Author: Walk Toronto

Walk Toronto is part of the Safer Streets coalition. This group is working to pass Bill 62, a private member’s bill in the Ontario legislature that calls for stronger action against drivers who, while breaking an existing driving law, kill or injure a vulnerable road user.

It would require these drivers to:
– take a driving instruction course
– perform community service related to improving driving safety
– have their driver’s license suspended
– attend the sentencing hearing

Currently, drivers who break a driving law and kill or hurt a pedestrian or cyclist as a result usually just face a fairly small fine for the driving offence.

• Safer Streets website
• Bill 62

Walk Toronto submitted a written deputation regarding proposed regulations of e-scooters to the Infrastructure and Environment Committee, which discussed the issue on April 25, 2019.

Walk Toronto is pleased the IEC is addressing this issue. Walk Toronto welcomes new non-polluting transportation technology, but has concerns about electric scooters being used on sidewalks, and left on sidewalks in ways that block the pedestrian clearway.

• Read Walk Toronto’s submission to the IEC about the regulation of e-scooters (PDF)
• See the IEC agenda item

Walk Toronto submitted written comments to the Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee for its meeting on April 11, 2019 regarding the
Accessibility Review of On-street Bikeway Design Guidelines.

Walk Toronto noted the importance of providing accessible lay-by options in bikeways, recommended that signs instructing cyclists to yield
to pedestrians be mandatory at these locations, and recommended that lay-by locations also be provided on side streets.

• Read the full Walk Toronto written comments (PDF)
• See the agenda item

Walk Toronto was asked to comment on the draft Leaside Traffic Calming Plan (PDF), prepared by the Leaside Property Owners’ Association.

Walk Toronto’s Dylan Reid and Michael Black prepared comments on the plan and submitted them to the association. Overall, the authors were impressed by the plan and excited for it to become a model for neighbourhoods across Toronto, but they also had some suggestions for ways to improve it even more.

• Read Walk Toronto’s comments on the Leaside Traffic Calming Plan (Word)

On Wednesday, March 6, 2019, Walk Toronto submitted comments and deputed in person at the Economic and Community Development Committee regarding the Harmonized By-law and Fees for Sidewalk Cafés, Parklets and Marketing Displays.

The comments were written by Daniella Levy-Pinto with input from Vivien Leong and Michael Black, and the deputation was presented in person by Michael Black.

Walk Toronto’s deputation supported the harmonized by-law but proposed some amendments to improve accessibility and accountability, proposals that were also made by other accessibility advocates who deputed. The harmonized by-law was passed, along with amendments that addressed some of the concerns and proposals raised by Walk Toronto and other groups.

• Read Walk Toronto’s Comments (PDF)

Quote:

Walk Toronto supports City staff recommendations for the proposed Harmonized By-law and Fees for Sidewalk Cafés, Parklets and Marketing Displays. Although these changes are not perfect, we commend City staff for their efforts in striking a balance between maintaining the street vibrancy provided by sidewalk cafés, and improving accessibility for pedestrians. We believe that the harmonized by-law adheres to Complete Streets principles, treating sidewalk users, businesses and their patrons equitably.

Walk Toronto has co-signed a letter from multiple community groups to Mayor Tory, members of the Striking Committee, and all of Toronto City Council asking that all of the four newly merged Standing Committees of City Council include at least one member from each of the four Community Council areas (Etobicoke-York, North York, Toronto-East York, Scarborough).

In the second half of the previous council term, there was no representative from Toronto-East York on the Public Works and Infrastructure committee, responsible for transportation, even though many critical transportation issues affected this part of the city.

• Read the Joint Letter to Mayor Tory, Striking Committee, and City Council re Standing Committee Composition, Dec 10 2019 (PDF)

Walk Toronto is calling on the Government of Ontario to reverse its plan to strip the regional transportation agency Metrolinx of its mandate to develop an “integrated, multimodal transportation network” for the Greater Toronto Area.

The province’s omnibus Bill 57 currently includes a provision to change this mandate to just “an integrated transit network”, removing any responsibility for, among other issues, integrating walking and cycling with the transit system. Furthermore, Bill 57 eliminates references in the original Act to taking into consideration all modes of transportation, including walking and cycling.

The bill is being discussed at the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs this week (week of Dec. 3, 2018).

Walk Toronto has submitted a detailed assessment of the issue to the standing committee, prepared by Walk Toronto steering committee member Michael Black.

Walk Toronto’s main concern with Bill 57, Restoring Trust, Transparency and Accountability Act, 2018, is in regards to Schedule 25, which amends the Metrolinx Act, 2006. We recommend that section 2 of Bill 57 (p. 64-66) be stricken out, and that the original provisions of sections 5 and 6 of the Metrolinx Act, 2006 be preserved in their entirety.

In Walk Toronto’s view, narrowing the focus of Metrolinx’s activities will lead to disinvestment in the provision of ‘first and last mile’ access to GO stations and surface transit stops for pedestrians, leading to:

• A more dangerous, stressful, polluted and less convenient walking experience for those GO customers who still choose to begin and/or end their trip on foot
• A decrease in the viability of any future, transit-oriented development, the success of which relies not just on good transit but also on good pedestrian connections
• An increase in vehicular congestion both at and within the general proximity of GO stations
• A significant rise in the need for additional parking for GO customers, resulting in Inflated costs of up to $1 billion
• A shifting of resources towards the periphery of GO’s catchment area at the expense of major urban areas (which are particularly dependent on multimodal access) …
• Putting the prospects of projects such as SmartTrack at risk

Read the full report (PDF) to see further details and analysis.