CONTENTS

1. Local Pedestrian Safety Blog

2. Latest Petition News Blog

3. Petition Progress

4. Petition Issues

5. City & Petition Correspondence Blog

6. Important Dates

7. Get Involved (How you can help)

8. Contact Us

9. The Players

10. Toronto's Pedestrian Charter

11. Proposed Solutions

12. Neighbourhoood Map

13. Intersection Photo's

PETITION ISSUES

• No Pedestrian "Right of Ways" at natural crossing points
  
• Free-flow traffic configuration highly pedestrian unfriendly
  
• Pedestrians risk serious injury when crossing Oxton at Oriole
• Oxton Avenue is now a 20,000 vehicle a day, non-stop traffic corridor (or highway 11A) in the middle of a residential neighbourhood

OXTON AVENUE - BEFORE TRAFFIC MODIFICATIONS

• Pedestrian "Right of Way" located at Oxton-Oriole intersection
  
• Pedestrians crossed in relative safety
  
• STOP sign on the south-east corner of Oxton-Oriole slowed vehicle speeds
  
• Traffic volumes and vehicle speeds less intimidating to pedestrians

OXTON AVENUE - AFTER TRAFFIC MODIFICATIONS

• Pedestrian "Right of Ways" Gone - Now it's "cross at own risk"
  
• "Pedestrians Wait For The Gap Signs" posted - What gap!
  
• No STOP signs anymore - Look out for cell phone drivers!
  
• Vehicle speeds now even more intimidating - Did you know it's 50km?
  
• 20,000 cars a day - It's now the Oxton "Freeway"

The Result: You have to stop, wait, then run across or dodge traffic. No elderly, ill person or child let alone healthy adult can do it safety!


WHAT DO PEDESTRIANS SAY ABOUT CROSSING OXTON AVENUE?

• They are fearful and uneasy at the thought of crossing Oxton-Oriole
  
• They feel forced into challenging traffic in order to cross
  
• They go out of their way to avoid the Oxton-Oriole intersection
  
• That the Oxton cross walk is out-of-the-way and seldom used

THE CITY SAYS...

• "..[We've tried] to keep traffic on the arterial roadway flowing so as to cut down non-resident traffic infiltration into [nearby] residential communities, while enhancing safety for pedestrians." (see letters) - Unfortunately, we get all the cars while pedestrian safety at the corner of Oxton-Oriole gets seriously downgraded?
  
  
• Traffic is moving [just fine] on Highway 11A - A highway "forced" through a residential neighbourhood? Some impacted local residents (us) seem to have been overlooked, as have pedestrians and pedestrian "right of ways" at Oxton-Oriole.
  
  
• Use (a) the Cross-Walk on Oxton, half way between Oriole Parkway and Avenue Road or (b) the lights at Oriole Parkway and Kilbarry - This is just NOT realistic. The cross walk is just not on the natural route to Yonge Street or the Subway.

MARK REES

Mark Rees, a resident of the neighbourhood, decided to take the issue on.

Everyone in the neighbourhood is invited to work with him.

PETITION PROGRESS

Oxton Safety Petition Progress To Date!

The Oxton Pedestrian Safety Petition has, and continues to produced measurable results. Councillor Michael Walker has been very helpful in this and we appreciate his team's efforts thus far on our behalf. Ultimetly traffic lights are the answer, but getting there will be a long road.

Progress To date (Chronological):

• August 15, 2007 - Line Re-painting: Stop lines and pedestrain crossing lines now re-painted. No progress as yet with Police monitoring of intersection. Will keep you informed.
  
• August 3, 2007 - Line Re-painting: Stop lines and pedestrain crossing lines to be re-painted on road asap as per Transportation Services. Police monitoring of intersection also requested by Mark Rees.
  
• November 18 2006 - Line Painting: Stop lines and pedestrain crossing lines painted on road.
  
• October 2006 - Stop Sign Installed: VICTORY! Painted lines to installed when we get some dry weather...old configuration signage removal to be competed at same time.
  
• September 25th, 2006 - Toronto Council: Final approval provided by Toronto city council (1 year, then review). Transportation Services requested to:
• install "Stop" sign for eastbound motorists
• install at "Stop Ahead" sign with a "New" starburst for eastbound motorists
• install a painted stopbar for eastbound motorists
• install north-south painted pedestrian crosswalk lines
• remove the two "Wait for Gap" signs for north-south pedestrians (only for the crossing of the eastbound right-turn, not the southbound right-turn)
• remove the "Added Lane" sign and 20 km/h advisory tab sign for eastbound motorist


• September 21st, 2006 - Toronto & East York Community Council (TEYCC): Recommends approval of the proposal in install a stop sign at the corner of Oxton Avenue and Oriole Parkway for a period of one year at which time Transportation Service will report bact to the T&EYCC.


• September 19th, 2006 - Toronto & East York Community Council (TEYCC): Councillor Walker is to seek council approval from the TEYCC for a 1 year stop sign trial during which the effecives of this solution can be examined. This follows an earlier attempt at obtaining approval which was turned down due to stiff opposition from Transportation Services.


• July 2006 Survey: In late June 2006 Councillor Walker sent out local survey to gauge resident opinions as to the need for a stop sign at Oxton at Oriole. The results were 86 for the proposal, 40 against out of 230 mailings in total. As a result Councillor Walker went back to the TEYCC and request a second look at the issue (see above).


• March 2006: On March 29th Pierre D'Aoust and Chris Sellers of Councillor Walker's team hosted a public meeting in a local school to discuss the issue of pedestrain safety at Oxton at Oriole. Although poorly attended (10 people) a straw poll produced a 2-1 ration in favour of a stop sign. As a result Councillor Walker later sent out a local survey on the issue (see above).


• February 2006: New 40km/h. Speed limit signs posted on Oxton Avenue.


• February 2006: Installation of "Quiet Residential Neighbourhood" signs on Oxton Avenue asap (Installed).


• Date: Councillor Walker obtains approval for a reduction in the speed limit on Oxton Avenue from 50 km/h to 40km/h. Speed limit signs posted shortly there after.


• August, 2005:
Completion of Oxton-Oriole traffic report by Transportation Services as per Councillor Walker's request. First indication of Transportations opposition to making Oxton-Oriole safe for predestrians - ["it's a highway...pedestrians should NOT attempt to cross"].

• July, 2005: Mark Rees launches the Oxton-Oriole safety Petition canvassing building 100, 110, 120, 13o & 755 Avenue Road (See results below).


• June, 2005: Mark Rees meets with Councillor Michael Walker at City Hall to discuss pedestrian saftey issues at Oxton Aveneue and Oriole Parkway.
Oxton-Oriole Pedestrian Safety Petition Results.Statistics (% of Units Signing / Two Canvases Per Building Only)

100 Oriole Parkway - 75% of Units Signed Petition*
110 Oriole Parkway - 59% of Units Signed Petition*
100 Oriole Parkway - 58% of Units Signed Petition**
130 Oriole Parkway - 46% of Units Signed Petition*
755 Avenue Road - 39% of Units Signed Petition*

* Full petition support.
** One person did not support the petition.

An excellent showing, especially since getting someone to answer their door is an apartment building is understandably tough, tough, tough!

Proof you (we) can make a difference.

IMPORTANT DATE (S)

SEPTEMBER 19TH, 2006 (PLease check times)

Councillor Michael Walker is to appear before the Toronto & East York Community Council to seek approval for the a re-installment of the the stop sign at the corner of Oriole and Oxton.

YOUR CAN HELP! If you would like to submit a personal or written deposition to the T & EY Community Council, please email (Mark Rees) for more details and/or questions. The more support from our community will only help Councillor Walker's get results on our behalf.

Toronto & East York Community Council Meeting

http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/2006/sep06.htm

To Personally Appear Before Council - CALL ONLY

Christine Archibald

Committee Administrator
416-392-7033

Call Christine between September 4th to 11th, 2006 to arrange.

To Submit a Written Depositions To Council - EMAIL ONLY

Christine Archibald

Committee Administrator
teycc@toronto.ca AND

Pierre D'Aoust

Constituency Assistant To Michael Walker

pdaoust@toronto.ca

Email your text deposition before September 11th, 2006.

DEPOSITIONS MUST INCLUDE: Your complete mailing address (along with the postal code). If not included, please resubmit your communication along with your "complete mailing address". For all other enquiries, the T&EY Community Council will respond to your e-mail within 24 hours.

For the latest blog posts please see below!

GET INVOLVED (How you can help)

Option 1. Attend Toronto & East York Community Council Meeting: September 13th, 2006 (See "Important Dates" for more information).

Option 2. Sign the Oxton Pedestrian Safety Petition (Now closed).

Option 3. Tell me about your Oxton experiences (see Neighbourhood Emails)...

• Very Important because the City now reads this section too!

Option 4. Contact Councillor Michael Walker (See The Players).

• Tell him you support Mark's efforts to make the corner safe for pedestrians. (Please make sure to "cc" orioleatoxton@hotmail.com)

• Tell him about the changes you would like to see at Oxton-Oriole.

Option 5. Contact Mike Bryant (See The Players)

Option 6. Read the Oriole-at-Oxton Blog to stay abreast of ongoing developments.

• Check out Important Dates as this is where significant dates and calls for you to take action will be placed.

CONTACT US

Mailing List:

To receive the latest information on our progress please email me at orioleatoxton@hotmail.com and tell me you would like to recieve the latest information as and when it is available.

Post A Letter?

Please email me at orioleatoxton@hotmail.com with your pedestrian safety concerns and/or experiences regarding the traffic intersection of Oxton Avenue at Oriole Parkway and I will add your letter to the site.

Contact Us

Please email me at orioleatoxton@hotmail.com.


(Please note: In sending us an email for posting on our site, your last name and email address will be withheld for confidentiality reasons and shall not be posted unless by your express consent)

THE PLAYERS

Michael Walker
- he's your City Councillor
- Contact or email him
- City Hall, 100 Queen St W,
Suite B26 Toronto, M5H 2N2

Phone: 416-392-7906
Fax: 416-392-0124

councillor_walker@toronto.ca
Web Page (lots of info)



Mike Bryant
- your Member of Provincial Parliament
- Contact or email him
- 803 St Clair Ave W, Toronto, M6C 1B9

Phone: 416-656-0943
Fax: 416-656-0875

mbryant.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org
Web Page

Stephen Benjamin (No Picture)
Manager of Traffic Operations, District 1 - Central;
Transportation Services
17th Floor, Metro Hall
55 John Street
Toronto, Ontario M5V 3C6
Telephone: 416 392-7771
Fax: 416 392-1920

Mark
Working to restore pedestrain safety at the corner of Oxton and Oriole Parkway. You can contact me at orioleatoxton@hotmail.com.

TORONTO PEDESTRIAN CHARTER

Download the entire PDF file here.

(Look for related links below)

HIGHLIGHTS

On October 29, 2002, Councillor Jane Pitfield and internationally renowned urbanist Jane Jacobs unveiled the Toronto Pedestrian Charter at City Council.

The Charter sets out six principles necessary to ensure that walking is a safe and convenient mode of urban travel.

Six Principles

Accessibility:

Walking is a free and direct means of accessing local goods, services, community amenities and public transit.

Equity:

Walking is the only mode of travel that is universally affordable, and allows children and youth, and people with specific medical conditions to travel independently.

Health and Well-being:

Walking is a proven method of promoting personal health and well-being.

Environmental Sustainability:

Walking relies on human power and has negligible environmental impact.

Personal and Community Safety:

An environment in which people feel safe and comfortable walking increases community safety for all.

Community Cohesion and Vitality:

A pedestrian-friendly environment encourages and facilitates social interaction and local economic vitality.

The Charter reflects the principle that a city's walkability is one of the most important measures of the quality of its public realm, and of its health and vitality.

This is the first pedestrian charter in North America, and the first approved by a municipality anywhere.

So this is an historic first that we hope will set an example for other municipalities across the country, the continent and around the world.

In approving the development of the Charter in 2000, The City intended: to outline what pedestrians have a right to expect from the City in terms of meeting their travel needs; to establish principles to guide the development of all policies and practices that affect pedestrians; and to identify the features of an urban environment and infrastructure that will encourage and support walking.

Most important, the Charter was intended to serve as a reminder to decision-makers, both in the City and in the community at large, that walking should be valued as the most sustainable of all forms of travel, and that it has enormous social, environmental and economic benefits for the city.

To obtain a printed copy of the Toronto Pedestrian Charter
call: Pedestrian and Cycling Infrastructure 416-392-5230
e-mail: pedplan@toronto.ca


Related Links
"Please Drive Carefully - We're All Pedestrians"
Toronto Pedestrain Committee
Toronto Accident Satistics Summaries

PROPOSED SOLUTIONS

Pedestrian Safety compromised by…

Traffic signage that promotes...

• Driver focus on cars, not pedestrians caught in "pedestrian gap".

Traffic volumes and flows that promote....

• High vehicle speeds on Oxton and at the turns both ends (50km speed limit).
  
• Too many “close calls” as left turn drivers squeeze in-front/behind crossing pedestrians.
  
• A “use at own risk” crossing with increased risk off-peak hours.

Intersection features that include...

• Removal of Stop sign!
  
• Removal of Yield sign (replacement for Stop sign)!
  
• Absence of signage (stop/yield) at Oxton-Oriole intersection!
  
• Removal of pedestrian crossing lines!
  
• Installation of “Pedestrians Wait For The Gap” signs!
  
• Poor night time lighting at Oxton-Oriole intersection!

Proposed Solutions…

Recommended "Safety Petition" Solution

• Install traffic lights at Oriole Parkway and Oxton Avenue with advanced greens built-in to maintain traffic flow and remove pedestrians from dangerous, fast traffic flows (Intersection meets two of three city traffic control installation criteria) - Transportation Services said NO!

Alternative Solutions: Oxton At Oriole

• Re-install Stop Sign recognising high percentage of drivers stop anyway - Transportation Services said NO!
  
• Install flashing "Yield To Pedestrians" signs similar as found at Lawrence Avenue and Allen Road North entrance ramp - Transportation Services said NO!
  
• Re-paint pedestrian crossing lines with increased width - Transportation Services said NO!
  
• Paint "SLOW DOWN" in northbound left turn lane - Transportation Services said No!
  
• Suspend flashing warning light over intersection - Tranportation Services said NO!
  
• Install "One Way" signs and/or "No Access between..." signs to control traffic intrusion into adjacent residential streets to allow for safety improvements (and quality of life) improvements on Oxton Avenue - Transportation Services said NO!
  
• Reduce speed limit on Oxton Avenue to 40 kms from 50 km's - Community Council approved for early 2006 - Now Installed!
  
• Relocate Oxton Ave. crosswalk location to Oxton Avenue-Oriole Parkway & Avenue Road-Oxton Avenue (new) to maintain traffic flow and provide safe pedestrian crossings points - Transportation Services said NO!

Neighbourhood Improvements

• Install “Quiet, Residential Area” signage - Transportation Services said YES!
  
• Introduce random Police radar trap on Oxton Avenue to encourage responsible traffic flows (Police manpower issue).
  
• Install hidden driveway signs at 130 Oriole Parkway's driveway (TBD).

NEIGHBORHOOD MAP (Oxton Avenue @ Oriole Parkway)

Click here: Map of Oxton Avenue & Oriole Parkway, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

(You can also go to google maps for a satellite image of Oxton-Oriole)

INTERSECTION PHOTO'S

Public spaces and neighbourhoods make cities great; not highways (11A) "forced" through neighbourhoods! When it comes to Pedestrian Safety Toronto really needs to "get with the program."

Can you figure out below how the city's NEW Oxton-Oriole "Pedestrian Gap" safety feature (or where the blacked-out pedestrian crossing lines used to be) is supposed to work? If you can't it's because there is a car already in the "pedestrian gap."

Oxton at Oriole: The city even took out the pedestrian crossing lines...how safe is that!

Oxton at Oriole: The city created this car crazy corner...no wonder they want you to take the long way to the subway!

Oxton at Oriole: When there's a gap there's usually a car going for it...run for your lives!


Oxton at Oriole: Even the cars are afraid...check out the SUV that stopped at the invisible stop sign!

Oxton at Oriole: Cars rule...and they give you hard time if they catch you in the elusive "pedestrian gap"!


Oxton at Oriole: Now it's "go, go, go"... pedestrians can take the long way to the Subway!


Oriole Pkwy Southbound at Oxton: SUV Accident - Business as usual


Oxton South to Oriole Pkwy: First Speed Sign