Bike Spotting on the West Toronto RailpathWe have our bike spotting from dandyhorse issue 13 from the West Toronto Railpath.

Interviews and photos by Sonya Allin and Robin SutherlandWe asked: what’re your thoughts on the plan to extend the railpath?

Liz Sutherland and her dog Sadie.Yes, of course I want to see the West Toronto Railpath extended. I use the railpath all the time en route to downtown destinations as my home is very close to the Cariboo entrance. It would be a dream to travel on the railpath as far as the Richmond-Adelaide protected bike lanes–imagine a car -free route from Junction Triangle to downtown and beyond. I know a lot of people who don’t use the railpath at present, though, because they don’t like the hostile environment on Dundas Street where it currently spits you out.

As much as I would love to see the railpath link up with the Richmond-Adelaide cycling route, it would be just as important to extend it in a northwest direction to link up the underserved neighbourhoods of Mount Dennis and Weston to the planned cycling grid. This northward extension is far from a fait accompli but its realization would demonstrate a greater commitment to neighbourhood equity on the part of our city planners than we currently see in the allocation of active transportation infrastructure.

What about linking up the railpath with the new Under the Gardiner project?

Why would I cycle or hang out under the Gardiner when I can bike 30 seconds south to the Martin Goodman Trail by the lake?

The Under-Gardiner project is happening because of a one-time capital donation from private sources. I am wary that it might divert operating dollars from other parts of the city that serve marginalized communities while making it more likely that the expressway will stay up longer than it might otherwise. Cities that have made the bold move of dismantling freeways near their waterfronts are making a statement about the role of the private car in their urban neighbourhoods. Toronto needs to do the same.

 
Lynette and Randal with kids Joshua, Lauren and EmmaLynette: It’s a great plan to extend the railpath. The rail lines come in handy every once in a while, but it would be better if we could bike.

Josh: My dad and me love biking.

Sonya and SibiSonya: We just moved to the Junction and Sibi goes to school downtown. It would be great if we could bike all the way in a protected path like this. If the railpath were extended to Union Station, we’d use it all the time.

Dragon with kids Nina and TianDragon: We live right behind the path. The kids come out here on weekends, cycle about a kilometre back and forth. We love the bike path and use it all the time.

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Related on the dandyBLOG:

Our new issue is here!

Comment on the West Toronto Railpath Extension Before February 15

West Toronto Railpath Update