There are plans underway for the new Downsview Park that could potentially offer cyclists car-free recreational riding / commuting from Sheppard Avenue (between Allan Road and Keele Street) south to Eglinton Street (almost). In fact, the development of the Downsview Park may act as a catalyst for even more extensive bike paths as follows:

• Bike lanes along the Finch Hydro corridor, just north of Finch Avenue
• On street bike lanes from the corridor to the top of Downsview Park, at Sheppard Avenue
• Up to 10m wide bike lanes parallel to north-south rail road tracks (CN Newmarket sub) through Downsview Park to just north of Eglinton Avenue
• Connection with Kay Gardiner Belt-line trail running east-west to Mount Pleasant cemetery

There is an opportunity for you to be involved on December 8th and 16th where the Secondary Plan for this park will be presented and feedback will be collected on the plan and the alternatives contained in it.

Originally, development of these bike lanes and paths were fully described and costed in the late nineties report entitled “Pre-Engineering / Cost Assessment of Trail Opportunities in Rail and Hydro Corridors”.

In addition to cycling infrastructure in the area, there are also plans to build both TTC and GO stations in the northern section of the Park. This development reinforces sustainability in the sense that private automobile traffic is discouraged and cycling, walking, and public transportation traffic is optimized.

The Downsview Lands were previously used as a military base (CFB Downsview) until 1994 when the government announced the closure of the base. Title to 231.5 hectares (572 acres) of the Downsview Lands was transferred to Parc Downsview Park (PDP) in 2006. PDP is an Agent Crown corporation that reports directly to Parliament through its responsible Minister, currently the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities.

The PDP has developed Sustainable Community Development Guidelines, to provide a framework for the development of Downsview Park. The PDP mandate / vision includes:

• Building an urban recreational green space
• Be self-financing (no annual budget from federal government)
• Environmental, economic, and social sustainability

More recently, PDP has invited the City of Toronto to be a partner in the development of Downsview Park and surrounding area. The City of Toronto is now in the middle of a Secondary Plan Review and Zoning update for the area, and has hired the firm planningAlliance (http://www.planningalliance.ca/) to assist with this review. The secondary plan is expected to be complete by June 2009. As a result of the partnership, the plan will:

• be developed according to the provincial planning act
• have a hearing with the North York Community Council
• be approved by Toronto City Council

The Sustainable Community Development Guidelines describes in detail different possibilities, including cycling infrastructure. Here is what I like and dont like.

SOME GOOD THINGS IN THE DEVELOPMENT GUIDELINES

1. Bicycle lanes and generous bike-friendly vehicle lanes are envisioned on every street within Downsview Park. Bus shelters, sidewalk canopies, shower facilities and preferential bicycle parking should reinforce the usefulness of non-motorized modes of transportation.
2. Decision making that affects transportation options should favour modes of travel in the following order:
   1. Walking (including assisted mobility devices);
   2. Cycling and other non-motorized vehicles;
   3. L ocal trains and buses;
   4. Commuter trains and buses;
   5. Carpooling and car-sharing;
   6. Small, fuel-efficient and/or alternative fuel vehicles;
   7. Conventional cars and trucks.
3. The design of streets and paths will prioritize walking and cycling, and will ensure connectivity between neighbourhoods, park blocks and public transit.
4. Cycling should be accommodated in all development plans by providing for dedicated routes and secure bicycle parking.
5. A cycling master plan will be developed in cooperation with the City of Toronto to provide bicycle routes throughout Downsview Park which link up with City bicycle routes.

SOME NOT SO GOOD THINGS IN THE DEVELOPMENT GUIDELINES
(I have put my comments in italics)

1. A hierarchy of roads that range from collectors to pathways.
   Collectors have too much motorized traffic. I consider it a bad idea to create a short cut for motorized vehicles that will enable them to bypass congested arterial roads like Keele and Allan Road. The road system in Downsview Park park needs to be designed so it is very fast and convenient for cyclists to use it to pass through and very inconvenient (or impossible) for motorists to use it in the same way.
   
2. Paths should be a minimum of 3.0 metres in width to facilitate walking, cycling, wheelchairs, and snow removal vehicles.
   Most new bike lanes now have a standard width of 4.0 metres and bike trails in Downsview Park should be built with this wider width. We also want to emphasize that cyclists do need their own space. Cyclists need to be separated from walkers, wheelchairs, roller bladers, etc; This is especially true for those who want to use the Park as part of a commute.
3. Innovative public transit solutions should be investigated to link all of the Downsview Park neighbourhoods with the planned subway/GO train station.
   One option may be a bus route operating along the railway right-of-way. One side of the railway right of way should be for cyclists only. The other side can be for buses.

To hear more or to provide your input, you can attend one of two meetings in December about the Secondary Plan in December where City and Downsview staff will discuss Directions for a preferred alternative.

Date: Monday, December 8, 2008
Time: 6:30PM 9:00PM
Location: Downsview Secondary School, 7 Hawksdale Road

You can also provide input by writing to:

Attn: Downsview Secondary Plan Review Team
City Planning
Community Planning, North District
North York Civic Centre, 5100 Yonge Street
Toronto, Ontario M2N 5V7

For more information on these meetings see:
www.pdp.ca/en/corporate/landsPlan.cfm and the second page of www.pdp.ca/media/CommunityNotice17Sep2008.pdf for times and locations of Community meetings about this Plan. The secondary plan is expected to be complete by June 2009.

More information on Downsview Park and the Secondary Plan can be found at these sites:
www.downsviewpark.ca (main website for Downsview Park)
www.pdp.ca/media/PDPCorpPlanSummary.FinalApril21.pdf (Corporate Plan 2008-09 to 2012-13.
www.pdp.ca/media/SustainableCommEN.pdf (Sustainable Community Development Guidelines)
www.tixhub.com/PDP/e-newsletter/index.html (Downsview Park e-Newsletter) www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2008/ny/bgrd/backgroundfile-11457.pdf (City of Toronto Staff Report, Action Required, March 6, 2008) www.toronto.ca/planning/downsview.htm (Downsview Area Secondary Plan Review)

Sam Bootsma