Bike Lane Review - College Street



The College Bike Lane (opened 1993) extends from Manning to just before Bay St.
It was redesigned later in 1995 after some businesses complained about having
a bike lane in front of their doors. It is a high traffic lane especially during rush hour
(close to 200 riders/hr). This Bike Lane represents a major cycling artery for commuters
into downtown. UofT/OCAD students and others heading to attractions like Chinatown,
Kensington Market and Little Italy use this bike lane.


Going west at Manning you enter the 'Funnel of Fear' due to the dangerous squeeze between parked cars and street
car tracks. It is a very prominent east - west route.



It also features one of the worst sections of any bike lane in Toronto,
located roughly between Manning and Huron. While illegal parking
is rampant all over the College Bike Lane this section is one of the
worst. The road conditions vary from acceptable to very poor. Bike Lane
markings are fair to poor and need to be repainted on an annual basis.
Signage is adequate but lacks any real punch to remind drivers that they're
stopping/parking in a bike lane.

The lane is not cleared of snow in winter and becomes a snow lane
which often gets used for on-street parking instead. The curb lane is also
not cleared of snow. Lastly, the commonly used design of having cars
parking on the right of the lane leads to dangerous situations for cyclists
and sometimes 'door prizes' (i.e. drivers opening car doors into the path
of cyclists)

Despite a number of accidents along College, some life-threatening, no
action has been taken by the City nor by local councillors Pantalone and
Chow to improve conditions.



Road surfaces are better after McCaul Street, however, on-road markings
still need re-painting. Traffic speeds are slower west of Bathurst due to poor
roads conditions. Bike Parking is generally good and much improved.

A future re-design of College Street and its bike lanes between Bathurst
and Spadina offers little hope for improvement. At best, cyclists can look
forward to more of the same along College.

Most dangerous corners: Anywhere near Manning, in front of the motor vehicle
license office near Euclid, Bathurst (North and south side), Spadina (mostly south
side), North side at Augusta and watch for right turns at Beverley and St. George.

Bike-friendly places along College: She Said Boom, U of T and of course, La Palette
Unfriendly to Cyclists: College Medical Centre

Bike Lane Rating 2003-2004: C-
Conclusion: It's the bike lane many love to hate. Better than no Bike lane.
Update 2004: It's a mess out there on College while street car tracks are being replaced.
Very dangerous as well. Then sidewalks between Bathurst to Spadina will get redone ...
Oh, College.


Posted: Fri - January 23, 2004 at 09:51 AM          

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