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ARChive: Diary of ARC Happenings
Toronto cyclists standing together.
legal defence, direct action, lobbying, education
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CYCLISTS SHOW SUPPORT AT PEDESTRIAN MEMORIAL
When: Thursday, February 25/99 at 8:00 am
Where: Intersection of Bloor West and Manning
Note: Cyclists are invited to meet at 7:45 at the Public Library on Palmerston, North of Bloor. There we will park our bicycles, and proceed to the memorial on foot, as a sign of respect for the pedestrian who was killed.
CYCLISTS SHOW SOLIDARITY WITH PEDESTRIANS.
Last Thursday a pedestrian was killed at Bloor and Manning when she was struck by a cyclist during morning rush hour. The pedestrian advocacy group, Feet on the Street, will be holding a memorial on Thursday, February 25, one week after the pedestrian was killed. ARC (Advocacy for Respect for Cyclists) will attend as a show of support for pedestrian safety.
ITS TIME FOR THE HIGHWAY TRAFFIC ACT TO PUT PEDESTRIANS FIRST.
ARC has always put pedestrian safety high on its agenda. In the summer of 1998, ARC worked with the Regional Coroner, Dr. William Lucas, on a report on cycling fatalities. One of ARC's top recommendations was a change to the Highway Traffic Act (HTA) that would give pedestrians the right of way over all vehicles, bicycles included. Dr. William Lucas wisely saw the sense of this suggestion, and included the recommendation in his report. This recent death highlights the immediate need for pedestrian right of way. We can no longer tolerate a province that puts the most vulnerable members of society at the highest risk. ARC requests that the Ministry of Transportation undertake to create a right of way hierarchy which places pedestrians first.
ARC CALLS FOR A LIFT OF THE RUSH HOUR PARKING BAN ON BLOOR ST.
Speed kills, and rush hour is a time of day when speed prevails, for cars and bicycles alike. This culture of speed places pedestrians at high risk. ARC is requesting that the city instate 24-hour parking on Bloor St., thereby reducing rush hour traffic to one lane. This would slow car traffic, making the street safer for all road users. Bloor Street is already a commuter facility, with the high capacity subway running underneath it. There is no excuse for turning Bloor Street into a high speed, dangerous surface route twice a day. The safety of pedestrians should no longer come second to the high speeds of rush hour traffic.
TORONTO'S CURRENT TRANSPORTATION BUDGET MAY MEAN MORE PEDESTRIAN DEATHS.
The City's current transportation budget is outrageously biased toward car facilities. Pedestrians and cyclists are not getting their fair share. The 5 year transportation budget for new projects totals $901.805 million. 53% is allotted for bridge and road rehabilitation and resurfacing. 22% is for expressway rehabilitation. Other miscellaneous projects to facilitate motorized traffic are allotted 13%, and new road construction is given 9%.Pedestrian infrastructure, cycling facilities and traffic calming are allotted a mere 3% of the total budget. ARC believes this budget will create dangerous conditions for anyone who is not travelling in a car. As the transportation budget is presently insufficient to keep Toronto's existing roads in good repair, ARC is calling for the 9% currently allocated for new roads to be redirected towards safe facilities for pedestrians and cyclists and improved public transit.
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