Strong Approval For
Yonge Street Renewal
Drivers less enthusiastic than cyclists, pedestrians
In a random sampling
of public opinion taken by the Forum Poll™ among 868 Toronto voters, the clear
majority, about two thirds, approve of the plan to renew Yonge Street from
Queen Street north to Davenport Road (64%). It is explained the renewal will
involve widened sidewalks, planters and reduction of Yonge Street to two lanes.
Just more than a quarter disapprove of the plan (28%), and one tenth don’t
share an opinion (9%).
Enthusiasm for the
project is common to all demographic groups across the city with the exception
of those who voted for Doug Ford (44%), those who commute by car (55%) and
those in Etobicoke (53%). Enthusiasm is high in the old city of Toronto, within
whose boundaries the renewal will take place (70%), as well as among the least
wealthy (79%), in the old city of York (77%), cyclists (84%), walkers (77%) and
those who take transit (74%) and, finally, those who voted Olivia Chow in the
last mayoral election (81%).
“This is obviously
more than an urban renewal project, it is a skirmish in the ongoing war between
the car and cyclists and pedestrians. Drivers don’t like it, nor do those who
campaigned for motorists' rights in the last election” said Forum Research
President, Dr. Lorne Bozinoff.
Lorne
Bozinoff, Ph.D. is the president and founder of Forum Research. He can be
reached at lbozinoff@forumresearch.com or at (416) 960-9603.
