Advancing Active Transportation
In Toronto
ACT Canada
Sustainable Mobility and
Healthy Communities
Summit
December 2, 2014
Carol Mee,
Toronto Public Health
Manager
Healthy Public Policy
Overview
• Road to Health
• Active Transportation
Demonstration Projects
• Active TO
• Healthy Streets
Road to Health
• Active Transportation (AT) as
means to improve health in
Toronto
• Benefits of walking and cycling
• Collisions, injuries and fatalities
and their costs
• Distribution of health benefits
and risks
• Strategies to increase walking
and cycling in Toronto
Active Transportation Demonstration
Projects
Goals:
• To demonstrate that Active
Transportation interventions
are feasible and effective
• To build strong partnerships
and work together to
improve active
transportation in Toronto
Criteria for Site Selection
ELIGIBILITY
High readiness
Innovativeness
Strong evidence base
Low walkability and/or bikeability
High rates or risks of chronic disease
Low safety
SELECTION
Mix of social and income groups
Mix of community types and project scales
Potential to include interventions identified in
BOH request
Demonstration Sites - TCAT
Black Creek
• Partner: Everdale
• Traffic Control Signal;
improved access to
Farm
Annex/Harbord
• Partner: Cycle Toronto
• Bike Lanes on Bloor;
Speed limits; increased
sidewalk space
Harbord Street, Toronto
Photo: Ryan Anders Whitney
Demonstration Sites – Gladki
Planning Associates
• Cliffside
Separated bike lanes; More sidewalks and sidewalk
improvements; Traffic calming (i.e. speed bumps, lower
traffic speeds enforced by police); Improve connectivity of
existing trails with parks; Better transit; and
Education for drivers about sharing the road
• North York Centre
More multi-use trails; Traffic calming; More bike lanes;
better intersection design (i.e. safer crossings for pedestrians);
and more pedestrian crossings
AT Demonstration Projects: Results
Council Recommendations:
• Black Creek - conduct a site
assessment to improve road
safety and access for road users
(cyclists and pedestrians)
Jane and Finch, Toronto
Photo: Ryan Anders Whitney
• Review the actions identified by
the community to provide local
improvements for active
transportation on specific
actions, including service
requests
Building Support for Active
Transportation and Complete Streets
Healthy Streets
Healthy Street Design: Accessibility
• Short blocks and 4-way
intersections to increase
connectivity
• Continuity of pedestrian
and cycling facilities
• Places to walk to and from
Healthy Street Design : Safety
• Continuous sidewalk and
bicycle facilities
• Adequate lighting
• Safe intersection crossings
Healthy Street Design : Reduce
speed and increase safety
Probability of Fatality
Pedestrian Fatalities (%)
120%
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
10
20
30
40
50
Impact Speed (km/hr)
60
Healthy Street Design : Experience
• Wide sidewalks
• Seating
• Trees and landscaping
• Human-scaled buildings
• Attractive building
facades
Questions?
Carol Mee
• cmee@toronto.ca