Joggers, strollers and cyclists back on the roads for ActiveTO

The cars and trucks were missing from part of  Bayview Extension, River Street and Lake Shore Boulevard East this weekend.

But the roads, closed to motor vehicles, were still full of traffic. That is, full of people on foot and bicycles.

They freely walked, jogged and cycled on paved lanes that were usually chockablock with gas- and electricity-guzzling machines — as part of Toronto’s ActiveTO initiative to help residents get fresh air and exercise during the pandemic lockdown.

People using the ActiveTO routes were asked to do so only with members of their own household.

The city shut down these east-end streets:

• Bayview Avenue, between Front Street East and Rosedale Valley Road.
• River Street between Bayview Avenue and Spruce Street.
• Lake Shore Boulevard East (eastbound lanes only), between Leslie Street and Woodbine Avenue.

Despite the good turnout, the numbers of participants seemed to be down a little from last year, perhaps due to intermittently wet weather, during ActiveTO’s first weekend of 2021.

Meanwhile, other east-end roads, notably Danforth Avenue and Gerrard Street, seemed to suffer heavier traffic than on previous weekends as chose routes across the city alternative to the closed roads.

ActiveTO is a city initiative intended to provide space for people to practise physical distancing outside, to0 support the overall well-being of residents, and to quickly connect and expand Toronto’s cycling network by installing safe, separated temporary bike routes that mirror major transit lines.