Active Transportation Corridors are designed to ensure the safety and convenience of pedestrians and cyclists, catering to individuals of all ages, incomes and abilities.

Uni-Directional Protected bike lanes are spaces for people biking in one direction and are physically separated from vehicles and pedestrians by vertical and horizontal elements.

Two-way protected bike lanes are physically separated bike lanes that allow bicycle movement in both directions on one side of the road.

Multi-use pathways are shared facilities for people walking and biking.

Tell me more:

• New path provides comfortable route for people walking, bicycling, and rolling.
• The path will add a tree boulevard.
• Bike lanes on the street will be enhanced with painted buffers to improve safety for bicyclists travelling north or south on Richter.
• Existing vehicle lanes will be adjusted, with a formalized northbound left turn lane to Rowcliffe Ave and a second northbound through lane being introduced north of Rowcliffe Ave.

Timing:

• Construction anticipated to start in 2026.

Multi-use path through Rowcliffe Park to provide a comfortable path with accessible grades.

Tell me more:

• New path for people walking, biking and rolling that connects to the new Bertram Multiuse Overpass (under construction) with Richter Street.
• Path is designed to function as an accessible connection to replace the existing narrow ramp at Central Green.

Timing:

• Construction is anticipated to start early spring 2025 to be ready soon after the opening of the new overpass.

Two-way bike path connects to north side of new Bertram Multiuse Overpass.

Tell me more:

• A two-way bike path on the east side of Bertram is the best option to provide a comfortable bicycling facility, make use of the limited street width, and connect with the new Bertram Multiuse Overpass.

• Parking spaces on both sides of the street are eliminated between Bernard and Lawrence. South of Lawrence, four parking spaces are retained on the west side.

• An all-way stop will be installed to control the Lawrence Avenue intersection.

• The Bernard and Bertram intersection crossing will have signal timing designed to separate bicycle movements from vehicles to ensure the safety of users.

View of the Bertram Street and Bernard Ave intersection looking northwest

Timing:

• Construction is anticipated to start in 2026.

Two-way bike path on the west side of Bertram provides a comfortable connection between Bernard and Cawston.

Tell me more:

• The two-way bike path on the west side of Bertram Street will provide cycling comfort and safety and is separated from vehicles with the advantage of allowing side by side bicycling.

• Two-way vehicle traffic is maintained, and parallel parking and loading zones are retained on both sides.

• Existing trees are maintained as much as possible and wider tree boulevards are proposed near intersections and adjacent to parking pockets to improve the tree canopy.

• Protected intersection crossing at Doyle Ave separates bike movements from conflicting vehicle turn movements, and accommodates cyclists turning to and from Doyle Ave.

View of the Bertram Street and Doyle Ave intersection looking north

Timing:

• Construction is anticipated to start in 2026.

What other options were considered during this process?

Uni-directional protected bike lanes:

• Requires more space than two-way bike lanes which would lead to narrower sidewalks and potential tree/ parking loss on one side.
• It would offer minimal traffic safety advantages on Bertram due to the few driveways and intersection conflicts being managed by signal timing.

Neighbourhood bikeway:

• While speed bumps and road design could manage speeds, increasing vehicle volumes from future high-density developments would eventually make Bertram unsuitable as a bikeway for all ages and abilities.

• Restricted vehicle access at Bernard and Cawston and a diverter at Bertram and Doyle were considered.

One-way vehicle travel lane:

• This option would have allowed more space for separation and greenery between cyclists and other users but would have negatively impacted utility maintenance and emergency services.