March 26, 2018 (Toronto, ON) – To draw attention to the 16 people killed by drivers on the streets of Toronto already this year, as well as the city’s inability to end the carnage on the roads, advocacy group Friends & Families for Safe Streets will be hosting a massive die-in at Nathan Phillips Square at 6 p.m. on March 26.

Cyclists and pedestrians from across the city are expressing outrage at the city of Toronto over its inability to keep streets safe for cyclists and pedestrians and hundreds are expected to gather in front of city hall to send a loud and clear message to Mayor John Tory that enough is enough.

“This is a demonstration that Torontonians are outraged about the ongoing traffic deaths in our city. We call on our leaders to stop the child killings. We call on them to stop the elder killings. We demand safe streets,” the group stated, on its Facebook event page.

The date is an important one as city council is gathering earlier the same day to vote on the city’s progressive Transform Yonge plan that would decrease the number of lanes on a stretch of Yonge between Sheppard and Finch from six to four and add wider sidewalks for pedestrians as well as bike lanes. An alternative, less bike and pedestrian-friendly alternative was suggested at the last minute, which would keep all six lanes of traffic careening through the growing neighbourhood of 30,000+ people.

Jennifer Keesmaat, Toronto’s former chief planner, was critical of the move away from Transform Toronto’s original plan, which was in development for years and recommended by the city staff.

In the Toronto Star, she said the issue is about the revitalization of suburbs and that Tory is looking at bike lanes the wrong way.

“Moving bike lanes off Yonge implies that bike lanes are a problem as opposed to part of the solution,” she said, in the interview. “The problem with the compromise is it reinforces the same decision-making principles that have led us to this point.”

Jared Kold, executive director of Cycle Toronto, put it simply on Twitter: “It’s not about the bike lanes: do we want a six-lane highway or a four-lane main street?”

The city has already adopted the Vision Zero traffic safety project that aims to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries. But, critics have rather loudly suggested that the city and more specifically, its mayor John Tory, have not taken the concept seriously. The number of deaths seems to suggest the city isn’t getting it right.

The decision on Transform Yonge is being held up as a vote not only on a specific project but also a vote on whether or not the city is ready to embrace forward-thinking, people-centre planning versus planning that centres around reducing congestion and making it easier for vehicles to move around the city.

Following the protest, ARC (Advocacy for the Respect of Cyclists) will the leading a 22-km ghost bike memorial ride to Don Mills Road and place the commemorative white bicycle on the site where a Toronto man died after colliding with a parked van on March 20.

For further information on Friday’s event visit here.

Die-in at City Hall here.
Jennifer Keesmaat report here.
Revamping Yonge St. here.