Project Objective
Our objective was to support the development of an Open Streets program in Thunder Bay to promote walking, and cycling as methods of transportation within the city and encourage people of all ages and abilities to be more physically active.
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- Date: 2013-2014
- City: Thunder Bay, ON
- Partner: EcoSuperior Environmental Programs
- Funding provided by: Ontario Government
Thunder Bay is a city in Northern Ontario with a population of 110,000 people. A small percentage of the population walk or bike to work and many drive. EcoSuperior, the City of Thunder Bay, and the Thunder Bay District Health Unit were all interested in the environmental, social, and health benefits of getting people more active in Thunder Bay.
We worked with our partners and key stakeholders to plan a route, to organize supporting activities, to find volunteers, and to coordinate the street “opening”.
We hosted public meetings and engagement activities that answered residents’ questions and encouraged the community to get excited about the Open Streets program.
In the summer of 2014 the Open Streets Thunder Bay pilot program successfully hosted two program dates with over 3,000 people participating in total. Businesses along the route touted record sales and traffic impact was minimal.
