Midland Active Transportation Advisory Committee Raises Yonge Street Safety Concerns

The Midland Active Transportation Advisory Committee, is comprised of individuals with a strong interest in active transportation. The chair Herb van den Dool, a Midland resident, and the vice chair, Mary Bordour, a public health nurse with the Muskoka District Health Unit, led a presentation during a recent Midland City Council meeting to discuss their concerns with safety for bike riders on Yonge Street.

Their concerns after a recent discussion calling for the city of Midland to increase the lanes on Yonge Street from two to four. Speeding on Yonge Street is a huge concern for citizens and of the local school Mundy’s Bay.

A report from 2022, found that 65% of drivers exceed the 40km speed limit in the school safety zone. A recent survey showed that 22% of students walk or bike to school, which is why students from the school are advocating for bike lanes to be put in the area.

MATAC is also advising that these bike lanes are not only for people riding bikes but are essential for those with mobility issues. Senior residents of The Villa often use bike lanes to get around on their mobility scooters.

During that same Council meeting, the Loomex Group released their Community Risk Assessment report for the City of Midland. The report was done from the perspective of the fire department and included reports for severe weather events, fires in industrial occupancy, critical infrastructure failure, human health emergencies, and fires in residential occupancy.

To see the full report and the recommendations for how the City of Midland can mitigate these community safety risks you can contact the Midland City Council.