Jones Avenue between Queen Street East and Dundas Street East is a vital connection for families, seniors, elementary and high school students, and everyday riders traveling north–south through Toronto’s east end. But today, it remains dangerous and inadequate, with faded, paint-only bike lanes and no physical protection between people on bikes and fast-moving vehicles.

This corridor has already seen tragedy. In 2018, Douglas Crosbie was killed by a truck driver while biking to work at the intersection of Jones and Dundas. A white “ghost bike” has stood at that corner ever since, a solemn reminder of the cost of inaction.

Following Douglas’s death, the City of Toronto studied improvements to Jones Avenue. In 2024, after robust consultation and support, the City Council adopted a staff-recommended plan to build curbside, unidirectional protected bike lanes from Queen to Dundas. These changes will make Jones Avenue safer for everyone, reducing crashes, calming traffic, and making active travel to schools, parks, and local businesses a real option for more people.

City Council approved the project. The funding is secured. The roadwork is already scheduled.

But now there is talk of a delay.

Jones Avenue is long overdue for safe cycling infrastructure. Protected bike lanes here will:

• Create a safer route to eight schools that utilize Jones Ave

• Prevent traffic collisions, injuries, and deaths

• Encourage more people, especially children, parents, and seniors, to bike or roll

• Reduce car traffic, air and noise pollution, and climate emissions

• Support small businesses by increasing foot and bike traffic

• Create a safer route to community hubs Like Matty Eckler and Eastview

There’s nothing standing in the way—except political hesitation.

The design is ready. The budget is approved. The work is scheduled. All that’s needed is the will to follow through. Every season we wait, we gamble with the safety of our neighbours.

If we want fewer memorials and more moments—more kids biking to school, more seniors walking safely, more people moving freely—we need to act now.

Sign this petition and email the decision-makers directly:

Taamara Thanaraja, Transportation and Environment Lead, Office of Councillor Paula Fletcher
Taamara.Thanaraja@toronto.ca

Councillor Paula Fletcher, Ward 14, Toronto-Danforth
councillor_fletcher@toronto.ca

Let them know loud and clear: Jones Avenue must prioritize safety for its most vulnerable users. It’s time to build protected bike lanes—no more delays.