Www.cleanairpartnership.org Nancy Smith Lea Director, Active Transportation TCAT Program Director...

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Nancy Smith LeaDirector, Active Transportation

TCAT Program DirectorACT Canada – Canadian TDM Summit 2009

November 16, 2009

TCAT Overview

Formed in 2006 to give a unified voice for groups and individuals working for a better cycling and pedestrian environment in Toronto.

Came together around a simple idea: Active transportation (cycling and walking) is the most affordable, healthy and sustainable mode of transportation.

Yet the City falls short in prioritizing walking and cycling (active transportation) in its budget and city planning processes.

Tripled the number of member organizations in three years.

Active Transportation… Is there demand?

Photo by TObike from the Torontoist Flickr Pool.

Active Transportation on the rise in Canada

Active transportation has been rising at a significant rate amongst Canadians since 2000. Almost a quarter of Canadians walk 6 or more hours per week. (Canadian Journal of Public Health, 2007).

A national study found that 7 in 10 Canadians would cycle to work if there were bike lanes. (Go for Green, 2004)

More Torontonians cycling and walking to work

Mode share for work trips in the City of Toronto, 2001 and 2006

0

100000

200000

300000

400000

500000

600000

700000

walk bicycle public transit motor vehicle other

2001

2006

Source: Statistics Canada, 2006 Census City of Toronto website http://www.toronto.ca/cycling/statistics-tables.htm#mode

+11.4%

+32.6 %

+1.9%

-2.9%

+23.9%

In downtown Toronto, the majority of customers walk or bike to shop

Walk

Bicycle

Public Transit

Car

46%

12%

32%

10%

Transportation mode share

A 2008 research study conducted by the Clear Air Partnership found that:

• Only 10% of patrons drive to the Bloor Annex neighbourhood;

• Patrons arriving by foot and bicycle visit the most often and spend the most money per month;

• Survey respondents were overwhelmingly in favour of a bike lane.

What precedents exist for reallocating road space for active transportation?

Bike Lanes in Copenhagen

Source: Copenhagenize.com

St. George Road Diet… kick-started by citizen donation of $1 million

St. George Street is the primary traffic artery through the University of Toronto. It underwent a revitalization in 1997 in which traffic lanes were reduced from four to two. The space was reallocated to bike lanes, trees, wider sidewalks, sidewalk bulbouts and new pedestrian crossings.

As a result, speeding was reduced and traffic collisions decreased by 40% between 1997 and 2003.Photo courtesy of the City of Toronto (Transport Canada)

San Francisco… Sometimes it takes an earthquake

The Embarcadero Freeway divided the waterfront from the downtown. It was severely damaged by an earthquake and torn down in 1991. Transit, cycling and walking infrastructure improvements absorbed a significant portion of the former Embarcadero expressway traffic. trips.

New York: the power of the pilot project

LEFT: Before; RIGHT: A New Madison Square. Last summer, the New York Department of Transportation made major improvements to Broadway the Fifth Avenue intersection. 1. A dedicated bike lane. 2. Three lanes of traffic were converted to 41,700 square feet of public space. 3. Café tables. 4. Discontinued sections of Broadway and Fifth Avenue were painted over with an epoxied gravel surface.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of the New York City Department of Transportation

The demand exists, there’s some momentum, so what’s the problem?

The plans all sound good

City of Toronto Bike Plan (2001) "shift gears" towards a more bicycle friendly city

The City of Toronto Official Plan (2002) envisions a city where walking and cycling help to relieve congestion, improve air quality and encourage healthy living

Metrolinx “The Big Move” Regional Transportation Plan (2008) commits increased investment in cycling and walking throughout the GTHA

City of Toronto Walking Strategy (2009) sets the stage for a new culture of walking in Toronto

Problem #1: Insufficient funding

Toronto’s bike plan years behind schedule

City of Toronto website: http://www.toronto.ca/cycling/bikeplan/network-project-status.htm

Problem #2: Accommodating active transportation optional, not requiredCycling and walking improvements are notwell integrated into the city’s procedures

Toronto council passes plan to narrow Jarvis in favour of bike lanes

TORONTO Over the objections of the mayor's critics who claim he is waging a “war on the car,” Toronto city council approved a controversial plan to narrow Jarvis Street, a five-lane downtown artery, in order to install bike lanes and plant trees.

Globe and Mail, May 26, 2009

City puts brakes on Bloor-Danforth bike lane

TORONTO Controversial plans for a crosstown bike lane along Bloor Street and Danforth Avenue appear to have hit a speed bump, as the city now plans to hire an external consultant to study the idea.

Globe and Mail, May 29, 2009

Problem #3: Toronto’s official plan at odds with its road classification system

Traditional shopping street? or major arterial with traffic movement as primary function?

Photo Source: Ontario Growth Secretariat, Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure

Complete Streets Making Progress

Source: www.completestreets.org

• 110 U.S. jurisdictions now have Complete Streets policies.

• 30 policies adopted since January 2009.

What are Complete Streets?

Definition A Complete Street is

safe, comfortable and convenient for travel by foot, bicycle, transit and automobile.

A Complete Street is safe and comfortable for people with disabilities, children, families and the elderly.

A Complete Street in Washington

Source: Complete Streets Coalition

What Is a Complete Streets Policy?

A complete streets policy

ensures that the entire right of

way is routinely designed and operated to enable safe

access for all users.

A complete streets policy

ensures that the entire right of

way is routinely designed and operated to enable safe

access for all users.Source: Complete Streets Coalition

Principles

Ensures that the entire right of way is routinely designed and operated to enable safe access for all users.

Streets are designed for everyone with priority to the most vulnerable.

Promote planning, engineering and transportation policies that provide a safer road network for all users.


The Best Complete Streets Policies:

Apply to all phases of all projects

Feature direct use of the latest and best design standards

Allow flexibility in balancing user needs

Specify any exceptions and require high-level approval of them.


Implementation: From Policy to Practice

An effective policy should prompt the following changes: restructured procedures

re-written design manuals

re-trained planners and engineers

re-tooled measures to track outcomes


Complete Streets Features

There are no hard and fast rules

• Complete streets will look different and serve different users depending on the needs of the community.


Complete Streets Features: Safe Pedestrian Infrastructure

Sidewalks and highly visible crosswalks (colour and texture)

Sidewalk amenities for public transit users

Center medians and/or pedestrian islands

Safe and convenient connections to transit stops


Complete Streets Features: Safe Bicycle Infrastructure

Bike lanes Special treatments for

intersections

Source: http://mitchrice.us/bike/

• Bicycle parking• Lower speeds and

traffic calming measures


Complete Streets Features: Public Transit and Motorists

Public transit with priority lanes or dedicated rights of way

Synchronized traffic signals along major routes and arterial roads

Lower speeds and traffic calming measures

Isn’t It Expensive?

“By fully considering the needs of all non-motorized travelers (pedestrians, bicyclists, and persons with disabilities) early in the life of a project, the costs associated with including facilities for these travelers are minimized.”

Jeff Morales, former Director, CalTrans


Complete Streets Canada?

Photo by PDPhotography from the Torontoist Flickr Pool

TCAT is working on a new initiative with the Toronto Cyclists Union to get a Complete Streets policy adopted in Toronto and beyond. It's time to get this movement happening in Canada!

Contact Information

Subscribe to TCAT News at:http://torontocat.ca/main/user/register

Nancy Smith LeaProgram Director, TCATActive Transportation Director, Clean Air Partnership

Email: [email protected]: 416.392.0290

mailto:[email protected]

The Many Types of Complete Streets


Complete Street? Almost!

Kensington Market is one of the 20 best neighbourhoods of North America, according to Project for Public Spaces. Cycling and walking are easy, natural and practical choices here but are not representative of the majority of Toronto’s streets.

Photo Source: Project for Public SpacesMonday January 14, 2008

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