The City of Toronto's Active and Safe Routes to School project, an expansion of the City's Vision Zero School Safety Zones program, encourages children to use active modes of transportation such as walking, or biking, when travelling to and from school. The initiative was made possible through grants received from Bloomberg Philanthropies and the Ontario Active School Travel.
The Active and Safe Routes to School project also aims to increase safety along designated walking and biking routes to school by introducing new traffic signs, sidewalk stencils and pavement markings. The markings increase safety by reducing vehicular speed by drawing drivers' attention to local stop signs and speed limits in school zone areas.
Bloomberg Philanthropies' Partnership for Healthy Cities is a global network of 70 cities committed to saving lives by preventing chronic diseases and injuries and the Ontario Active School Travel is a program delivered by Green Communities Canada, a non-profit organization supported by the Government of Ontario that promotes active school travel in Ontario. Bloomberg Philanthropies' Partnership for Healthy Cities provided $50,000 (U.S.) and Ontario Active School Travel granted $60,000 (CAD) to help deliver this initiative.
The Active and Safe Routes to School project initially included five schools at three locations. In 2020, it will expand to three additional schools:
- Hillmount Public School
- George Webster Elementary School
- Jean Lumb Public School/Bishop Macdonell Catholic Elementary School
More about safe and active school transportation is available at https://www.toronto.ca/services-payments/streets-parking-transportation/road-safety/vision-zero/safety-initiatives/programs-pilots/active-and-safe-routes-to-school-pilot/
The Vision Zero Road Safety Plan is a comprehensive action plan that aims to reduce traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries on Toronto's streets. With more than 50 safety measures across six emphasis areas, the plan prioritizes the safety of our most vulnerable road users: pedestrians, schoolchildren, seniors and cyclists. More information is available at https://www.toronto.ca/VisionZero.
More about Bloomberg Philanthropies Partnership for Healthy Cities initiatives is available at https://partnershipforhealthycities.bloomberg.org/.
More about Ontario Active School Travel is available at https://ontarioactiveschooltravel.ca/.
Quotes
"I want to thank Bloomberg Philanthropies' Partnership for Healthy Cities and Green Communities Canada for providing the City with the funding to continue this important work. This program not only keeps students active as they head to school, but together through this initiative we can reduce traffic on our city's streets. Encouraging students to walk or bike to school can help us improve the quality of life for these students and our community as a whole."
- Mayor John Tory
"Early exposure to physical activity helps encourage lifelong healthy habits and reduces the risk of obesity and chronic diseases in adulthood. Walking, cycling and other forms of active transportation are great ways to get children to be physically active in their everyday life. The Active and Safe Routes to School project is a wonderful example of collaborative partnerships to promote active modes of school transportation and I want to thank the generous support from Bloomberg Philanthropies and the Ontario Active School Travel fund for contributing to this innovative initiative."
- Dr. Eileen de Villa, Toronto's Medical Officer of Health
"Including daily active transportation in a child's life is just one of many ways that children and youth can be healthy. This initiative is a great opportunity for the City of Toronto to lead by example and help set a precedent by encouraging children and youth to use active transportation when going to and from school."
- Councillor Joe Cressy (Ward 10 Spadina-Fort York), Chair of Toronto's Board of Health
"The City's Active and Safe Routes to School program not only reduces barriers to walking, cycling or scootering to school, but it also enhances safety, reduces congestion and encourages our kids to lead a healthier lifestyle. I'm confident the grants will allow the program to expand and continue supporting community needs in Toronto."
- Barbara Gray, General Manager, Transportation Services
"In the recent decades we have seen a significant decline in walking to school among children across the province. This initiative, including Ontario government funding and rich local partnerships, is a great opportunity to reverse this downward trend and rebuild a culture of active school travel. We look forward to collaborating with and supporting our local partners in Toronto to implement this exciting initiative."
- Kate Berry, Ontario Active School Travel Program Director, Green Communities Canada
"Congratulations, Toronto. The road to a healthier world runs through cities. Most of the world now lives in urban areas, and cities can rapidly implement meaningful policies. The Partnership for Healthy Cities unites mayors who are committed to action. With the Partnership's expansion to 70 cities, collectively we are preventing millions of needless deaths from NCDs and injuries and protecting the health of generations to come."
- Dr. Kelly Henning, Public Health Program Lead, Bloomberg Philanthropies
