Cars out on Lake Shore eastbound, Bayview this weekend

Having already extended its summer road-closure program past Labour Day, the City of Toronto said Tuesday that it’ll now push the program into October, closing off chunks of Lake Shore Boulevard, Bayview Avenue and River Street this weekend.

Residents’ desire to keep physically active during COVID-19 rules and the popularity of the closures drove the extensions, said Mayor John Tory, urging Torontonians to “get outside and enjoy the (closed roads) again this weekend.”

From Saturday, Oct. 3 at 6 a.m. to Sunday, Oct. 4 at 11 p.m., here’s what’ll be closed to cars, but open to pedestrians and cyclists:

• Lake Shore Boulevard West (eastbound only) from Windermere Avenue to Stadium Road;

• Lake Shore Boulevard East (eastbound only) from Leslie Street to Woodbine Avenue;

• Bayview Avenue from Front Street East to Rosedale Valley Road, and River Street from Gerrard Street East to Bayview Avenue.

Last week, the City announced data that showed an average of about 18,000 cyclists used the Lake Shore West closure on warm summer days. The routes, the city said, run adjacent to some of Toronto’s busiest and most popular trails where people can walk, run, and bike; the city gave that credit for helping to reduce virus spread over the summer months.

City staff will report back in January 2021 on lessons learned from this year’s ActiveTO programs, including the impacts on traffic, and in consultation with residents and businesses, recommendations for modifications to the program for 2021.

Zena Salem is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Star’s radio room in Toronto. Reach her via email: