Latest Issues

Safe and Active Streets for All campaign seeks pledges for safer streets in mayoral by-election

Walk Toronto is part of the Safe and Active Streets for All campaign for the 2023 mayoral by-election. The campaign is encouraging candidates to support 10 priority actions to make Toronto’s streets safer, and asking candidates to fill out a survey about what measures they would support.

Voters can show their support for the campaign by signing a pledge.

The 10 priorities are:
  1. Building Complete Streets across every ward in Toronto
  2. Establishing and Implementing a Vision Zero Safety Checklist
  3. Streamlining the traffic calming process equitably across the city
  4. Reducing traffic speed on our streets to 30 km/h and 40 km/h on all arterial roads city-wide
  5. Improving the safety and accessibility for people walking and using mobility devices
  6. Accelerating the Cycling Network Plan to provide safe and connected bike lanes in every ward
  7. Funding & supporting Active School Travel programs to ensure young people can safely walk and bike to school
  8. Investing in equitable methods to manage traffic enforcement by reallocating resources away from on-the-ground police enforcement
  9. Reallocating road space to provide regular and recurring car-free spaces for active transportation
  10. Supporting the multi-modal future of Toronto’s transportation system

Latest Issues

Walk Toronto supports extension of Bloor West complete street, but highlights concern about missing sidewalk plan

Walk Toronto wrote to the Infrastructure and Environment Committee to express its support for the extension of the Bloor West complete street from Runnymede Road to Resurrection Road.

The plan will reduce speed limits and add cycle tracks, which will have the benefit of calming traffic and buffering pedestrians from vehicle traffic.

However, Walk Toronto also noted a plan to replace a section of grass boulevard where the sidewalk is missing with a temporary on-road, painted pedestrian path. We expressed concern about this plan, which could be unsafe for pedestrians, urging the committee to implement a full separate sidewalk at the same time as the cycle tracks.

Events

Walk Toronto leads Jane’s Walk exploring pedestrian issues in Old Town Toronto

As part of the annual Jane’s Walk festival, Walk Toronto led a Jane’s Walk on Sunday, May 7, 2023 through the Old Town (aka St. Lawrence) neighbourhood of Toronto, looking at pedestrian issues and infrastructure along with revealing some local history and hidden gems. The walk was in part to help mark Walk Toronto’s 10th anniverary — we began in 2013!

The walk was led by Walk Toronto steering committee members Doug Vallery, who works in the Old Town neighbourhood, and Dylan Reid, with a contribution from Lee Scott. Although the weather turned to heavy rain, we were pleased to still get a turnout of around 20 people.

We talked about the infrastructure and amenities that affect the safety and the joy of walking in the city, including accessibility, sidewalk design, intersections, flexible streets, and more – with an added sprinkling of history about this storied area.

The walk began and Berczy Park and ended in front of Meridien Hall, with visits to Courthouse Square, St. James Park, and Market Lane Park along the way.

May be an image of 6 people and bicycle

May be an image of 3 people and bicycle

Latest Issues

Walk Toronto proposes accessibility improvements for Millwood Road

Walk Toronto’s Michael Black has submitted a series of recommendations to Transportation Services staff via a letter to City Council, proposing a series of adjustments to plans for proposed safety improvments to Millwood Road, from Pape Avenue and across the Leaside Bridge to the intersection of Overlea Boulevard and beyond.

Overall, Walk Toronto is supportive of the planned changes, which will improve a very walking-unfriendly section of roadway, but we feel additional improvements are important, especially as they relate to accessibility.

Latest Issues

Walk Toronto opposes swap of City-owned Ontario Place land

Walk Toronto considers Ontario Place to be a treasured area for the public to walk, and has been active in advocating for the land to remain public.

In support of that goal, Walk Toronto has written to the General Government Committee to oppose a proposal to declare City-owned land in and around Ontario Place surplus in order to facilitate its transfer to the Provincial governmnent. Walk Toronto argues that, given the importance of this issue and the conflicting positions of different candidates in the mayoral by-election, this decision should not be made until after a new mayor has been elected.

Latest Issues

Walk Toronto supports speed reduction and pedestrian safety on Avenue Road

Walk Toronto has written to the Toronto East York Community Council (TEYCC) to support Councillor Dianne Saxe’s motion to implement pedestrian and traffic safety measures on Avenue Road between Bloor Street West and St. Clair Avenue West.

The measures would include reducing the speed limit from 50 km/hr to 40 km/hr and introducing a pilot project to reduce the number of driving lanes from 6 to 4.

Walk Toronto’s letter points out that, outside this stretch, Avenue Road and its continuations are 4 lanes wide with a 40 km/hr speed limit. As well, the current curbside lanes are often blocked by construction, parking, and other closures, forcing unsafe lane changes. As well, the current sidewalks are extremely narrow and often have obstacles. Avenue Road has 5 schools and 4 senior’s residences on it or nearby, and is seeing a significant increase in population with new developments. The proposed changes would make walking safer and more attractive, and provide space to improve accessibility.

Latest Issues

Walk Toronto supports review of sidewalk snow clearing after problems during winter 2023

Walk Toronto has written to the Infrastructure and Environment Committee in support of a motion to address problems with sidewalk snow clearing, IE2.8 – Request for First Year Review of Winter Maintenance Contracts and Addressing Obstructed Sidewalks with Snow and Ice.

Walk Toronto’s Doug Vallery writes that Toronto should “consider a coordinated, team approach to winter maintenance developed in Montreal, where roadway plows are followed by sidewalk plows in order that problematic windrows created by the former can immediately be cleared by the latter in one clean sweep.”

 

Latest Issues

Walk Toronto writes to Executive Committee in support of CafeTO platforms for accessibility

Walk Toronto has written to the Executive Committee to support the principle that CafeTO curbside patios should be placed on platforms level with the sidewalk to ensure accessibility, now that the program is becoming permanent.

While it was understandable that, in order to roll out the program quickly, partial solutions in the form of ramps were all that was required in the initial stage, experience showed that these did not provide full accessibility. Meanwhile, for this year, a federal program will subsidize half of the cost of the platforms.

Walk Toronto’s Dylan Reid wrote:

We believe, when restaurants make the calculation, that many will realize the platforms are a worthwhile longterm investment in their business. They are certainly a vital long-term investment in making Toronto a truly accessible city for all.

Latest Issues

Walk Toronto writes to Mayor Tory and speaks at committee to support making Midtown Yonge Complete Street permanent

Walk Toronto has written to Mayor John Tory to support making the ActiveTO Midtown Yonge Complete Street pilot project between Bloor Street and Davisville Avenue permanent. The pilot project included bike lanes, planters, CafeTO curbside patios, and artwork. It has led to a 142% increase in pedestrian activity in this strip, among other benefits.

Walk Toronto’s Lee Scott also spoke at the January 20, 2023 meeting of the Infrastructure and Environment Committee in favour of making this project permanent.

In the letter, Walk Toronto’s Lee Scott writes:

With the unprecedented development in the Midtown area of Toronto, we encourage a new vision of how the streets and sidewalks are used as this new growth is accommodated in affordable and space-efficient ways. Yonge is often referenced as Toronto’s Main Street and its narrow right-of-way south of St. Clair Avenue is particularly in need of Complete Street ideas that encourage travel by public transit, cycling, and walking.

Latest Issues

Walk Toronto supports motion to improve construction safety on Bloor Street

Walk Toronto has written to Toronto City Council to support a motion by councillor Dianne Saxe to improve construction safety on Bloor Street.

Multiple construction projects on Bloor Street, East and West, have reduced or removed sidewalk access and removed safe spaces for cyclists. The safety measures taken for active transportation have been inadequate and inconsistent. Walk Toronto’s letter specifically notes construction projects at Castle Frank subway station and the Glen Road pedestrian bridge, among others.

In his letter, Walk Toronto’s Michael Black concludes:

In order to avoid the mixing of modes and the incursions of bikes into areas designated for exclusive pedestrian use, we recommend that planners of building and road projects preserve existing active transportation infrastructure to the greatest extent possible when accommodating construction activity. If temporary changes cannot be avoided, then safe routes should be established which keep pedestrians properly separated from cyclists, and in turn keep all active transportation users separated from vehicular traffic.

The motion was passed by City Council by a 25-1 vote.