Car-oriented sloping sidewalks are upsetting pedestrians in Toronto, and they have called on politicians to look for a way to give the city's sidewalks back to walkers.
"Sidewalk design has changed over the years. The city used to have a uniform curb and built a steep ramp at each driveway so vehicles could mount it. Now, the curb dips almost flush with the gutter at each driveway, and the sidewalk is sloped for its full width, or most of it."
"'This is just another sign of what a car-oriented society we have become – when sidewalks have become on-ramps,' says Councillor Joe Mihevc (Ward 21, St. Paul's)."
"Mihevc argues the priorities are misplaced when a driveway ramp may be used only four times a day by a car, and the sidewalk by hundreds of pedestrians."
"Richard Nelson, of Toronto's pedestrian committee, agrees. The management consultant thinks the city has 'tolerable' standards for sidewalk design but, 'it seems that new construction often, if not always, violates that standard.'"
Read the full story: Sloped sidewalks lack curb appeal
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour
If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.
Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River
Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.
Study reveals best places in the U.S. for cycling, walking
New research from Streetlight Data examines bicycle and pedestrian miles per capita in the 100 largest U.S. cities by population.
Los Angeles just elected an urban planner as its mayor
Transportation analysts are optimistic that Raman will be more aggressive in addressing transit issues than Bass.
Mamdani’s pied-à-terre tax survives legal challenge
A panel of judges found that the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate injury as a result of New York City's implementation of the tax.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS)
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority