Bike lanes added to Avenue Road re-design
By Margarita Maltceva
NEWS: City fails to move forward as Avenue Road plans evolve (Fall 2021)
November 11th, 2021 · Comments Off on NEWS: City fails to move forward as Avenue Road plans evolve (Fall 2021)
NEWS: Report urges reduction of traffic lanes on Avenue Road (Aug. 2021)
September 8th, 2021 · Comments Off on NEWS: Report urges reduction of traffic lanes on Avenue Road (Aug. 2021)
Cyclist death spotlights lack of bike lanes in the plan
By Madeline Smart
CHATTER: Community groups push pedestrian safety on Avenue Road (Nov. 2020)
December 4th, 2020 · Comments Off on CHATTER: Community groups push pedestrian safety on Avenue Road (Nov. 2020)
According to the City of Toronto, over 60,000 cars, on average, are caught driving over the speed limit on Avenue Road every week. The sidewalks between Bloor Street West to St. Clair Avenue West do not meet the accessibility standards requiring a minimum width of 152.5 cm, and local groups want improvements to start immediately. With the support of councillors Mike Layton and Josh Matlow, they have requested the launch of a Pedestrian Safety Improvement Pilot Project that would replace a lane on both sides of the road with a temporary barrier.
FOCUS: Push for bike safety continues (Oct. 2020)
November 2nd, 2020 · 1 Comment
Bells on Bloor asks for enforcement of bike lane rules
Over a six week period, the Gleaner photographed active daytime deliveries along Bloor St. West in order to give a snapshot of which companies respect the bike lanes and which don’t. Most do. Some Sysco truck drivers obey bike lane rules, while others do not. Brinks trucks must deliver via the front door of their customers, and seem to actively ignore the rules while doing so.
NEWS: Heritage house deteriorates (Nov. 2019)
December 9th, 2019 · Comments Off on NEWS: Heritage house deteriorates (Nov. 2019)
Residents frustrated by inaction
By Khyrsten Mieras
NEWS: Bike lanes to extend to High Park (Sept. 2019)
October 8th, 2019 · Comments Off on NEWS: Bike lanes to extend to High Park (Sept. 2019)
Annex advocacy group wants to hold city to its promise
By Juan Romero
The City of Toronto has approved the extension of the bike lanes on Bloor Street from Shaw Street to High Park and a local activist group is trying to make sure the project gets fulfilled.
CHATTER: Community Builder of the Year: Neil Jain (May 2019)
May 28th, 2019 · Comments Off on CHATTER: Community Builder of the Year: Neil Jain (May 2019)
The Annex Residents’ Association (ARA) presented Neil Jain with the Community Builder of the Year award during their meeting on April 25. “The award recognizes a good neighbour in the Annex community who has contributed in the areas of social justice, heritage, and environment,” according to the vice chair of the association, Albert Koehl.
FORUM: Changing times and travel modes (October 2018)
October 16th, 2018 · Comments Off on FORUM: Changing times and travel modes (October 2018)
Councillors should ask new questions
By Albert Koehl
Is City Hall’s preoccupation with facilitating the movement of cars now just a bad habit that can no longer be rationalized in light of actual travel modes by residents?
According to the numbers, among other reasons: yes.
NEWS: ARA holds annual meeting (Election Special 2018)
May 29th, 2018 · Comments Off on NEWS: ARA holds annual meeting (Election Special 2018)
Peter Steen receives Community Builder Award
Annex Residents’ Association board member Christine Innes, vice-chair Albert Koehl, Peter Steen, and chair David Harrison (from left). Steen received the Community Builder award for building and maintaining an ice rink at Jean Sibelius Park over many years. COURTESY ALBERT KOEHL
By Ahmed-Zaki Hagar
FORUM (Oct. 2017): A magical new supply of parking spots
November 2nd, 2017 · 1 Comment
Merchants need to look to themselves
By Albert Koehl
What if Bloor Street merchants — especially those who believe the bike lane is bad for business — could magically create a new supply of parking spots for their motoring customers?
CHATTER (JUNE 2017): Building business on Bloor Street
June 30th, 2017 · Comments Off on CHATTER (JUNE 2017): Building business on Bloor Street
Cycle Toronto has launched a new program aimed at boosting business on Bloor Street. Pick up a “Bike and Buy: Tour de Bloor Passport” from Cycle Toronto and have it stamped every time you eat or shop at one of 73 participating businesses between Avenue Road and Shaw Street. Passport-holders will be entered in a draw for discounts and prizes, including a Simcoe Bike valued at $850 from Curbside Cycle. The program will run until the end of the September. Passports are available at Curbside Cycle, Sweet Pete’s B-Side (Annex), and bloorlovesbikes.ca.
NEWS (MAY 2017): Development dominates discussion
May 26th, 2017 · Comments Off on NEWS (MAY 2017): Development dominates discussion
ARA holds annual general meeting
By Geremy Bordonaro
Development dominated the Annex Residents’ Association (ARA) annual general meeting on April 27.
The area has seen an increase in developments over the last few years, most notably the Westbank Projects Corp.’s Mirvish Village development, and that coloured every topic of discussion, from bike lanes to community housing.
CHATTER (OCTOBER 2016): Bells ring a perfect offering
October 28th, 2016 · Comments Off on CHATTER (OCTOBER 2016): Bells ring a perfect offering
PICTURE BY GEREMY BORDONARO/GLEANER NEWS
Mike Layton (Ward 19, Trinity-Spadina) was among the speakers at a late September Bells on Bloor event celebrating the installation of bike lanes between Shaw Street and Avenue Road. Organizers characterized the communal ride during which cyclists — including activist Albert Koehl, Joe Cressy (Ward 20, Trinity-Spadina), Gideon Forman from the David Suzuki Foundation, and Jared Kolb from Cycle Toronto — rode a ring around Bloor Street, Sherbourne Street, and Queen’s Park Crescent, as a victory lap. For further information on Bells on Bloor, please visit www.bellsonbloor.org. —Annemarie Brissenden