We need complete streets: Toronto forum

David Miller was the most supportive Mayor Toronto has had as far as Bikes and Transit is concerned. With a single vote in Council I don't really understand what people expect. Until we remove the right of Councillors to obstruct approved cycling infrastructure I don't see how we can hold a Mayor accountable - I'll offer as Councillor Mike Feldman as example #1.

I really liked that they talked about the street as both a corridor to move people through, and also as a public space; and that they spent some time speaking to the importance of a street as a public space.

I had been worried that too much emphasis would be put solely on using streets merely as transportation corridors, effectively turning them into roads.

The ideal of "Complete Streets" is to balance the street's role as a road that safe and efficient for all to travel on, and also as public space which is safe and comfortable to be in. So amenities like chairs and/or benches, trees, even the availability of a variety of retail within a reasonable distance is all part of a "Complete Street."

Therefore "Complete Streets" is closely aligned with the "livable communities" movement.

Urban Strategies Inc looks like they support complete streets - does anyone know more about them?

From their website http://www.urbanstrategies.com/ :

Philosophy

Because every client, community and place are different, Urban Strategies® approaches each assignment with no preconceived formulas or solutions, but we do bring a philosophy of urbanism that includes the following tenets:

• The careful management of urban growth and controlled evolution of cities is essential to the quality of human lives and the health of the planet.

• City building is a great collective project that relies on many disciplines, citizen participation and an appreciation for history.

• Successful cities marry public and private interests, aligning them in the planning and design of communities.

• Streets are both the arteries and connective tissue of cities, the places for moving people and goods via transit, cars, trucks, bikes and feet, but also the places for enjoying the diverse cultures, tastes and merchandise a city offers.

• Development and open spaces should be located, shaped and designed in a way that enhances the character of neighbourhoods and the vitality of the public realm.

• Cities must be rooted in nature, and natural features and systems must be rooted in cities: trees and green spaces should be plentiful, and water, whatever its shape or source, should be accessible and integrated into the design of places.

• Campuses are places and communities unto themselves, where efficiency, sustainable growth, a distinct identity and healthy connections to surroundings are critical to success.

The Globe and Mail writes about them in a Conservative context:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/toronto/tolls-taxes-fees-fo... ****

There is more than one point of TCAT hosting a "Complete Streets" forum. And 'cyclists' benefit greatly from both leading and being involved in these kinds of discussions.

First, it shows maturity on the cyclist's part, because we are talking about bigger picture issues, and about integration into the communities we to go to, and which we travel through.

In essence, we directly addressed one of the objections to bike lanes, as articulated by Kern Stintz in her article which appeared in the National Post.

Additionally, "Complete streets" isn't just about pitting one mode against another. Rather it is about integration of all modes into the mix, and about finding the right balance between them all in a way that suits the community and the travelers to and through that community. As we are trying to achieve this compromise, it means that not everyone will be happy all of the time, but it also means no one is being excluded from the table.

And "Complete Streets" isn't just about using the street as a road, or about converting streets into multi-modal roads; "Complete streets" also means building community spaces, public space; spaces that people want to be in, and which are comfortable and safe to walk around and be in. It could be as simple (or obvious) as benches at transit stops, or having trees to provide shade on a hot day.

Lastly, city staff are now more aware of the existence of "complete street policies" that have been passed in other cities. These policies help to tie together transit, pedestrian and bike plans into the city's overall transportation plan, and provide further justification (and fewer objections) to providing bike infrastructure as well as better quality public realm spaces, and even better Level of Service to transit on surface routes.

I wouldn't at all be surprised if, because of this forum, city staff were motivated to start working on a "Complete Streets Policy" for Toronto. And I also wouldn't be surprised if staff from more than just the Transportation department help to create it, as well as back it at council. After all, it was Toronto's Board of Health which produced the report that showed us how many people in Toronto were dieing because of Air Pollution.

And should we get a "Complete Streets Policy" in Toronto, it would mean that we have to find better ways to accommodate all members of our communities, regardless of their mode of transport. It would mean that no mode of transport may legitimately be excluded. And this, ultimately, means it's easier to get bike lanes, or even cycle tracks.