No sooner said than done: Exploring the lessons learned about equity considerations and public engagement processes in pandemic-time active transportation planning in Vancouver, Toronto, and Montréal

Keywords: Active transportation, equity, COVID-19, policy, public engagement
Abstract Type: Paper Abstract

Abstract

Purpose: There has been much speculation about how COVID-19 will impact life in cities and, in particular, urban mobility. While we are two years on from the initial pandemic, most research has focused on immediate responses. Our work looks to the long-term, to determine how lessons learned about equity and public engagement during the pandemic-time street reallocation implementation will impact future active transportation planning in the metropolitan areas of Vancouver, Toronto, and Montréal.

Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews with city staff who were involved in active transportation decision-making during the pandemic (Vancouver, n=5; Toronto, n=10; Montréal, n=5). We asked questions with a specific focus on COVID-19 street reallocations, including new bike lanes, motor vehicle lane closures, and quiet streets. We conducted a framework analysis to identify common themes in how equity and public engagement procedures were operationalized by city staff in each metropolitan area and how pandemic-time decision making will influence future city planning.

Conclusions: At this stage in our analysis, we have found two main themes in the Toronto-area: (1) equity considerations from pre-existing transportation plans featured strongly in decision-making about pandemic-time street reallocations, (2) rapid decision-making meant policy stakeholders spent less time on public engagement, and this emerging style of engagement may remain in contemporary practice. We are comparing themes across municipalities and metropolitan areas. By focusing on equity and public engagement in our analysis, we are building the understanding of how cities are responding to growing social and environmental concerns through policy and decision-making.