King Street Transit Pilot Public Space Public Life Study Contents Thank you to our great volunteers for their expertise, time, and dedication.
Introduction 1
Study Goals 3
What Is Public Life? 3
Methodology 4
Segment Breakdowns 5
King Street Study Locations 5
Segment 1: Bathurst to Spadina 6
Segment 2: Spadina to Simcoe 9
Segment 3: Yonge to Jarvis 12
Key Findings 15
New Curb Lane Public Spaces 15
People Staying 19
Prepared for the City of Toronto 2019 by Park People. Designed by Hypenotic Introduction
The King Street streetcar is the busiest surface transit route in the City of Toronto. But service was often slow and overcrowded, with unreliable spacing between streetcars. The King Street Transit Pilot was launched in November 2017 to move people more efficiently on transit, support business and economic prosperity, and improve public spaces.
The Pilot changed how King Street By launching it as a pilot project, the works between Bathurst and Jarvis City was able to test and refine ideas Streets by not allowing private based on feedback about what worked vehicles through intersections and and what doesn’t and engage the instead giving priority to streetcars. public and stakeholders in discussion.
1 King Street Transit Pilot Public Space Public Life Study Introduction
The three objectives of the Pilot are to: animation ideas for 12 of these curb lane public spaces. The Pilot area also Move people more efficiently included 9 licensed curb lane patio Support economic prosperity spaces where adjacent businesses Improve public spaces could serve food and alcohol.
To achieve these objectives, 19 new The City implemented additional curb lane public spaces were created initiatives in the curb lane public to expand the public realm of King spaces, including installing additional Street and the ability for people to bike share stations and bike parking, walk, sit, socialize, and spend time on establishing seating areas with King Street. Muskoka chairs, and creating an “urban grove” of 40 saplings. The purpose of the new curb lane public spaces was to provide more A key part of the King Street Transit space for pedestrians and provide Pilot is monitoring and evaluating the some relief during peak times success of all components in order to when sidewalks are crowded, open make improvements and learn about up opportunities for new bar and its impact. restaurant patios, add bicycle parking, and provide more seating.
The City commissioned individuals, arts and community groups, not-for- profit organizations and institutions through a Design Build Competition in January 2018 to create design and
2 King Street Transit Pilot Public Space Public Life Study Introduction Public Space Public Life Study Goals The King Street Public Space Public Life Study was undertaken to What is Public understand the impact of the new curb lane public spaces. Specifically, Life? the study was designed to measure who was using the spaces, when and Public life is the collective energy how much they were being used, and and activity of people spending time for what types of activities. Collecting in our city’s public spaces. Measuring this information is critical in assessing public life - how many people walk by, who the impact of the investment in stops to sit down, what they do there - is this expanded public realm and critical in understanding the success understanding where changes and of a public space. Measuring public life improvements can be made. can indicate to us whether a space is comfortable and enticing, encouraging people to stop and spend time, or whether a space is somewhere people just walk through.
3 King Street Transit Pilot Public Space Public Life Study Introduction What are the methods of a public life study?
Public life studies record three things: Over 100 volunteers were recruited through an open call who studied three How many people use a public days in July 2018 (Friday July 6, Saturday space: pedestrian and cyclist counts. July 7, and Tuesday July 10) and two days in November 2018 (Saturday November Who uses a public space: age and 10 and Tuesday November 13) to capture gender counts. both weekday and weekend activity in What people do in a public space: two different seasons. stationary activity mapping: sitting, Surveyors were assigned shifts in one standing, socializing, etc. of the eight zones along the street In order to do this, the study employs and each hour recorded three pieces behavioural observation (recording of data in their zone (pedestrian and actual activity in a public space as it cycling counts, age and gender counts, happens) and pedestrian and cyclist and stationary activity mapping). counts1 in order to gather data that can Additionally, surveyors were invited to be used to paint a picture of the public record comments that helped life of a public space. illuminate public space usage. Study days were from 8am until midnight or 1 Cycling snapshots were done to give an impression of 8am until 8pm, depending on the zone overall study day use. Please refer to Transportation Services data for King Street Transit Pilot cycling vol- being studied. ume counts.
4 King Street Transit Pilot Public Space Public Life Study Segment Breakdowns: King Street Study Locations
The King Street Transit Pilot Area was broken into eight distinct zones, each containing new curb lane public spaces. Zones were determined based on block length and neighbourhood character. The area from Simcoe Street to Yonge Street was not included in the study as this area did not include any new curb lane public spaces. For the purposes of analysis, the eight zones were grouped into three Segments, each with a distinct character. The data here reflects counts and observations from the three July 2018 study days, unless otherwise noted.
5 King Street Transit Pilot Public Space Public Life Study Segment Breakdowns: King Street Study Locations
Segment 1: Bathurst to Spadina 1 2 3
Zone 1: Bathurst to Portland, Zone 2: Portland to Brant, Zone 3: Brant to Spadina
Segment 2: Spadina to Simcoe 4 5 6
Zone 4: Spadina to Peter, Zone 5: Peter to John, Zone 6: John to Simcoe
Segment 3: Yonge to Jarvis 7 8
Zone 7: Yonge to Church, Zone 8: Church to Jarvis
6 King Street Transit Pilot Public Space Public Life Study Segment Breakdowns: Bathurst to Spadina, Segment 1 Bathurst to Spadina: Segment 1
Map of King Street from This segment is bounded by Bathurst Street in the Bathurst to Spadina west and Spadina Avenue in the east. It is a low-and mid-rise mixed-use area with a high concentration of bars and restaurants. Its new curb lane public spaces included several licensed patios. Study times were 8am until midnight in order to capture nightlife activity.
7 King Street Transit Pilot Public Space Public Life Study Segment Breakdowns: Bathurst to Spadina, Segment 1
Friday Saturday Tuesday Gender
Male 55.3% Male 54.6% Male 53.9% Female 44.6% Female 45.4% Female 46% Unknown 0.2% Unknown 0% Unknown 0.1%
Age
Total 0-4 0.7% 1% 0.4%
Total 5-14 1% 0.8% 0.9%
Total 15-24 14% 23.2% 12.1%
Total 25-44 68.8% 64.5% 70.5%
Total 45-64 14% 9.8% 14.2%
Total 65+ 1.4 0.7% 2%
Activity
Socializing 46% 48.2% 39.5%
Eat / Drink 19.7% 19.8% 21.6%
Phone 10.1% 10% 12.2%
Transit 12.8% 7.8% 26.7%
Vending 1.3% 0.4% 0.9%
Cultural 1.4% 1.4% 0.9%
8 King Street Transit Pilot Public Space Public Life Study Segment Breakdowns: Bathurst to Spadina, Segment 1
Friday Saturday Tuesday Position
Stand 65.1% 64.8% 59.3%
Sit 31.1% 33% 37.6%
Lying 0.1% 0% 0%
Active 4.6% 2.2% 3.1%
Stickiness (based on hourly averages)
Stationary: 124 people Stationary: 124 people Stationary: 82 people Walking: 1430 people Walking: 1249 people Walking: 1166 people
9% 10% 7%
People Staying Total: 1977 people from Total: 1977 people from Total: 1313 people from 8am to 12am 8am to 12am 8am to 12am
298 people 300 600 200 515 people 170 people 250 500 150 200 400 # of people # of people # of people # of 150 300 100
100 200 50 50 100
0 0 0 8AM8 9 10 11 12 1312PM14 15 16 17 18 19 2012AM21 22 23 8AM8 9 10 11 12 1312PM14 15 16 17 18 19 2012AM21 22 23 8AM8 9 10 11 12 1312PM14 15 16 17 18 19 2012AM21 22 23
9 King Street Transit Pilot Public Space Public Life Study Segment Breakdowns: Spadina to Simcoe, Segment 2 Spadina to Simcoe: Segment 2
This segment is bounded by Spadina Avenue in the west Map of King Street from Spadina to Simcoe and Simcoe Street in the east. It is a mid- and high-rise area primarily served by commercial, bar and restaurant, entertainment, and civic uses. MEC, TIFF, “restaurant row,” Metro Hall and David Pecaut Square, and the Princess of Wales and Royal Alexandra Theatre are all located in this segment. Two licensed patios are included amongst the new curb lane public spaces in this segment. Study times were 8am until midnight in order to capture nightlife activity.
10 King Street Transit Pilot Public Space Public Life Study Segment Breakdowns: Spadina to Simcoe, Segment 2
Friday Saturday Tuesday Gender
Male 52.9% Male 52.4% Male 51.7% Female 47% Female 47.6% Female 48.3% Unknown 0.1% Unknown 0% Unknown 0%
Age
Total 0-4 0.8% 1.4% 0.3%
Total 5-14 2.3% 3.7% 1.8%
Total 15-24 13.6% 18.1% 15.4%
Total 25-44 55.2% 50.7% 54.2%
Total 45-64 25% 21.4% 23%
Total 65+ 3.2% 4.6% 5.2%
Activity
Socializing 37.1% 43.6% 41.1%
Eat / Drink 12.1% 16.2% 15.7%
Phone 13.9% 18% 23.8%
Transit 13.6% 7.9% 15%
Vending 6.8% 8.4% 4.1%
Cultural 3.1% 2.8% 1.2%
11 King Street Transit Pilot Public Space Public Life Study Segment Breakdowns: Spadina to Simcoe, Segment 2
Friday Saturday Tuesday Position
Stand 55.8% 53.6% 53%
Sit 38.4% 42% 43.3%
Lying 1% 0.8% 0.4%
Active 4.8% 3.6% 3.4%
Stickiness (based on hourly averages)
Stationary: 152 people Stationary: 119 people Stationary: 123 people Walking: 2031 people Walking: 1634 people Walking: 1860 people
7% 7% 7%
People Staying
Total: 2433 people from Total: 1908 people from Total: 1972 people from 8am to 12am 8am to 12am 8am to 12am
250 people 250 234 people 250 250 217 people
200 200 200
150 150 # of people # of people # of people # of 150
100 100
100 50 50
0 0 50 8AM8 9 10 11 12 1312PM14 15 16 17 18 19 2012AM21 22 23 8AM8 9 10 11 12 1312PM14 15 16 17 18 19 2012AM21 22 23 8AM8 9 10 11 12 1312PM14 15 16 17 18 19 2012AM21 22 23
12 King Street Transit Pilot Public Space Public Life Study Segment Breakdowns: Yonge to Jarvis, Segment 3 Yonge to Jarvis: Segment 3
This segment is bounded by Yonge Street in the west and Map of King Street from Yonge to Jarvis Jarvis Street in the east. It is a mid- and high-rise area primarily served by commercial and open space uses. St. James Park and the St. Lawrence Market area are both served by this segment. This segment did not include any licensed patios within its new curb lane public spaces. Study times were 8am until 8pm as these areas do not contain the same night life activity as Zones 1 to 6.
13 King Street Transit Pilot Public Space Public Life Study Segment Breakdowns: Yonge to Jarvis, Segment 3
Friday Saturday Tuesday Gender
Male 53.2% Male 50.1% Male 52% Female 44.8% Female 49.6% Female 48% Unknown 2% Unknown 0.4% Unknown 0%
Age
Total 0-4 1.8% .5% 0.3%
Total 5-14 2.3% 4.4% 2.4%
Total 15-24 12.8% 14% 26.3%
Total 25-44 59% 53.3% 47%
Total 45-64 20.4% 23.1% 20.5%
Total 65+ 3.6% 4.8% 3.4%
Activity
Socializing 26.8% 27.6% 25.8%
Eat / Drink 5.6% 5% 5%
Phone 21.6% 10% 14.3%
Transit 27.5% 21.8% 27.8%
Vending 2.3% 1.1% 0.3%
Cultural 3.7% 7.4% 0.5%
14 King Street Transit Pilot Public Space Public Life Study Segment Breakdowns: Yonge to Jarvis, Segment 3
Friday Saturday Tuesday Position
Stand 60.1% 50.7% 67.2%
Sit 35.1% 26.7% 28.1%
Lying 0.7% 1.2% 0.5%
Active 4.1% 21.4% 4.2%
Stickiness (based on hourly averages)
Stationary: 73 people Stationary: 75 people Stationary: 79 people Walking: 1503 people Walking: 741 people Walking: 1543 people
5% 10% 5%
People Staying
Total: 874 people from Total: 900 people from Total: 946 people from 8am to 8pm 8am to 8pm 8am to 8pm
130 people 150 125 people 150 150 133 people
120 120 120
90 90 # of people # of people # of people # of 90
60 60
60 30 30
0 0 30 8AM8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 8PM18 19 8AM8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 8PM18 19 8AM8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 8PM18 19
15 King Street Transit Pilot Public Space Public Life Study Key Findings: New Curb Lane Public Spaces
1 The new curb lane public spaces allowed more people to stay along King Street. 2 New curb lane patios attracted people to King Street. 3 David Pecaut Square was a popular hang-out due to new curb lane public spaces.
Note: data represents July study days unless otherwise indicated.
16 King Street Transit Pilot Public Space Public Life Study Key Findings: New Street Side Public Spaces 1. The new curb lane public spaces allowed more people to stay along King Street.
People who chose to spend time on King Key Stats Street took advantage of the new curb 25% Segment 1 saw highest use of curb lane public spaces, with nearly 1 in 5 lane public spaces (1 in 4 people staying used the spaces). people choosing to spend their time here. Segment 3 saw lowest use of new This suggests more people were able to 10% curb lane public spaces (1 in 10 2 spend time lingering on King Street due people staying used the spaces) . to the increased public realm space as 5 most-used curb lane public 41% spaces accounted for 41% of part of the Pilot. total use (1,137 people total during study). We also saw a “winner-takes-all” effect 4% 5 least-used curb lane public with the most popular spaces attracting a spaces accounted for just 4% of total use (123 people total large portion of use. The largest factor for during study). popularity was food and beverage service in new patios. Recommendation: Plan new curb lane public spaces next to active uses. Curb lane public spaces are highly dependent on adjacencies for success. People seemed more inclined to stop 2 Note that some of the least used curb lane spaces were and spend time in ones that were found in Segment 3, which was only surveyed until 8pm located near active uses, like a lively as opposed to midnight for Segments 1 and 2. However, business or retail frontage, or helped these spaces were comparatively used less even taking cater to a need, such as a place to sit into account that earlier study time closing. down and eat after visiting the hot dog vendor in front of MEC.
17 King Street Transit Pilot Public Space Public Life Study Key Findings: New Street Side Public Spaces 2. New curb lane patios attracted people to King Street.
We found that people flocked to new curb lane patios, perhaps unsurprising given Toronto’s love of a patio on a warm summer day. The top three new curb lane patios attracted nearly 800 people during the July study period, which represents 29% of new curb lane public space use.
Key Stats Recommendation: Provide more places for people to eat and drink. of most-used new curb lane 3/5 public spaces were new patios. The popularity of the new curb lane patios shows that people in Toronto love a good place to sit outside people total used the most and eat. However, many of the curb lane public 401 popular patio, found in Segment spaces that were not designated patios contained 1 during July study days. seating, but no tables. Including tables in some of the of people in Segment 1 using designs could help encourage more people to spend 72% new curb lane public spaces time in the new public spaces. were eating and drinking.
18 King Street Transit Pilot Public Space Public Life Study Key Findings: New Street Side Public Spaces 3. David Pecaut Square was a popular hang-out due to new curb lane public spaces.
The 2016 TOcore Public Space Public Life Key Stats Study found that despite high pedestrian 22% of people using new curb lane volumes not a lot of people spent time public spaces during the study were using those adjacent to in David Pecaut Square, noting its lack of David Pecaut Square seating and shade. However, we found (616 people total). the area around the Square attracted a lot average stickiness for Segment 7% 2, compared to 2% stickiness for of people during the Pilot, suggesting the David Pecaut Square measured 3 addition of new curb lane public spaces through TOcore in 2016. and additional seating invited people of people counted on their 19% phone in Segment 2; on average to linger. the highest of any Segment.
3 For an explanation of stickiness, turn to Key Finding #4.
19 King Street Transit Pilot Public Space Public Life Study
Key Findings: Staying
4 King Street invites people to linger 5 King Street West comes alive at night 6 King Street fosters a highly social environment 7 King Street attracts a younger demographic 8 In colder temperatures, public spaces can lose their staying power
Note: data represents July study days unless otherwise indicated.
20 King Street Transit Pilot Public Space Public Life Study Key Findings: Staying 4. King Street invites people to linger.
We found that certain segments of King Street were performing as high or higher than downtown park spaces surveyed through the 2016 TOcore Public Space Public Life Study in attracting people to spend time. Stickiness ranged from 5% to 10% across all segments, which compares to the average stickiness of Kensington Market (5%), David Pecaut Square (2%), and St. James Park (10%) as surveyed in 2016.
Key Stats What is Stickiness? people on average were sitting, A stickiness percentage is used to show how many 1/3 showing King Street provided people chose to spend time in a public space versus a comfortable place to spend simply walk past it. It can be used as an indicator of some time. how comfortable and inviting a public space is for people. The higher the stickiness, the more people range in stickiness across all chose to stop and spend time there. 5-10% segments. stickiness between 9pm 18% and midnight on Saturday in Segment 1, showcasing the nightlife popularity of this area. drop in stickiness in Segment 3 from weekend to weekdays, 50% likely due to St. James Park drawing more weekend users.
21 King Street Transit Pilot Public Space Public Life Study Key Findings: Staying 5. King Street West comes alive at night.
While King Street has high pedestrian Key Stats volumes during the day, certain areas, of people in Segment 1 on 75% Fridays and Saturdays were Segment 1 especially, see spikes reflecting counted between 5pm and the night-time economy. Other segments midnight. had much more even distributions of 515 people were counted in 26% Segment 1 after 11pm on people staying throughout the day with Saturday, accounting for 26% of spikes reflecting the worker crowd in the the day’s total in that area. morning, lunch, and after work hours. Recommendation: Consider night- friendly installations.
King Street West is a nighttime destination and comes alive in the evenings, even in the winter, with people frequenting bars, restaurants, and entertainment venues in the section between Bathurst and Simcoe Streets. We recommend including night-friendly design elements, such as lighting within new curb lane public spaces to create a more welcoming environment and cater to the evening crowd.
22 King Street Transit Pilot Public Space Public Life Study Key Findings: Staying 6. King Street fosters a highly social environment.
We found that the highest recorded activity in any area was socializing, and that often this was being done in the new curb lane public spaces, cementing King Street as a place where people go to chat with friends, family, and coworkers. But socializing in certain segments takes place at certain times of the day and week. For example, of the total number of people counted as socializing during the day on Saturday in Segment 1, 58% of that activity was from 9pm to midnight. whereas on Tuesday during this time it was only 21%. This reflects the importance of this area as a night-time place.
Key Stats Recommendation: Provide design elements that cater towards people standing and talking. Segment 1 was the most 45% social with 45% on average Standing is the most popular position people were engaged in conversation. counted in on King Street, whether in the summer or the winter; however, few of the designs of the new Segment 3 was the least curb lane public spaces supported people who were 27% social with 27% on average standing around to chat. We suggest thinking about engaged in conversation. elements such as high-top tables that people can of people in the new curb mill around to encourage use by those who are just 46% lane public spaces in looking to take a little breather and chat with friends, Segment 2 were engaged in but not sit down and stay awhile. This is particularly conversation-12% higher important in the winter months or when there is than those found socializing inclement weather and people are less inclined to sit. overall in this segment.
23 King Street Transit Pilot Public Space Public Life Study Key Findings: Staying 7. King Street attracts a younger demographic.
King Street attracts a younger crowd, Key Stats with the majority of users in any 68% of people in Segment 1 were segment between the ages of 25 and between 25 and 44 years old on average. 44 years, no matter if it was a weekend of people across all segments were or weekday. This likely reflects the 3% adults over 65 years old, compared local businesses and economy of the to 10% on average found on downtown streets through TOcore street, which includes a large amount in 2016. of restaurants and bars. On average, 5% Highest percentage of seniors was a lower number of youth and seniors found in Segment 2 on Tuesday and Segment 3 on Saturday. were recorded throughout any segment of people across all segments than was found within the 2016 3% were children below 14 years old, TOcore Public Space Public Life Study compared to 6.5% on average found on downtown streets through of downtown streets.4 The highest TOcore in 2016. percentage of people over 65 years old Recommendation: Include youth and was recorded in Segment 2, which also senior-friendly designs. includes venues such as the Princess of Consider strategically placed youth- focused curb lane public spaces - for Wales Theatre, Roy Thompson Hall, example, adjacent to park spaces like and TIFF. St. James Park - to encourage use by children. These could include play elements, bright colours, or sound-related installations to encourage interaction. 4 Note that the TOcore Public Space Public Life Study Similarly, we suggest focusing on senior- recorded the ages of people moving down a street, while friendly designs that include a variety of the King Street Public Space Public Life Study recorded more accessible seating beyond Muskoka ages of people staying. chairs, which may not be suitable for those with limited mobility.
24 King Street Transit Pilot Public Space Public Life Study Key Findings: Staying 8. In colder temperatures, public spaces can lose their staying power.
Not surprisingly, during winter weather people spent less time in public spaces. As with the 2016 TOcore Public Space Public Life Study, we found a drop in the number of people spending time in public spaces. During the November survey, we found the number of people spending time on King Street dropped by an average of 50%. When people did stay on King Street, 84% were found standing, which follows from our findings that many people were simply waiting for transit rather than spending long amounts of time on the street. The number of people engaging in activities that require a lot of time spent outdoors also fell, such as eating and drinking, which dropped by 94% in Segments 1 and 2 as patios were closed. It should also be noted people may have migrated to the indoor PATH system in certain places.
Key Winter Study Stats Recommendation: Winter-friendly programming and installations of people were counted Specific winter programming, like the curling rink and 94% standing in Segment 1 on warming ovens from the City’s King Street Warm-Up Saturday November 10, in December 2018 and February and March 2019, could a 45% increase over the help draw users to spend time on King Street and July Saturday study day, enjoy its expanded public realm, even in the winter suggesting people weren’t months. Installations including high-top tables for spending long periods of time those standing, lighting, and blankets could also boost staying on the street. winter use. of people were counted Recommendation: Provide weather 1% eating and drinking in protection. Segments 1 and 2, a 94% drop from Summer. None of the new curb lane public spaces included weather protection elements, leaving them open drop in people sitting to only to rain and wind and creating a less comfortable 86% 5% of all users, reflecting lack environment especially in the winter months. of comfort spending long Consider designs that offer some rain and wind periods of time outdoors. protection, such as canopies, umbrellas, or vegetation. of people in Segment 3 This is relevant for the summer months as well since 52% recorded as waiting for these spaces are also open to the sun, creating hot transit. unshaded environments for many of the seating areas.
25 King Street Transit Pilot Public Space Public Life Study