Photo via flickr

Harbord St. might be getting a shake-up as the city drafts plans for a bi-directional cycling track, coming in 2014. At a consultation at Kensington Gardens last week, planners heard out opinionated cyclists and unveiled plans to construct a route leading around the Queens Park Circle and continuing west to Ossington. Some expressed concerns over whether or not the strip actually needs this bi-directional lane, or if money might be better spent on new tracks and painting new lanes in other areas that have been getting less attention, with a less efficient lane currently implemented.

As Harbord stands as the city’s second-busiest bike route, with cycling representing 40% of the traffic, a re-vamped track isn’t exactly a waste. A bi-directional lane will separate cyclists and drivers for a more comfortable and safe commute. But safety isn’t the primary concern for all leaders involved: in a romantic view of the issue, local councillor Adam Vaughan (Ward 20) weighed in saying that we need to bring “beauty into this debate”. On the visual re-construction, Vaughan noted, “You can’t just roll a bike lane through one of the most important heritage communities in our city and come up with yellow plastic bollads and say ‘There. It works. It’s safe.'”

Impressive infrastructure and security are being debated alongside the need to accomodate both cyclists and drivers. City planners say that the lane should go on the north side of Harbord so as not to get in the way of parking, lights, and traffic. Inevitably, some parking will be lost which hasn’t exactly pleased local residents and businesses. 

Photo via DandyHorse.

[via Biking Toronto]