In his inaugural address in January 1896 as Toronto's new mayor, Robert Fleming promised road improvements for the benefit of cyclists. Fleming, sometimes known as "the Peoples Bob" said that part of each street should be paved with the most suitable material for cycling, adding that "strips" on streets "where asphalt or brick does not now exist, should be put in first-class shape for bicycle riders." He added that parts of the street should be graded and paved with special attention to "the comfort of those using wheels." The Globe, in commenting on the speech observed, The bicyclist feels that he is becoming a power in the land just now. News of Fleming's speech even crossed the Atlantic where a commentator in London's Lady's Pictorial wrote (exaggerating the mayor's words) that Toronto that city of telephones and blonde beauties - is going ahead in the matter of bicycling. News is to hand that the Mayor-elect intends to put down a cycling track in every new street that is constructed. "

— Wheeling Through Toronto by Albert Koehl (Page 22 - 23)