Have you noticed something new in the windows at 721 Queen E? We’re excited to share this showcase display of the Riverside BIA’s Bike Rings & Plaques capital project for this year, which will bring over two dozen new bike racks and commemorative plaques to Queen Street East in the theme of the river which the area references in its historic name of Riverside.
The design by artist Daniel Roe shows the graceful winding path of the pre-1886 Don River through downtown Toronto and trace those forgotten bends, each capturing a different curve of the river. Installed at key sites along Queen St E between East Don Roadway/Davies Ave and Empire Ave, the bike rings and plaques form a subtle way-finding trail, as visitors move through the Riverside BIA, they encounter one historic curve after another, linking the neighbourhood’s vibrant present to its past.
Project signage in window display at 721 Queen E
Artist Daniel Roe with the Bike Ring design 3-D display at 721 Queen E
Artist Daniel Roe with the Plaque design 3-D display at 721 Queen E
Special thanks to Korman & Company Lawyers (@mitchkorman) for providing the display space at 721 Queen E for the project and you should see these designs rolling out IRL in 2025. FYI – Korman’s has a special connection to the Riverside BIA as the late Jack Korman was one of the original founders of the BIA. You can read more that as well!
ABOUT THE PROJECT
The Riverside Bike Rings & Plaques project is a collaboration between OCAD University, the Riverside BIA, and the City of Toronto, honouring the BIA’s 45th anniversary in 2025 and the community’s ongoing spirit of connection and movement. Lock your bike, feel the steel and pause – just for a moment – to feel the river beneath your wheels.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Daniel Roe is a Toronto-based multidisciplinary designer working at the intersection of brand, product, and experience design. Currently in the Industrial Design program at OCAD University, he is honing his craft in form, materials, and manufacturing. Learn more at danielroe.ca and IG @danroe.creative