November 08, 2023 Pedaling Through Planning: An Insightful Bike Tour of Toronto's Urban Landscape This September more than 60 planning enthusiasts, that included undergraduate and graduate students from Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU), community members, and TMU alumni, mounted their bikes to embark on a captivating tour of the city's urban landscape. Due to a large interest and participation, the group split into two bike tours. During the tours, attendees interacted with fellow planners and guest speakers who discussed Toronto's projects and spaces. The speakers provided information, resources, networking opportunities, and answered attendees’ questions. The tour also introduced attendees to unexplored or underexplored parts of Toronto. Chris Drew, a land use planner in the private sector, TMU alumni, and a volunteer for the School of Urban and Regional Planning Alumni (SURPA) Association at TMU , led the tour. He worked closely with the Toronto Metropolitan Association of Planning Students (TMAPS) and the Masters of Planning Graduate Student Association (MPGSA) to plan the tour, to guarantee it was safe and fun. Chris also collaborated with Bike Share Toronto for students who did not own bikes. Drew started these tours amidst the pandemic, recognizing the need for safe and outdoor educational experiences. His collaboration with the undergraduate and graduate student associations has solidified the tours' reputation, with students reaping knowledge and opportunities annually. The bike tour covered many popular locations in the downtown core. Here are the highlights of the tour: Sugar Beach Kicking off their bike tour at Sugar Beach, a prominent urban beach in Toronto, the participants engaged with Al Rezoski, a community planning manager from the City of Toronto. He delved into the historical significance of the beach. While there, attendees also got a glimpse of the Port Lands Flood Protection Project's construction and discussed the city's approach to climate resilience. Love Park Continuing the bike tour, the group pedaled alongside the waterfront to reach Love Park, a recent addition to Toronto's green spaces. There, they engaged with Rachel Bregman from Waterfront Toronto, who shed light on the park's development. The participants also learned about Claude Cormier, the visionary architect behind Love Park, renowned for his contributions to public spaces nationwide. Garrison Crossing Bridge Next on the agenda, the cyclists made their way to Garrison Crossing Bridge, nestled near Garrison Common and Stanley Park. Chris Drew enlightened the group about the bridge's importance and the underlying transportation system. Attendees also delved into discussions about the impact of rail infrastructure on parks and innovative approaches to linking people with public areas. As we pedaled further into the city, our next bike tour stop was at 200 University Ave where we met Rabia Munir, the Associate Development Manager at GWL Realty Advisors. Rabia elucidated her role in development, the intricacies of creating mixed-use sites, and the significance of transit-oriented development in fostering diverse communities. Riverdale Farm The group then ventured to Riverdale Farm located in Cabbagetown, adjacent to residential areas. Here, they were introduced to Becky Katz, the head of the Cycling and Pedestrian Projects Team for the City of Toronto. Becky emphasized the City's approach to implementing new cycling infrastructure methods for community engagement. Corktown Common Park Wrapping up the tour, participants arrived at Corktown Common Park. Here, they were greeted by Jodi Parps, who leads Strategic Engagement for the Ontario Line project at Metrolinx and Patricia Pytel who is the Senior Manager of Capital Communications and GO Expansion. Jodi and Patricia both highlighted the vital role of community involvement in public transportation initiatives, and attendees had a chance to ask questions about the Ontario Line and other Metrolinx projects. The tour's finale at this location was complemented by an optional networking session for enthusiasts to mingle and share insights. The bike tour proved immensely successful, bridging the gap between student planners and professionals. This platform allowed industry experts to share their projects and gain community insights. Students immersed themselves in a hands-on learning experience about Toronto's infrastructure, all while staying active. For many, this was their first city cycling experience, that was made reassuring and enjoyable by the tour's meticulous organization. A noteworthy mention is the participation of Lanrick Jr Bennett, Toronto's esteemed Bicycle Mayor, who played a pivotal role in networking and guiding. In appreciation, TMAPS and MPGSA extend their heartfelt gratitude to everyone involved - from enthusiastic participants who've kept this tradition alive for four years to the guest speakers, planning committee, and especially Chris Drew, whose unwavering commitment to students' growth has been instrumental. The following photos were taken by Chris Drew, Anika Munir, Jenna Auger, and MPGSA Reps. The views expressed in this blog post are those of the author(s), and may not reflect the position of the Ontario Professional Planners Institute. Post by Anika Munir and Jenna Auger Active, Bike Sharing, Communities, community engagement Print FaceBook Share Link LinkedIn Share Link Twitter Share Link Email Share Link Back To Home Recent Posts Link to: Welcoming campus, inclusive community: Building housing infrastructure for international students Welcoming campus, inclusive community: Building housing infrastructure for international students April 10, 2024 Link to: Welcoming campus, inclusive community: Building housing infrastructure for international students Link to: The experience of the Popular Audit in the Historic Centre of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil The experience of the Popular Audit in the Historic Centre of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil April 10, 2024 Link to: The experience of the Popular Audit in the Historic Centre of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil Link to: Why we Need to Engage Youth in the Urban Planning Process Why we Need to Engage Youth in the Urban Planning Process March 22, 2024 Link to: Why we Need to Engage Youth in the Urban Planning Process