E-Blast: What We Heard at the Door This Summer

This summer, my team and I got out for some door knocking, and I’d like to share a bit of what we heard. Sometimes we learn about things on your street that we can get right to work on. Other times, I hear concerns that are being felt all across Don Valley North.

These visits give my team, who you usually reach by phone or email, a firsthand view of what’s happening on your street.  Meeting you at your door helps strengthen our understanding of the community and how it is changing in real time.

If we haven’t made it to your street yet, don’t worry, we’ll be out through the fall, so keep your eyes peeled for my team at your door.

So far, one of the most common concerns we heard this summer was about what city staff call “rideables” — bikes, e-bikes, e-scooters, and similar vehicles. None of these are legal on sidewalks, because pedestrians need to feel safe there.

To address these concerns, I am glad to report that both the City and Toronto Police have stepped up their efforts.

The City has launched an education campaign to improve compliance and awareness among riders of bicycles, e-bikes, and scooters. It includes a clear visual guide — Rules for Rideables — to help everyone understand what is allowed where.

At the same time, Toronto Police have begun an enforcement blitz focused specifically on micromobility vehicles, just in time for back to school. Officers are out across the city, both educating riders and enforcing the Highway Traffic Act and the City’s by-laws. This campaign isn’t just about awareness - ticketing and enforcement are a major focus, especially on sidewalks, in bike lanes, and in school zones. I’ve already raised Don Valley North as a priority location for enforcement. I have been very clear with Toronto Police that Don Valley North residents expect to see visible enforcement here in our community, not only downtown.

Still, we know these conversations aren’t always simple. While canvassing on Cummer Avenue, I met three teenagers riding e-scooters on the sidewalk. I stopped to tell them it was illegal and introduced myself. They explained that they want to ride to A.Y. Jackson every day once school starts so they don’t need a drive from their parents, but when they try using the the Share Lane Markings, or “Sharrows” on the road, drivers honk or yell at them. They feel safer on the sidewalk. That experience really underscored for me the tension between encouraging active transportation and keeping everyone safe.

I also heard from neighbours who were frustrated by the bike lanes near Leslie Street. It’s important to remember those lanes were installed after a number of collisions between cyclists and pedestrians under the GO train tracks. Since the lanes went in, reports of bikes on the sidewalk have gone down significantly and there have been no reported collisions. This is a example of how safe cycling infrastructure not only prevents accidents but also encourages riders to follow the rules of the road.

Here’s the lesson for all of us: if we don’t want people riding on sidewalks, and we don’t want more bike lanes on local roads, we need to be willing to slow down and share the road with rideables. Car speeding is one of the most common complaints we hear at the door, and I have zero tolerance for it. Don Valley North has a well-designed street grid, and almost everywhere you’re only a short distance from a major artery where you’ll soon be moving at 50 km/h.

Every canvass also reveals the odd street where utility wires have been left dangling after repair work has been done. One resident I spoke to said he had been trying to get this resolved for years. These situations require a lot of follow-up with private utilities. If you see this, please snap a photo and send it to our office with the exact location and we will get right on it.

On Deerford Rd, I met a new mother who told me she had noticed someone living in a tent in a local park. While the City has made significant progress clearing encampments in downtown parks, we are starting to see more tents appear in parks in North York. The City has a professional team of experts who will reach out to those living in tents and connect them with appropriate shelter and services. The sooner we can intervene, the easier it is to get people the help they need, so please call my office as soon as you see a tent.

She also shared that during the day, a group of men were drinking heavily and intimidating other park users. This is not acceptable. Parks are for everyone, and as our community grows, we all need to share and respect these spaces. Again, call my office and we will make sure the appropriate enforcement team is sent out.

Some neighbours also raised concerns about more serious crime. This is where my role as Chair of the Toronto Police Services Board comes in. We all still feel the impact of the tragic crime in a grocery store parking lot this summer. But I want you to know that much of your recent property tax increase has gone toward making our city safer — and the statistics show progress.

Car thefts are down. Break and enters are down. Homicides are down. 911 response times have improved, and the non-emergency line is performing better too. Staffing is up across all police divisions. I’ve visited divisions and joined officers on ride-alongs, and they tell me they feel better able to manage since we began addressing staffing shortages. Safety was your top concern at the start of this term, and it remains my focus.

Finally, one of the issues that concerns me most is hearing residents say they’ve been bounced from 311 to a department, then to another department, and so on. 311 is an invaluable service because it’s available 24/7 and ensures your service request gets into the system. But when you’re dealing with a complex or stubborn issue, that’s when my team and I step in.

Your Don Valley North Councillor’s office is here to take on the matters that need more time, persistence, or a councillor’s push to get resolved. Don’t wait until I show up at your door one summer day — reach out anytime. We’re here to help.

Read the Full E-Blast Here