In the wake of this week's deadly van attack in Toronto, city officials are reassuring the public a wide array of pedestrian safety measures will be installed along London's first flex-street.
Construction began earlier this month on the four-blocks from Ridout St. to Wellington St. that are being transformed into Dundas Place -- a curbless, flexible street that can be closed to vehicle traffic throughout the year for festivals and special events.
As a way of protecting pedestrians, designs for Dundas Place have specifically included a number of measures that would prevent vehicle attacks or drivers from accidentally using the road when it is closed.
"You'll see bollards in place in certain locations along sidewalks," said Dave O'Brien, manager of security and emergency management for the city. "There are also other things that will be in place as part of the natural landscape of the roadway and that is used to define space, set boundaries, and protect pedestrian areas."
Those features include concrete planters and steel benches that add protection while also being aesthetically pleasing.
Discussions over the best type of barriers needed to block off the road when it is in festival-mode are continuing.
"There is still ongoing work being done with respect to how we are going to create the appropriate controls to allow emergency services access but still protect pedestrians and the public as they use that space as a pedestrian area," said O'Brien.
Ten people were killed and 14 others injured when a van plowed into a crowd of pedestrians on the sidewalk along Yonge St. in north Toronto on Monday. The horrific attack raised questions about the need for preventative measures aimed at keeping people safe in heavy pedestrian areas.
Other cities that have suffered vehicle rampages have been quick to embed unobtrusive safety barriers into their cityscapes. New York put up 1,500 metal barriers through the city after eight people were killed when a rental truck drove down a bike path in Manhattan last October. London, England placed concrete blocks and large barriers along London Bridge, following an attack there last June.
London already has some experience with enacting protective measures during street festivals. During last year's Canada 150 celebrations, Talbot St. was shut down to vehicle traffic in front of the Covent Garden Market for five days. The city used a number of structures to stop any vehicles from entering the pedestrian zone.
"We are going to do everything we can to make [Dundas Place] a safe, enjoyable environment for the members of the public who are going to come down and use it," said O'Brien. "Many other cities have similar setups like this. I was recently in Los Angeles and saw their setup. It is certainly doable and there are things we can do to make it a safe place."