Blind lawyer raises accessibility concerns over risky new raised bike lanes

In a YouTube video posted by prominent disability activist and AODA Alliance Chair, David Lepofsky, concerns have been raised about the legality and safety of a new bike lane along Eglinton Avenue West in Toronto. The contentious bike lane, constructed on the sidewalk instead of at road level, has sparked a debate on accessibility, particularly for individuals with visual impairments.

Lepofsky, a former lawyer and leading advocate for disability rights, sheds light on the lack of clear tactile differences in the bike lane’s design, posing significant risks to blind pedestrians and others. The situation, he said, contradicts the right to equality protected by various laws aimed at ensuring accessibility and well-being for individuals with disabilities.

“It is especially infuriating that this happened in a city and province which are required by Ontario law to become accessible and barrier-free to Ontarians with disabilities by 2025,” said Lepofsky. “Our City should not treat people with disabilities as expendable second class citizens.”

The City of Toronto’s decision to implement the bike lane on the sidewalk has prompted inquiries into the approval process and responsible design authority.

Lepofsky is questioning the individuals behind the decision, asking in the video, “Who designed this, who approved this?”

The problem with the design seems to stem from the need to have marked differences in texture between the safe sidewalk and the raised bike lane in question. According to Lepofsky, with just a slight change in paving texture between the sidewalk and the bike lane there is not enough difference between the two areas for him or any other blind person relying on a cane, which results in a serious hazard.

To illustrate the dangers of the new bike lane, David Lepofsky offers a visual demonstration in his YouTube video, emphasizing the immediate need for corrective measures. The AODA Alliance, in response to the situation, invited individuals to learn more about the issue on their website and the dedicated built environment page.

In a conversation with the Toronto Star, a representative from the city affirmed that the recently implemented bike lanes did actually adhere to AODA legislation.

According to Becky Katz, the manager of pedestrian and cycling projects at the City of Toronto, bikeways at sidewalk level incorporate a textured surface between the sidewalk and the elevated cycle track, providing detectability for pedestrians using a foot or cane. Katz acknowledged a preference for a change in elevation and mentioned that the city has now adopted beveled curbs as the standard design for raised bikeways moving forward.