Deanne Mighton
banner
deannemighton.bsky.social
Deanne Mighton
@deannemighton.bsky.social
Urbanist, mom, e-bike and beach lover. I am a former City of Toronto urban designer and current Subway Sponsor. I try to make places better, one project at a time, and learn new things along the way.
We figured out how to move stadium crowds for Taylor Swift, but not how to move people for the World Series. It should be the same playbook — rinse, wash, repeat.
Toronto's World Series victory sparked chaos as fans faced transit failures, highlighting the urgent need for better planning during major events.
Read More: azat.tv/en/go-train-...
November 4, 2025 at 1:20 AM
Reposted by Deanne Mighton
“A new study found when people moved from less walkable U.S. cities to more walkable ones, they increased their levels of physical activity and saw health benefits.”

The design of cities can help us be healthier. We’ve actually known that for quite a while. #HealthyCities
www.cbc.ca/player/play/...
The design of your city can help make you healthier, study finds
A new study in Nature found when people moved from less walkable U.S. cities to more walkable ones, they increased their levels of physical activity and saw health benefits.
www.cbc.ca
October 29, 2025 at 10:31 PM
💛💛💛
The world might be pulling back on climate truth: but I'm stepping it up.

How? I'm adding new videos, deep dives & behind-the-scenes stories to Talking Climate.

Why? Because climate honesty and hope matter more than ever right now.

Join me on Patreon: bit.ly/47pCLaf
Or Substack: bit.ly/4ntfvhJ
October 29, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Reposted by Deanne Mighton
@dannyoleksiuk.bsky.social writes for @sightline.org about the potential to bring back small lot apartment buildings.

#singlestair code changes can unlock this option for the first time in a century. Let’s go!

www.sightline.org/2025/10/28/t...
To Build Fast, Think Small | Sightline Institute
How re-legalizing small apartment buildings would spur the homes city dwellers need now.
www.sightline.org
October 28, 2025 at 4:31 PM
"Surprising fact: modern single-stair apartment buildings are just as safe as those with two."
Earlier this year, @pewtrusts.org looked into fire safety records for thousands of buildings in Seattle & NYC (which allowed its own 1-stair option in 2000).

Same fire safety record as other multifamily buildings & zero fire deaths related to the egress. www.pew.org/en/research-...
Small Single-Stairway Apartment Buildings Have Strong Safety Record
Policymakers could increase the supply of multifamily housing in their states and localities by revising outdated building codes that require more than one stairway in small apartment buildings. If en...
www.pew.org
October 21, 2025 at 4:46 PM
“For the cost of rebuilding a couple of freeway interchanges, a city could build its entire bike network.”
(A reminder that better mobility doesn’t have to cost more — just be smarter.) Via @grist.org
“Meanwhile, the e-bike market is skyrocketing…

The question now is: Do officials double down on deadly car-centric urban design, or do they rethink cities to encourage people to ditch four wheels for two?” Via @grist.org

And do we let elected leaders keep doing the wrong things for our cities?
E-bikes could cut carbon, congestion, and costs — if cities take them seriously
E-bike sales are booming, providing a clean form of transportation that also improves public health. Yet cities remain committed to cars.
grist.org
October 17, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Reposted by Deanne Mighton
What's a School Street you ask?

And then you ask, why aren't all transportation decision-makers choosing to build more streets for children?

@streetfilms.bsky.social
@yonahfreemark.com

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezPz...
October 1, 2025 at 9:54 AM
Third observation from said bike ride - why is the parking enforcement officer not stopping the TTC employees from blocking the bike lane?
October 1, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Also, on my bike ride this morning, I watched a TTC cube van crawl down College St, blocking the bike lane. Two staff stopping at every stop to tape up service notices. Why not hop on transit—or even use Bike Share? Feels like a more efficient, low-carbon way to do the job.
October 1, 2025 at 7:47 PM
On my bike ride this morning, I noticed a parking enforcement officer cruising around on traditional bikes. Wouldn’t e-bikes make much more sense? They’d go faster, cover more ground, and less impact on rider. Other sectors have figured this out—why not here? Full disclosure, I was on my e-bike.
October 1, 2025 at 7:27 PM
I appreciate this insightful discussion and believe
‪@tvotoday.bsky.social‬ nailed it; maybe it's time for a redesign. The absence of sidewalks on the park side and insufficient pedestrian access points at key desire lines are major issues.
If not speed cameras, then what? @jm-mcgrath.bsky.social and @spaikin.bsky.social discuss alternative strategies to slow drivers down, and how Doug Ford likely won't be sold on those either. On the #onpoli podcast: youtu.be/3pjjwa4YWrs?...
September 22, 2025 at 2:41 PM
I am curious about how many of these items were previously funded by property taxes, and when that change happened. Additionally, I would like to know whether these funds should be shifted back to that source or to other levels of government.
A timely article from @alexbeheshti.bsky.social at MMI on development charge (DC) differences across Ontario, BC and Alberta. Key chart that attempts to summarize the complex pieces of legislation across these provinces. www.missingmiddleinitiative.ca/p/halving-dc...
September 4, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Reposted by Deanne Mighton
Great short video by TransLink explaining “the empty bus lane myth”
September 3, 2025 at 11:43 PM
Love this! Yes, please, and also in parks. It's much better than pick-up trucks tearing up the grass.
That's nice: Special cargo bikes for street cleaning in #Rijeka, Croatia. So versatile.
August 20, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Proud to stand with this incredible group of innovators and change-makers. The future belongs to those willing to question, challenge, and create differently.
My first Starter Pack! The Canadian urbanism and planning community on here is growing. Give these folks a follow. Some well known faces … and some you should get to know! (please re-post!) go.bsky.app/AEYL7FZ
August 19, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Reposted by Deanne Mighton
love this new york times clip. they recently did a story about how sesame street's set has changed over the years, along with our urban politics.

IG nytimes
August 6, 2025 at 2:25 AM
Great Work @kellyalvarezdoran.bsky.social , I worked on the south side stretch of Dundas in the Junction. From what I recall, Richard Witt and his team had proposed a lay-by for garbage pick-up, but Solid Waste didn’t support it, predating the removal of Parking Mins. Happy with outcome otherwise.
July 8, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Reposted by Deanne Mighton
Climate change is making flash flooding worse and many communities are not prepared. Canada needs:
📍 Better flood mapping
🚨 Effective flood warnings
🏘️ Smarter land use
💧 Stormwater infrastructure
We know what to do. We just need to do it. www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic...
More frequent flash floods are ‘the new reality,’ but Canada may not be ready
As flash flooding takes a deadly toll in Texas, an expert worries Canada lacks predictive capabilities, warning systems and infrastructure
www.theglobeandmail.com
July 8, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Reposted by Deanne Mighton
Yesterday, June 2, marked Equal Pay Day for Black women. The gender pay gap for Black women is 42%. They earn only $0.58 for every dollar a man makes, And must work an extra 153 days to earn what an average man makes in a year.
@equalpaycoalition.bsky.social
#OnLab #OnPoli
June 3, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Reposted by Deanne Mighton
Mark Your Calendars, Toronto: Sixplexes and multiplex updates at Planning and Housing Committee on June 12th.

Multiplexes are one way to address declining populations in low-rise Neighbourhoods.

See our new blog post! moreneighbours.ca/news/analysi...

🧵
June 2, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Reposted by Deanne Mighton
106 years ago today: Toronto Union Station construction progress, May 6, 1919

📸: City of Toronto Archives

#OnThisDay #OTD #1910s #torontounionstation #unionstation #construction #transit #railways #railroad #history #torontohistory #toronto #canada #jeremyhopkin
May 6, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Reposted by Deanne Mighton
Attention Street Design Nerds! One of the most intriguing cities in recent years at reconsidering streets for people instead of just for cars, Oslo Norway, translated their great Street Design Manual into English and put it on-line. It’s worth digging into. #Oslo
www.oslo.kommune.no/getfile.php/...
May 6, 2025 at 2:37 AM
Reposted by Deanne Mighton
This is interesting — a recent study of mode share (the % share of transportation trips by car, transit, walking, biking etc) relative to city size and income levels in almost 800 cities in 61 countries. Interesting results. HT @davidzipper.bsky.social
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
April 29, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Reposted by Deanne Mighton
Polls are now open in Newfoundland & Labrador!

Please vote today, Canadians. 🇨🇦 🗳️
April 28, 2025 at 11:19 AM