Portland-Wellington intersection now bike-first zone

The intersection of Wellington Street W. and Portland Street has been transformed into one of Toronto's most pedestrian and cyclist-friendly crossings, with drivers now forced onto one of the two streets rather than crossing the intersection freely.

The change is part of a multi-year project to improve cycling infrastructure on Portland Street and Dan Leckie Way. Between 2013 and 2023, roughly 1,500 collisions occurred at the location, including six that seriously injured or killed a cyclist or pedestrian.

"It was a very complicated intersection, many, many interactions between drivers and near misses with especially pedestrians, but also people cycling," said Adam Popper, manager of project design and delivery at the city's transportation services department.

The redesign uses flex posts, planters, and Muskoka chairs to reclaim road space for public use. A new two-way protected bike lane now connects Portland from Queen Street W. to Front Street, allowing cyclists to link with popular routes on Richmond and Adelaide without mixing with car traffic on larger roads like Bathurst.

Reaction has split along predictable lines. Nearby resident Rickey Wang welcomed the changes as both a pedestrian and driver: "You don't have to look seven different ways before you cross." Others, like Jeremy Thomas, worry the redesign has worsened gridlock. The city's next goal, after safety, is reducing congestion in the area by encouraging mode shift away from cars.

It's a bet Toronto keeps making on infrastructure: that if you build for bikes and feet, people will come.