Urban Design Standards are focused on new development and not retrofitting, when redevelopment or infill projects are proposed the UDS will be applied as most practicable given the existing built environment. Therefore, the scope of the suggested changes would generally sit outside of the UDS review process, but could form part of specific infrastructure improvement projects.
Note that the suggestions provided by the blog comment will be incorporated into the Active Transportation Project.
2 comments:
On may 18th Peter posted the following comment:
"Thank you for reviewing my comment and providing prompt feedback.
I am happy to read that a plan is in the works that will address the concerns regarding existing bike lanes and future development in which we should take proper bike lanes into consideration.
Does the town have a timeframe in which they will complete the Active Transportation Plan or is that too early to say?
My concern is with the current unsafe conditions on high traffic roads like 6th and mountain road.
Cars do not take proper distance or swerve around cyclists into oncoming traffic.
If the study/plan takes a while to complete, is there anything the town can do in the mean time to make conditions safer?"
The Active Transportation Plan project is in its developmental phase, and at this time I am not in a position to state when it will be complete - note that it is budgeted for this year.
For your questions regarding our community's roadways I suggest directing them to the Town's Engineering Services Department.
You may also be interested in a private member's bill proposing a 3-foot passing law for Ontario, as described by the CBC news web site:
"Toronto MPP Cheri DiNovo tabled a private member's bill on Tuesday that requires motorists to maintain certain minimum distances from bicycles when passing them on roads.
The bill would amend Ontario's Highway Traffic Act to mandate that drivers must ensure, where possible, at least three feet (0.9 metres) of clearance when passing cyclists at speeds of less than 50 km/h"
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