Reconstruction Ahead: School Streets and Street Reclamation in Ontario
Loading...
Authors
Koenig, Nico
Date
2023-04-28
Type
working paper
Language
en
Keyword
Alternative Title
Abstract
This report investigates the implementation of Schools Streets in Ontario to reveal the implications for broader street reclamation efforts. School Streets are a type of street experiment that restricts vehicles on the street in front of a school at the start and end of the school day to create a car-free environment. Stakeholders involved in every known School Street in Ontario and other relevant interest groups were interviewed as part of this research. The findings of the research highlight barriers that hinder School Streets’ establishment, scale, and sustainability; propose recommendations for municipalities to establish, scale, and sustain School Streets in Ontario; and name long-term implications for contemporary street reclamation efforts.
Description
Streets are public spaces, yet they remain the domain of motorists. Contrary to this, people continue to challenge the narrative. One strategy has been through
street reclamation efforts, referring to how streets can be reclaimed psychologically and physically from motorists to improve health, social connections, and community well-being. One type of street reclamation effort is called a School Street, a street experiment restricting vehicles on the street in front of a school at the start and end of the school day to create a car-free environment. School Streets have been organized globally in the past decade, with at least five implemented in Ontario since 2019.
The Reconstruction Ahead report investigates the implementation of Schools Streets in Ontario to reveal the implications for broader street reclamation efforts. To reach this goal, those who led every known School Street in Ontario and other relevant interest groups were interviewed to investigate the barriers faced and potential scaling solutions. The experience of the author of this report, as a School Street implementer in Kingston, Ontario, was also captured, ensuring the information was grounded by first-hand experience.
Based on the findings, this report has documented barriers that hinder School Streets’ establishment, scale, and sustainability; proposed recommendations for
municipalities to establish, scale, and sustain School Streets in Ontario; and names long-term implications for contemporary street reclamation efforts.