Kathy Rideau is torn between the natural and the man-made.
As an avid cyclist who uses the bike lanes along Kingston Rd., Rideau would love to see the expansion of a bike path. But she says she does not want to interfere with nature to do it.
I wouldn’t want to see it destroyed. But on the other hand, putting a bike path through here would make my commute easier.
— Kathy Rideau
The City of Toronto’s park department proposed that a one-kilometre stretch of natural path known as Chine Meadows to nearby residents, be paved over to provide an alternate route to cyclists on Kingston Rd.
“Chine Meadows is such a beautiful part of this neighbourhood, I wouldn’t want to see it destroyed,” Rideau said. ”But on the other hand, putting a bike path through here would make my commute easier.”
This is the dilemma that Coun. Gary Crawford also faces.
“From the perspective of the city, I am all for trying to find alternative routes for major bike paths,” Crawford said. “But I understand that residents want to maintain [Chine Meadows] as a naturalized area.”
While the proposal is still up for discussion, Crawford says he wanted to slow down the process to hear the residents’ point of view. After receiving many complaints, Crawford said it was time to hear them out.
“I heard from residents that it was happening too quickly, so I did a walk of Chine Meadows with the community members,” Crawford said.
The trail would extend the Toronto Waterfront Trail and allow commuters to come and go from downtown without having to ride on main roads.
Chine Meadows is one of three proposed trail links by the city.