Summer season brings the chance for extra strolls and hikes, and extra time on bikes — in some instances, on streets with out vehicles.
A handful of Canadian cities are experimenting with open streets — streets which might be briefly closed to vehicles, opening up areas for cyclists and pedestrians.
David Simor, director of The Centre for Lively Transportation (TCAT) in Toronto, mentioned cities acquired a glimpse of what’s doable after they tried out new preparations earlier within the pandemic — although whether or not that progress will probably be sustained long run is unclear.
“I feel we’re at a extremely crucial juncture in Canada proper now as regards to how we’re excited about mobility and street use,” he mentioned by way of e mail.
“Not each strategy or program was profitable, however total, the transportation response to COVID-19 proved that cities can act shortly to create extra people-centred streets and public areas.”
Right here’s what a few of these extra open areas look like at this time.
Vehicles vs. bikes in Toronto
There may be usually debate in Toronto in regards to the heft that vehicles have within the public house and the security of the individuals on two wheels alongside them, in addition to close by pedestrians.
“It nonetheless stays fairly hazardous to cycle within the metropolis and many individuals are afraid to do it,” mentioned Beth Savan, an knowledgeable in energetic transportation and senior lecturer emeritus on the College of Toronto’s Faculty of Setting.
Certainly, dozens of individuals have been killed in Toronto visitors fatalities every year over the previous decade. Up to now, 2023 has claimed the lives of 13 pedestrians and one bike owner.
But regardless of these very actual issues in regards to the want for safer roads, there are nonetheless tensions over how Toronto decides to reallocate parts of that house — on a brief foundation — throughout the summer season.
Town created ActiveTO in 2020, early within the pandemic, to advertise energetic methods of getting round. Its applications included closing off some streets to vehicles on sure days. This system was initially hailed as successful by former mayor John Tory, however metropolis workers steered decreasing sure related street closures final yr, partly due to driver frustration.
Toronto confirmed to CBC Information that ActiveTO weekend closures associated to Lake Shore Boulevard West, one of many metropolis’s main arteries, will not be occurring regularly. Fairly, they’re restricted to particular occasions introduced nicely prematurely.
“Since avenue occasions in Toronto are again to pre-pandemic ranges, it’s tough to seek out weekends the place the ActiveTO Lake Shore Boulevard West closure wouldn’t battle with different deliberate occasions or add to visitors congestion within the metropolis,” a spokesperson mentioned by way of e mail.
Scaling again open streets in Ottawa?
Related disagreement has emerged in Ottawa, additionally over a seasonal program shifting the place pedestrians, bicycles and vehicles can roam.
A 2.4-kilometre stretch of Queen Elizabeth Driveway, which winds alongside the west aspect of the Rideau Canal, is reserved for energetic transportation use from 8 a.m. till 8 p.m. throughout the summer season.
The Nationwide Capital Fee (NCC) manages the parkway the place the closures are occurring. Its officers assist the association.
Nevertheless, Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe is among the many voices calling for that setup to be scaled again. A council colleague, in the meantime, deemed the mayor’s place on the matter “regressive.”
The NCC is amassing public suggestions about its energetic use applications.
It additionally affords weekend bike days, which shut parts of Kichi Zībī Mīkan and the Sir George-Étienne Cartier Parkway on weekends and vacation Mondays by early October.
Pedestrian-only streets in Montreal
For the second summer season in a row, Montreal has arrange 10 pedestrian-only streets.
Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante believes these conversions — a part of a three-year initiative — are good for the companies that line these streets, and the individuals strolling alongside them.
“Additionally they create a way of group for the those who dwell within the space,” Plante mentioned earlier this yr. “Additionally they change into locations for vacationers, guests and college students.”
Savan, the energetic transportation knowledgeable, mentioned open streets can function alternatives for individuals to check out a brand new approach of getting round.
Summertime shift in Edmonton
Edmonton’s Summer season Streets have been making extra room for cyclists, runners and pedestrians.
This yr’s version has been up and working since Might. It grew out of an initiative that began throughout the first yr of the pandemic.
“Lively transportation is a crucial a part of how we fight local weather change and assist a wholesome and vibrant metropolis,” mentioned Ali Alou, a senior visitors engineer with town’s visitors operations division, in an emailed assertion.
The seasonal program includes seeing momentary mobility lanes put in, by way of flex posts that outline a separation between visitors and the individuals participating in energetic modes of transportation.
These adjustments have been made alongside parts of Victoria Park Hill Street, Saskatchewan Drive and 104 Avenue.
Alou mentioned town pays shut consideration to how the lanes are working and considers how they are often adjusted in future.
Decrease velocity limits in Winnipeg
In Winnipeg, town has decreased velocity limits on some streets the place extra individuals are out biking.
Lots of Winnipeggers are feeling the pinch from excessive fuel costs. However a current examine discovered town has a whole lot of work to do earlier than individuals really feel secure ditching their automobile for a motorbike.
These “neighbourhood greenways” are routes town says have been set as much as transfer drivers and cyclists by these 19 areas safely.
The velocity restrict is about at 30 km/h for these areas — and on a year-round foundation for greater than half of those routes.
There are additionally velocity reductions in impact on 5 seasonal bike routes.
Pilot applications in Vancouver and Hamilton, Ont.
Some cities are trying out what extra open areas are like.
In Vancouver’s Kitsilano neighbourhood, a two-block stretch of Yew Avenue has been arrange for pedestrian-friendly residing this summer season. It’s closed to autos — with a couple of exceptions — and is the one open avenue of its type there.
Town informed CBC Information it has been “monitoring and evaluating how individuals are utilizing the house and amassing suggestions from the general public and companies” and making changes accordingly.
There are additionally extra time-limited pilots being examined out elsewhere. They embrace the Open Streets Hamilton occasion, held within the Ontario metropolis final month.
The one-day occasion concerned blocking autos from a part of a downtown avenue for a couple of hours on a Sunday.
Bodily exercise stations and varied actions had been accessible all through the “momentary linear city park.”
Alison Carlyle, a mission supervisor with town’s sustainable mobility unit, informed CBC Information that workers will report again to council on the occasion. She mentioned extra occasions might be held in future, if that’s what council decides.
Simor, the TCAT director, mentioned open streets occasions are “tantalizing alternatives for cities,” as they supply a whole lot of payoff with out a whole lot of corresponding value.
“Open Streets repurpose an present asset, our streets, which we now have already invested cash in constructing, and turns them over to a better and higher use for a couple of hours every week,” he mentioned.