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In the first week of the new year the Mississauga Cycling Advisory Committee (MCAC) met twice to review the Cycling Master Plan prepared by iTrans. A first draft is expected by the end of February, at which time public consultations will begin. That will be your chance to give your input on future bicycling paths and policies in Mississauga.
Here’s a glimpse of what we at the MCAC saw, and what you can expect to be seeing.
An important aspect of the Master Plan will be specific policies for implementation. For example, when infrastructure is being renewed, or new developments are being created, it is an opportunity to integrate bicycle-paths and facilities at minimal cost. Policies in the Master Plan, which are mirrored into other city planning policies, direct the planner to use a tool-box of best practices to make their plan bicycle-friendly.
These policies and best practices constitute a large amount of documentation assembled by iTrans. The MCAC will have a chance to provide input to the draft plan before it is released to the public; but considering the depth and complexity of all this documentation, we will need a streamlined strategy in order to provide valuable input.
The second large component of the Master Plan is the actual cycle path network. We were shown a series of layered maps with different degrees of detail starting with the Grid, which connects the city together, and down to the community level, which connects residents with each other and the Grid.
The MCAC all agreed that development the “Grid” should take top priority, in order to create a safer and more efficient movement of cyclists as commuters.
We all came away with renewed optimism about the future of the cycling infrastructure planned for the city of Mississauga, which will turn it into a first-rate bicycling city.
If you have identified specific cycle path needs for your community, please check here regularly for opportunities to provide input into the draft Master Plan.
Mississauga bike maps
ah nice to see things are beginning to come to fruition.
would a higher resolution version of the image be available at all? it is difficult to see the detail.
glad to hear “grid” – that’s good.
thanks for the update, MCAC!
Owen,
I’ll inquire about getting images with more resolution. I think the issue was that these were draft copies that are still being re-worked on a regular basis. We didn’t want to post something that is in such a high rate of change. This spring, all people in the Mississauga area will be able to attend sessions at various locations through the city. There they will have big maps with overlays. They will be taking in peoples’ opinions to fine-tune the plan.
ah, yes, fair enough. i figured as much.
just itchin’ to see what is coming – spring can’t come soon enough!
I wonder if they will include bike lanes on bloor st. or cawthra Park. I guess it all depends on how much of a commitment there is from the Mayor.
I would love to have a bike lane on Matheson from Hurontario all the way to the Airport.
Welcome Nick.
I do see a large number of cyclists traveling Matheson east of Dixie. I would say the road is wide enough for bike lanes – even with the large vehicles that frequent that route. Surely cyclists could benefit from having a class 2 bike lane (on-road painted lane). I know that cycling along Matheson under the 403 is quite unsafe with the current road design. Keep an eye out for something in the plan to address a safe passageway through there to the other side of the 403.
Why would this route be beneficial for you?
Do you know other cyclists who would benefit from such a route? I would encourage you to plan on attending the Cycling Master Plan public consultation in your area (TBA) and encourage others who cycle the route to come as well. The more public support you can get for desired routes, the better chance they will make it to (or into) the next stage.
Cyclists in Mississauga: I can’t emphasize enough the importance of attending these public consultations for the Cycling Master Plan. This Master Plan will set the direction for cycling infrastructure in the city for decades to come.
There is no safe way to cross Dixie Rd. I live east of Dixie and would love to cycle through Applewood Park and beyond.
Hi Loretta,
Thanks for your comments on Dixie. Although I don’t cycle much down at that end of the city, I received valuable input from a trusted contact that does. Below is an excerpt on what he sent for me to pass on to you:
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I regularly cycle in the east end of Mississauga, and while there are no tunnel or overpass crossings for Dixie Road, Dixie can easily be crossed at many major intersections simply by using existing crosswalks (a reminder your bike should be walked through the crosswalk).
If interested in the trails south of the 401, I would recommend the following trails and crossings:
The Charlie Martin Trail at Golden Orchard and Dixie – This is an on street bike route, however, the traffic on Golden Orchard is relatively light and drivers here tend to be aware of potential issues (children, cyclists, etc). Crossing Dixie here does require focus and attention. And, of course, walk your bike across this intersection.
Dixie Road and Bloor Street – This is a major intersection with heavy traffic. It is, however, a signaled crosswalk. Crossing Dixie here does require focus and attention. And, of course, walk your bike across this intersection. Use common sense and pay attention.
The Burnhamthorpe Trail at Dixie Road and Burnhamthorpe Road East – This is the intersection crossing interrupting a boulevard trail on the east at Havenwood and on the west at Hickory Drive. Drivers here DO NOT tend to be aware of potential issues (children, cyclists, etc). Crossing Dixie requires extra focus and attention, particularly on the traffic flow curve lanes. Walk your bike across this intersection.
Dixie Road and Rathburn Road East – This intersection crossing is a better alternative than Dixie and Burnhamthorpe. It’s worth the one block ride up Dixie to cross here. Drivers here are more attentive to potential issues (children, cyclists, etc) than at Dixie and Burnhamthorpe. Crossing Dixie requires always focus and attention, particularly on the traffic flow curve lanes, but is not too bad here. Walk your bike across this intersection.
Dixie Road can also be crossed at Eglington Avenue and Matheson Blvd East through the use of the pedestrian crosswalk, however, these crossings are not readily accessible to the trail system. Again it is recommended that cyclists use the crosswalks and walk their bikes through.
These crossings may not be the ideals that tunnel or overpass crossings might offer but they are accessible and they are safe if properly used (with a healthy dose of attentiveness and common sense). And – they’re well worth using if they get you to the more extensive parts of the trail system.
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Loretta,
Although Alan provided some tips the reality is, none of the suggestions outlined remedy the problem. What we need are safe routes, especially on Bloor Street. There is so much the city can do to transform that landscape and make it safe for people to cross Dixie…but the political will is simply not there. I urge you to write a letter to your ward councillor, explain who you are and how you would like to see safe cycling routes to allow you to cross Dixie. As I said, a lot can be done with Bloor Street, but I do not think it is outlined for any changes in the Cycling Master Plan.
If you write to your ward councillor he/she has no choice but to read the letter and it must be addressed. He/She cannot ignore written letters from citizens although they can ignore e-mails.
If you have friends who cycle, tell them to write letters as well. Only with public pressure will the city ever act. We as people have to be vigilant about these issues.
Cheers
Indeed, taking the time to write to your ward councilor is a very effective way to see positive action on cycling in the city. MCAC has many ways to collect ideas and opinions from citizens: Talking to cyclists on the trail system, tracking comments here on http://www.mississaugacycling.ca, emails, letters, and through public events. We take this input to shape our recommendations to Council. Yet when a councilor approaches MCAC with a concern/comment/issue in regard to cycling in Mississauga due to feedback from constituents, there comes with it a vested interest and boosts cooperation in coming to a solution.
To find your councilor and how to contact them, visit this site:
http://www.mississauga.ca/portal/cityhall/mayorandcouncil
Keep up the good work Allan. Im not sure when the public consultations will come out with regards to the master plan..but has there been any discussion/consideration to installing dedicated bicycle tracks on Bloor street? This would not detract from the current road system…but the city can remove the outer limits of the sidewalks/driveways on the street. The concrete raised curve barrier is used as a snow collector…but it is only in use for 2 months of the year..the remaining time it is useless and the street around the Dixie/Bloor area has deteriorated to deplorable conditions. A new landscape with coloured cycle tracks on one side or either side with right of way crosswalks would totally transform the area. There are also a number of schools in the area (elementary/Middle/Secondary) with a plethora of students and parents who would use the cycle tracks if they were installed. I see this as a huge bonus for the people living there. As it stands residents cannot park on that secondary portion of that driveway either. Especially East of Dixie, bloor street is deplorable. Bloor street is also heavily traveled by cyclists. Even on my commute this morning I counted a slew of cyclists all braving the dangerous road conditions on Bloor.
Benefits: +
Value for area: +
Costs: Minimal
Allan,
I read about the bicycle loop on the website, for Mississauga Valley and Central Parkway, so I took a moment today on my way from work to check it out. I did not see anything that resembled a loop of any kind. Can clear up what this is?
Also, while there I was totally dismayed that on the North side of Central Parkway, on Mississauga Valley, the city had installed wide and comfortable bike lanes, but on the south side….there were none. What is frustrating is that Mississauga Valley just south of Central Pkwy, that does not have the lanes, is A NEW ROAD. It was recently paved over….the sides of the street are new… why in the world, would they not widen the road and install bike lanes, especially when the other side of the road had them???? Does this not violate the policy of the city to examine the use of bike lanes in the city when re-paving roads? I was just sad and disappointed. They had enough money to install those useless concrete raised barriers, between the road and the patch of grass on the side…but they could not have installed bike lanes? It is just ridiculous, short sighted and plain sad. I also do not understand why the bike lanes on Mississauga Valley rd, do not extend all the way north to Central Parkway, (where the new bridge was installed) unless that is on the books.
I know the MCAC works hard…but its just sad to see new development and bad planning. This is just one example of many where the city has messed up.
A bicycle “loop” refers to a magentic loop under the paved surface that detects a bicycle standing, or in some cases moving, over it. When the electro-magentic current is disrupted by the magentic materials on the bicycle, it tells the traffic lights that it has bicycle traffic waiting to cross and will trigger a move toward a green light.
The installation of this was a pleasant surprise to me. In the future, I would personally love to see a pilot of ADVANCE polling loops much like what is done with motor vehicles. Advance loops will detect the moving object before it reaches the intersection which has the potential to eliminate the wait time.
That being said, I think it’s great that Mississauga is looking at magnetic loop detectors specifically for bicycles. I encourage you to re-visit the intersection and try it out!
Thanks that clarifies my question. Sorry to bug you again…BUT… do each 4 corners have one? Also, where exactly should my bike be placed. Left turn lane? Middle of center lane? Right lane? And…just so I know that it is working, how long is the wait time after it is triggered?
Are you referring to this article? –> http://www.mississaugacycling.ca/bikeway-contruction-projects
It says west intersection on the Mississauga Valley Blvd. bike lane, so if you are traveling southbound on Mississauga Valley Blvd., that would put you on the west side.
I haven’t been there yet but usually these detectors will be just before the stop line and you can see cuts in the pavement where it was installed.
Maybe you can approach a red light early in its stage and stop over it and count until green. Approach a red light from the northbound lane and count until green. You should see a difference.
Go in non-rush hour so cars won’t mess up the experiment. Post what you find…
The bike loop, is actually a line or spot with some wires and the operation of the loop works by induction, so its not a magnetic loop, electro magnets do not sense non ferrous materials. however, a current flows through the wires, when nothing is there, the PLC controller sees the wire’s impedance as regular, however when a metal object passes or stays on the bicycle loop, the impedance changes and the PLC controller enters this a que to change the light. induction takes place everyday where in a transformer one loop of wires induces a voltage in the other coil wound around a common core.
i would like to know when the city intends to complete the extension of Burnhamthorpe paved shoulder to the 407 ?
Does anyone know (or is willing to guess) when the Cycling Master Plan will be published?
Welcome to Mississauga Cycling Carlo,
The Mississauga Cycling Advisory Committee had a workshop with city staff on how to best evaluate routes and how to best assign their priorities. We will be meeting with them again in December and then finally in January 2010. Given the complexity (I think its draft size is about 150 pages) and the progress I see to this date, I would expect a public workshop/presentation by late Spring or early summer of 2010.
Anybody know when the Etobicoke Creek trail north of the 401 is slated to be completed? This trail is denoted in the 2010 cycling map but I find it hard to believe this path is complete given there was no sign of construction in fall 2009 where the path currently ends just south of the 401.
I’ve really been waiting for this one for a long time, so I’m anxious to see it open!
Hi Alan,
Was any consideration given to the date of the Cycling Master Plan Presentation? It is on the same day and time that the Downtown21 plan is being presented. Im just perplexed that both parties involved chose the same day. Many residents such as myself would like to attend both, but obviously cannot. This being the case, will there be another opportunity to see a presentation of the plan?
Hi Scott,
I just past through the airport last week and I noticed some construction activity on the south end just as the Etobicoke Creek enters the airport property. My guess would be that by the fall the route could be completed, unless a few bidges are to be built.
George,
Thank you for your comments. The City strives to ensure that open houses, public meetings, information sessions, etc. do not conflict, however due to project logistics this is sometimes not possible.
We encourage you to review the Master Plan and provide your feedback. Copies of the Plan are available for review online at http://www.mississauga.ca/trails and for reference at all Mississauga community centres and library branches. Your feedback is welcome. Please submit any comments you have to cycling.plan@mississauga.ca or contact project lead, Anne Farrell, directly at 905-615-3200.
Sincerely,
MCAC
Scott, many share your enthusiasm for the completion of the north section of the Etobicoke Creek Trail. I’m looking forward to the airplane viewing spots on the trail. Here is the response I received from the manager of that project:
“The road (boulevard) section of the trail was completed in the fall 2009. Construction on the rest of the trail commenced in January 2010 and is scheduled for completion at the end of June and open to the public by mid July 2010. Much of the work is occurring within the airport lands that is not readily seen by the public. June is our completion target date. However, working within Canada’s largest and busiest airport we may be directed to stop work and delay the project at GTAA’s (airport) discretion.”
Thanks Carlo and Allan for the great information!
Perhaps I’ll ride up that way this week and see if I can catch a glimpse of the new construction. Where the trail used to end last year, there was an opportunity to cross the creek a couple times and pull right up to the 401 underpass so hopefully I can get that far.
Scott,
As you ride up there to check it out, I was notified that the trail will travel “under the easterly edge of the 401 bridge”
So I took a trip up on Thursday and saw some concrete footings poured and stones laid on both sides of the creek about 100m north of Matheson (pics available). Since the trail is on the west side of the creek at that point, this is consistent with the information that the trail will travel under the easterly edge of the 401 bridge. I ran out of time due to darkness, but in the next couple weeks I’ll try to get up there again to snoop around more.
Oh, and has anybody noticed the rusted out Chevy Vega in the forest on the east side just south of Eglinton? Must’ve been sitting there for 30 some odd years. I never realized it was there before, but since all the leaves and weeds haven’t grown in yet for the season it was an interesting discovery!