Valley Inn Bridge

McNally Foundation offers $1M to save Valley Inn Road bridge - Hamilton closed the beloved 'clickety-clack' bridge over safety concerns last December 

September 11, 2020 | Hamilton Spectator, The (Ontario, Canada) 

Author: Matthew Van Dongen The Hamilton Spectator | Page: A1,A2 | Section: Local / News 

698 Words 

A charitable foundation is offering up to $1 million to save the beloved-but-crumbling "clickety-clack" bridge on Valley Inn Road. 

The 56-year-old rattling timber span was closed to cyclists, runners and visitors to Royal Botanical Gardens natural lands last December after a city bridge inspection found failing support girders. 

A repair or replacement plan was complicated by the discovery that the boundary with Burlington falls in the middle of the pedestrian bridge spanning the outlet of Grindstone Creek at the harbour. A municipal COVID-19 cash crunch made repair prospects even more grim. 

That's why the Patrick J. McNally Charitable Foundation has offered to "cover the entire bill" for repairs up to $1 million, said Graham McNally, grandson of the foundation's namesake. 

That work could include using cranes to lift the rickety bailey bridge out of its half-century-old home, repair the structure off-site, and carefully placing it back onto refurbished concrete abutments - likely sometime next year. 

It's not yet clear whether a rehabilitated bridge would allow vehicle traffic once again. The current span was closed to cars a decade ago to prolong its life. 

Response from City to Ward One Cycling improvements letter

Our letter to the city regarding some improvements to cycling infrastructure in Ward One got a quick response from the councillor, followed shortly by this response from city cycling staff:

TLC, 

Thank you for these ideas, much appreciated. 

The City is currently updating the Cycling Master Plan/Transportation Master Plan so I have shared your original attachment with Steve M who is managing this update.  Bike lanes on Emerson St have been added to the list of ideas.  Also, we are currently adding additional route signage along some of these connections mentioned, so some improvements are already underway. 

Finally, McMaster University is reviewing their Master Plan as well, so we will share any of your relevant connectivity suggestions with them. 

Regards, 

Daryl Bender B.E.S.
Project Manager, Alternative Transportation
Public Works, City of Hamilton
905-546-2424 x 2066
www.hamilton.ca/Cycling

So, what do you think?

Ward One cycling improvements requested by TLC Hamilton

February 5, 2016

Councillor Aidan Johnson,
City of Hamilton


Dear Councillor Johnson,

We are writing on behalf of Transportation for Liveable Communities (TLC) to request improvements to major bike routes in west Hamilton/Ward One. While our requests are straightforward, we will be happy to meet with you and city staff to discuss them if necessary.

There has been a noticeable increase in cycling in the city in general and in west Hamilton in particular. This increase has been further boosted thanks to the successful launch of SOBI.

The existing bike route system, while a dramatic enhancement over the network a decade ago, could benefit from relatively low-cost improvements, which require perhaps mostly leadership.

While the city produces excellent and regularly updated maps and provides information online, a visitor to town who hops on a SOBI bike, for example, would benefit from clear road signage and markings. Similarly, driver – cyclist interactions will be more positive if clear signage and road markings inform drivers where cyclists may travel and where they have the right of way.

Our examples below reflect our own experience, but we think that a global modernization of driver/cyclist communication done with visitors and occasional cyclists in mind, will make bike travel safer and more pleasant for both drivers and cyclists. This will help achieving a major city goal of increasing bike travel.

1. The rail trail south of Main Street is a major entry point into McMaster. Currently, cyclists traveling north from the rail trail on Emerson St towards McMaster face ambiguous and dangerous crossing of Main St. W. and entry into McMaster. This can be significantly improved by providing a bike box at Emerson south of Main and a green path on the road indicating the proper route for left turning into McMaster. Similar markings can improve the southbound bike traffic as well. An even better solution for southbound travel will be dedicating the middle of the 3 lanes for southbound traffic while having each of the other lanes for right and left turning vehicles. Green boxes and markings have been used recently in Hamilton and, of course, have been used successfully for decades in other cities.

2. One of the busiest bike routes in Hamilton is the Hamilton/Brantford rail trail from McMaster area towards Dundurn St and then downtown. We have heard from many new cyclists that they find it hard to follow the bike route. The problem is typically around Studholme Street for eastbound travellers. Westbound travellers get lost in a variety of spots around Dundurn St.

3. Another well-travelled bike route leads from McMaster via Westdale towards downtown. We think that the whole section from west of the 403 to downtown would benefit from a substantial improvement in prominent signage and road markings.

4. Another minor issue may fall between the jurisdiction of McMaster and the city: there is a dangerous blind spot at the busy crossing of the Cootes path and the southbound exit from McMaster’s west campus, where most vehicles park (exit from Westaway Rd.). Currently, drivers accelerating  into Cootes Dr. and cyclists biking down the hill cannot see each other until they are too close to each other. This safety issue can be readily resolved by regular trimming of the trees just southwest of that point.

As noted above, we will be happy to meet with you to discuss these and other pertinent sustainable transportation issues.

We look forward to hearing from you,

Randy Kay and Reuven Dukas for TLC


CC Mr. Daryl Bender

Web: tlchamilton.blogspot.ca
Twitter: @tlchamont
Email: tlchamilton@gmail.com

Going for a coffee at The Cannon using the Cannon Street Bicycle Track

A quick bike trip from Hess to Ottawa Street on the Cannon Bicycle Track. 

Counted: 19 cyclists (including 2 SOBI bikes) and one scooter in a ~20 minute interval. 

Finished with a great coffee and cake at The Cannon Cafe.

Great bit of cycling infrastructure, well done!

Winter Wondering?

The City of Hamilton is looking for input on winter snow clearing on selected bicycle lanes:

Dundurn at Jones, January 5, 2013

"During the 2012 - 2013 winter season a pilot project will continue to test enhanced maintenance activities for a specific section of the "on-road painted" bike lanes to measure the benefit and cost of extending availability of bike lanes further into the winter season. The enhanced activities include additional inspection, ploughing, anti-icing, and street sweeping when warranted and feasible (excluding snow removal for the specific benefit of the affected bike lanes). This pilot project includes the bike lanes on Sterling Street, Longwood Road, Dundurn Street, and Sanders Boulevard. The pilot will be assessed and recommendations developed for future consideration. The pilot was initiated last winter, but the mild conditions have us continuing the pilot this winter.

To provide feedback on this project please access the web survey. You can complete the survey multiple times as conditions vary and please share it with other people."

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/winterbikelanemaintenance

Why some cyclists stop riding in winter

King Street West bike lanes, December 3, 2012

The lack of proper snow removal in winter creates conditions that undermine cycling infrastructure like these new bike lanes in West Hamilton.

The city is supposed to be prioritizing walking and cycling over cars, yet with snow comes the truth: cars get the full treatment, while sidewalks remain the responsibility of individual home-owners and businesses, and bike lanes, well, you can see for yourself. Snow and ice on the sidewalks and bike lanes while the roads are clear and dry.

Of course there are still winter cyclists braving the spotty paths to and fro, but how many more would still be riding if there was the same level of service offered to cars?

STOP! Is this Hamilton's first bike-traffic light?

Some nice new cycling infrastructure in Ward One, including improved physically separated two-way bike lane over highway 403 (Ministry of Transportation Ontario), and a new extension of the two-way cycling lanes west of Macklin to Paradise (with a further extension to come in the spring) courtesy the City of Hamilton and Ward One councillor Brian McHattie (also some credit must go to McHattie for using a participatory budget process for his ward which identified cycling lanes as a priority).

The above photo reveals the first bike-specific traffic light in the city, newly installed to address the two way bike traffic on a one-way street. 

The other innovation is the raised bike lane with a newly relocated bus stop. A sign and pavement markings warn cyclists to yield to pedestrians who will cross the cycling lane to board and disembark the bus. 

Ward One Improvements to Cycling

The City of Hamilton has now completed a two-way bike lane on the north side of King Street between Macklin St and Paradise Rd. There are plans to continue the bike lane network on both sides of King between Paradise and Cline Ave. N. (by the TD Bank). This work will be completed in the spring. 

This link is part of the plan outlined in Shifting Gears Hamilton's Cycling Master Plan.

See http://www.hamilton.ca/CityDepartments/PublicWorks/CommunityServicesRelatedPoliciesAndGuidelines/Cycling/shiftinggears.htm for more details about the plan.

A map showing the Ward 1 cycling network is at http://www.hamilton.ca/NR/rdonlyres/95D5B06A-32D2-46E0-839D-E25C3D52E1DF/0/FinalShiftingGears2009May1611lrgprintChp5.pdf.

Burlington Lakeshore - Left Turn or Bike Lanes?

"This was to be dealt with Dec. 3, but is deferred at least until January, coinciding with a public information centre on the sewer and road work. It also provides time for people who knew nothing about this to call their councillors. Staff contacted the Burlington Cycling Committee, which supports it."

CONTACT INFO FOR BURLINGTON COUNCIL: http://cms.burlington.ca/Page110.aspx

LITTLE: Lakeshore bike lane pilot both costly and frustrating

Hamilton Spectator, Dec. 20/12

A pilot project would eliminate the centre turning lane and add a bike lane on each side of Lakeshore Road, writes columnist Joan Little.

Any Burlington driver who ever uses Lakeshore Road will be left gasping in amazement at the latest hare-brained scheme for it.

There’s already frustration about its unnecessary narrowing at Brant Street, and resultant congestion, but wait till you hear about a “pilot project” from late summer to early fall in conjunction with the 2013 regional water main replacement from Torrance Street to Guelph Line. The pilot would eliminate the centre turning lane and add a bike lane on each side. The cost for painting lines on the new configuration is $35,000.

Councillor Jack Dennison wants the pilot extended easterly to Walkers Line. That would add $45,000 and be all summer — spring to fall. Tourist season. More bike lanes? Great! But bike lanes that totally disrupt traffic flow?

Fortunately, thanks to Councillor John Taylor, there’s a reprieve. This was to be dealt with Dec. 3, but is deferred at least until January, coinciding with a public information centre on the sewer and road work. It also provides time for people who knew nothing about this to call their councillors. Staff contacted the Burlington Cycling Committee, which supports it.

[NOTE: Ward 2 Councillor opposes the pilot project]
[Mayor asks for comments on bike lanes at his blog]

A bit of background: Burlington approved a cycling master plan in 2009. It directed staff to investigate widening Lakeshore Road to Burloak, “maintaining two narrowed travel lanes and a narrowed two-way left-turn lane,” and to begin design work. [I couldn't find any reference to this in the plan; see below for the actual recommendations in the cycling plan - rk]

Climbing Up on Greensville Hill

TLC members will recall taking part in an Environmental Assessment process to look at the plans for cycling and pedestrian access up the Highway 8 hill between Dundas and Greensville, back in 2010.

The City Cycling page contains this statement: "Hwy 8 crossing the escarpment - between Greensville (Park Avenue) and Dundas (Bond Street), a study is finalized for future implementation," however, the "a study is finalized" link leads to a page with no final study, just references like:

"Due to public input and study scope changes this project is no longer following a Municipal Class Environmental Assessment process. It is now referred to as "Highway 8 Bond Street to Park Avenue Study"

There doesn't appear to be any information on what is being planned for this site. I e-mailed the project leaders and they got back to me right away.

"The study’s website will be updated when we’ve finalized the last documentation. Basically the study has changed since its inception, due to public feedback. The projects identified/changed by the study no longer require/trigger EA process to be followed so we are not going to be following this process as originally planned. We have finalized the last planning concepts with the input from the Community Liaison Committee and will be sending out a newsletter in the New Year 2013. The study scope has changed and study area increased to accommodate transportation as well as drainage issues. 

We have you on the mailing list for this project and so you will receive a copy of the newsletter when it’s been sent out. Once you have received it please feel free to contact me if you have any further questions. 

 Thank you, Margaret Margaret Fazio, B.Sc., C.C.E.P., MCIP, RPP

I have as many questions now as when I contacted them. Why and how the study has changed remains a mystery at this point. What was the public feedback? Who is the Community Liaison Committee?

Looks like we will wait for an update in the New Year, and hope that pedestrians and cyclists concerns are addressed as part of the new finalized study.

The city cycling plan "Shifting Gears" has two projects marked for this area:

162. Bike Lane

Highway 8 from Brock to Hillcrest. Includes road reconstruction: $69 000.

176. Multi-Use Path

Hwy 8, Bond to Hillcrest, multi-use path on south side
$654,000

It remains to be seen how these projects will do given the unknowns before us.

Bike Parking: North Side of King between Bay and James

A quick tour of the bike parking on this downtown stretch of King Street in Hamilton ON (click on map below for overview of placement). 

Why so few places to securely lock a bicycle along this busy commercial area in the city's core?

Lots of room but no bike parking King at Bay 

A rack outside the Sheraton Hotel

A new "Sandanista" rack outside RBC at King across from MacNab

No racks between MacNab and James

New rack on James North at King Street

View Bike Parking, North Side of King Street between Bay and James in a larger map

chain train

The Smart Commute folks are offering an event to 

"Brush Up On Your Cycling Skills – Tuesday May 22Get ready for Bike to Work Day on May 28th by brushing up on your cycling skills. Join Green Venture and New Hope Bike Co-op on Tuesday May 22nd from 11:30AM until 1:00PM at the Hamilton Farmer's Market for short, 30 minute demonstrations on cycling in the city.The demonstrations will focus on: 

• An A-B-C Quick Safety Check to complete before riding each time 

• Tube Replacement 

• 4 Key Principles - Maneuverability, Visibility, Predictability, and Communication.                                                           

Please consider joining us for a fun, hands-on presentation and get prepped for Bike to Work Day on May 28th.Where: Hamilton Farmer's Market (York St. Entrance) - 35 York Boulevard, Hamilton, ON L8R 1R6
When: Tuesday, May 22 from 11:30AM until 1:00PM
Why: To brush up on your skills and knowledge before cycling to work on May 28th"When: Tuesday, May 22 from 11:30AM until 1:00PMWhy: To brush up on your skills and knowledge before cycling to work on May 28th"

Follow the link above for more information about the event from the organizers.

Cycling Courses

The City of Hamilton Recreation Division is pleased to provide new bicycle related courses for you and your family. 

Participants in the cycling courses listed below are required to have the following:

       A bicycle in good working condition – a tune up is highly recommended

       A bell and lock and approved bicycle helmet

       Proper clothing for all weather conditions

Bicycle Maintenance Workshop (Age 14+)
This 3 hour workshop focuses on the basics of bicycle maintenance. Participants will become familiar with the components of a bicycle and the tools used to keep it in good working order. A tool kit is available for purchase on the day of the program.

Introduction to Cycling Skills (Age 14+)
An introduction to basic traffic skills, posture, techniques and bicycle fit. This 8 hour clinic will focus on the basics of riding your bicycle safely and properly. Participants must already know how to ride a bicycle

Kids CAN-Bike (Age 9-13)
Young cyclists learn to ride safely on residential streets. During their 5 hour classes, in-class and on-bike instruction teaches traffic safety, rules, techniques and potential hazards. Participants must already know how to ride a bicycle already know how to ride a bicycle

CAN-Bike 1 (Age 14+)
Cyclists learn skills and build confidence to ride safely on residential streets. Learn traffic theory through classroom instruction and ride with a group through low traffic, on-bike instruction. Note: This 16 hour program is offered over the course of one weekend (Saturday and Sunday).

CAN-Bike 2 (Age 14+)
Advance your skills in commuting and recreational riding. During each 6 hour class, this course focuses on advanced skills and challenging conditions and Highway Traffic Act sessions. CAN-Bike 1 is not a prerequisite however this is an advanced course, participants must have experience riding on arterial roads.

For more information and to register, visit http://www.hamilton.ca/CyclingEducation.  

Bike Boon

"one-way streets are among the biggest barriers for a lot of cyclists. Even confident riders like himself can find it daunting to make a left turn off Main Street, where multiple lanes of traffic make it impossible to signal your way across the road."

One sweet ride

Ditching four wheels for two keeps these Hamiltonians green and serene — not just on Earth Day, but year-round

Kenneth Moyle says his morning commute isn’t long enough. Sometimes, to drag it out, he leaves his Westdale home and heads downtown for coffee, before going in to work at McMaster University. Related Stories

City establishing Dundurn bike lanes

The city will make room for bike lanes on Dundurn North between York and King West next week.

Moyle, 44, credits his mode of transportation for his unorthodox views. It’s shiny and cherry-red, with plenty of room for a briefcase, groceries or even a case of beer. It has an all-leather seat and it rides like a dream.

Did I mention it’s a bicycle?

“People find out you commute by bike, and they think of a tree-hugging, granola-crunching, carbon-offsetting hippie,” Moyle says over coffee at My Dog Joe.

He certainly proves that’s not the case. Moyle looks like the world’s most stylish English professor (he’s actually an analyst) — proof positive that you don’t need a Spandex bodysuit to be a cyclist. His dark-wash Levis are rolled once at the ankle above leather boots from R.M. Williams. He wears a houndstooth sportcoat with a dress shirt and striped wool tie. He carries a Toscane leather briefcase.

Yes, he rides a bike year-round, but there’s also an SUV in his driveway. It’s just that he prefers to pedal the three-kilometre round trip (which he rides twice a day, as he goes home for lunch) between work and home.

A lifelong biker, he made the move from fair weather (since 2006) to year-round commuter cyclist in 2010. Before that, his mountain bike was fine through spring, summer and fall, but the exposed chain often rusted. The bike’s sporty style encouraged him to ride like he was racing, and the crouched position left his wrists and neck exposed to the cold.

It was after a 2009 trip to Montreal, when he used that city’s BIXI bikes, that he made the move to his current ride — a delivery bike from Dutch manufacturer Batavus. Like the BIXI, its upright position and foot-forward geometry make for a comfortable, leisurely ride. The built-in racks allow for plenty of panniers, baskets and bags. The fully enclosed chain means no rusting and no greasy pant legs.

In the past two years, there have only been four or five days when weather conditions (including his nemesis — icy ruts) have forced him to leave the bike at home.

Otherwise, Hamilton is a city ripe for the riding. With very few hills, besides the Escarpment, it should be a biking no-brainer, but Moyle feels the one-way streets are among the biggest barriers for a lot of cyclists. Even confident riders like himself can find it daunting to make a left turn off Main Street, where multiple lanes of traffic make it impossible to signal your way across the road.

Myke Hutchings agrees. King Street is the most logical path from his Gage Park home to Jackson Square (where he works as a case manager for the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board), but he detours to Cumberland Street, then follows the Stinson Street bike lane, before cutting back up to King.

Hutchings, 38, started riding to work for health reasons. Bored by gyms, but determined to fit exercise into his daily routine, he bought a Pashley adult tricycle in 2011. He opted for the three-wheeler for better balance and stability, but he’s found the bike offers something else — interaction with his surroundings. A trike isn’t something you see everyday, so it gets lot of looks, which often leads to conversations with strangers. He takes his camera with him every morning. He sees parts of the city he’d never noticed before. And though his morning ride only lasts 20 minutes, he’s found it makes him more laid-back all day.

“I’ve slowed down and become more relaxed,” he says. “It used to be about getting from point A to point B. Now the journey is enjoyable as well.”

Longwood Letter

Deadline for comments to the city regarding Longwood Road (between Main and Aberdeen) is Thursday, April 5, 2012 - the e-mail address for Lorissa Skrypniak, the city staff person responsible for receiving comments, is tplanning@hamilton.ca. Remember: Your voice DOES MATTER! 


_____________________________________________________


Transportation for Liveable Communities tlchamilton.org
tlchamilton@gmail.com
905-525-9140 ext. 26026


3 April 2012

To: Lorissa Skrypniak, MCIP, RPP, Senior Project Manager 
Subject: Longwood Road Class EA


Transportation for Liveable Communities (TLC) is a citizen advocacy group established in 2000 to address sustainable transportation in Hamilton Ontario.


TLC is very concerned with the Longwood Road “Preferred Alternative” presented at the Public Information Centre Wednesday, March 21, 2012.


Beginning with the “Problem and Opportunity Statement” referencing the Kirkendall Traffic Management Plan’s statement that “Community concerns indicated a need for enhanced pedestrian and bicycle access and improved safety along the existing corridor,” the trajectory seems clear enough.


Yet we are next informed that because the city will not pursue an onramp to Highway 403 westbound from Main at Columbia College, “the implication...is that four general purpose lanes will be required between Aberdeen Avenue and Main Street.”


So, it is clear that any changes that would address the prime problem and opportunity statement to “enhance pedestrian and bicycle access” begins with the core assumption that Longwood road will act as an extended on/off ramp to Highway 403 westbound (and eastbound), requiring 4 lanes for cars.


This is a surprising turn of events, especially considering the main objective began as an effort to make the street safer and friendlier for cyclists and pedestrians.


Cyclists are especially aggrieved after seeing the Shifting Gears Cycling Plan for this stretch of road crumble: project number 196 in that plan for Longwood has: “Bike Lane with Road Diet, Longwood, Main to Aberdeen.”


Continuous connection is an important consideration when building a comprehensive bike network. As it is, the preferred option of the city planners seems to suggest cyclists using the new southbound bike lane between King and Main will have to dismount at Main, cross in a crosswalk to the east side of Longwood to continue through another crosswalk to the south side of Main where there will be a bike path on the east side of Longwood.

At the same time, cars will continue to have two lanes in each direction, ensuring the status quo of a hostile environment for cyclists and pedestrians. This is entirely unacceptable to TLC.


TLC instead strongly supports bicycle lanes on each side of Longwood, which would create a continuous connected cycling route from Aberdeen to King Street (and eventually all the way to Princess Point) – it is our position that the road diet planned in the Shifting Gears Cycling plan should be implemented to help calm traffic and create the space required for cycling lanes.


With three lanes of traffic, rather than four, the city could consider using the centre lane as a morning southbound, evening northbound lane (Jarvis Street in Toronto has used this method to adopt to demands of flow at peak times), which would maintain two-lanes when required, however TLC adamantly insists that the priority should return to improving pedestrian, cycling and transit opportunities.


A pedestrian sidewalk on the east side of Longwood will have to suffice until the City decides to improve the pedestrian crossing on the west side of Longwood at Main.


The “preferred option” of a bike path only on the east side of Longwood will, at Aberdeen, isolate cyclists on the north side of Aberdeen, which means another disconnected crossing to get to the bike path south of Aberdeen by the Chedoke golf course. Therefore, TLC supports the recommended roundabout at Longwood and Aberdeen, but with cyclists and pedestrians given proper consideration for safe access.


We hope you will take our concerns seriously, since we see the emphasis of the “preferred alternative” wrongly placed on maintaining automobile traffic flow at the expense of an integrated cycling and pedestrian environment. 

Motherfucking Bike [HD]

Cancelled

From the City of Hamilton Cycling Page: the following Shifting Gears Cycling Plan projects have been cancelled, a situation made possible by a council amendment to the cycling plan upon adoption, allowing Ward councillors to veto projects. Projects are mapped by TLC here.

• Mohawk Road (McNiven Road to Filman Road) - wider asphalt platform was not included in the resurfacing [project #127 in Shifting Gears; Councillor Ferguson, Ward 12]
• Nash Road - as Councillor approval was not granted [project #76 in Shifting Gears; Councillor Collins, Ward 5]
• Barton Street (Nash Road to Centennial Parkway) - relocation of utilities/poles impeded the project [project #13, Councillor Collins, Ward 5]
• Queensdale Avenue - as Councillor approval was not granted [project #83 in Shifting Gears; Councillor Jackson, Ward 6]

Not There Yet...

Some observations based on the "Bike Friendly" article from the Hamilton Spectator, January 9, 2012 (copied below).

"delayed" - while it's understandable that delays with specific projects will occur, the big delay not mentioned is the potential 40-year timeline to implement the cycling network based on city council spending.
"$300,000 per year" has been the amount annually budgeted for cycling since well before the updated Shifting Gears Cycling Plan, and has had years where this amount was cancelled (most notably in 2003 during World Cycling Championship in Hamilton). This rate would mean the cycling network would have trouble being completed even in the long 40 year time frame quoted. The city would need to spend $1.25 million a year to complete only the urban portion, or $2.5 million to complete the urban and rural plan in 40 years.
"Patchwork, disconnected" is an ongoing complaint with bike lanes ending abruptly and leaving cyclists to contend with multiple lanes of vehicles including transport trucks.
"high speed traffic" is one of the unaddressed problems in the city, and traffic calming, like two-way traffic on what are now fast and wide one way streets, should be implemented sooner rather than later to make streets safer for all users.
"better parking facilities" - nothing says you're not welcome like a lack of bike parking at key destinations.
"separated infrastructure...along major roads" - while other cities like Ottawa, Vancouver and Toronto are moving toward physically separated lanes to encourage more people to cycle, there is nothing in Hamilton's cycling plan acknowledging this latest innovation. Major roads have not been included in the Shifting Gears cycling plan and cyclists feel this is to keep cars moving as fast as possible while relegating bicycles to back streets along disjointed routes.
"new lanes currently planned" - the list given here are lower city streets primarily west of downtown; are other city wards getting lanes, or are they getting cancelled?

Copenhagen Cycling Contrasts

Cycling Copenhagen, Through North American Eyes from Streetfilms on Vimeo.

sidewalk-rider crackdown

The steady rhythm of institutional "blame the victim" continues with the Hamilton Police Service kicking out the announcement of their crackdown on sidewalk cyclists, a roughly annual event that targets people who make use of sidewalks rather than the roadways (here's a letter from TLC on the subject from 2001)

So, the gentleman pictured above, riding westbound on Mohawk Road approaching Upper James yesterday: does he deserve a ticket? In the absence of bike lanes on busy streets with large trucks, we can't expect people to all feel comfortable mixing with traffic (though about 30 percent of car-bicycle collisions are on sidewalks [source: City of Toronto])

It seems patently unfair and an unnecessary deterrent to target cyclists for using bikes on sidewalks in a safe and responsible manner (i.e. not speeding past pedestrians) where there is no infrastructure to support cycling. It's not like this part of Hamilton is a very active pedestrian area, having been primarily built to serve automobiles.

At the next intersection (Mohawk and West 5th) we can see (above) that there are indeed cyclists riding on the road, as per the law, but this will likely remain an anomaly until more supports are in place to give cyclists a place on the roads.

Have you been ticketed during this latest crackdown? We'd love to hear from you!