We, the undersigned, urge the City of Toronto to bring back open streets programs by 2026, as well as create a dedicated and permanent funding stream for programming and events.

Open streets programs such as OpenStreetsTO and ActiveTO helped promote and encourage healthier, more active lifestyles by making it safer and easier for people to walk, bike, and engage with their community. OpenStreetsTO closed parts of Bloor and Yonge Streets for two Sundays per year from 2014 to 2019 (and one Sunday in 2022), while ActiveTO major road closures such as on Lake Shore West played a critical role in bringing people together during the pandemic while practicing physical distancing.

Those who attended ActiveTO and OpenStreetsTO events were overwhelmingly supportive of them, as shown by the results below:

1. Over 100,000 people attended OpenStreetsTO in 2019 while 97% supported expanding the program per a Toronto Metropolitan University survey.
2. 62% of attendees reported being more active as a result of ActiveTO.
3. 93% of attendees supported continuing ActiveTO beyond the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite such widespread support, ActiveTO was scrapped on Lake Shore West in June 2022 and while there was a promise to hold limited closures at the time, this was never done. As for OpenStreetsTO, that program didn’t run in 2023 or 2024, while it is very unlikely it will happen in 2025 either. Based on this, we are making the call to reinstate open streets for 2026.

With cities around the world from Bogota to New York City – and even nearby cities such as Hamilton – reclaiming urban spaces for parks, people, and cycling, Toronto needs to take bold steps to do the same. By reinstating open streets programs and providing dedicated funding for them, City Council will move Toronto in the right direction. These programs will help:

1. Generate increased spending for local businesses through increased foot traffic.
2. Make Toronto a cleaner and more pleasant place to live.
3. Promote active transportation and walking.

We acknowledge the City of Toronto's work in developing a Pedestrian Streets Policy & Guidelines; something which ideally should be renamed "Active Streets Policy & Guidelines". We believe programs like OpenStreetsTO and ActiveTO should be included in that policy's seasonal street closure program and that active transportation advocates be invited to take part in the policy's stakeholder consultations. Finally, we support establishing timelines and a phased approach for permanent pedestrianization once areas have been identified and assessed.

In conclusion, we urge Mayor Chow & Toronto City Council to take the following actions to reinstate open streets programs by 2026:

• Commit to a regular open streets schedule
• Provide dedicated (and permanent) funding
• Simplify permitting and logistics
• Partner with community organizations and sponsors
• Integrate open streets with city goals including via the Pedestrian Streets Policy & Guidelines