With the increasing conversations around street space and the need to prioritize those who walk, bike, and roll, Road Dieting (i.e. the removal of car space from the road) is increasingly important to consider. As two prominent road safety movements in Ontario, Complete Streets and Vision Zero both occasionally employ Road Diets to achieve streets that work for everyone. But this raises the question: how critical is Road Dieting to these two road planning approaches?
This Major Research Paper explores the level of importance placed on Road Dieting by Complete Streets and Vision Zero planners in Southern Ontario. Surveying (24) and interviewing (3) planners working on Complete Streets and Vision Zero initiatives, revealed that both approaches moderately emphasize Road Diets, with little difference in the level of emphasis between the two sets of planners. This lack of difference demonstrates the need for more dialogue among planners on the synergistic relationship between Complete Streets and Vision Zero and a need for more research in this area.
