Last night, I got to check out the yongeTOmorrow public consultation before the presentation started. With today marking Earth Day, I though I would mark the occasion by not just recapping that particular consultation, but also highlighting a couple of other initiatives aimed at making our streets safer and more inviting for people instead of cars.
yongeTOmorrow
Prior to the consultation, I wrote about how the latest proposal scrapped pedestrian priority zones and the need for people to show up to demand they be reinstated. A few groups such as Yonge4All, Avenue Road Safety Coalition, and Strong Towns Toronto helped promote the consultation through their e-newsletters, which I also did through the Open Streets Toronto mailing list. One early sign this outreach worked was the full bike racks in front of the Central YMCA pictured above.
Upon entering the consultation, there was already a decent turnout which built up leading to the presentation while city staff wore yellow yongeTOmorrow t-shirts.
My favourite part of these consultations is looking at the sticky notes on the roll plans. There were naturally a lot of comments calling for full pedestrianization, as well as some supporting bike lanes. I saw some comments calling for the use of brick pavers instead of asphalt, more scramble crossings, the use of retractable bollards, and specific amenities such as chess boards and water parks. There were even a couple of comments saying “don't listen to Cadillac Fairview” which strongly opposed pedestrianization. I was informed by those who stayed for the presentation that most expressed support for pedestrianization during the Q&A.
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| Photo of Roll Plan (via Michael Bednarski) |
I spoke to a few city staff members to get their insights on what they heard. They noted most supported pedestrianization and acknowledged the promotion by certain advocacy partners. I was informed - including via e-mail before the event - that pedestrianization was removed from the environment assessment in 2022 and deferred to the “operational plan”, so it's not completely off the table. Another person confirmed over 2,500 people filled out the survey by the time of the event – which you can fill until Tuesday, May 5 – and that there would be another consultation prior to final approval by city council after the election, though it is unknown whether it will include the operational plan.
Church Street Pedestrianization
While yongeTOmorrow will not start construction until 2030 and open streets will unfortunately not happen this year – but the dream is still alive – there is a chance we could see pedestrianization happen on two blocks of Church Street this year from Wellesley to Alexander Streets. University of Waterloo student Rodney Chan called for this project which Councillor Chris Moise’s office ultimately championed and is supported by the Church Wellesley BIA. You can read more about the project and take the survey here, as well as sign the petition which has almost 2,000 signatures. This project is expected to last from June 19 to August 21 subject to council approval. Please stay tuned for any petition updates for further actions you can take including writing letters of support and/or deputing.
CHURCH STREET PEDESTRIANIZATION MOTION IS GOING TO COUNCIL! We need people to come speak at TEYCC (Toronto East York Community Council) on April 30 to support it, and for people to start contacting/emailing their councillors! We also have a petition coming out on Wednesday!
— Rodney 🚧🚇 (@chanface.bsky.social) April 5, 2026 at 8:27 PM
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Pedestrian Summit TO
While on the topic of pedestrianization, Cycle Toronto and several other organizations will be hosting the first ever pedestrian summit on Sunday, May 3 (5:00 PM to 8:30 PM) at Cecil Community Centre (58 Cecil Street). Tickets cost $25 and will include a light meal and refreshments; followed by a post summit social at Trinity Common. This summit also marks the end of Jane’s Walk happening the same weekend.
Growing Marlee-Glencairn
For those who support the Beltline Gap Connections project, I encourage you to attend the Growing Marlee-Glencairn Phase 3 consultation on Thursday, April 30 (4:00 – 8:30 PM) at West Preparatory Junior Public School (70 Ridge Hill Drive). This consultation will bring up the Beltline Gap Connections which was put on hold until the Growing Marlee-Glencairn study can be completed. Other things that could come up include intensifying development, improvements to parks, and the identification of potential bikeways. If you can’t make it, you can complete the survey by Monday, May 18.
This video offers a decent explanation on why the Beltline Gap Connections project was paused.
Testing New Bike Share E-Bike
As some of you have already noticed, Bike Share Toronto started rolling out their next generation e-bikes. I finally got the chance to ride one this morning and offer some initial feedback! 😊
Upon undocking the bike, I noticed it was a bit heavy to push. However, it gives you power instantly once you start to pedal and is a single gear as opposed to three gears with the existing bikes and e-bikes. I like how the bike bells are integrated with the handlebars, while the basket and phone holders are a nice touch. I tested it using my Samsung Galaxy A56 with a 6.7-inch screen and it fit fine. The on-board display shows the range remaining, but I wished it could also display the speed as the existing e-bikes do.
Whether you choose to celebrate Earth Day through a community cleanup, bike ride, gardening, or something else, let’s keep up the fight for a livable planet! ✊🌎
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