Yonge Street Revitalization (Downtown Yonge BIA/City of Toronto)

[txlseries4]

I was just in Copenhagen and wanted to learn more about their pedestrian only street Strøget.
Strøget was first closed to cars on 17 November 1962 as a trial pedestrian zone.

• The idea was experimental at first because many people (especially shop owners) were skeptical.
• After the trial proved successful, the city made it permanently car-free in 1964.

So in short:

• 1962 → temporary closure begins
• 1964 → permanently pedestrianized

How do service vehicles get through today?
Even though it’s “pedestrian-only,” it’s not completely sealed off. Like most European pedestrian zones, access is controlled rather than totally banned:

• Delivery vehicles are typically allowed during restricted hours (usually early morning before crowds build up).
• Emergency services (ambulances, police, fire) can enter at any time.
• Maintenance and municipal vehicles (cleaning, waste collection, repairs) also have access when needed.

This kind of time-restricted access is standard practice in pedestrian streets and is part of how Copenhagen balances a car-free environment with practical logistics.

Why it worked so well:
The shift reduced congestion, noise, and pollution while actually increasing foot traffic and business activity, which is why Strøget became a global model for pedestrian streets.

Not sure why Toronto makes it so difficult. If the Ontario line is delaying this project they should at least do a trail period like Copenhagen from Dundas to Carlton.

No cars.
View attachment 728822
Crossroad
View attachment 728824
With delivery vehicles
View attachment 728823

Strøget is incredible. There's a wonderful story about it I once heard that goes something like;
When Copenhagen proposed the idea business owners were outraged, protesting "Copenhagen isn't Italy, this will not work here!" Some involved in the plan even received death threats. But the city implementing the plan anyway, and it was so successful that business owners on either side of Strøget pleaded to pedestrianize their streets too.

 

[christiesplits]

I was just in Copenhagen and wanted to learn more about their pedestrian only street Strøget.
Strøget was first closed to cars on 17 November 1962 as a trial pedestrian zone.

• The idea was experimental at first because many people (especially shop owners) were skeptical.
• After the trial proved successful, the city made it permanently car-free in 1964.

So in short:

• 1962 → temporary closure begins
• 1964 → permanently pedestrianized

How do service vehicles get through today?
Even though it’s “pedestrian-only,” it’s not completely sealed off. Like most European pedestrian zones, access is controlled rather than totally banned:

• Delivery vehicles are typically allowed during restricted hours (usually early morning before crowds build up).
• Emergency services (ambulances, police, fire) can enter at any time.
• Maintenance and municipal vehicles (cleaning, waste collection, repairs) also have access when needed.

This kind of time-restricted access is standard practice in pedestrian streets and is part of how Copenhagen balances a car-free environment with practical logistics.

Why it worked so well:
The shift reduced congestion, noise, and pollution while actually increasing foot traffic and business activity, which is why Strøget became a global model for pedestrian streets.

Not sure why Toronto makes it so difficult. If the Ontario line is delaying this project they should at least do a trail period like Copenhagen from Dundas to Carlton.

No cars.

Crossroad

With delivery vehicles

Thanks for sharing your experience in Copenhagen. It's on my bucket list.

Ultimately, the issue comes down to political and economic realities. Transforming Yonge Street into a pedestrian-only corridor would require strong political commitment, careful negotiation, and effective messaging. It would also mean contending with a more stuffy, car-oriented business community—such as Cadillac Fairview (which owns the Eaton Centre), the Yonge Street BIA, and stakeholders like the CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre, nearby hotels, and restaurants—many of whom worry that reducing car access could negatively impact their business.

 

[NoahB]

Not sure why Toronto makes it so difficult. If the Ontario line is delaying this project they should at least do a trail period like Copenhagen from Dundas to Carlton.

The Councilor for the area started a petition to close off 2 blocks in the Church Wellesley Village this summer as a pilot. I suggest you sign it to get the ball rolling.

From the petition:

The lessons learned from this pilot project will also inform the City's Street Pedestrianization Policies and Guidelines. Currently the City of Toronto only has processes in place for street closures for construction or street events. Longer-term closures present different challenges that require unique solutions that need to be tested.

This might inform how future pedestrianization on Yonge would be done.

More on this thread:

Church Street Pedestrianization Pilot

It seems that Chris Moise, the Councilor for the Church-Wellesley Village, is proposing a pilot project to pedestrianize 2 blocks for the summer. The closure would be from Wellesley Street E to Alexander Street. His timeline is saying that planning started in November 2025 and would last until...

urbantoronto.ca

 

[ComptoirGeneral]

Thanks for sharing your experience in Copenhagen. It's on my bucket list.

Ultimately, the issue comes down to political and economic realities. Transforming Yonge Street into a pedestrian-only corridor would require strong political commitment, careful negotiation, and effective messaging. It would also mean contending with a more stuffy, car-oriented business community—such as Cadillac Fairview (which owns the Eaton Centre), the Yonge Street BIA, and stakeholders like the CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre, nearby hotels, and restaurants—many of whom worry that reducing car access could negatively impact their business.

Which is so unfortunate, because I simply cannot imagine a reality in which the restriction of vehicular traffic negatively impacts their businesses. As long as parking garage access is maintained to the Eaton Centre via Shuter the mall should still be fine for drivers.

Yonge is currently a pain to walk along because it's so crowded. There's ample transit access to those blocks and increased foot traffic would only help businesses. How many people are driving to any business on Yonge atm? I don't know the numbers but I can't imagine it's a lot; it's not like there's even street parking to begin with.

 

[Northern Light]

Thanks for sharing your experience in Copenhagen. It's on my bucket list.

Ultimately, the issue comes down to political and economic realities. Transforming Yonge Street into a pedestrian-only corridor would require strong political commitment, careful negotiation, and effective messaging. It would also mean contending with a more stuffy, car-oriented business community—such as Cadillac Fairview (which owns the Eaton Centre), the Yonge Street BIA, and stakeholders like the CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre, nearby hotels, and restaurants—many of whom worry that reducing car access could negatively impact their business.

With respect, I've outlined that the critical concern is Yonge shuttle and night buses,.

I've repeated this many times now, and you're not alone in just glossing it over. (I'm not picking on you, this thread is filled with it)

I find it incredibly frustrating that no matter how many times a clear answer is provided people act as if it wasn't stated and didn't apply because some street somewhere else that doesn't have shuttle or night buses was pedestrianized.

***

Its just like when I explain that single egress stairs have not improved affordability of housing anywhere they've been permitted; (proven).

***

I say this as someone who is pro pedestrianization where viable, and has no problem with single egress stairs if you can establish adequate fire/evacuation safety by alternative means.

I find it rather exhausting to see people repeat the same ideas as nauseum.

Can we please move on folks.

On Yonge, the effort should be investing in quality and advancing the timeline. It is not a good pedestrianization candidate.

King, Church, Baldwin/McCaul, Kensington, are all much better locations. All will require effort and stakeholders, but none have shuttle/night bus issues. Lets focus energy on delivering good ideas where they might actually make sense and happen.

End Rant.

 

[Mihairokov]

Thanks for sharing your experience in Copenhagen. It's on my bucket list.

Ultimately, the issue comes down to political and economic realities. Transforming Yonge Street into a pedestrian-only corridor would require strong political commitment, careful negotiation, and effective messaging. It would also mean contending with a more stuffy, car-oriented business community—such as Cadillac Fairview (which owns the Eaton Centre), the Yonge Street BIA, and stakeholders like the CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre, nearby hotels, and restaurants—many of whom worry that reducing car access could negatively impact their business.

Was the official CF complaint that losing vehicular access would affect Eaton Centre's potential revenues? I recall hearing that the BIA regurgitated CF's complaints about the plan/proposal.

A shame, if so, because anecdotally I cannot think of a single instance where myself or anyone I know has ever driven and parked at Eaton Centre.

 

[Richard White]

Was the official CF complaint that losing vehicular access would affect Eaton Centre's potential revenues? I recall hearing that the BIA regurgitated CF's complaints about the plan/proposal.

A shame, if so, because anecdotally I cannot think of a single instance where myself or anyone I know has ever driven and parked at Eaton Centre.

If I recall, it is in the tenants leases at the Eaton Centre that they have a certain level of parking available.

While not everyone drives, I am sure there are a few people who do when heading to places like Best Buy or Crappy Tire. I doubt you can walk home with a 103 inch TV or exercise equipment.

Though I do agree, most people do not.

It is worth noting that their loading dick is off Bay.

 

[NoahB]

With respect, I've outlined that the critical concern is Yonge shuttle and night buses,.
[...]
I find it incredibly frustrating that no matter how many times a clear answer is provided people act as if it wasn't stated and didn't apply because some street somewhere else that doesn't have shuttle or night buses was pedestrianized.

I agree with your sentiment about going in circles. But the issue with the shuttles and night buses was resolved back in 2020 with the design including Automatic Barriers. In the early morning hours, the gates would be opened for night buses and general traffic. And assume the same can be done for when the shuttle buses need to run.

Edit: I would like to add that the text suggests that Fire/Paramedics/Police can access the gates. I can imagine adding that ability to the 97 bus. But this part is not completely clear to me.

 

[afransen]

If I recall, it is in the tenants leases at the Eaton Centre that they have a certain level of parking available.

While not everyone drives, I am sure there are a few people who do when heading to places like Best Buy or Crappy Tire. I doubt you can walk home with a 103 inch TV or exercise equipment.

Though I do agree, most people do not.

It is worth noting that their loading dick is off Bay.

Large items like that are typically delivered by the retailer. Not many people using pickups to pick up TVs or ellipticals from Best Buy at the Eaton Centre.

 

[ComptoirGeneral]

If I recall, it is in the tenants leases at the Eaton Centre that they have a certain level of parking available.

While not everyone drives, I am sure there are a few people who do when heading to places like Best Buy or Crappy Tire. I doubt you can walk home with a 103 inch TV or exercise equipment.

Though I do agree, most people do not.

It is worth noting that their loading dick is off Bay.

Even if that's true, I don't think it would affect the Eaton Centre. Is there even any parking along the corridor of Yonge? I'd imagine every single person who drives to the mall is going to park in the parking garage

 

[ComptoirGeneral]

With respect, I've outlined that the critical concern is Yonge shuttle and night buses,.

I've repeated this many times now, and you're not alone in just glossing it over. (I'm not picking on you, this thread is filled with it)

I find it incredibly frustrating that no matter how many times a clear answer is provided people act as if it wasn't stated and didn't apply because some street somewhere else that doesn't have shuttle or night buses was pedestrianized.

***

Its just like when I explain that single egress stairs have not improved affordability of housing anywhere they've been permitted; (proven).

***

I say this as someone who is pro pedestrianization where viable, and has no problem with single egress stairs if you can establish adequate fire/evacuation safety by alternative means.

I find it rather exhausting to see people repeat the same ideas as nauseum.

Can we please move on folks.

On Yonge, the effort should be investing in quality and advancing the timeline. It is not a good pedestrianization candidate.

King, Church, Baldwin/McCaul, Kensington, are all much better locations. All will require effort and stakeholders, but none have shuttle/night bus issues. Lets focus energy on delivering good ideas where they might actually make sense and happen.

End Rant.

Not a valid reason not to pedestrianize it imo. The Yonge bus can easily divert to Bay from Queen to Gerrard/College.

 

[T3G]

At this point I'd be happy if they just widened the sidewalk at the expense of one car lane per direction. Yonge is brutally busy and the sidewalks are far too narrow for a city who's citizens are so incapable of walking properly as Toronto's!

 

[Tuscani01]

Not a valid reason not to pedestrianize it imo. The Yonge bus can easily divert to Bay from Queen to Gerrard/College.

That's exactly Vancouver's plan with Granville Street, which is currently one of their busiest transit routes. Buses are being relocated to parallel streets which are being enhanced to speed up and prioritize transit.

 

[ComptoirGeneral]

That's exactly Vancouver's plan with Granville Street, which is currently one of their busiest transit routes. Buses are being relocated to parallel streets which are being enhanced to speed up and prioritize transit.

And it works entirely fine. As someone who used to live there for years, having to walk an extra block is not the end of the world.

 

[Northern Light]

Not a valid reason not to pedestrianize it imo. The Yonge bus can easily divert to Bay from Queen to Gerrard/College.

You can certainly take that position. There are some challenges with that though, ranging from congestion on Bay to simply getting people who are displaced out of the subway to walk a block away to get the bus.

Can these be addressed? Sure, but City staff will rightly talk to you about scope creep and budgetary impacts.

You want transit lanes on Bay? Okay, but there's a City Hall parking garage access, TEC parking and loading dock access, Hotel drop off access, and ROCP condo access.

You want buses to divert from Yonge along a Queen Street that's complete closed for the next several years by Ontario Line construction? No...you want them to use Richmond where the Queen Streetcars are diverted to?

No King........hmmm

***

You want them to come back along Gerrard? A congested, single lane w/hotel pickup/drop off, and the College Park parking and loading docks?

No, College... ..where all left turns onto Yonge are currently banned? Further, left hand turning buses would block the 506 streetcar, in both directions (SB onto Bay as well)

***

You see how challenging it is............how much money it would cost to address.

I'm not opposed, just so we're clear.........except that it won't happen, anytime soon. The Yonge project as it is, is not fully funded in the budget, its about 100M short.

Diverting buses to Bay involves major changes to Bay and whichever E-W streets you used to connect back to Yonge. Its a year worth of study if you're determined, and a low end budget of 20M (No removing the City Hall accesses, but closing them and making the internal garage adjustments required; etc etc.)

The expensive version is so much more.

Not an excuse, a reality. We keep making the perfect the enemy of the good, lets just get Yonge narrowed already, and do it properly.