Bike Lanes, On-Street Parking and Business | Parkdale (2016) and Danforth (2014)

In the fall of 2015, a study modelled after TCAT’s “Bike Lanes, On-Street Parking and Business” reports (2009, 2010) was developed and administered by volunteers of Cycle Toronto’s Ward 14 Advocacy Group. The study was conducted in Parkdale, a neighbourhood about two kilometres west of Toronto’s downtown. TCAT Director Nancy Smith Lea acted as an advisor on the report. As with TCAT’s previous reports, this study sought to understand the transportation and spending habits of visitors to the study area and to examine the potential impact on local business if there were an introduction of bike lanes and subsequent reduction of parking spaces.

The report was released in December 2016. The PDF is available for download (below).

A summary of the findings:
– 72% of the visitors to the Study Area usually arrive by active transportation (by bicycle or walking). Only 4% report that driving is their usual mode of transportation.
– Merchants overestimated the number of their customers who arrived by car. 42% of merchants estimated that more than 25% of their customers usually arrived by car.
– Visitors who reported using active transportation to visit the Study Area visited more often and spent more money per month than those who usually drove or relied on public transit.
– Visitors to the Study Area were much more likely to prefer a bike lane or widened sidewalks over no change, even if this resulted in the loss of on-street parking.
– Merchants prefer the current layout of Queen Street more than a configuration where on-street parking is reduced to accommodate expanded sidewalks or a bike lane.
– A majority of visitors (53%) and merchants (64%) stated that there was not enough bicycle parking within the Study Area.
– Merchants were more likely than visitors to perceive the amount of car parking as inadequate: 52% of merchants stated there was not enough car parking in comparison with 19% of visitors.

In the winter term of 2014 (Jan-Apr), TCAT acted as the client for an Advanced Urban and Regional Planning Studio class at Ryerson University. The study that the Ryerson students conducted on TCAT’s behalf resulted in the report Bike Lanes, On-Street Parking and Business: A Study of Danforth Avenue in Toronto’s Danforth Neighbourhood.

This research report was designed to both replicate and extend the research methodology used for TCAT’s previous reports: Bike Lanes, On-Street Parking and Business: A Study of Bloor Street in Toronto’s Annex Neighbourhood and Bike Lanes, On-Street Parking and Business Year 2 Report: A Study of Bloor Street in Toronto’s Bloor West Village. The Danforth was chosen as an ideal study area to complement TCAT’s previous studies since it comprises the eastern section of the same street, and has both similarities to the Bloor Annex and Bloor West Village, as well as some distinct characteristics.

The report was released on August 21, 2014 and again, with amendments, on May 21, 2015. The PDF is available for download (below).

A summary of the findings:
– Less than 1 out of 5 visitors drive to the Danforth
– Merchants overestimate the number of people who drive to get to the Danforth: while merchants perceive that 34% drive to get to the Danforth, overall only 19% drive and for those who live or work in the area only 10% drive
– Those who live or work in the area visit the Danforth more frequently than those who do not: 78% of those who live in the are visit more than five times per month whereas only 23% of those who do not live or work in the area visit more than five times per month
– Those who live or work in the area spend more money than those who do not: 62% of those who live in the are spend over $100 per month whereas only 10% of those who do not live or work in the area spend over $100 per month
– Those who walk to the Danforth are much more likely to spend more money that those who drive or take public transit: 67% of those who walk spend over $100 per month whereas only 14% of those who take public transit and 31% of those who drive spend over $100 per month
– The difference between the infrastructure merchants want for visitors, and what visitors say they want is substantial; merchants favour increased parking, but more parking was their customers’ lowest priority
– Visitor survey respondents who reported spending over $300 or more in a typical month in the neighbourhood preferred street changes that included bike lanes and reduced on street parking
– Overall the majority of visitors surveyed (71%) preferred to see street use reallocated for widened sidewalks or a bike lane. Support was only slightly higher for those who live in the area (72%) than those who don’t (69%). Looking at preference by mode of transportation, the highest support for change was found amongst visitors who take public transit to the Danforth (77%), followed by those who walk to the area (72%). Interestingly, even the majority of drivers (59%) would prefer streetscape changes.