Toronto councillor says that it may be time to reconsider popular ActiveTO program
A city councillor says that it might be time to reconsider Toronto’s ActiveTO program amid data suggesting that the popular weekend road closures have significantly increased driving times.
The city began closing some major arteries to vehicles on weekends last spring as a way to create more room for pedestrians and cyclists during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The program quickly resulted in thousands of pedestrians and cyclists flocking to major arteries like Lake Shore Boulevard East, Lake Shore Boulevard West and Bayview Avenue.
But it also resulted in longer driving times. In fact, city data has suggested that commute times along the Gardiner Expressway and Queensway are two to three times longer when the closure along Lake Shore Boulevard West is in place.
In an interview with CP24 on Sunday morning, Etobicoke North Coun. Michael Ford said that he believes ActiveTO did have some “merit” when the city was largely shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic but he said that with restrictions lifting and traffic building back up on city streets it may have run its course.
“As we are opening up our city and brining people into the downtown core, we have sporting events happening, I think we have to have a second look at this and I would say bring it to an end,” he said, noting that he plans to raise his concerns with Mayor John Tory.
Data released by the city last month suggested that between 16,700 and 34,000 cyclists and 2,800 to 5,000 pedestrians have used the most popular closure along Lake Shore West Boulevard on the days when it has been in place.
That actually surpasses the 15,500 to 24,200 vehicles that travel along the road on weekend days that the closure is not in place.
A group of runners run along Lake Shore Blvd. East as road closures come into effect for the return of the ActiveTO program in Toronto on Saturday, May 1, 2021.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Yader Guzman
Ford, however, said that he believes there is still adequate space for cyclists and pedestrians along popular routes like the Martin Goodman Trail and that there is no need to regularly close major arteries.
“I think there's tons of space out there to hold the demand for cycling and I encourage people to get out and enjoy our city, get on bikes and take advantage of that. But look we need to have a balanced approach,” he said. “As we continue to open up and as we go into September we want people coming into our downtown and that's in all modes, including vehicular traffic.”
Mayor John Tory has been a vocal proponent of the ActiveTO program and has repeatedly said that he would like to see it made permanent.
The program also has its fair share of supporters on city council.
In a message posted to Twitter on Sunday morning, Coun. Joe Cressy said that the city should actually be expanding ActiveTO and not curtailing it.
“The pandemic has exposed the importance of accessible public space. Our task is not simply to beat this pandemic, it’s to build a new and better city afterwards,” he said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
BREAKING Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing
The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
On federal budget, Macklem says 'fiscal track has not changed significantly'
Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem says Canada's fiscal position has 'not changed significantly' following the release of the federal government's budget.