ActiveTO could be back in 2021 meaning extended road closures, more patios
Posted March 16, 2021 1:22 pm.
ActiveTO is making a comeback.
On Tuesday, the City issued a report on ActiveTO that recommends the return of major weekend road closures, as well as a complete street pilot project along a portion of Yonge Street to support the economy and CaféTO, which would further expand patio season.
The report will be considered by the Infrastructure and Environment Committee on Tuesday, March 23, the city says.
ActiveTO was designed to provide a way for people in the City to engage in outdoor activities and to get allow more space for people to practice physical distancing.
The City says the dates and exact locations of road closures will be detailed in the coming months.
They’re also suggesting that it remain a permanent fixture in Toronto post-pandemic with staff recommending the ActiveTO major road closures program on Lake Shore Boulevard East and Bayview Avenue extend from Spring 2021 to Fall 2021.
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“This report shows that ActiveTO was a tremendous success in 2020 and City staff are confident that we can build upon that success this year,” said Mayor John Tory.
“While planning work is continuing around the 2021 program, I think this report shows we are doing everything we can as a City government to support more active transportation options.”
At the beginning of the year, Tory said he hoped ActiveTO would be scaled up and expanded to more areas of the city this year after a successful rollout in 2020.
A survey of people who attended the ActiveTO weekend road closures found that 92 percent of those surveyed wanted the closures to continue, during and after COVID-19.
Today's #ActiveTO report confirms that the 2020 program was a tremendous success.
The City is working hard preparing for 2021 programming and road closures to ensure that Torontonians can enjoy active transportation options. pic.twitter.com/5Ms7xDigdp
— John Tory (@JohnTory) March 16, 2021
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Seventy-five percent of people reported being more active, and nearly all agreed that the space felt safe and comfortable. More than one-quarter of those surveyed reported the closures helped them start or re-start riding a bike.
Finally, the survey revealed that new cyclists, and those returning to cycling, included more women and more people identifying as Black, Indigenous, or a Person of Colour compared with long-time cyclists.
In early March, a cycling advocacy group called “Cycle Toronto” came out with some recommendations for potential new routes.
The group says more must be done to encourage recreation and active transportation across the city.
Registration for CaféTO first opened on February 26 and will be live for four weeks, until March 26. A second application window will open immediately afterward.
