Author: Walk Toronto

Walk Toronto conducting Queen's Quay audit
Latest Issues

Walk Toronto Queen’s Quay Walking Audit

Walk Toronto

As Waterfront Toronto looks to develop the walking, cycling and transit infrastructure on Queen’s Quay east of Yonge Street, Walk Toronto has prepared a report on the issues facing pedestrians in the design of the already-developed western portion of Queen’s Quay. The report is based on a walking audit of the interface between pedestrians, cyclists, and transit and other vehicles at intersections from Spadina Ave. to York St., and was prepared by Mark Jacobs, a member of Walk Toronto’s steering committee.

While overall the Queen’s Quay walking and cycling paths are a welcome development, the report highlights issues with the design that are confusing to pedestrians and cyclists and dangerous to people with disabilities, and provides recommendations for solutions.

Read the report “Walk Toronto Queens Quay Walking Audit Report” (PDF)

#BuildTheVision
Latest Issues

#BuildTheVisionTO: Safe and Active Streets for All

Walk Toronto

On June 19, 2018, Walk Toronto, in partnership with TCAT, 8-80 Cities, Cycle Toronto, and Friends and Families for Safe Streets, launched #BuildTheVisionTO: Safe and Active Streets for All, a set of 15 municipal election priorities for building streets where people of all ages and abilities can get around actively, sustainably and safely.

A survey is being distributed to all of Toronto’s mayoral and city council candidates to gauge their support for the 15 priority actions within seven themes. These priorities will improve road safety, increase physical activity, and build safe and active streets for all ages and abilities. Candidate responses will be published on TCAT’s website a month ahead of the municipal election on October 22, 2018.

Media features:

 

Resources

Leading a walk

Walk Toronto

Walk Toronto encourages everyone to lead walks. It could be a local walk with neighbours, a walk to explore a part of the city with friends, a walk with fellow parents to audit safety on the way to school, a Jane’s Walk, or anything else. Leading a walk is simple, doesn’t cost anything, and is a great way to get to know neighbours or people who share your interests, to learn about your city, and to identify ways to improve your community. Here are some useful tools and resources to help you organize a walk.

Audit Tool

This tool was designed to help neighbours walk their community and identify things that can be improved to make their streets safer and more appealing to walk, roll and play on.

Jane’s Walk

Thank you to Jane’s Walk Toronto for these resources

Advocacy

After your walk, you may want to take action to get improvements implemented. Here are some resources for how to take action.

  • Advocacy Toolkit (from the Toronto Youth Food Policy Council). Includes tips on writing to city councillors and city staff, and giving deputations.

 

Walk Toronto Jane's Walk
Events

Map Your Street! Walk Toronto Presents a Jane’s Walk Street Audit Workshop

Walk Toronto

Join us for a stroll around a downtown street where we’ll map, scribble, photograph and discuss what makes a street safe and attractive for pedestrians, and what can make it better

Safer street design is not just a job for planners and engineers! This street audit will bring these big concepts back to the block and will demonstrate how you can start making your streets safer and more appealing now.

By the end of this training, you’ll have an easy to use street audit tool that you can use in your neighbourhood or on a Jane’s Walk.

This workshop is being led by Walk Toronto in association with Jane’s Walk.

What to expect: Introduction, 1 hour of walking, discussion

Where: Scadding Court Community Centre, 707 Dundas Street West (Corner of Bathurst and Dundas)

When: Saturday April 14th, 11am-1pm

The event is free, but we ask you to register because space is limited.

Click here to register

Latest Issues

A call to protest pedestrian deaths and injuries

Walk Toronto

Are you outraged by the number of pedestrian deaths and injuries in Toronto? Are you fed up with City Council’s lack of strong action to create safer streets for people on foot?

It’s time for pedestrians to make their presence felt at City Hall. Join Walk Toronto, Friends and Families for Safe Streets, and other allies in a Die-In for Safe Streets in Nathan Phillips Square on Monday, March 26, starting at 5:45 pm. Help us get significant numbers of people lying down in front of City Hall so that our politicians sit up and take notice of the toll that road violence is taking in our city.

We will gather at the Peace Garden, on the west side of Nathan Phillips Square (behind the bandstand).

5:45 pm – Gather at the Peace Garden
6:00 pm – Die-in: In solidarity for the victims of traffic violence
6:30 pm – Social at the Duke of York (Queen and Bay)

There is no need to RSVP, but you can do so and find out more information on the public Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/events/196155814449036/

We hope to see you there,

Walk Toronto

Latest Issues

Walk Toronto seeks explanation for increased speed limit signs posted before council vote

Walk Toronto

City council voted on a proposal to increase the speed limit on part of Bayview Ave. from 50 km/hr to 60 km/hr – reversing a speed limit reduction that was part of Toronto’s Road Safety Plan – on December 8, 2017. However, increased speed limit signs were posted on Bayview before the measure was approved by council, as noted in several photographs taken by witnesses.

Walk Toronto has written to Barbara Gray, General Manager, Transportation Services for the City of Toronto to seek an explanation as to why these signs were posted before the change was approved by council, contrary to proper democratic procedure..

Walk Toronto also asks what measures Transportation Services is taking to address the amendment directing Transportation Services to implement pedestrian safety measures on Bayview Ave.

Latest Issues

Walk Toronto calls for Lawrence Park sidewalks

Walk Toronto

The City is tearing up all of the streets in the Lawrence Park neighbourhood to fix the water system. But when it rebuilds the streets, it’s not planning to add sidewalks to more than a small minority of the streets, contrary to the City’s own policies. Local residents have been fighting for more sidewalks to improve pedestrian safety, and Walk Toronto’s Michael Black prepared a comprehensive report on why they are needed. The report was presented to the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee when it considered the plan.

Read Michael Black’s full report (PDF)

Read the PWIC agenda item