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For someone in a wheelchair, writes Adam Cohoon, removing Bayview from ActiveTO has a real impact

Last week, without any kind of significant notification, the southern stretch of Bayview Avenue was removed from the ActiveTO program, which closes streets to motor vehicles on the weekend so that it can be used by walkers, runners, wheelchair users, and cyclists. The excuse is that part of the street has now become a separated multi-use trail.

Walk Toronto’s Adam Cohoon, who moves in a motorized wheelchair and lives near the south end of Bayview, has written to Transportation Services and councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam about the impact of this decision on him.

ACTIVETO Bayview Closure

I am a wheelchair user that lives near Corktown Common and use the Bayview Avenue weekend activity closure to get some fresh air. So I’m disappointed to hear that those closures won’t be happening. With the new temporary multi-use tracks along Bayview, the city believes that the weekend closure is no longer needed.

Well, I’m here to tell you that it will be very disappointing for families and other people when they realize the joy of a wide-open Bayview  extension is taken away. The only people who will have any freedom are the cyclists, and expert joggers who will put up with the cyclists on the weekend. Maybe I can use the multi-use trail on Monday or Tuesday, but I know I will not feel safe using them any weekend with cyclists and other high-speed users using those trails.

I was looking for a gentle ride I have become accustomed to on my weekends during this pandemic. They were a highlight of my pandemic summer last year. I was hoping to get that same enjoyment this year, but I will be having that same enjoyment to no avail. I am asking city staff to reconsider and reenact the closure of Bayview on the weekends until the pandemic lifts.

I would appreciate a conversation on why, even with the new multi-use tracks, with ActiveTO why the opportunity to close the Bayview extension to give the community the extra pavement and extra activity space was abandoned. At least south of the River street ramp it was not utilized on weekends.

Thank you.

 

Thank you.

Adam Cohoon