June 13, 2016 at 12:30 pm

How Bike Lanes Get Installed in Toronto

It's more than a bucket of paint.

By Claire McFarlane

From a distance, installing bike lanes might seem as simple as bucket of paint and a ruler, but the reality is different. ... “Some people don’t realize how much goes into it, you can’t just go out and paint it,” City cycling manager Jacquelyn Hayward-Gulati told Torontoist.

In the research phase, the curb-to-curb distance on a street is measured in order to determine what kind of cycling infrastructure can be accommodated, whether it be a cycle track (separated from vehicle traffic), a designated lane, or sharrows. The traffic right of way and the connectivity to other bike lanes are also considered. Traffic volume counts are conducted mid-block and traffic turning patterns are also analyzed. Increasingly, the City counts the number of cyclists using a roadway before infrastructure is implemented and after it has been built in order to determine how a lane or cycle track affects bike traffic.

Field investigators also conduct parking observations where they analyze how much parking is being used during different times of the day on different days of the week. By understanding how much space car parking occupies, the City can plan the best way to have space allocated to both bike lanes and vehicle parking.

Hayward-Gulati says the City uses a design guidebook called the Ontario Traffic Manual when planning new roadways. The guide defines the dimensions, signage, and other factors required in order to accommodate a bike lane.