James Da Costa | Street Smart
@streetsmart514.bsky.social
🇵🇹🇨🇦 | 📍Montreal, QC
Reposted by James Da Costa | Street Smart
Annonce majeure de Radio-Canada qui bonifie sa couverture régionale partout au pays, notamment dans le Grand Montréal avec l'ajout de 6 nouveaux postes de journalistes: 2 à Laval, 2 à Longueuil et 2 à Terrebonne. Sans parler d'un poste supplémentaire à Granby et un autre à Victoriaville.
February 18, 2026 at 7:42 PM
Annonce majeure de Radio-Canada qui bonifie sa couverture régionale partout au pays, notamment dans le Grand Montréal avec l'ajout de 6 nouveaux postes de journalistes: 2 à Laval, 2 à Longueuil et 2 à Terrebonne. Sans parler d'un poste supplémentaire à Granby et un autre à Victoriaville.
Strongly disagree with taxes going towards groceries. Loblaws and Sobeys can easily raise prices to exploit tax-funded benefits. This is an American style of fixing issues and ends up costing the government billions for a mediocre result. i.e. snap benefits and Medicare
We created the new Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit to help Canadians cover the cost of everyday expenses. Starting this year, more than 12 million people will benefit.
February 13, 2026 at 4:38 PM
Strongly disagree with taxes going towards groceries. Loblaws and Sobeys can easily raise prices to exploit tax-funded benefits. This is an American style of fixing issues and ends up costing the government billions for a mediocre result. i.e. snap benefits and Medicare
Reposted by James Da Costa | Street Smart
Voici la carte qui superpose les décès à vélo aux zones d’audit.
1-La quasi-totalité des décès survient hors du réseau cyclable.
2-L’expansion récente du réseau cyclable répondait à un enjeu d’insécurité routière bien réel.
3-Un réseau cyclable, ça sauve des vies.
@velo.qc.ca
1-La quasi-totalité des décès survient hors du réseau cyclable.
2-L’expansion récente du réseau cyclable répondait à un enjeu d’insécurité routière bien réel.
3-Un réseau cyclable, ça sauve des vies.
@velo.qc.ca
February 11, 2026 at 12:24 AM
Voici la carte qui superpose les décès à vélo aux zones d’audit.
1-La quasi-totalité des décès survient hors du réseau cyclable.
2-L’expansion récente du réseau cyclable répondait à un enjeu d’insécurité routière bien réel.
3-Un réseau cyclable, ça sauve des vies.
@velo.qc.ca
1-La quasi-totalité des décès survient hors du réseau cyclable.
2-L’expansion récente du réseau cyclable répondait à un enjeu d’insécurité routière bien réel.
3-Un réseau cyclable, ça sauve des vies.
@velo.qc.ca
Reposted by James Da Costa | Street Smart
I don’t know how many people join Bluesky each day, but my sense is that more & more people are discovering the outstanding community/conversation here (best on social media) about better cities. I still think STARTER PACKS are a superpower. I’ve made many, but here’s my first again. Please share.
February 11, 2026 at 7:39 PM
I don’t know how many people join Bluesky each day, but my sense is that more & more people are discovering the outstanding community/conversation here (best on social media) about better cities. I still think STARTER PACKS are a superpower. I’ve made many, but here’s my first again. Please share.
I hope this actually means making them safer, and not removing them for the made up “safety” of cars and pedestrians. I see some examples that can sure use an upgrade like on rue de la Commune, but mentioning newer bike lanes that are safe, like Bellechasse and St. Urbain is worrisome.
February 10, 2026 at 8:39 PM
I hope this actually means making them safer, and not removing them for the made up “safety” of cars and pedestrians. I see some examples that can sure use an upgrade like on rue de la Commune, but mentioning newer bike lanes that are safe, like Bellechasse and St. Urbain is worrisome.
Reposted by James Da Costa | Street Smart
The metro area with the most car-free households in 🇨🇦 is Montreal (18%), followed by Toronto (16%) and Winnipeg (14%).
Quebec City has more car-free than Vancouver!
Calgary and Edmonton have the least car-free households, but still get very respectable LRT ridership by North American standards.
Quebec City has more car-free than Vancouver!
Calgary and Edmonton have the least car-free households, but still get very respectable LRT ridership by North American standards.
February 8, 2026 at 5:45 PM
The metro area with the most car-free households in 🇨🇦 is Montreal (18%), followed by Toronto (16%) and Winnipeg (14%).
Quebec City has more car-free than Vancouver!
Calgary and Edmonton have the least car-free households, but still get very respectable LRT ridership by North American standards.
Quebec City has more car-free than Vancouver!
Calgary and Edmonton have the least car-free households, but still get very respectable LRT ridership by North American standards.
Reposted by James Da Costa | Street Smart
Net-Favourables Of Pierre Poilievre:
🔴 All: -20%
🟢 AB: +17%
🔴 SK/MB: -2%
🔴 ATL: -20%
🔴 ON: -22%
🔴 BC: -24%
🔴 QC: -34%
Liaison / Jan 24, 2026
🔴 All: -20%
🟢 AB: +17%
🔴 SK/MB: -2%
🔴 ATL: -20%
🔴 ON: -22%
🔴 BC: -24%
🔴 QC: -34%
Liaison / Jan 24, 2026
January 26, 2026 at 4:42 PM
Net-Favourables Of Pierre Poilievre:
🔴 All: -20%
🟢 AB: +17%
🔴 SK/MB: -2%
🔴 ATL: -20%
🔴 ON: -22%
🔴 BC: -24%
🔴 QC: -34%
Liaison / Jan 24, 2026
🔴 All: -20%
🟢 AB: +17%
🔴 SK/MB: -2%
🔴 ATL: -20%
🔴 ON: -22%
🔴 BC: -24%
🔴 QC: -34%
Liaison / Jan 24, 2026
Reposted by James Da Costa | Street Smart
But in a very North American fashion, we are trying to bypass fundamental governance problems with civil engineering, literally. A tunnel is indeed expensive, but short of governance reforms that Alto is not entitled to demand, it's probably the choice that buys you simplicity.
January 22, 2026 at 3:30 PM
But in a very North American fashion, we are trying to bypass fundamental governance problems with civil engineering, literally. A tunnel is indeed expensive, but short of governance reforms that Alto is not entitled to demand, it's probably the choice that buys you simplicity.
Reposted by James Da Costa | Street Smart
"Mark Carney Just Announced that the West Lost the Second Cold War"
Entrepreneur and commentator Arnaud Bertrand lays out why Carney's Davos speech may prove to be one of the most important speeches made by any global leader in the last three decades.
Entrepreneur and commentator Arnaud Bertrand lays out why Carney's Davos speech may prove to be one of the most important speeches made by any global leader in the last three decades.
Mark Carney Just Announced that the West Lost the Second Cold War
Entrepreneur and commentator Arnaud Bertrand lays out why Carney's Davos speech may prove to be one of the most important speeches made by any global leader in the last three decades.
zeteo.com
January 22, 2026 at 5:32 PM
"Mark Carney Just Announced that the West Lost the Second Cold War"
Entrepreneur and commentator Arnaud Bertrand lays out why Carney's Davos speech may prove to be one of the most important speeches made by any global leader in the last three decades.
Entrepreneur and commentator Arnaud Bertrand lays out why Carney's Davos speech may prove to be one of the most important speeches made by any global leader in the last three decades.
Reposted by James Da Costa | Street Smart
Ever wondered what a downtown pedestrian streets looks like on a Monday evening in the middle of January in Montreal?
January 20, 2026 at 12:29 AM
Ever wondered what a downtown pedestrian streets looks like on a Monday evening in the middle of January in Montreal?
Reposted by James Da Costa | Street Smart
Canada will lower tariffs on some Chinese electric vehicles and China will do the same for Canadian canola products, a major shift in policy that was announced on Friday during a landmark state visit by Prime Minister Mark Carney of Canada to Beijing.
Canada Breaks With U.S. to Slash Tariffs on Some Chinese Electric Vehicles
China will in turn cut its own tariffs on Canadian canola products, Prime Minister Mark Carney of Canada said in Beijing on Friday.
nyti.ms
January 16, 2026 at 1:25 PM
Canada will lower tariffs on some Chinese electric vehicles and China will do the same for Canadian canola products, a major shift in policy that was announced on Friday during a landmark state visit by Prime Minister Mark Carney of Canada to Beijing.
Reposted by James Da Costa | Street Smart
Confirming this. It snowed today and my residential street was plowed at least twice over the course of the day.
No “X hours/days *after* the snow ends”.
Snow clearing is one really clear example where density results in better quality municipal services.
No “X hours/days *after* the snow ends”.
Snow clearing is one really clear example where density results in better quality municipal services.
In Montreal I would typically expect my residential street to be plowed the day of the storm, including the sidewalks.
Maybe a sprawler city won’t be able to provide that level of service. But I’ve seen so many comments like this from people who don’t see a problem at all and just want low taxes!
Maybe a sprawler city won’t be able to provide that level of service. But I’ve seen so many comments like this from people who don’t see a problem at all and just want low taxes!
January 16, 2026 at 2:30 AM
Confirming this. It snowed today and my residential street was plowed at least twice over the course of the day.
No “X hours/days *after* the snow ends”.
Snow clearing is one really clear example where density results in better quality municipal services.
No “X hours/days *after* the snow ends”.
Snow clearing is one really clear example where density results in better quality municipal services.
Reposted by James Da Costa | Street Smart
The Christophe-Colomb and Bellechasse protected intersection under the snow (📷 @velo.qc.ca).
There was much handwringing about this being "impossible" to clear of snow. My team will be talking to maintenance crews to see how it's going and what we could improve in future protected intersections.
There was much handwringing about this being "impossible" to clear of snow. My team will be talking to maintenance crews to see how it's going and what we could improve in future protected intersections.
January 9, 2026 at 9:04 PM
The Christophe-Colomb and Bellechasse protected intersection under the snow (📷 @velo.qc.ca).
There was much handwringing about this being "impossible" to clear of snow. My team will be talking to maintenance crews to see how it's going and what we could improve in future protected intersections.
There was much handwringing about this being "impossible" to clear of snow. My team will be talking to maintenance crews to see how it's going and what we could improve in future protected intersections.
Reposted by James Da Costa | Street Smart
It's an old and obvious pattern. An unpopular president - failing on the economy and losing his grip on power at home - decides to launch a war for regime change abroad.
The American people don’t want to “run” a foreign country while our leaders fail to improve life in this one.
The American people don’t want to “run” a foreign country while our leaders fail to improve life in this one.
January 3, 2026 at 5:08 PM
It's an old and obvious pattern. An unpopular president - failing on the economy and losing his grip on power at home - decides to launch a war for regime change abroad.
The American people don’t want to “run” a foreign country while our leaders fail to improve life in this one.
The American people don’t want to “run” a foreign country while our leaders fail to improve life in this one.
Reposted by James Da Costa | Street Smart
Snow + subway = light show!
December 27, 2025 at 2:40 AM
Snow + subway = light show!
Reposted by James Da Costa | Street Smart
The only true way is the Canadian way
(As much as I wish it was a joke, it is in fact not one and this is exactly how it works here)
(As much as I wish it was a joke, it is in fact not one and this is exactly how it works here)
December 25, 2025 at 12:30 AM
The only true way is the Canadian way
(As much as I wish it was a joke, it is in fact not one and this is exactly how it works here)
(As much as I wish it was a joke, it is in fact not one and this is exactly how it works here)
Reposted by James Da Costa | Street Smart
This is your city on driverless cars.
A blackout in San Francisco yesterday cut power to traffic lights. Drivers coped; Waymos just stopped moving, often in intersections, stranding passengers and compounding gridlock.
sfstandard.com/2025/12/20/w...
A blackout in San Francisco yesterday cut power to traffic lights. Drivers coped; Waymos just stopped moving, often in intersections, stranding passengers and compounding gridlock.
sfstandard.com/2025/12/20/w...
December 21, 2025 at 4:59 PM
This is your city on driverless cars.
A blackout in San Francisco yesterday cut power to traffic lights. Drivers coped; Waymos just stopped moving, often in intersections, stranding passengers and compounding gridlock.
sfstandard.com/2025/12/20/w...
A blackout in San Francisco yesterday cut power to traffic lights. Drivers coped; Waymos just stopped moving, often in intersections, stranding passengers and compounding gridlock.
sfstandard.com/2025/12/20/w...
Reposted by James Da Costa | Street Smart
Let's face it: the Eternal City is not known for having a highly functional transit network. (Among Romans, ATAC, as local agency is know, is the subject of a lot of rueful complaining.)
But #Rome 's newly-opened stations on metro line C are truly impressive examples of transit—and museum—design.
But #Rome 's newly-opened stations on metro line C are truly impressive examples of transit—and museum—design.
December 19, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Let's face it: the Eternal City is not known for having a highly functional transit network. (Among Romans, ATAC, as local agency is know, is the subject of a lot of rueful complaining.)
But #Rome 's newly-opened stations on metro line C are truly impressive examples of transit—and museum—design.
But #Rome 's newly-opened stations on metro line C are truly impressive examples of transit—and museum—design.
Reposted by James Da Costa | Street Smart
People talk a lot about the Nordic model but it’s cool that there’s already an example of a welfare state right here in North America.
It’s not quite Nordic. But Quebec has cheap tuition, subsidized daycare, strong parental leave. Healthcare, obviously.
Would be cool to make a video about.
It’s not quite Nordic. But Quebec has cheap tuition, subsidized daycare, strong parental leave. Healthcare, obviously.
Would be cool to make a video about.
"Quebec has the lowest university tuition in North America.
And the province’s affordable daycare system and the employment insurance it offers new parents sends the message that the government supports them, said Forest.
'If people want to be happy, I think they should copy Quebec'"
And the province’s affordable daycare system and the employment insurance it offers new parents sends the message that the government supports them, said Forest.
'If people want to be happy, I think they should copy Quebec'"
There’s a happiness gap between young people in Quebec and in the rest of Canada - Joshua Bujold, an upbeat psychology student in his first semester at Montreal’s Dawson College, was taken aback to find out that happiness among young Canadians has plunged.
December 15, 2025 at 4:26 PM
People talk a lot about the Nordic model but it’s cool that there’s already an example of a welfare state right here in North America.
It’s not quite Nordic. But Quebec has cheap tuition, subsidized daycare, strong parental leave. Healthcare, obviously.
Would be cool to make a video about.
It’s not quite Nordic. But Quebec has cheap tuition, subsidized daycare, strong parental leave. Healthcare, obviously.
Would be cool to make a video about.
Reposted by James Da Costa | Street Smart
@zeteo.com Compare and contrast Donald Trump's response to Rob Reiner's murder with Biden and Harris's responses to Charlie Kirk's murder.
There is no 'both sides'. Just one side - Trump - that is cruel, sociopathic, unhinged.
There is no 'both sides'. Just one side - Trump - that is cruel, sociopathic, unhinged.
December 16, 2025 at 4:32 AM
@zeteo.com Compare and contrast Donald Trump's response to Rob Reiner's murder with Biden and Harris's responses to Charlie Kirk's murder.
There is no 'both sides'. Just one side - Trump - that is cruel, sociopathic, unhinged.
There is no 'both sides'. Just one side - Trump - that is cruel, sociopathic, unhinged.
Reposted by James Da Costa | Street Smart
One of the biggest reasons why better cities are hard to achieve is the powerful proven psychology of “status quo bias.” No matter how bad an idea was in the first place, once it’s in place, our “loss aversion” means we will fight irrationally hard to protect it from any change to something better.
December 16, 2025 at 4:48 AM
One of the biggest reasons why better cities are hard to achieve is the powerful proven psychology of “status quo bias.” No matter how bad an idea was in the first place, once it’s in place, our “loss aversion” means we will fight irrationally hard to protect it from any change to something better.
Reposted by James Da Costa | Street Smart
Someone posted a Montreal bike map from 2004 and it is *amazingly* sparse.
Just one full north-south route in the central city (Berri→Brébeuf→Boyer→Christophe-Colomb).
No east-west routes through downtown (full De Maisonneuve was 2007).
But a few areas (like Saint-Leonard) have barely improved!
Just one full north-south route in the central city (Berri→Brébeuf→Boyer→Christophe-Colomb).
No east-west routes through downtown (full De Maisonneuve was 2007).
But a few areas (like Saint-Leonard) have barely improved!
December 15, 2025 at 11:08 PM
Someone posted a Montreal bike map from 2004 and it is *amazingly* sparse.
Just one full north-south route in the central city (Berri→Brébeuf→Boyer→Christophe-Colomb).
No east-west routes through downtown (full De Maisonneuve was 2007).
But a few areas (like Saint-Leonard) have barely improved!
Just one full north-south route in the central city (Berri→Brébeuf→Boyer→Christophe-Colomb).
No east-west routes through downtown (full De Maisonneuve was 2007).
But a few areas (like Saint-Leonard) have barely improved!
Reposted by James Da Costa | Street Smart
"Local safe streets advocate has more photos of bike lanes, crosswalks and intersections than of his family from recent vacation."
www.creativebyrovelo.com/therovelorec...
www.creativebyrovelo.com/therovelorec...
December 13, 2025 at 3:22 PM
"Local safe streets advocate has more photos of bike lanes, crosswalks and intersections than of his family from recent vacation."
www.creativebyrovelo.com/therovelorec...
www.creativebyrovelo.com/therovelorec...
Reposted by James Da Costa | Street Smart
The RFK, jr effect.
December 13, 2025 at 9:40 PM
The RFK, jr effect.
Reposted by James Da Costa | Street Smart
The east end of Montreal has some of the longest commute times in the region. Longer than many off-island suburbs!
And yet I continue to hear people downplay the importance of transit speed when debating a REM versus a tram here.
The other priority for transit based on this? LaSalle and Lachine.
And yet I continue to hear people downplay the importance of transit speed when debating a REM versus a tram here.
The other priority for transit based on this? LaSalle and Lachine.
December 8, 2025 at 9:05 PM
The east end of Montreal has some of the longest commute times in the region. Longer than many off-island suburbs!
And yet I continue to hear people downplay the importance of transit speed when debating a REM versus a tram here.
The other priority for transit based on this? LaSalle and Lachine.
And yet I continue to hear people downplay the importance of transit speed when debating a REM versus a tram here.
The other priority for transit based on this? LaSalle and Lachine.
