TORONTO - The hiking and bicycling pathway through the city has been established, and the Coalition for Revitalization expects the pathway to be marked in the near future.
The pathway meanders through the city on two routes, according to George Komar, coalition president.
"There are two main pathways," said Komar. "One will be one River Avenue from the sewage treatment plant to Spring Street. That's 2.2 miles.
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KIOSK FOR PATHWAY — City resident Bob Meredeth stands near the kiosk for the new hiking and biking pathway through Toronto. The effort to map the pathway is a project between the city and the Toronto Coalition for Revitalization. - Mark Miller
"The other pathway begins at Daniels Street to Grant Street," continued Komar. "From there it goes to Jefferson Street. That takes (the rider) to the War Memorial Pool. That's why we chose that."
The pathway then proceeds to Madison Avenue, turns onto Federal Street, then to Ridge Avenue and onto Wentworth Avenue, said Komar.
"That takes the rider right to Karaffa Elementary School on School Street," Komar said.
Once the present Toronto High School is demolished and a parking lot constructed, a trailhead for the pathway will be established, Komar said.
"We'll be able to use the lot at the north end of the parking lot where the present (high school) is located," he said.
Temporary parking is now available at Sloane Station Square at the corner of Fourth and Market streets.
"That's where we currently have the bike rack and kiosk," said Komar. "That will eventually be moved."
The city will locate and paint the "sharrows," which are painted arrows on streets indicating the pathway route.
"The time frame for establishing that is up to the city," said Bob Meredeth, chairman of the coalition's biking and hiking committee. "The city will pay for the sharrows."
"(The coalition) wrote the city a check for $1,000, and it was returned," continued Komar, adding the coalition offered to pay for the sharrows. "We made the gesture. We did pay for the kiosk and the bike rack."
"This could be a pilot program for smaller cities," said Meredeth.
Organized bike rides led by Meredeth begin at 6 p.m. Wednesdays at Sloane Station Square.
Both said brochures with information on businesses, city highlights and restaurants are available at the kiosk. For information, go to www.thegemcity.org.
