Toronto’s ActiveTO program this weekend: Portion of Bayview Avenue to be fully opened for people and bikes

TORONTO, ON., June 17, 2021 – Today, the City of Toronto announced the ActiveTO major weekend road closures that will be in place from Saturday, June 19 at 6 a.m. until Sunday, June 20 at 9 p.m., including the return of the full vehicle closure on part of Bayview Avenue, for people to be safe and physically active.

ActiveTO road closures to vehicles will include:

• Lake Shore Boulevard East (eastbound lanes only), from Leslie Street to Woodbine Avenue
• Bayview Avenue (full closure), between Front Street East and Rosedale Valley Road, as well as River Street between Bayview Avenue and Spruce Street

As part of ActiveTO weekends, roads within High Park will be closed to vehicles starting at approximately 11 p.m. on Friday, June 18 until approximately 7 a.m. on Monday, June 21.

“ActiveTO has been designed so that it can be adapted, as well as flexible, in order to provide more space where people can use it to get outside and be active. City staff have listened to the community and carefully planned to fully open south Bayview Avenue to cyclists and pedestrians to expand beyond the Bayview multi-use trail along with ActiveTO installations on Lake Shore East and in High Park.”– Mayor John Tory

Of course, in addition to the ActiveTO weekend routes, Toronto has an incredible system of bike paths, more than 1,500 parks, 11,000 hectares of ravines, as well as other paths and hydro corridors with trails that all remain open for exercise every day of the week.

ActiveTO routes are designed to be flexible and adaptable based on community input, nearby construction impacts, and other factors. City staff have received significant community feedback requesting the ActiveTO full weekend vehicle closure of Bayview Avenue return. Staff reviewed nearby planned construction impacts and determined the closure would be possible this weekend. The new full-time, multi-use trail infrastructure and alignment along Bayview Avenue will remain in place every day for people to use.

Over the weekend, phase 1 of the ActiveTO Midtown Complete Street pilot will be installed along Yonge Street, between Imperial Street and Woodlawn Avenue. Drivers should avoid the route if possible and expect delays while crews work as quickly and safely as possible. Those planning travel on Yonge Street should be aware that a full closure of Subway Line 1 is planned this weekend, between Finch and St. Clair stations. Learn more here

Residents planning to use ActiveTO routes or visit High Park are asked to access them by bike or on foot due to limited nearby parking and no available on-site parking.

City staff will actively monitor traffic congestion along Lake Shore Boulevard East and adjust signal timing at the intersection of Leslie Street and Lake Shore Boulevard East to keep vehicles moving and people safe. Drivers are reminded to plan their trips in advance to avoid all vehicle closures, if possible, and should consider using a wayfinding app to understand detours and travel times.

City staff are planning other future weekend closures along Black Creek Drive, and roads within the Exhibition Place. Details will be announced as soon as they are available.

Bike Share Toronto stations are available along ActiveTO routes. Download the PBSC app to get started.

June is Bike Month. It’s an annual celebration of cycling in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton area featuring

a variety of virtual events from Monday, May 31 to Wednesday, June 30. Residents can log their cycling trips and play Bike Month Bingo for a chance to win prizes. More information is available here

ActiveTO was designed in response to COVID-19 to provide more space for people to practise physical distancing while outside, support the overall wellbeing of residents and to quickly connect and expand Toronto’s cycling network by installing safe, separated temporary bike routes that mirror major transit lines.

Learn more about ActiveTO, including information about the new ActiveTO Bayview Cycling Corridor, here

Details about access to High Park are available here

Maps and details for available paths and trails are available here

Learn more about cycling in Toronto here

SOURCE City of Toronto

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