Tag: Bayview & Soudan

New turn prohibitions at Bayview and Soudan/Parkhurst

BREAKING

This week brand new signs were installed that reflect new turn prohibitions that were recommended by Transportation Services in a Report for Action back in September.  Area residents have been concerned about the safety of this intersection for years, let us all hope these new rules increase safety.   (Photos below provided by Ian Smith)

The new signs:

  • prohibit eastbound left turns from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, at Bayview Avenue and Parkhurst Boulevard/Soudan Avenue
  • prohibit eastbound through traffic movements from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, at Bayview Avenue and Parkhurst Boulevard/Soudan Avenue
  • prohibit westbound left turns from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, at Bayview Avenue and Parkhurst Boulevard/Soudan Avenue
  • prohibit westbound through traffic movements from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, at Bayview Avenue and Parkhurst Boulevard/Soudan Avenue.

Previous: Traffic advisors want no-go rules at Soudan-Parkhurst

Resident concerned for pedestrians at Bayview and Soudan

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Screeching tires and sirens can be heard from inside Mr. Smith’s home.

South Bayview resident, Ian Smith, is sick and tired of seeing collisions and injuries near his home at the intersection of Bayview & Soudan Aves. (Parkhurst to the east).  For the last two years he has noticed a steady increase in traffic mishaps in this location and believes that the LRT construction may have something to do with it.  With many drivers avoiding the chaos of Eglinton, they are choosing to frequent side streets, causing traffic issues that may not have existed a few years ago.

Mr. Smith has contacted Mark Saunders, Chief of Police, Toronto Police Service and local Councillors Burnside and Matlow (who share this intersection).  He wants to see this intersection become safer for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers.

Dear Chief Saunders,

I am a resident living steps away from the intersection of Bayview Ave. and Soudan Ave.

This intersection has a PXO crosswalk installed and has four lanes of traffic on Bayview and two lanes on the Soudan/Parkhurst cross street. The four lanes of Bayview have the PXO crosswalk.

This letter is to request a traffic survey to ascertain if an adult crossing guard is warranted in this location. Alternately, are there are any other tools at your disposal to improve the safety of this dangerous intersection.

I have contacted City Councillors Burnside and Matlow regarding this matter, and my city Councillor Josh Matlow gave me his full support to make this application. I have also spoken with Sgt Matt Moyer at 53 Division about this issue and possible solutions.

Last month we had a meeting on site which included the Councillors and city staff along with a police officer and concerned residents. The meeting was called due to the increase in traffic caused by the LRT and condo construction diverting traffic to the adjacent residential streets. This increase in traffic has brought with it the frequent collisions we are seeing as traffic tries to cross four lanes of traffic at Bayview, during rush hour it is quite hectic and dangerous to cross the street. The police data itself shows a high risk intersection with almost a hundred collisions a year and around a dozen personal injuries each year based on the month of January data.

This is a residential neighbourhood heavy with pedestrian traffic from schools nearby, I am concerned that the intersection controls as they stand today do not perform their intended purpose any longer. A traffic review and the needed improvements are required in the short term to address this new reality.

Thank you for your consideration,

Regards,
Ian G. Smith

We commend Mr. Smith for being pro-active on this issue. If you live in the area, please contact your Councillor and request something be done to increase safety on South Bayview.

Minor personal injury accident at Bayview and Parkhurst

Toronto Police Service operations (TPS Ops) has tweeted a minor personal injury accident at Bayview Ave. and Parkhurst Blvd. This was about 4.30 p.m. Traffic will slowed by the investigation at this tricky corner where movement is controlled by stop signs for vehicles on Parkhurst and Soudan Ave. and by the crosswalk. Not 100 percent effective or safe as traffic speeds along the Bayview curb lanes at rush hour with little or no visibility of the full intersection.

Jogger hurled across Bayview Ave. by impact

Sunday night’s accident at the Soudan Ave crosswalk on Bayview Ave. remains under investigation by 53 Division Traffic officers. Simon Baker was what might be called an audio witness as a southbound van struck a women dressed in jogging clothes in the crosswalk. “The sound was almost as loud as two cars colliding.” say Mr. Baker. He was just sitting down to dinner with his girlfriend when he heard the thump and screams of people on the street. Other witnesses told Baker that the jogger had pressed the crosswalk button on the west side of Bayview by Parker’s Cleaners. She was thrown into the northbound lane by the Toyota van. Her body landed in front of a northbound Mercedes driven by driver who was sufficiently alert to stop before she hit the victim. The van was driven by two young men who Mr Baker estimated to be in their early 20s. One supported himself on crutches. Baker, a videographer, saw the scene from the balcony of his apartment on the northeast corner of Bayview and Parkhurst Blvd. “I grabbed my cell and called 9-1-1,” he said. “When I got down to the street there were already five or six people trying to help the girl. But she was absolutely unconscious. The woman remains in Sunnybrook Hospital and her injuries are now said to be not life-threatening. Photos: Courtesy Simon Baker  Top, woman jogger was thrown from the Soudan-Parkhurst crosswalk to the opposite side of the intersection. Her body landed in front of the northbound car; centre is a chalk outline of where victim lay; bottom, police photograph fender of car that hit the woman. 

Witness sends comment on crosswalk accident

A 22-year-old woman has been struck by a car on Bayview Ave at or near the crosswalk for Soudan Ave. and Parkhurst Blvd (on the east side).  It appears she was hit by the vehicle when it failed to stop for the crosswalk. We have eyewitnesses information in the form of a comment below that corrects an earlier version.  Thanks to Mr. Baker for his information. The accident occurred about 8  p.m.  and the woman was taken to Sunnybrook Hospital. Police diverted traffic, including the 11 Bayview bus, along Cleveland Street and Manor Road.

Mayhem, “Mazda sandwich” block Bayview

A six-car property damage accident blocked Bayview between Hillsdale Ave and Soudan Ave this afternoon. It’s no mystery that it was a mess, although just how it happened was the source of much speculation. Upper left, two vehicles sideswiped, upper right, a badly damaged Toyota, Lower right and left, a Mazda Mx-5 sandwich (ouch!) with two heavy SUVs on either end. Once again, all six cars are said to be part of the same accident. Our colleague Rudy at rudy.ca has some good pictures too.