Walking is directly correlated with better health, a lighter environmental impact, cost-efficient living, and an overall better quality of life. So, go for a walk this week in one of Canada’s most walkable cities, according to Walk Score’s and rate your walkability in the one of TO’s hidden walkable neighbourhood gems – Riverside.
Walk Score, a Seattle-based company that computes the “walkability” of addresses across North America; it has revolutionized the way people think about how their neighbourhoods and communities are designed. It’s the first standardized yardstick for quantitative rankings of walkability.
Jane’s Walk in Riverside
Saturday, 26th October Riverside will be promoting Toronto’s walkability, with 9 unique walking tours, plus there is a host of different Halloween fun including Jimmy Simpson’s Park Haunted House, Nell & Natasha’s Annual Pumpkin Give Away and Fun Kid’s activities by our charity partner Ralph Thornton Center.
In keeping with promoting walkability, Riverside partnered with Jane’s Walk. Jane’s Walk promotes a festival of neighbourhood walking tours on the first weekend of May. The tour was named after urban activist and writer Jane Jacobs to celebrate her ideas and legacy by getting people out exploring their neighbourhoods through locally led walking tours.
Jane Jacobs at the White Horse Tavern in 1961 (Credit: Cervin Robinson)
This year Jane’s Walk have encouraged Jane’s Walks to occur throughout the year outside of the Festival May weekend – and the Riverside WalkFEST teamed up to be a series of showcased walks.
An example of a Jane’s Walk during the festival weekend
When it comes to making improvements to the livability and vibrancy of neighbourhoods, people are often isolated or unaware of others who may share their interests. Jane’s Walk helps bridge these gaps and encourages people to explore the sidewalks they use for the basic tasks of daily life – tasks like shopping, getting to school and work.
To register on one of the walk, go to: https://riversidewalkfest2013.eventbrite.com
Riverside WalkFEST was possible due to generous sponsorship from Streetcar.