Toronto's Dedicated Cyclist Crash Reporting Kiosk Sees Minimal Use
New data reveals that a specialized traffic collision reporting kiosk established by the Toronto Police Service for cyclists and pedestrians is receiving remarkably low usage, with an average of just over two reports per day. The kiosk, located at 350 Dovercourt Road, was created as part of the city's Vision Zero 2.0 road safety plan to provide a more convenient option for vulnerable road users to report accidents.
Low Reporting Numbers Despite City Efforts
According to information obtained through a freedom-of-information request, the kiosk recorded 824 collisions during an 18-month period from April 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025. This translates to approximately 45 reports per month. Given that the facility operates only on weekdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., this means it receives slightly more than two reports during each eight-hour shift.
The reporting centre was specifically designed to serve cyclists and pedestrians in Toronto's downtown core, offering an alternative to the two regular collision reporting centres located in North York and Scarborough. These suburban locations have less restricted hours but are significantly farther from the city centre, making them inconvenient for many cyclists involved in accidents.
A Fraction of Toronto's Total Collisions
The 824 reported collisions represent only a tiny portion of Toronto's overall traffic incidents. In 2024 alone, Toronto Police Service data shows more than 70,000 vehicle collisions were reported across the city. Of these, just 1,632 involved pedestrians and 1,343 involved cyclists, representing 2.1% and 1.7% of total collisions respectively.
These statistics indicate that the majority of reported pedestrian and cyclist collisions are not being processed through the dedicated Dovercourt kiosk, despite its specialized purpose. The numbers suggest that many cyclists and pedestrians continue to use the traditional reporting centres or may not be reporting minor collisions at all.
Historical Context and Implementation Challenges
The kiosk concept originated from an amendment brought forward by Toronto-Danforth Councillor Paula Fletcher as part of the Vision Zero 2.0 plan adopted in July 2019. Fletcher argued that expecting cyclists to travel to suburban reporting centres after an accident was unrealistic and that downtown residents deserved more convenient options.
"When I found out that the collision reporting was at 401 and Kennedy, for pedestrians and for cyclists — it's one thing if you've had a fender-bender and you drive your car 10 or 15 miles up there. It's another thing if you just have a bicycle," Fletcher explained. "It just seemed reasonable as a service not to have to travel that far in such an inconvenient way."
The implementation of the kiosk faced delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and it has operated in two locations since its inception. Initially established in a Toronto Police Service building in Liberty Village in March 2022, the kiosk relocated to its current Dovercourt location at 14 Division on May 24, 2024.
Reporting Trends and Data Collection Concerns
Reporting numbers showed improvement after the relocation. Between January 1, 2024, and the late May relocation that year, the kiosk logged 172 cyclist collision reports. For the remainder of 2024, that number increased to 341 cyclist collisions reported, though pedestrian collision reports remained largely unchanged.
Councillor Fletcher emphasized that while better data collection would be "an added bonus," her primary goal was simply to provide a more accessible service. However, city communications suggest that increasing reporting numbers may be an objective for others involved in road safety initiatives.
"Reporting collisions will expand the city's and Toronto Police Service's collision database, which is instrumental in helping us make informed decisions to make our roads safer for everyone," stated a City of Toronto Facebook post from October 2024 regarding the reporting centre.
Underreporting Concerns and Legal Requirements
A 2024 study published in the medical journal Injury Prevention suggested that Toronto Police Service data captures only about half of hospital visits related to injuries from collisions between cyclists or pedestrians and motor vehicles. This indicates significant underreporting of incidents involving vulnerable road users.
Under Ontario's Highway Traffic Act, drivers involved in collisions must report incidents to police if they result in injury, property damage exceeding $5,000, or if a vehicle door contacts a cyclist or bicycle. Despite these requirements, many minor collisions involving cyclists and pedestrians may go unreported.
The Dovercourt kiosk operates with minimal staffing, featuring just one employee from Accident Support Services International, which handles collision reporting work for the police service. The limited hours and single-staff arrangement reflect the current low utilization of the specialized facility.
As Toronto continues to implement its Vision Zero road safety strategy, the effectiveness of specialized reporting facilities like the Dovercourt kiosk will likely face increased scrutiny. The current reporting numbers raise questions about whether the convenience factor alone is sufficient to encourage more cyclists and pedestrians to formally document their collisions, or whether additional outreach and awareness efforts might be necessary to increase utilization of this dedicated service.
