What I find interesting about these sidewalk designs is that it is still about cars. The slopes and cut-aways reduce usable pedestrian space and accessibility for users - accentuated during winter conditions. https://twitter.com/tm_kavanagh/status/1357076248393109505

@Centretowner talks about Toronto-style sidewalks that maintain a flat even surface for the width of the sidewalk. The ramp for cars is not part of that space.
http://centretown.blogspot.com/2014/01/peds-on-weds-toronto-style-sidewalks.html?m=1

"But this will narrow the road". Yes, it would. Many of our streets are built unnecessarily wide anyway. This would further traffic calm the street.

And if you are lucky enough to have a narrow street (say 3m per direction), perhaps it is time to remove parking, turning it into a one-way street or a super-block. The point is not to throw up your hands if motorists are inconvenienced. Prioritize people #1 and #2.

An added benefit of this design is the buffer for snow storage. All too often, urban sidewalks become a dumping ground for snow from road space, leaving narrow cattle trails where two cannot walk side by side, let alone one person using a mobility device.

This buffer zone could also be used for utilities. All too often signage, mailboxes, utility boxes take up valuable sidewalk space. You would never see these poles lined up in the middle of a road for cars, and they shouldn't just like they shouldn't block

Are there drawbacks to the Toronto-style sidewalk? Probably. My point is that we should be looking at designs that make active transportation safe, enjoyable and #accessible.