New guide teaches residents how to push for lower speed limits

Toronto's Board of Health is launchinga new guidefor residents who want to get city hall to lower speed limits near their homesin the hopes of encouraging more children to walk to school.

At the board's Sept. 30 meeting, the board willbegin a rollout of the new Guide to Safer Streets Near Schools, which will teach residents how to navigate city hall, with an eye to slowing down traffic.

"Do you want to work with your community to create safer streets in your neighbourhood?" the guide asks.

"After reading this, you will be better informed about how you, as a resident, can contribute to neighbourhood changes that slow the speed of vehicles and make it safer for people to cross the street."

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The guide explains how to approach city hall and local councillors if residents want to lobby for a lower street speed limit, speed bumps or other traffic-calming measures, marked street crossings or traffic lights. It includes informationon writing a letter to acouncillor, or school boardand rallying public support even the correct way to prepare for a meeting with local political representatives.

Health board chair Coun. Joe Mihevc said he has sensed a lot of demand for lower speed limits.

"Since June, there have been over 1,000accidents involving cyclists or pedestrians," hesaid Friday. "There are going to be more and more."

Earlier this month, a report to the health board saidin the past 30 years, the percentage of schoolchildren who walk to school has declined dramatically, and the reason is that many parents fear speeding traffic.

"In Toronto, walking to school has declined from 59 percent to 45 percent (11-13 year olds) and 35 percent to 29 percent (14-17 year olds) since 1986," the report states.

At its meeting Sept. 30, the board will debate a motion that calls for that report and the guide to be forwarded to dozens of organizations, including school boards, the Canadian Automobile Association,Cycle Toronto, and the Toronto Police Service.