advancing active transportation in toronto act canada sustainable mobility and healthy communities...
TRANSCRIPT
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• [email protected]