Objectives:
the assignment is aligned with the course themes and uses current municipal/city
documents in order to provide exposure to real life examples and practices from
Canadian planning
make connections between theory and practice
provide support for tutorial activities
improve ability to formulate a position
develop written communication skills
Directions
Part I. Background research
1. Review the material provided at https://www.toronto.ca/community-people/getinvolved/public-consultations/infrastructure-projects/bloor-street-west-bikeway-extension/ by clicking on the Project Area, Background and Project Goals & Details tabs. A concise summary of the information is also provided on Quercus, in the documents titled: Bloor St W Bikeway extension leaflet and Bloor St W Bikeway extension -street configuration
2. Review further materials at the above address, as well as the following:
a. https://www.toronto.ca/services-payments/streets-parking-transportation/cycling-in-toronto/
b. Environmental Protection Agency (n.d.). Public Participation Guide: Introduction
to Public Participation, retrieved from https://www.epa.gov/internationalcooperation/public-participation-guide-introduction-public-participation
c. Vijayakumar, N., Burda, C. (2015). Cycle Cities. Supporting cycling in Canadian
cities, December 2015, Pembina Institute, retrieved from
https://www.pembina.org/reports/cycle-cities-full-report-rev.pdf
Other useful resources may be:
The course textbook chapter 15: The Texture of Participation in Community Planning
or journal articles such as (all available through the UofT catalogue):
Webler, T., Tuler, S. & Krueger, K. (2001). What Is a Good Public Participation Process?
Five Perspectives from the Public. Environmental Management 27, 435450.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s002670010160
Pucher, J., Garrard, J., Greaves, S. (2011). Cycling down under: a comparative analysis
of bicycling trends and policies in Sydney and Melbourne, Journal of Transport
Geography, Volume 19, Issue 2, Pages 332-345,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2010.02.007
Sagaris, L., de Dios Ortuzar, J. (2015). Reflections on citizen-technical dialogue as part
of cycling-inclusive planning in Santiago, Chile, Research in Transportation Economics
Volume 53, Pages 20-30, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.retrec.2015.10.016
You can draw on the sources above or you may also want to complete additional research on the topic. Either way, you do not have to read every page and paragraph of the sources provided, but a good suggestion may be to: browse through them, take brief notes on the pages, sections, etc. that you think are most relevant to answering the questions, and then start working on the assignment, while referring and consulting the most useful sections of the resources.
Part II. Please write answers to the following questions. Your answers should be typed, in
Times New Roman font, size 12, normal margins (1 inch/2.5cm). Please make sure to answer each question individually and to number the answers, so it is clear which question is answered.
Some of the questions are open or semi-open, so there is room for creativity, but make sure to stay on topic and provide evidence in support of your arguments.
1. Provide an overview of transportation in Toronto (no more than 200 words). You can
consider various means of transportation, mobility patterns, etc. (10 points)
2. In no more than 300 words, discuss the benefits/advantages and disadvantages of
cycling in cities. (15 points)
3. Are you in favor or against the expansion of bikeway expansion on Bloor Street West?
Choose a side (Yes or No) and argue your position, providing evidence (no more than
500 words). You can use first person here, but provide arguments and evidence, not just
personal opinions. (35 points)
If not sure about the difference between arguments and opinion, please see:
https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/argument/
4. Identify as many stakeholders as possible in the two street configurations displayed in
the Bloor St W Bikeway extension – street configuration (posted on Quercus), and
considering their interests, values, etc., provide an overview of who may be in favor of
the bikeway extension and why. (no more than 250 words) (20 points)
5. Identify as many stakeholders as possible in the two street configurations displayed in
the Bloor St W Bikeway extension – street configuration (posted on Quercus), and
considering their interests, values, etc., provide an overview of who may be against the
bikeway extension and why. (no more than 250 words) (20 points)
(If you think some may be both in favor and against, it is fine, and can be listed in both answer 4 and 5, but make sure to provide (non-contradictory) evidence in support of their dual view see below for example). E.g. Some drivers are in favor of bicycle lanes, while other are not is a vague, and possible contradictory argument, which also lacks evidence (it simply states
a general possibility)
E.g. Some drivers are in favor of bicycle lanes because., while other are
against because better writing and improved answer; it seems to provide
evidence in support of why some are in favor/against
Important notes:
Please write in full sentences, unless the question clearly states that it is fine to use point form for the answer.
Please do not simply copy and paste sentences, phrases or parts of, in the answers to the questions. This may result in grade of 0 (zero) for the respective answer. Instead, please paraphrase or summarize (put into you own words) the material.
