Advancing Active TransportationIn Toronto

ACT CanadaSustainable 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

ELIGIBILITYHigh readinessInnovativenessStrong evidence baseLow walkability and/or bikeabilityHigh rates or risks of chronic diseaseLow safety

SELECTIONMix of social and income groupsMix of community types and project scalesPotential 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, TorontoPhoto: 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; andEducation 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)

• Review the actions identified by the community to provide local improvements for active transportation on specific actions, including service requests

Jane and Finch, Toronto Photo: Ryan Anders Whitney

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

10 20 30 40 50 600%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

120%

Probability of Fatality

Impact Speed (km/hr)

Ped

estr

ian

Fat

alit

ies

(%)

Healthy Street Design : Experience

• Wide sidewalks• Seating• Trees and landscaping• Human-scaled buildings• Attractive building

facades

Questions?

Carol Mee• cmee@toronto.ca