Observing The City
@observingthecity.bsky.social
Observations from around the city (in most cases, Toronto)
I think this is pretty clearly tied to the fact that Toronto prices have dropped pretty drastically in past year, while Montreal has increased.
January 17, 2026 at 1:23 PM
I think this is pretty clearly tied to the fact that Toronto prices have dropped pretty drastically in past year, while Montreal has increased.
Reposted by Observing The City
Back in 2019 Toronto started planning the approval/installation of new bike lanes in 3-year blocks to consider them as part of the city's broader cycling network, not just as local projects subject to individual councillor's whims. Even prior to Bill 212 we started seeing a regression of that goal.
The suburbs vs. downtown: What the ‘uncomfortable marriage’ between the two Torontos means for the city’s biggest problems
The suburbs vs. downtown: What the ‘uncomfortable marriage’ between the two Torontos means for the city’s biggest problems
Recent council decision has pitted the ‘burbs against inner-city wards, to the frustration of those on both sides of the divide.
www.thestar.com
January 4, 2026 at 5:38 PM
Back in 2019 Toronto started planning the approval/installation of new bike lanes in 3-year blocks to consider them as part of the city's broader cycling network, not just as local projects subject to individual councillor's whims. Even prior to Bill 212 we started seeing a regression of that goal.
Worse than that, the City of Toronto apparently has a policy that they will not permanently pedestrianize a street unless an adjacent land owner agrees to “activate the space”. This was evidenced in a report to council when Cllr Moise requested Market St. Be pedestrianized year round.
Reminds me of a topic that I constantly think about and post about often regarding events: the fact that we may be relying too much on “programming“ of spaces and places in the name of “activating“ them. As opposed to creating places that naturally attract and accommodate people.
January 3, 2026 at 4:01 PM
Worse than that, the City of Toronto apparently has a policy that they will not permanently pedestrianize a street unless an adjacent land owner agrees to “activate the space”. This was evidenced in a report to council when Cllr Moise requested Market St. Be pedestrianized year round.
Reposted by Observing The City
the paper in question. it's really all a look into very broad correlations, so don't take it as concrete evidence, but the trends are real:
arxiv.org/abs/2511.08280
arxiv.org/abs/2511.08280
Metros reduce car use in European cities but trams do not
Despite the evident drawbacks, car ownership and usage continue to rise globally, leading to increased pollution and urban sprawl. As alternatives, Active Mobility and Public Transport are promoted fo...
arxiv.org
January 2, 2026 at 9:59 PM
the paper in question. it's really all a look into very broad correlations, so don't take it as concrete evidence, but the trends are real:
arxiv.org/abs/2511.08280
arxiv.org/abs/2511.08280
Happy New Year from the King St transit priority corridor, 8 years later.
January 1, 2026 at 1:37 AM
Happy New Year from the King St transit priority corridor, 8 years later.
Bike Share ridership increased 20% in 2025, to a record 8.3 million rides!
December 27, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Bike Share ridership increased 20% in 2025, to a record 8.3 million rides!
I’m sorry, but I’m not giving even a tiny dollar amount, to HIM.
December 27, 2025 at 5:16 AM
I’m sorry, but I’m not giving even a tiny dollar amount, to HIM.
Reposted by Observing The City
to inaugurate the new blog, i've written about a local and contentious topic that's been on my mind for years. at its heart, it's about understanding the information that transit riders need.
the case for splitting TTC Line 1:
the case for splitting TTC Line 1:
Line 1 is not one line
In the long term, treating Toronto’s Line 1 as two different lines would eliminate more confusion than it would create.
fernkhahn.medium.com
December 22, 2025 at 7:54 PM
to inaugurate the new blog, i've written about a local and contentious topic that's been on my mind for years. at its heart, it's about understanding the information that transit riders need.
the case for splitting TTC Line 1:
the case for splitting TTC Line 1:
Great, and you have the power to change Toronto’s current policy that recommends against pedestrianization in almost every case. Even when the local councillor explicitly requests if: bsky.app/profile/obse...
“While over half of the households in the US want to live in walkable places … less than 8 percent of the built environment is walkable” www.cnn.com/2025/12/19/t...
Americans are hungry for community. So why don’t we have more European-style squares? | CNN
As travel abroad has become common for more Americans, many have enjoyed Europe’s vibrant squares. Why doesn’t the United States have more of that kind of gathering spot and is change afoot?
www.cnn.com
December 22, 2025 at 5:40 AM
Great, and you have the power to change Toronto’s current policy that recommends against pedestrianization in almost every case. Even when the local councillor explicitly requests if: bsky.app/profile/obse...
No you don’t understand. It must be 47 minutes because TTC has scheduled it to be 47 minutes.
December 21, 2025 at 12:48 AM
No you don’t understand. It must be 47 minutes because TTC has scheduled it to be 47 minutes.
Reposted by Observing The City
Rode Line 6 again off-peak as an experiment to see how much faster service could be with optimisation.
Trip time: 41 min
Dwell from lights: 11 min
Dwell from schedule padding: 4 min
Actual run time: 26 min
Increase the speed limit, and I'd say we could safely do 25 min off-peak/30 min peak.
Trip time: 41 min
Dwell from lights: 11 min
Dwell from schedule padding: 4 min
Actual run time: 26 min
Increase the speed limit, and I'd say we could safely do 25 min off-peak/30 min peak.
December 20, 2025 at 11:38 PM
Rode Line 6 again off-peak as an experiment to see how much faster service could be with optimisation.
Trip time: 41 min
Dwell from lights: 11 min
Dwell from schedule padding: 4 min
Actual run time: 26 min
Increase the speed limit, and I'd say we could safely do 25 min off-peak/30 min peak.
Trip time: 41 min
Dwell from lights: 11 min
Dwell from schedule padding: 4 min
Actual run time: 26 min
Increase the speed limit, and I'd say we could safely do 25 min off-peak/30 min peak.
Lie.
Councillor Myers asks Traffic Services why better signal priority wasn't in place prior to the Finch West LRT opening. Staff say this is a Metrolinx project, and the city "did not have the purview to intervene on the contract and make changes to the design" until service started operating.
December 16, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Lie.
Good recap of an infuriating TTC board meeting. The incompetence and incuriosity of TTC and city staff on full display.
The TTC Board discussed the Finch LRT opening and problems at its meeting today, Dec. 10. My comments: stevemunro.ca/2025/12/10/t...
December 11, 2025 at 2:22 AM
Good recap of an infuriating TTC board meeting. The incompetence and incuriosity of TTC and city staff on full display.
Reposted by Observing The City
Northwest Toronto just got a transit investment that actually lengthens their commutes.
They deserve better.
They deserve better.
December 7, 2025 at 10:55 PM
Northwest Toronto just got a transit investment that actually lengthens their commutes.
They deserve better.
They deserve better.
Reposted by Observing The City
Over twice the speed of driving, this isn’t what gets people onto transit.
Oh and the bus? 10 minutes faster!
At least the media is starting to take note! Politicians too!
youtu.be/OsCFS-Mxzyo?...
Oh and the bus? 10 minutes faster!
At least the media is starting to take note! Politicians too!
youtu.be/OsCFS-Mxzyo?...
Calls grow to speed up Line 6 Finch West train trips
YouTube video by CityNews
youtu.be
December 8, 2025 at 11:23 PM
What are we doing here? 170m between streetcar stops. It makes the service borderline unusable.
December 6, 2025 at 5:37 PM
What are we doing here? 170m between streetcar stops. It makes the service borderline unusable.
Glad to see that the city is moving forward with 6km of cycle tracks on Kingston Road. It's a huge shame that due to Bill 212/60, they will not be able to connect it to Danforth East. I'm afraid ridership might not be very high as we end up with more bike lanes to nowhere.
November 28, 2025 at 5:41 AM
Glad to see that the city is moving forward with 6km of cycle tracks on Kingston Road. It's a huge shame that due to Bill 212/60, they will not be able to connect it to Danforth East. I'm afraid ridership might not be very high as we end up with more bike lanes to nowhere.
Reposted by Observing The City
Pedestrian struck by motorist on Parkside a block from the speed camera that vigilantes kept tearing down that caused ford to remove them from all Ontario. Drive as you wish Ontario. Nobody matters. This is what you voted for.
November 28, 2025 at 12:52 AM
Pedestrian struck by motorist on Parkside a block from the speed camera that vigilantes kept tearing down that caused ford to remove them from all Ontario. Drive as you wish Ontario. Nobody matters. This is what you voted for.
This is also happening in Toronto, and it would be nice if @mayoroliviachow.ca or the City itself would advertise it like it is a good thing.
London is becoming a cycling city.
As we continue to expand London’s cycle network, the number of daily bike trips is soaring. Cycling has risen by more than 40% since 2019 to 1,500,000 trips every day.
As we continue to expand London’s cycle network, the number of daily bike trips is soaring. Cycling has risen by more than 40% since 2019 to 1,500,000 trips every day.
November 25, 2025 at 6:40 PM
This is also happening in Toronto, and it would be nice if @mayoroliviachow.ca or the City itself would advertise it like it is a good thing.
I actually don't think this corner is included as Sumach is not designated as a "community street". This means stores like this one would not be able to exist in the current zoning changes.
#Breaking: Toronto will allow new corner stores in residential neighbourhoods
Toronto will allow new corner stores in residential neighbourhoods
Small-scale retail will be allowed on select 'community streets' downtown.
www.thestar.com
November 14, 2025 at 6:59 PM
I actually don't think this corner is included as Sumach is not designated as a "community street". This means stores like this one would not be able to exist in the current zoning changes.
Since there has been lots of talk of "neighbourhood retail" without specific definitions of "neighbourhood" and "retail", I thought I would try to bring some clarity.
November 14, 2025 at 4:21 AM
Since there has been lots of talk of "neighbourhood retail" without specific definitions of "neighbourhood" and "retail", I thought I would try to bring some clarity.
Don’t worry, I’m sure he’ll run on fear mongering about it anyways. Facts don’t matter.
Bradford asks if the new encampment policy adopted in 2024 led to more encampments or fewer. Staff say a year ago there were 540 encampments. Today, there are 355.
November 13, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Don’t worry, I’m sure he’ll run on fear mongering about it anyways. Facts don’t matter.
So, this passing is about the best option we could’ve hoped for from today, eh? As much as I don’t like carving out old Toronto from the suburbs with these zoning changes, I feel like in a Tory mayoralty with this same council they would’ve just failed city-wide by a vote.
Full text of Chow's motion to allow neighbourhood corner stores in all Old Toronto & East York wards.
November 13, 2025 at 5:13 PM
So, this passing is about the best option we could’ve hoped for from today, eh? As much as I don’t like carving out old Toronto from the suburbs with these zoning changes, I feel like in a Tory mayoralty with this same council they would’ve just failed city-wide by a vote.
Reposted by Observing The City
Ok Toronto people time to write to your councillor if you support n’hood retail options and tell them to support @joshmatlow.bsky.social’s motion at council this week.
November 10, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Ok Toronto people time to write to your councillor if you support n’hood retail options and tell them to support @joshmatlow.bsky.social’s motion at council this week.
Reposted by Observing The City
so @joshmatlow.bsky.social has posted a motion that allows councillors to adopt neighbourhood retail in their own wards, effectively allowing the removed attachment to be adopted on a ward-by-ward basis. it's not perfect but it's something!!!
November 10, 2025 at 7:28 PM
so @joshmatlow.bsky.social has posted a motion that allows councillors to adopt neighbourhood retail in their own wards, effectively allowing the removed attachment to be adopted on a ward-by-ward basis. it's not perfect but it's something!!!