A left-turn calming pilot project, recently launched by the City of Toronto as part of their Vision Zero Road safety plan, is welcome news for cyclists and pedestrians, alike. The city will test using speed bumps to reduce speeds of drivers making left-hand turns in at least eight priority intersections by the end of August. Two have already been installed in July at Sheppard Avenue East & Kennedy Road and Finch Avenue East & Sandhurst Circle.
These speed bumps will encourage drivers to take a slower and sharper left turn when driving across crosswalks, rather than wide, diagonal turns. The idea is that it will provide drivers better visibility of pedestrians and cyclists while also reducing turning speeds.
“The pilot is a step in the right direction to improving cyclist and pedestrian safety”, said Kevin Rupasinghe, campaigns manager with Cycle Toronto, a group that advocates for safe cycling in the city. He said that busy streets with a lot of foot and bike / ebike traffic should be prioritized for left-turn calming pilots. "There's plenty of times when I have wished that there were measures to keep drivers turning slower and better able to see me," he said.
Similar left-turn calming measures are already in place in other cities, like New York and Washington, D.C. In New York City, a pilot has been running since 2016, at 300 locations, resulting in the speed of left turns decreasing by an average of 52.6 per cent, and decrease in injury by 20%.
In comments to CBC News, Rob Viola, director of safety policy and research at New York City's Department of Transportation : "It has been a big success and has caught on in a lot of cities across North America," said Viola. "It's pretty cheap, easy and the results are strong, so anything like that in transportation is going to get picked up."
With more people choosing to bike & e-bike to work, school, for shopping and leisure - especially in the suburbs of Toronto where cycling enthusiasm continues to grow - this is a much needed initiative.
During the month of August, the bumps will be added at the following six intersections: Brimley Road and Eglinton Avenue East, Victoria Park Avenue and Sheppard Avenue East, Victoria Park Avenue and Lawrence Avenue East, Curlew Drive and Lawrence Avenue East (west of Victoria Park Avenue), Don Mills Road and Steeles Avenue East, and Mount Pleasant Road and Merton Street (south of Davisville Avenue).
More information and a graphic of the proposed intersection improvements.