Rebecca Maloney
Americas Press Office ,Boston
Arup is providing transportation consulting to Open Streets Toronto (OpenStreetsTO), a programme promoting city vibrancy and pedestrian interaction.
Open Streets, a programme that began in Medellin, Colombia and has since spread to many international cities, is coming to Toronto. A community effort, Arup is assisting the volunteer working group by providing traffic management and transportation planning services. We evaluated the ramifications of shutting down the highly trafficked Bloor and Yonge Streets and provided corresponding diversion plans. The two, four-hour events are taking place on August 17 and 31 from 8am to noon.
“Arup was thrilled to participate in the planning of this year’s OpenStreetsTO. Our office is at the intersection of Bloor and Yonge, which reflects our position at the heart of the city. This event embodies our culture of encouraging active transportation and our desire to promote new initiatives for how people move around the city.
Matthew Browning, MEng, CMILT, senior transportation consultant at Arup
The Open Streets programme, which is also known as Ciclovia throughout the world, will close a portion of the city’s streets to cars and open the space up to pedestrian and bicycle traffic. By transforming the typically car clogged streets to open spaces almost like paved, linear parks, the programme is designed to connect diverse neighbourhoods and people across the city. Hubs around Toronto will have planned activities to showcase what different neighbourhoods have to offer.
Toronto is embracing the programme to promote physical activity, exploration of the city, and pedestrian interaction as a part of the ongoing initiative to encourage urban health and the community. Work group members hope that the 2014 event will get the people of Toronto used to the idea of pedestrian transportation with the expectation that it will eventually become part of the fabric of city life.
“What if everything we did in public spaces had to be fantastic for the 8 and 80-year olds? Then we would end up with a pretty good community for all. Quality of life is the most important tool for economic competitiveness and change offers wonderful opportunities.
Gil Penalosa, founder of 8–80 Cities, at TEDxCarlton in 2011