Our Story

Community Bikeways (aka the Toronto Community Bikeways Coalition (TCBC)) was established as a community-based campaign group advocating for 100 km of bikeways to mirror the busiest TTC subway and bus routes. It was initially formed by a group of volunteers who believe Torontonians require safe alternative transportation options, particularly during this unprecedented time as our society grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic.

We believe everyone should be and feel safe as they move about the city, whether for work, errands or recreation. Right now, that means, among other things, providing residents with active transportation routes allowing them to comfortably avoid both crowded transit routes, as well as costly and congestion-causing automobiles.

Our coalition’s work began with, and is motivated by, a May 14, 2020 letter signed by over 120 Toronto-area community groups, which calls for:

  • The immediate installation of cross-town Bloor-Danforth and Yonge St. ‘spine’ bikeways;

  • Installation of 60 km of additional bikeways on an urgent basis (after expedited engagement of neighbourhood leaders) to mirror the busiest TTC surface routes; and

  • Implementation of lower speed limits on roads with new bikeways, especially to protect vulnerable and novice riders.

We believe these changes will particularly benefit transit-reliant and essential workers as Toronto gradually emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.

On May 28, 2020, the city responded to our letter by approving 25 km of temporary bikeways and 15 km of permanent ones. This is a nice start, but now we must ensure the cycling file isn’t returned to the bottom of the city’s priorities pile. This is because:

1. Too many people still lack alternative transportation options to get to work. There is, for example, no bikeway along Yonge St. (the busiest transit route) and various other busy bus routes;

2. Now is the time to act before motor traffic returns to ‘normal’, which we know is bad for health, air quality, the climate, and road safety; and

3. Even with all the new installations in place, Toronto is still roughly 100 km short of the 2016 Bike Plan target bikeways goal. 

As such, we are calling on City Hall to honour past plans and act to serve the current needs of our fellow residents.