Please help to make the Van Dusen bridge safe and accessible.

I am very happy that the Van Dusen bridge has re-opened.  It is great to have that connection reinstated after years of closure - it is the safest way to traverse the Mimico Creek in our community for cyclists and pedestrians alike.  I am in the neighbourhood of the Van Dusen bridge and rely on it as a critical connection to the schools, business and services that are centred around the Norseman, Thompson/Orchard and Islington communities.

While it is great that the bridge is open, there have been concerns about safety, particularly bicycles crossing the bridge at speed, use of the bridge by electric scooters and instances of motorcycles crossing the bridge.  Numerous instances of misuse of the bridge have been reported to the police, with no response. Misuse of the bridge is enhanced by the fact that the bridge, in its current form, looks like a continuation of the road leading to it, particularly on the west side. 

I recognize the City has attempted to address this issue by installing concrete blocks which have impacted accessibility to the bridge but do little to slow traffic given AODA requirements.

I believe a better solution is traffic calming measures that include landscaped curves at both bridge entrances.  These curves would slow down approaching traffic and the landscaping will create a naturalized transition from the street to the bridge.  The attached drawing represents the vision that I would like to see built.  This solution meets both safety and accessibility requirements. 

I believe there is significant community support for this solution and the solution has been developed based on input from community members on both sides of the bridge. We are prepared to give the City any assistance we can to implement this solution.

Please include me in any ongoing outreach from your office about the bridge. Thank you