18 Sep Creating Spaces for All: How 8 80 Cities is Playing a Pivotal Role in Advancing the School Streets Movement in Canada

Blog post co-authored by Jiya Benni, Project Manager & Camila Uriona, Communications Manager, 8 80 Cities

In 2019, 8 80 Cities implemented Toronto’s first ever School Streets pop-up on Mountview Avenue to resounding success, inspiring and motivating us all. The goal was to create a safer and more pedestrian-friendly environment for children and their caregivers walking or cycling to and from Keele Street Public School. We found that School Streets changed travel behaviours and that the community was ready for more. During the pop-up, there was a 5.4% increase in active travel mode share (walking, cycling, scooters, etc.).  

The pop-up was part of a broader effort to raise awareness about the importance of human-centred road design and promote walking without fear of car traffic, promoting safety and reducing air pollution around the school. The pop-up initiative encouraged physical activity and social interaction. It significantly reduced the chaos and stress associated with school drop-off and pick-up times, a relief for parents and children. More people felt the street was safer during the pop-up (97%) than before (23%). Our report recommended scaling up the program and establishing guidelines for future School Streets pop-ups.

The success of this initiative, spearheaded by 8 80 Cities, also set the stage for a larger project in collaboration with Green Communities Canada (GCC). In 2021, both organizations extended their support to the communities of Hamilton, Markham, Mississauga, and Kingston to pilot their own School Streets through the Ontario School Streets Pilot. 8 80 Cities provided technical support to the different communities. Leveraging its leadership in the field, 8 80 Cities also brought together other School Street implementers from across Canada to share their experiences and learnings with the Ontario communities. These gatherings led to the creation of a nationwide network of leaders and organizations who shared our belief in the transformative power of School Streets.   

Fast-forward to 2024, and here we are, embarking on a nationwide movement with the same leaders and organizations who shared our vision to implement School Streets across Canada thanks to funding from the Public Health Agency of Canada. This journey, which began with a single pop-up in Toronto, has now evolved into a nationwide collective effort involving continuous research and collaborations over five years. We are thrilled and excited about the future, knowing that our shared commitment will lead to safer and more inclusive environments for our children.

Here we share a list of associated resources:

School Streets – 8 80 Cities  
8  80 Streets Mountview Summary Report  
School Streets Toolkit  
Street Types Explainer

Are you interested in learning more about School Streets? Don’t hesitate to get in touch with Jiya Benni at jbenni@880cities.org