Leslie safety tour nov 20 2010

Summary Notes from the Leslie St. Walking Safety Audit, Nov. 20, 10–11 AMAttending:Approximately 18 people attended the tour including • Ward 30 Councillor Paula Fletcher • Ward 32 Councillor Elect Mary Margaret McMahon • Residents on or near Leslie • Cycling Pedestrian advocacy groups (South Riverdale Bicycle User Group & SoDa Bikes) • City of Toronto Office of the Public Realm – Pedestrian Design • City of Toronto – Transportation Services • Toronto Transit Commission (Leslie St. Maintenance Barns Project Managers and design consultants) • South Riverdale Community Health CentreIntroductionsPaul Young, health promoter and landscape architect from the South Riverdale Community HealthCentre welcomed everyone and explained the objectives of the tour: 1. To see first hand how the area functions as a local destination for shopping and for recreational trails. 2. To discuss safety issues and improvements on Leslie – changes that would improve safety for pedestrians (especially seniors and children), people with disabilities and cyclists.Paul cited a few statistics about how people move around in Toronto. For example: - Approximately half the people in Toronto do not have access to a car (they take transit, walk or bike) - On average 6 – 7 pedestrians are hit daily in Toronto, ½ of all traffic related fatalities are pedestrians (Toronto Star). - Over ½ people in Toronto are cyclists, of these ½ of these use their bikes for practical purposes (shopping, work, school, etc.) 2009 Toronto Cycling Survey.Paul clarified that this tour is not meant to raise expectations about how the TTC may or may notre-design Leslie if/when the new service tracks go in. It is meant to begin a conversation on how theTTC, City and community can pool their collective resources and wisdom to ensure Leslie is madephysically safer for our most vulnerable road users.The Tour RouteThe group went from Lakeshore Blvd. up the west side of Leslie to Queen St. E. and back down theeast side of Leslie.IssuesThe intersections and driveway entries feel dangerous and dominated by car and truck movements.As a pedestrian or cyclist one feels out of place and in danger of being hit.Local foot and cycling traffic is mixed with regional car commuters and truck traffic without muchphysical separation. The car-oriented retail compounds the problem with large parking lots and fewpedestrian / cycling routes. 1

Statistically intersections and driveway crossings are where pedestrians or cyclists are most likelyto be hit. All the intersections on Leslie south of Queen feel dangerous.Cyclists (especially young people) often use the sidewalks - most commonly on weekends.Leslie St. sidewalks are dark at night in certain places. The back-lotted town houses make thesidewalk feel like a back lane, unwatched and unsafe.Drivers do not seem to respect pedestrians or cyclists (esp. at crossing points).Connections between the sidewalk and thestore entries are difficult on foot and especiallydifficult in a wheelchair. For example, there isno clear route for pedestrians to accessLoblaws from Eastern and Leslie. The TimHortons entry for pedestrians is dangerousand not accessible. There are few cyclingconnections between the existing bike lanes(on Eastern, Dundas and Lakeshore) to thestores.There is significant flooding at the entrance ofthe building at north west corner of Easternand Leslie (covers the sidewalk and bottomsteps going to the building). This area needsto be raised and / or catch basin re-located.Possible solutions:Could Leslie become a “green way”connecting people to the lake – asVancouver is doing?There were discussions about designingthe section between Eastern and Queenwith permanent parking and/or a widenedsidewalk. Car volumes would need to beconsidered but peak commuter volumesseem to use Eastern.Some pedestrian signals could beadjusted to provide better conditions forpedestrians (i.e. at Loblaws / PriceChopper intersection).Bright pavement markings might help (“zebra crossings”) where sidewalks cross intersections.Toronto Hydro will come out if requested, to do a review oflighting levels.Re-grade area at north west corner of Leslie and Eastern Ave.There may be an opportunity (depending on Loblaw’s futureplans) to create a pedestrian and cycling connection along theeast side of Leslie between Lakeshore Blvd. and Eastern Ave.This would require a discussion with the City of Toronto area 2

planner and the property owner / tenant about feasibility and cost/benefit.Other opportunities may exist to improve conditions on Leslie (i.e. sidewalks, trees, lighting) if anynew developments are planned. This too would require a meeting with the area planner.Perhaps car and truck traffic could be re-routed onto Lakeshore Blvd rather than Leslie.Perhaps a shared pedestrian / cycling facility could be introduced along one side of Leslie.Speed control: perhaps someintersections could have raisedcrossings (i.e. similar to Esplanadeand Market St.)A contra-flow bike lane on Leslie northof Queen could connect Eastern bikelanes up to the Dundas E. bicyclelanes.Next StepsCouncillors Fletcher and McMahonwill post information from the tour and will collect comments from others interested in the issue.Send ideas to:Ward 32 Councillor Elect Mary Margaret McMahon – spargy@rogers.comWard 30 Councillor Paula Fletcher councillor_fletcher@toronto.caIt was suggested that the TTC design team will correspond with participants through the Councillorsregarding design options.It was suggested that the Councillors meet with the Area Planner(s) to review options for theLoblaw’s site frontage (and any other new development opportunities)End of NotesRecorded by Paul Young, South Riverdale Community Health Centre pyoung@srchc.com (416)461-1925 ext. 241Cc Attendees, South East Toronto Bicycle Users Group, SoDa Bikes, Toronto Coalition for ActiveTransportation 3

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