King Street Transit Pilot Beneficial For Merchants in the Area Says Market Research Firm Potloc

TORONTO, Nov. 28, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ - A voluntary study conducted by Potloc in conjunction with Retail Insider has revealed the King Street Transit Pilot has had a positive impact on retailers in the area.

76% of respondents said they've visited local retailers either more often or as often as they had before the pilot project. This compares with just 24% who said they've visited less often since the project began.

"We're seeing a big increase in pedestrians, cyclists and transit users coming to the shops on King. This more than makes up for a significant decrease in motorists shopping in the area" said Mike Garard, Senior Account Manager at Potloc. "Many people in Toronto and cities across Canada are looking for faster transit times, more pedestrian friendly neighbourhoods and easier ways to get around."

72% of those consulted said the Transit Pilot on King should either stay as it is or be enhanced with more streetcars, and more space for pedestrians and cyclists. "This study is further evidence of the success of the King Street Pilot Project" says Craig Patterson of Retail Insider. "It's clear a majority of people in the area are responding favorably to reduced congestion."

Launched a year ago, the pilot has seen the closure of a portion of King Street to through traffic in order to decrease travel times for streetcars. The pilot has had the desired effect among transit users, 69% of whom have been using public transit on King more often since the pilot began.

Key Highlights of the study:

• The survey had 2,062 respondents
• 72% of respondents want the pilot to either stay as it is or be enhanced with more streetcars, and more space for pedestrians and cyclists
• 37% said they visited shops in the area more often, 24% visited less often while 39% have visited the same amount
• 53% of public transport users visit the shops on King Street more often since the Transit Pilot was put in place
• 81% of drivers visited local shops and services less often
• 68% of pedestrians said King is more pedestrian-friendly
• 91% of cyclists believe King is more bicycle-friendly
• A complete breakdown of the findings and methodology can be found here

About Potloc

Potloc is disrupting the market research industry for retail and commercial real estate by conducting thousands of geotargeted surveys through digital channels. The company has four offices in Toronto, Paris, Montreal and Lille. We work with firms in retail and real estate such as Loblaws, Aldo, Ivanhoe Cambridge, Cadillac Fairview and many more.

SOURCE Potloc