GETTING AROUND

How does Toronto’s traffic congestion compare?

The Toronto Region’s congestion crisis continues to impact our quality of life:

> Traffic in Toronto is the 8th most congested in North America, and 2nd most congested in Canada.

> The Region boasts the 2nd longest round-trip commute – 66 minutes – of any North American city. Only New York City fares worse.

> Increasingly longer commute times negatively affect health and intensify the “time crunch” that 1 in 5 Ontarians feels (which means less time for family, leisure, and community).

> The most congested mornings and evenings are on Thursdays. Thursday evening congestion nears 80%.

How is Toronto faring on measures of active transportation?

The number of commuters who take transit, walk, or bike to work continues to increase, but we can still do better:

> In a recent study of GTHA commuters, 4% said they walked, 2% biked, 30% used public transit, and 7% carpooled. However, 55% drove alone.

> Among 22 Canadian cities, Toronto is the 2nd most walkable.

> Cycling volumes have tripled, cyclists feel safer, and motor vehicle travel times have been positively impacted, now that bike lanes are on Richmond, Adelaide, and Simcoe Streets. Since installation in 2014, Richmond and Adelaide bike lanes average more than 4,200 cyclist trips per weekday.

> Of 10 Canadian cities, Toronto was tied with Saskatoon as the 4th most dangerous in which to ride a bike.

> Thursday is the worst day of the week for traffic accidents involving cyclists, and evening rush hour is the worst time of day.