The recent death of a cyclist on Eglinton Avenue reminds us of the dangers of riding on roads dominated by cars. In this tragic case, the driver of a parked car thoughtlessly opened her door into the path of the cyclist, who then fell into the path of a cube van. His death has prompted cycling activists to push for more … Read More
The challenges of greening Roncesvalles
Trees and greenery are an important community priority, for both aesthetic and environmental reasons. Urban trees provide shade, cool the air and actually consume 15 times as much carbon dioxide as the same trees in a rural setting. For these reasons, the City wants to double the urban tree canopy from the current 17 percent to 30 percent. To achieve … Read More
City applies its graffiti bylaw to itself
In 2005, the City of Toronto passed a bylaw that allowed it to charge private businesses that had been hit by graffiti vandals. If the businesses failed to remove the graffiti within three days, the city would remove it itself and charge the business the costs and possibly a fine. While the BIA strongly supported the bylaw’s goal of eradicating … Read More
City announces EA for Roncesvalles reconstruction
In 2009, the TTC will be replacing the streetcar tracks along Roncesvalles, and the City will perform major repairs on the sidewalks at the same time. The BIA has been working with community members, City staffers, the TTC and Councillor Gord Perks’ office to seek streetscape improvements beyond the basic state-of-good-repair. As a result of these efforts, the scope of … Read More
City swiping unlicensed A-frame signs without warning
Image: Municipal Licensing & Standards Allowable Locations: This diagram shows where A-frame signs may be located, according to a new City bylaw. Today’s Toronto Star reports that the City has begun swiping A-frame signs without warning from businesses who have not received a $200 license sticker. The businesses are charged a $100 retrieval fee to get their property back, plus … Read More
How to balance accessibility with bike safety
One of the more appealing features of the proposed reconstruction plan for Roncesvalles is the promise of being able to board the streetcar directly from the curb. However, this is more complicated than one might think. For one thing, there is the question of how traffic will move if snow is not completely cleared away from the curb. This was … Read More
Public spaces or parking spaces?
The City and the TTC appear to have reached a general consensus on the basic design theme of the street, proposed for the 2008 or 2009 reconstruction of Roncesvalles. Back in July, the TTC presented a preliminary plan for curb extensions (bumpouts) onto Roncesvalles. The TTC’s plan widened the sidewalk at TTC stops along the entire length of a streetcar. … Read More
Public meeting to discuss pay parking at Howard Public School – Jan. 17
Karen Palkowski of the High Park Residents’ Association informs us about an important public meeting to take place on January 17 at Howard Public School (30 Marmaduke St), from 7-9 pm. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the possibility of making the school’s parking lot available to the public, presumably outside school hours. Parking is tight in the … Read More
City Seeks Our Street Furniture Wish List
On September 1 2007, the City entered into a 20-year contract with Astral Media to provide garbage bins, bus shelters and other items under the Coordinated Street Furniture Program. In exchange for providing, installing and maintaining these items, Astral will be given exclusive rights to sell advertising on bus shelters and information pillars. There is to be no advertising on … Read More
Grafton Parkette Transformed
Over the summer and fall, a remarkable transformation occurred at the Grafton Parkette. This parkette, located just north of Queen Street, had been a neglected scrap of land. Today it is a beautiful focal point for the community. How did this happen? Grafton tranformed: The parkette had been a neglected patch of space (below), but over the summer it was … Read More