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Healthy Toronto by Design Report, The Reference: Toronto Public Health. The Walkable City: Neighbourhood Design and Preferences, Travel Choices and Health. April 2012 Authors: Kim Perrotta, Monica Campbell, Shawn Chirrey, Larry Frank and Jim Chapman Acknowledgements: This report highlights some of the findings from the technical report, City and Regional Residential Preference Survey Results for Toronto and Vancouver: A CLASP Final Report, that was prepared by Dr. Larry Frank, Jim Chapman, Suzanne Kershaw and Sarah Kavage of Urban Design 4 Health, Ltd., for Toronto Public Health. We would like to acknowledge the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer's Coalitions Linking Action and Science for Prevention (CLASP) Initiative and the Heart and Stroke Foundation for providing the funding needed for the research conducted by Urban Design 4 Health. We would also like to thank the following people who have provided support, advice and assistance with the preparation of this summary report: Ned Sabev, Research Consultant, Healthy Public Policy, Public Health Dr. David McKeown, Medical Officer of Health, Public Health Phil Jackson, Director, Strategic Support, Public Health Marinella Arduini, Manager, Healthy Living, Public Health Janet Lo, Project Officer, Pedestrian Projects, Transportation Services Elyse Parker, Director, Public Realm, Transportation Services Fiona Chapman, Manager, Pedestrian Projects, Transportation Services Alice Miro, Heart and Stroke Foundation Canada Dr. David Mowat, Medical Officer of Health, Peel Public Health Gayle Bursey, Director, Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention, Peel Public Health Photos: All photos in this report by Parent of worldneighbourhoods.com Copies: Copies of this summary report and the technical report can be downloaded at: http://www.toronto.ca/health For Further Information: Healthy Public Policy Directorate Toronto Public Health 277 Victoria Street, 7th Floor Toronto Ontario Canada M5B 1W2 416-392-6788 Cover image: © All rights reserved by Gary Baker i The Walkable City - A Healthy Toronto By Design Report ii The Walkable City - A Healthy Toronto By Design Report About the Healthy Toronto By Design Report Series Healthy Toronto By Design was released by Toronto Public Health in October 2011 and was the first in a series of reports on how local communities shape the health of their residents. The report noted that healthy cities are cities that are liveable, prosperous and sustainable. They are cities with high quality built and natural environments, public transit, housing, culture, education, food and health care. Healthy cities don't just happen. They result from creative vision, strategic decision- making and thoughtful implementation that respects the needs and challenges of all residents. They happen by design – through intentional investment and provision of infrastructure, programs and services with health in mind. This report is one of a series which explore what makes a healthy city. Visit Toronto Public Health's website at http://www.toronto.ca/health for a list of reports in the series. Some of the topic areas in the series include the following: The Walkable City – this report summarizes the findings of a Residential Preferences Survey that gauges public demand for walkable versus more auto-oriented neighbourhoods, and links this information with travel choices, physical activity levels and body weight. Inventory of Best Practices – this report showcases examples of innovative practices and policies across city government in Toronto that promote healthy built environments. Active Transportation and Health – this report synthesizes evidence on health benefits and risks associated with walking, cycling and physical activity related to the use of public transit, as well as economic assessments and specific strategies to increase the use and safety of active transportation in Toronto. Enabling Healthier Neighbourhoods through Land Use Planning – this report synthesizes zoning barriers and opportunities to promote healthy neighbourhoods, particularly in clusters of residential apartment towers in low income areas and inner suburbs of Toronto. Health Impact Assessment Software Tool – a software tool has been developed to assist policy and decision-makers understand how different approaches to neighbourhood design might impact health-related outcomes such as physical activity levels, body weight and greenhouse gas emissions. A technical report synthesizes information on the development of the tool and results of pilot testing. iii The Walkable City - A Healthy Toronto By Design Report iv The Walkable City - A Healthy Toronto By Design Report Executive Summary This report summarizes the findings of a residential preferences study that was directed at residents in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and the Greater Vancouver Regional District (GVRD). That study examined the preferences of residents towards walkable and transit-supportive neighbourhoods and specific features of those neighbourhoods. It also examined how the travel choices, levels of physical activity, and body weights of residents are related to the walkability of their current neighbourhoods and to their neighbourhood preferences. This report highlights the results for the GTA only, with a specific focus on the findings for the City of Toronto. The study reveals an overwhelming preference for walkable and transit- supportive neighbourhoods across the GTA, with that preference being strongest in the City of Toronto. It demonstrated that that 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. It also found that there is a strong latent demand for more walkable neighbourhood features among residents in the City who currently live in less walkable areas. The study found that people living in walkable neighbourhoods across the GTA, and in Toronto, do more utilitarian walking, take transit more often, drive less often and less far, and have lower body weights, than those who live in less walkable neighbourhoods. 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. They also suggest that there may be significant air quality, climate change, and traffic reduction benefits associated with walkable and transit-supportive neighbourhoods. The study also found that neighbourhood design, as well as neighbourhood preferences, is significantly associated with the travel choices selected by residents in the GTA. It demonstrated that the GTA residents surveyed who have a preference for walkable neighbourhoods walk more, use transit more frequently, drive less often, and driver fewer kilometres each week, than those who prefer less walkable neighbourhoods, particularly when they live in walkable neighbourhoods that support this preference. It also demonstrated that the GTA residents surveyed who live in walkable neighbourhoods walk more, use transit more frequently, drive less often, and drive fewer kilometres each week, particularly when they have a preference for walkable neighbourhoods. v The Walkable City - A Healthy Toronto By Design Report Walkability mapping conducted for Toronto illustrates that, while the urban core of Toronto is highly walkable, many areas of the city are not. It also indicates that 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. They facilitate physical activity, social interaction, and access to jobs, services, and healthy foods. While much of Toronto is built out, that does not mean that neighbourhoods cannot be changed over time. 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. And suburban neighbourhoods can be made more walkable with the re-development of nearby avenues and the introduction of new shops, services and housing. Collaboration by the public and private sectors will be required to revitalize those areas of the City that are currently least walkable. It will require a commitment to ensure that new neighbourhoods are developed to be walkable with nearby shops, services and parks where possible. It will also require working to introduce walkable neighbourhood features, such as food related stores, into less walkable established neighbourhoods when opportunities arise. Lastly, it will also require the support of residents living in existing neighbourhoods and awareness to help residents and decision makers to understand the benefits and features that help make neighbourhoods more walkable. vi The Walkable City - A Healthy Toronto By Design Report Table of Contents Page Executive Summary ........................................................................... v List of Figures & Tables ...................................................................... viii Introduction ...................................................................................... 1 Healthy Cities ..........................................................................................
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