Overgrown bushes rule Bayview Ave. sidewalk

‘Pedestrians tired of being treated as second-class citizens’

When trees take precedence over people along a sidewalk on a busy street, you can bet someone will be fuming over it.

And that someone is Gail Bebee, who says the city’s lack of response to her complaints about an overgrown sidewalk on the east side of Bayview Ave., north of Sheppard Ave., makes her feel like a second-class citizen.

Bebee has been copying us notes sent to Toronto 311 about bushes and leafy trees extending across the sidewalk on Bayview, between Wycliffe Cres. and Blithfield Ave., that she says is a serious pedestrian problem.

“I am one of many pedestrians who are tired of being treated as second-class citizens,” she said in an email to 311, noting that people on foot are expected to put up with things that would not be imposed on drivers.

“This safety hazard is entirely preventable. All it requires is a regular schedule for city crews to trim trees and shrubs that block sidewalks.

“Keeping our Toronto sidewalks passable and cleared of excess shrubbery and trees are important,” to improving safe- ty, she said.

Bebee also passed along a note sent Monday to her city councillor from “311escalations” that said a service request has been made to right-of-way management, and that “an investigation will take place within three weeks.

“Bylaw enforcement action may be required and the issue will be resolved at a later date.”

She wryly noted that “it will only take them three weeks to take a look, and who knows how long to actually fix it.”

We went there and found several spots between Wycliffe and Blithfield where tree branches and overgrowth extended most of the way across the sidewalk, pushing people almost onto the boulevard to get around them.

It didn’t look like a big deal, safety-wise, but they are long overdue for a trim. And they appear to be within the municipal road allowance, so it’s the city’s responsibility.

STATUS: We’ve sent a note to Kam Ma, acting manager of right-of-way management in North York, asking if he can persuade someone to expedite the investigation, and maybe even the trimming that’s obviously required.

What's broken in your neighbourhood? Wherever you are in Greater Toronto, we want to know. Email to jlakey@thestar.ca or follow @TOStarFixer on Twitter

JACK LAKEY Bushes and trees along the east side of Bayview Ave. have gotten so overgrown in several spots that people must skirt the edge of the sidewalk to get around them.