Join Cycle Newmarket for a group ride around town on July 28, 2021! (NEW NEW DATE) ***The group ride will be dependent on public health guidance for the event date. Please check this page a week before for any potential changes to the event format.*** Participants will also need a helmet, mask, and bike in safe working condition to join the ride.
Details: 6:30 pm – Meet at Riverwalk Commons Bandshell. We will have a pump, so arrive earlier if you need air for your tires. 6:40 pm – Ride starts 8:00 pm – Ride ends at Riverwalk Commons Each group will be accompanied by a ride leader and cycle at a pace that is comfortable for everyone. The ~15. 5 km route will mainly follow bike lanes and residential roads and will take about an hour to ride.
On March 1, Town of Newmarket Council voted to confirm the earlier Committee of the Whole decision to defer the 2021 Active Transportation Implementation Plan projects until at least the fall, so that they can study the loss of on-street parking as a result of bike lane installation. This means that we will have to wait another year for lanes on Clearmeadow/William Roe Blvd, which will likely delay the 2022 plans for lanes on Stonehaven, Kingsmere, Nellie Little, and Fernbank. (Lanes on Lorne Avenue will still go ahead in 2021 as part of the entire road redevelopment).
We at Cycle Newmarket are immensely disappointed in this plan. On behalf of our group, Peggy Stevens read a deputation to the March 1 Council meeting, proposing that the lanes go ahead but in a temporary mode as the parking issue is dealt with. This compromise was still not enough for Council.
What follows is the text of the deputation, referring to the slide of the Town’s strategic priorities above.
Active Transportation Implementation Plan – Interim Report to Council
Distribution Date: October 16, 2020
Purpose The purpose of this report is to outline the progress and successes of the on-road Active Transportation Network, and provide some cost estimation for the 2021 budget, and future budgets. The report will outline the progress to date and the future plans. Also, the report will note some of the issues encountered and mitigation measures used to address these issues.
To date, the roadway bike lanes planned for 2019 and 2020 are largely completed.
ATIP planned routes for 2021 through 2023 are outlined, emphasizing connectivity provided in each case.
Lorne Avenue, Clearmeadow Boulevard and William Roe Boulevard on-road bike routes are planned for construction in 2021.
The Lorne Avenue bike lanes (Davis Drive to Eagle Street) are planned to be implemented in conjunction with a road reconstruction project.
The Clearmeadow Boulevard and William Roe Boulevard routes provide a long eastwest network link.
Both routes provide excellent connections and the design of these routes will have to consider impacts at the schools and on-street parking.
2022 ATIP routes are planned to be implemented primarily on Ward 1 roads – Stonehaven Avenue, Kingsmere Avenue, Nellie Little Crescent, and Fernbank Road.
2023 ATIP routes are planned to be implemented primarily on Ward 3 roads – Huron Heights Drive, Waratah Avenue, Leslie Valley Drive, and Ringwell Drive.
The proposed Mulock Multi-Use Path (MUP) is outlined. A Request For Proposals has been tendered for a Feasibility Study.
There is a section on Lesson Learned:
On-Street parking
Communication
Costs
The numbers – increased cycle use when cycle routes are in place; and the reduction in average vehicle speed.
Cycle Newmarket had a ride and photo-op on the new cycle lanes on London Road, Nov 8, 2020. These lanes are an important cycling connection between Yonge Street and Main Street, and to the Tom Taylor Trail north of the Tannery.
Cycle Newmarket on the new London Road cycle lane, Nov 8, 2020
These new lanes are a part of Newmarket’s ongoing Active Transportation Implementation Plan. The Plan’s recent Interim Report is available from the Town website here (pdf).
Cycle Newmarket member Stephen Harper wrote the following to Newmarket’s Transportation managers Mark Kryzanowski and Peter Noehammer.
Cycle Newmarket was delighted to see the Interim Report of ATIP published October 16, 2020. Our group is impressed with the tenacity of both you and Council in maintaining the focus on active transportation as a viable option for the citizens of Newmarket.
We are particularly delighted with the ‘Lessons Learned’ section on on-street parking. It is terrific to see that there is a continued interest in educating residents who have become accustomed to leaving their cars on the street, that there is a greater need for vulnerable road users to travel safely in the community.
In addition, the plans for future construction of Bike Lanes on Lorne Ave., Clearmeadow & William Roe Blvds. (2021), Stonehaven, Kingsmere, Nellie Little, and Fernbank Roads (2022), and Waratah Ave., Huron Heights, Leslie Valley and Ringwell Drives (2023) show that Newmarket is definitely becoming more sensitive to the needs of cyclists in and around the town.
We do have concerns, however. While we are aware that the following is a matter involving the Regional government. we note that there appears to be an insistence on the use of MUPs on Mulock Drive. We would prefer separate one-directional bike lanes on both sides of the street. Safety is our primary concern. When cyclists need to access the opposite side of the street from the MUP, they must do so by negotiating with motor vehicles which are often travelling at high rates of speed.
Davis Drive is also a purview of the Region. However, we notice that many of the feeder bike lanes noted in your report empty onto Davis, where there is no provision at all (except for sharrows located east of Alexander Drive only) for safe cycling infrastructure.
On the whole, though, this is a very encouraging document. Thank you for updating us on these upcoming projects.
We plan to request leave to make a deputation to council on it in the near future.
