What Makes a Walkable City?- a look at Canada’s largest city

The Walkable City: Neighbourhood Design and Preferences, Travel Choices and Health (58 page pdf, Toronto Public Health, April 2012)

Today we look at Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) which has many of the challenges faced by other large American and Canadian cities which have evolved to a car-oriented end state that discourage walking and cycling – modes where Toronto lags behind Montreal and Ottawa. The results of a survey are encouraging- most residents prefer more walkable neighbourhoods and those who have them enjoy less pollution and healthier environments.  

Key Quotes: “there are specific neighbourhood features, such as having shops and services within walking distance of homes, and having a variety of small and medium sized food stores within walking distance of homes, that are strongly desired by Toronto residents.” “These results suggest:

• that people living in more walkable neighbourhoods in the GTA are more physically active with less chance of developing a chronic disease, than those who live in less walkable neighbourhoods
• that there may be significant air quality, climate change, and traffic reduction benefits associated with walkable and transit-supportive neighbourhoods.”

“three quarters of Toronto residents surveyed expressed a strong preference for the walkable neighbourhood, while only 6% expressed a strong preference for an auto-oriented neighbourhood ”

 “a number of the neighbourhoods in Toronto that are least walkable are home to low income residents who can experience increased rates of illness and injury. This is important because walkable neighbourhoods provide so many health and social benefits”

“Old neighbourhoods, such as the West Don Lands, can be transformed from an industrial area into pedestrian-friendly and transit-supportive neighbourhoods. Apartment-oriented neighbourhoods can be revitalized with the introduction of shops and services that meet the needs of nearby residents.”

Related articles

• New Research - Neigbhoorhood Design, Neighbourhood Preferences, Travel Choices, Health (chase-canada.org)
• 'Walkable' city linked to health benefits (thestar.com)
• Affordable Toronto Neighborhoods (thompsonsellsblog.com)
• Walkability is Vital to Small City Tourism Success (citybranding.typepad.com)
• How Walkable is Your Neighbourhood? (datamining.typepad.com)
• Toronto Downtown Condos Preference (torontocondosblog.wordpress.com)
• Reducing Health Impacts along Traffic Corridors: An Overview (chase-canada.org)