M.I.A. sign makes DVP hard to find
A ramp that leads from Bloor St. to the Don Valley Parkway is a wellkept secret, after a sign that identifies it went missing.
Signs that convey vital information, such as speed limits or traffic signals ahead, help drivers make a good decision ahead of time, instead of a lastsecond reaction. Good signage reduces the likelihood of erratic driving, such as suddenly hitting the brakes or making an abrupt lefthand turn into oncoming traffic.
So when a sign that directs drivers travelling on a busy city street to a major thoroughfare such as the Don Valley Parkway, it is a recipe for confusion and erratic driving.
Manny Gaikis emailed to tell us about the situation at the spot where a small road veers off from the east side of the westbound Bloor Viaduct and merges with the Bayview-Bloor ramp, which in turn leads to the DVP.
“The sign showing this road was knocked down in August 2015 and has not been replaced,” said Gaikis, adding that “many calls to Toronto 311 have had no result.
“This situation is cruel to motorists unfamiliar with the area who are looking to get on the DVP.”
He went on to say it’s a serious problem for “pedestrians and cyclists who must cross this road and may be hit by motorists whose attention is diverted by looking for the DVP access road.”
The ramp is just east of Castle Frank Rd., where a heavy volume of traffic is constantly exiting the DVP. There is no other way for westbound drivers to get to the DVP than the small roadway; they can turn right at Castle Frank, but there’s no access to it from the Bayview-Bloor ramp.
And with lots of pedestrians and cyclists crossing it, a driver who doesn’t know the lay of the local land is likelier to be distracted while looking for it, and may not see the people. Status: We’ve asked Allan Pinkerton, who’s in charge of Toronto street signage, if he can arrange to have the sign replaced ASAP. What’s broken in your neighbourhood? Wherever you are in Greater Toronto, we want to know. To contact us, go to thestar.com/yourtoronto/the_fixer, call us at 416-869-4823 or email jlakey@thestar.ca. Report problems and follow us on Twitter @TOStarFixer.