Kelly's Brook Shared-Use Path

Please do not pave the pathways or clear them of snow (grooming snow is okay)

Please do not pave the pathways, please don’t clear the snow down to the surface (grooming is okay) and please keep this trail nature based. In terms of year round use, people can ski, snowshoe, fatbike, pull kids in a sled, etc. There are accessibility options for people to ski in a wheelchair, etc. It is a beautiful spot for winter activities and clearing the snow off the trail would ruin this. Grooming the trails to make snowshoeing or pulling a sled easier would be okay. Not everyone has a car to get to Pippy Park, Bowring Park or the East Coast Trail. If people need a paved surface, please put more effort into clearing sidewalks adjacent to streets. I like to go sledding with my child near the Elk’s Club. It’s a wonderful sliding area for neighbourhood families and doesn’t get crowded like Pippy Park and Bowring Park. It is also very walkable which is important because a lot of people in this neighbourhood don’t own cars. (We own a car, but we like the ten minute walk along the trail to the sliding area). When sliding, sleds completely cross the trail - it’s impossible to avoid doing this. If the trail is paved and cleared of snow in the winter, it would have a huge negative impact this sliding area. When people walk or snowshoe through, people sliding are very respectful and wait until people pass. Current sight lines are already very good for this. Please don’t impact this beautiful winter wonderland trail and neighbourhood sliding area by clearing snow off the trail in the winter.

Maximum accessibility

Usability for folks who use wheelchairs and other mobility devices should be the key consideration in the choice of surfaces for the trail.

Separate pedestrians and cyclists.

This is done on many trails in Toronto where I spent many years and it works quite well. In those days it was usually two lines (close together, creating a narrow buffer zone between) down the centre with frequent marking on the path to remind people of which side was which. The image to the right shows the idea, but this trail is 7.1m wide, so they can afford a big buffer zone and two lanes for bikes. For us, probably a line or two lines close together, would probably do. Personally --and I'm both a runner and a biker-- I'd rather put runners on the same side as walkers, contrary to the image. The speed difference between a runner and a walker is usually less than the speed difference between a cyclist and a runner. Cyclists going opposite directions can usually use the pedestrian side for a few seconds as they pass each other.

Guidelines (and related education) about multi-use trail etiquette would be helpful to all.

These could apply to all multi-use trails in the city and would be very helpful over time as these expand.

Paving will make it a race track for kids.

Slow down, make this an election issue in September. The general public had little or no say.

This plan has been bullied through without regard for the thousands of citizens who are against it, many of whom will be displaced from the trails if cyclists become the dominant users, which is expected. Safety IS an issue on mixed use trails. Just last August a cyclist was killed in a head on collision with another cyclist on a mixed use trail in Calgary. It could just as easily been a child other vulnerable person. Authorities who said afterwards “Be courteous, follow the rules, know what the etiquette is for pathway use" gave cold comfort for the family who lost their loved one.

Environmental damage is inevitable. Tree roots will be excavated or loaded with fill prior to paving, other trees will be cut down.

Groups of walkers will have to walk no more than two abreast or risk being hit.

Many walking groups will be forced to go outside of the city to find suitable trails.

Serious cyclists won't even be happy.

Weaving around pedestrians, slamming on brakes for dogs and children, trying to avoid oncoming cyclists.

Most trail users and other citizens didn't find out about the Plan until it was funded and approved.

No chance to influence any decisions. Surely just an oversight, right??

Trail solutions Book from the IMBA

The project managers probably are aware of this, but in case anyone isn't, there is a book from the IMBA that is the gold standard for creating bike trails, and while it is designed for single track cycling use, extrapolations can be made for shared use trails for urban trails (for the sections of this route that are trail rather than lane). The book is called Trail Solutions: The IMBA's Guide to Building Sweet Singletrack, published by the International Mountain Biking Association, and is available here (https://www.imba.com/resource/trail-solutions) and on Amazon. The people who designed this book are the world's gurus on building biking trails and there are some excellent ideas within that can be adapted to some parts of this proposed route.

Commuting on foot in all seasons

I regularly use parts of this route already as a 3-season commute - would love to make it year-round with some winter maintenance and lighting

Getting to and from the Farmers' Market

The Market is a very regular stop for me and my family and we'd love to be able to use this trail to get there - it's long-ish walk with groceries but an easy bike ride

We understand the intent is to not destroy trees / shrubs and other life forms, but it will no doubt be a result of widening / paving etc.

Signage

With proper signage, everybody can feel comfortable and confident using the shared-use trail!