A better Hwy 7/404 interchange crossing

I rode the Hwy 7 bike lanes across the 404 interchange this week.  York Region has worked in partnership with the Ministry of Transportation to make this a safer and more effective interchange for cyclists and motorists. Completed in Fall 2014, the bike lanes with green markings across the ramp mixing zones are among only a handful of such examples in Ontario (I only know of 403/Fairview in Burlington, and 400/Duckworth in Barrie).





There were a few wet spots, and some stored snow was encroaching the bike lane, but the buffer provides some extra width for cyclists and I thought it was a relatively comfortable winter ride.  A cyclist could easily use this commuter route year-round (though the left turn bike boxes were completely covered with snow).

Hwy 7 BEFORE (no bike facilites) - westbound approach 404











Hwy 7 NOW (buffered bike lanes, sidewalk, transit lanes) - westbound approach 404

With MTO's #CycleON Action Plan 1.0 released in 2014, it appears that these types of interchange improvements will become the norm rather than the exception, making the crossings a lot less challenging by bike.  All road users will benefit.

Cycling the Highway 404 Extension

On Sunday, Aug 17th, 2014, I had the opportunity to cycle the Highway 404 extension from Green Lane in East Gwillimbury to Woodbine Ave/Ravenshoe Road in Georgina before it opened to traffic.  What a great idea for a community event in support of Southlake Regional Hospital.  The 26 km roundtrip through the countryside was envigorating, particularly in seeing so many families out on two wheels!

There was an impressive turnout of both walkers and cyclists, and the starting location was only announced a few days prior to the event.

 

A few observations:
- The 13km extension cost about $100M (could build a lot of bike lanes!)

- Concrete was used instead of the typical asphalt

- There are four interchanges (Green Lane, Queensville, and Woodbine), each with a commuter parking lot, and Doanne Road (ramps not yet completed)

- I did a quick helmet count that showed about 75% of adult cyclists were wearing helmets.

- The first 1000 participants got a free waterbottle

- Glass Tiger has some awesome hits.  Takes me back to my youth! 

 

Up the ramp to the start



Speeches

Waiting for the start

Go!

Cycling superhighway

Note that patterned barrier wall

It was a thrill to bike the highway, even if it was just for one day