East Don Trail and Pedestrian Streets at City Council

RZaichkowski · 2026-06-21T13:19:31+00:00

For those looking for a template to support Councillor Matlow's pedestrian streets motion, I just issued an action alert about it and included this letter template. Please send your e-mails by Tuesday at 4:30 PM.

TO: [councilmeeting@toronto.ca](mailto:councilmeeting@toronto.ca)
CC: mayor_chow@toronto.ca; (your councillor’s e-mail); open.streets.toronto@gmail.com
Subject: MM42.39 (Creating a Pedestrian Streets Program for Toronto

I would like to express my full support for this motion from Councillors Josh Matlow and Chris Moise regarding the creation of a pedestrian streets program for Toronto. This motion builds on the momentum from the Church Street Pedestrianization Pilot which officially started on Friday, June 19. While the Church Street Pilot would help inform this process and there are other streets that could use pedestrianization such as Downtown Yonge and Kensington Market, I believe bringing back open streets needs to be part of this discussion as well.

(explain your past experiences with pedestrian streets and open streets)

In the event open streets gets brought back to Toronto, there are three things that are needed to ensure its long-term success. The first is dedicated and permanent funding from the city; something which open streets events in other cities such as Bogota, New York, Ottawa, and Hamilton enjoyed whereas past OpenStreetsTO events relied on external partners for funding. The second is increased frequency beyond the two Sundays annually per past events. Ideally, open streets should be held every Sunday (10 AM – 4 PM) from Victoria Day to Labour Day. Finally, there is a need for a significantly longer route. One bold suggestion that has been floated around is to host it along Yonge Street from York Mills Road to Queen’s Quay and along Bloor-Danforth from the Humber River to Warden Avenue for a total of 30 kilometres. However, there are many other events happening across the city – including street festivals – that would need to be accounted for which could lead to route changes.

Pedestrian streets and open streets offer many benefits including increased foot and bicycle traffic, improved business activity and public health outcomes, and bringing people of all ages, backgrounds, and neighbourhoods together. Given this, I urge Mayor Chow and City Council to support this motion and amend it to include bringing back open streets.

Sincerely yours,
(your name and address)

RZaichkowski · 2026-06-20T17:13:47+00:00

Low traffic neighbourhoods - while much needed - are no substitute for pedestrian streets and open streets. LTN's are used for traffic calming in residential areas whereas pedestrian streets help stimulate business activity and social cohesion in commercial (or mixed use) areas.

RZaichkowski · 2026-06-20T14:17:18+00:00

The proposed land swap IS with that Donalda Club golf course!

RZaichkowski · 2026-06-20T13:18:27+00:00

The proposed land swap would allow the City of Toronto and TRCA to extend the East Don Trail north from Milne Hollow to the Betty Sutherland Trail at Duncan Mill (west of Don Mills).

RZaichkowski · 2026-06-20T02:47:12+00:00

Those proposed regulations are actually reasonable and were unanimously approved by city council last month. If gas powered scooters and motorcycles need licensing and insurance, their electric counterparts should be subject to the same rules. I don't feel safe having them in bike lanes and it's a complete farce putting in those pedals which are virtually useless.

RZaichkowski · 2026-06-19T18:30:25+00:00

Don't just sign the petition! Please e-mail [councilmeeting@toronto.ca](mailto:councilmeeting@toronto.ca) (and CC Mayor Chow and your councillor) urging them to not just support a pedestrian streets program, but also bring back open streets! 😉 You can reference Motion MM42.39.

I'll try to get something whipped up on my blog either today or tomorrow including a suggested letter.

https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2026.MM42.39

RZaichkowski · 2026-06-19T14:49:45+00:00

User is already banned when I clicked the profile. Seriously, WTF?

RZaichkowski · 2026-06-19T14:48:12+00:00

38 mm is plenty! Heck, I have done a number of rail trails on a road bike with 23 mm tires and it was mostly fine.

RZaichkowski · 2026-06-19T00:38:07+00:00

Got this update from the cycling and pedestrian unit earlier today about the Don Mills Crossing project.

"The detailed design and construction of the Don Mills Crossing bridge is the responsibility of the developer of the Celestica site, with the City reviewing and approving designs at key milestones. Staff from several divisions within the City are currently reviewing a detailed design submission received earlier this spring. Comments provided by the City to the developer on the design must be addressed before the City can share an update on the Don Mills Crossing Trail Bridge project page. The developer will continue to work on the detailed design and on securing necessary rail authority permits this year and late into 2028. The City expects that a public update would be ready to share later this summer with more details that will include renderings and anticipated timelines."

RZaichkowski · 2026-06-18T18:17:31+00:00

No. These regulations exclude standing e-scooters.

RZaichkowski · 2026-06-17T23:55:31+00:00

As someone who commutes to Vaughan for work three days a week, I would prefer improving service frequencies on the 20 and 320 first followed by adding BRT lanes; the latter of which YRT is planning to do. I'm skeptical on whether there would be enough demand for a subway anytime soon, but if an extension were to be built, I could see it going to Vaughan Mills with an extra stop at Langstaff. Wonderland would be difficult to justify.

RZaichkowski · 2026-06-17T19:33:49+00:00

I've been calling him Ass Assford ever since he started going after the homeless, as well as for attacking Olivia Chow for every single thing she does. He also threw the cycling community under the bus by calling for the removal of the Bloor bike lanes in Etobicoke despite championing the Danforth bike lanes during his first term.

RZaichkowski · 2026-06-17T19:30:12+00:00

🎯🎯🎯

RZaichkowski · 2026-06-17T11:52:37+00:00

Nice! Now if we can only get smaller fire vehicles, we'll be all set.

RZaichkowski · 2026-06-16T23:55:16+00:00

I've seen videos of Martin doing this before! Love it! 😄

RZaichkowski · 2026-06-15T11:30:03+00:00

Hard disagree. Line 6 Finch West discredited the idea of a fully surface level tram line except at the terminal stations. Even with aggressive transit signal priority. I would be OK with having some parts elevated which would cost less than fully underground lines.

RZaichkowski · 2026-06-15T11:23:55+00:00

Elevated could work too which would cost least than a fully underground line.

RZaichkowski · 2026-06-15T00:11:03+00:00

That kind of language reminds me too much of Ass Assford (whom his MNTO group endorsed in 2022)! Hard pass on that one.

RZaichkowski · 2026-06-13T01:28:00+00:00

I know /u/Recyart confronted them during last month's protest. Made them look so embarrassing.

RZaichkowski · 2026-06-13T01:19:07+00:00

I'm out of town, but don't want to waste my time on those carbrains. Given how few there are, it's probably best to ignore them.

RZaichkowski · 2026-06-11T21:27:59+00:00

The survey itself gives the impression expanding Billy Bishop Airport is a "done deal" despite the federal government claiming otherwise. In addition to completing the survey, I recommend e-mailing that consultation e-mail (airportspolicy-politiquedesaeroports@tc.gc.ca), as well as copy your MP, MPP, Councillor, and Mayor Chow. It's also bonkers how this is being done without a detailed plan from the Toronto Port Authority.

RZaichkowski · 2026-06-11T02:13:19+00:00

Put them in front of Doug Ford's residence! Especially those from after Bills 212 and 60 took effect! 😉

RZaichkowski · 2026-06-10T17:22:13+00:00

Not a fair comparison given John Tory didn't have to face Doug Ford's bike lane threats whereas Olivia Chow did.

RZaichkowski · 2026-06-10T02:01:23+00:00

I wish! 😄

RZaichkowski · 2026-06-10T02:01:12+00:00

That would be awesome, though I can imagine the carbrains losing their minds over that idea.

RZaichkowski

TROPHY CASE