Brent Toderian
@brenttoderian.bsky.social
Global advisor on better cities, city planning, transportation & urban change. City planner + urbanist leading @ToderianUW.bsky.social. Past Chief Planner for Vancouver BC. Past/founding President of @CanUrbanism.bsky.social. International speaker & media.
Pinned
Brent Toderian
@brenttoderian.bsky.social
· Jun 25
NEW: “Canadian urbanist @brenttoderian.bsky.social teamed up with the city of Paris and, in particular, its mayor, @annehidalgo.bsky.social on a new exhibition that shines a light on cities and global climate action.”
Thanks very much @momentummag.bsky.social for the great questions! #Paris
Thanks very much @momentummag.bsky.social for the great questions! #Paris
Reposted by Brent Toderian
You don’t have to ban cars everywhere to transform your city centre. But you do have to seriously rethink and redefine the car’s role. There are many ways to do that, from #completestreets to #sharedstreets, pedestrian priority streets & Dutch #woonerfs, that prioritize streets for people, not cars.
November 11, 2025 at 1:10 AM
You don’t have to ban cars everywhere to transform your city centre. But you do have to seriously rethink and redefine the car’s role. There are many ways to do that, from #completestreets to #sharedstreets, pedestrian priority streets & Dutch #woonerfs, that prioritize streets for people, not cars.
Reposted by Brent Toderian
It’s not just about what you remove (cars, noise, dirty air). It’s about what you add (people walking, a lot of bike parking, trees, outdoor dining, and room for kids to play safely). Amsterdam: 1986 and today.
Streets for people.
HT @hackneycyclist.bsky.social for the great before-and-after
Streets for people.
HT @hackneycyclist.bsky.social for the great before-and-after
November 11, 2025 at 4:24 AM
It’s not just about what you remove (cars, noise, dirty air). It’s about what you add (people walking, a lot of bike parking, trees, outdoor dining, and room for kids to play safely). Amsterdam: 1986 and today.
Streets for people.
HT @hackneycyclist.bsky.social for the great before-and-after
Streets for people.
HT @hackneycyclist.bsky.social for the great before-and-after
“Globally, despite extreme heat, floods and devastating wildfires, populist leaders, some sceptical but others in outright denial about the science, are talking up the costs of action rather than the consequences of inaction.”
6 global mayors defying climate denying populists
6 global mayors defying climate denying populists
‘Politicians actually taking action’: six world mayors defying climate-sceptic populist leaders
From Sierra Leone to Milan, cities are crafting their own rules and innovations in the face of rising temperatures
www.theguardian.com
November 11, 2025 at 8:52 AM
“Globally, despite extreme heat, floods and devastating wildfires, populist leaders, some sceptical but others in outright denial about the science, are talking up the costs of action rather than the consequences of inaction.”
6 global mayors defying climate denying populists
6 global mayors defying climate denying populists
Reposted by Brent Toderian
Maybe I’m too Norwegian, but it’s weird to me that Americans don’t consider health insurance a form of taxation.
November 11, 2025 at 4:57 AM
Maybe I’m too Norwegian, but it’s weird to me that Americans don’t consider health insurance a form of taxation.
Reposted by Brent Toderian
Good piece by @desmog.com on the Telegraph’s record of having to issue ‘corrections’ on its stories about climate change (and yes, there’s some quotes from me) www.desmog.com/2025/11/10/t...
The Telegraph’s Record of Climate Falsehoods
The Telegraph, which has accused the BBC of bias and a lack of editorial rigour, has been forced to amend a swathe of climate inaccuracies. The BBC’s director-general and CEO resigned this weekend aft...
www.desmog.com
November 10, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Good piece by @desmog.com on the Telegraph’s record of having to issue ‘corrections’ on its stories about climate change (and yes, there’s some quotes from me) www.desmog.com/2025/11/10/t...
Reposted by Brent Toderian
Ah, I was wondering if you would have one my favorite professor’s books on your original list and see it’s close to the top — Great Streets by Allan Jacobs. His classes were my among my favorites while I was at UCB. And I participated in two of his summer urban design programs in Italy. Terrific.
November 11, 2025 at 5:07 AM
Ah, I was wondering if you would have one my favorite professor’s books on your original list and see it’s close to the top — Great Streets by Allan Jacobs. His classes were my among my favorites while I was at UCB. And I participated in two of his summer urban design programs in Italy. Terrific.
Reposted by Brent Toderian
It’s a FREEDOM strategy! Just stopped to talk w a middle age-ish man at China Beach about his folding ebike. He & his wife both have e-bikes & like us 2 seniors, got rid of their car. He: So freeing not to worry about parking tickets, street cleaning days, etc. Healthier for people & planet #bike
A complete, connected, comfortable network of protected bike-lanes is a climate mitigation strategy. It’s a healthy cities strategy. It’s a social equity strategy. It’s an affordability strategy. It’s an economic devt strategy. It’s a smart mobility & space saving strategy.
Etc. Etc. Etc.
Etc.
Etc. Etc. Etc.
Etc.
November 10, 2025 at 11:48 PM
It’s a FREEDOM strategy! Just stopped to talk w a middle age-ish man at China Beach about his folding ebike. He & his wife both have e-bikes & like us 2 seniors, got rid of their car. He: So freeing not to worry about parking tickets, street cleaning days, etc. Healthier for people & planet #bike
Reposted by Brent Toderian
What a great list! @derricksimpson.bsky.social !
On the occasion of Elon Musk pretending that he reads books, I thought I’d reshare my “100 Best Books On City-Making Ever Written” article in @planetizen.bsky.social. It’s 12 years old and needs updating, and got plently of debate back then, but I’d still recommend most of these. #UrbanismBookClub
November 11, 2025 at 1:26 AM
What a great list! @derricksimpson.bsky.social !
Reposted by Brent Toderian
Cities are you listening?
Many city halls are deep in budget-time. Some are pushing austerity ideologies, and are ignoring the difference between costs and cost-savers/value creators. Citizens, PAY ATTENTION, and never forget that the TRUTH about a city’s REAL aspirations isn’t found in its visions. It’s found in its budget.
November 10, 2025 at 12:28 AM
Cities are you listening?
Reposted by Brent Toderian
@modacitylife.com's Building the Cycling City for its direct policies, metrics, and goals for improving cities. But their Curbing Traffic is such a nice, accessible read it's hard not to include both in #urbanismbookclub
November 11, 2025 at 7:35 AM
@modacitylife.com's Building the Cycling City for its direct policies, metrics, and goals for improving cities. But their Curbing Traffic is such a nice, accessible read it's hard not to include both in #urbanismbookclub
Reposted by Brent Toderian
A complete, connected, comfortable network of protected bike-lanes is a climate mitigation strategy. It’s a healthy cities strategy. It’s a social equity strategy. It’s an affordability strategy. It’s an economic devt strategy. It’s a smart mobility & space saving strategy.
Etc. Etc. Etc.
Etc.
Etc. Etc. Etc.
Etc.
November 10, 2025 at 11:23 PM
A complete, connected, comfortable network of protected bike-lanes is a climate mitigation strategy. It’s a healthy cities strategy. It’s a social equity strategy. It’s an affordability strategy. It’s an economic devt strategy. It’s a smart mobility & space saving strategy.
Etc. Etc. Etc.
Etc.
Etc. Etc. Etc.
Etc.
Reposted by Brent Toderian
A vile country isn't a country that can't feed its children, a vile country is a country that *won't* feed its children.
November 10, 2025 at 5:35 PM
A vile country isn't a country that can't feed its children, a vile country is a country that *won't* feed its children.
Reposted by Brent Toderian
Oh no. Vancouver has been leading the way. This would be a huge step in the wrong direction.
Incredibly short-sighted and irresponsible, and completely disconnected from the real values & priorities of Vancouverites. This move would be awful not only for Vancouver, but also for all the cities that Vancouver’s leadership has inspired over decades of North American sustainability leadership.
November 11, 2025 at 4:15 AM
Oh no. Vancouver has been leading the way. This would be a huge step in the wrong direction.
Reposted by Brent Toderian
Inclusive Transportation by Veronica Davis definitely has got to be on the list. I think it provides an extremely important & thorough look at how our cities have been shaped to exclude and could be done better.
#urbanismbookclub
#urbanismbookclub
November 11, 2025 at 5:07 AM
Inclusive Transportation by Veronica Davis definitely has got to be on the list. I think it provides an extremely important & thorough look at how our cities have been shaped to exclude and could be done better.
#urbanismbookclub
#urbanismbookclub
Reposted by Brent Toderian
Honorable mention to #urbanismbookclub but misses the age cutoff just barely. I have a soft spot for For The Love Of Cities which, to me, felt like it was describing this new phenomenon of people wearing their civic pride and city-branded clothes. He described it as "holding hands with your city"
November 11, 2025 at 5:19 AM
Honorable mention to #urbanismbookclub but misses the age cutoff just barely. I have a soft spot for For The Love Of Cities which, to me, felt like it was describing this new phenomenon of people wearing their civic pride and city-branded clothes. He described it as "holding hands with your city"
Reposted by Brent Toderian
QUESTION: What are the best books on cities and city-building published since 2013? Explain your answer. It’ll help update the “best 100 city-making books” list below that I published that year. Don’t forget to use the hashtag #UrbanismBookClub, to make the books easily findable forever! (in theory)
On the occasion of Elon Musk pretending that he reads books, I thought I’d reshare my “100 Best Books On City-Making Ever Written” article in @planetizen.bsky.social. It’s 12 years old and needs updating, and got plently of debate back then, but I’d still recommend most of these. #UrbanismBookClub
November 11, 2025 at 4:59 AM
QUESTION: What are the best books on cities and city-building published since 2013? Explain your answer. It’ll help update the “best 100 city-making books” list below that I published that year. Don’t forget to use the hashtag #UrbanismBookClub, to make the books easily findable forever! (in theory)
Reposted by Brent Toderian
Vancouver? You didn’t vote for THIS. Tell him NO.
Incredibly short-sighted and irresponsible, and completely disconnected from the real values & priorities of Vancouverites. This move would be awful not only for Vancouver, but also for all the cities that Vancouver’s leadership has inspired over decades of North American sustainability leadership.
November 11, 2025 at 4:26 AM
Vancouver? You didn’t vote for THIS. Tell him NO.
Reposted by Brent Toderian
Allan Jacobs — Jake — was the best. He taught his classes with fascinating stories about what it takes to make good city planning happen. He was a favorite professor of mine and a great source of inspiration. I still have my signed copy of his Great Streets book.
Posting tonight about great city-making books made me realize, to my shock, that I never posted about the deeply sad death this year of one of the greatest urbanists who ever lived— Allan Jacobs. Jake was a big hero of mine in my early life, who became an advisor & friend later on. A GREAT man. #RIP
In memoriam: Professor Emeritus Allan B. Jacobs, influential urban planner and thinker about cities - UC Berkeley College of Environmental Design
Remembering Professor Emeritus Allan B. Jacobs, an influential urban planner and thinker about cities. Jacobs had an outsize impact on the field of urban
ced.berkeley.edu
November 11, 2025 at 5:53 AM
Allan Jacobs — Jake — was the best. He taught his classes with fascinating stories about what it takes to make good city planning happen. He was a favorite professor of mine and a great source of inspiration. I still have my signed copy of his Great Streets book.
Posting tonight about great city-making books made me realize, to my shock, that I never posted about the deeply sad death this year of one of the greatest urbanists who ever lived— Allan Jacobs. Jake was a big hero of mine in my early life, who became an advisor & friend later on. A GREAT man. #RIP
In memoriam: Professor Emeritus Allan B. Jacobs, influential urban planner and thinker about cities - UC Berkeley College of Environmental Design
Remembering Professor Emeritus Allan B. Jacobs, an influential urban planner and thinker about cities. Jacobs had an outsize impact on the field of urban
ced.berkeley.edu
November 11, 2025 at 5:26 AM
Posting tonight about great city-making books made me realize, to my shock, that I never posted about the deeply sad death this year of one of the greatest urbanists who ever lived— Allan Jacobs. Jake was a big hero of mine in my early life, who became an advisor & friend later on. A GREAT man. #RIP
Reposted by Brent Toderian
#UrbanismBookClub: Some great books on key, underconsidered elements of better city-making have been coming out lately — thanks to @chrisfitchchris.bsky.social, author of “Wild Cities,” and @samkbloch.bsky.social, author of “Shade,” for sending me copies. Digging into both. Anyone finished them yet?
October 14, 2025 at 11:14 PM
#UrbanismBookClub: Some great books on key, underconsidered elements of better city-making have been coming out lately — thanks to @chrisfitchchris.bsky.social, author of “Wild Cities,” and @samkbloch.bsky.social, author of “Shade,” for sending me copies. Digging into both. Anyone finished them yet?
Reposted by Brent Toderian
In a rare case of Substack notes usefulness, I just learned that Sarah Kendzior (author of They Knew and a brilliant writer) got bounced from Bluesky. What the hell? new @sarahkendzior.bsky.social
November 11, 2025 at 4:09 AM
In a rare case of Substack notes usefulness, I just learned that Sarah Kendzior (author of They Knew and a brilliant writer) got bounced from Bluesky. What the hell? new @sarahkendzior.bsky.social
QUESTION: What are the best books on cities and city-building published since 2013? Explain your answer. It’ll help update the “best 100 city-making books” list below that I published that year. Don’t forget to use the hashtag #UrbanismBookClub, to make the books easily findable forever! (in theory)
On the occasion of Elon Musk pretending that he reads books, I thought I’d reshare my “100 Best Books On City-Making Ever Written” article in @planetizen.bsky.social. It’s 12 years old and needs updating, and got plently of debate back then, but I’d still recommend most of these. #UrbanismBookClub
November 11, 2025 at 4:59 AM
QUESTION: What are the best books on cities and city-building published since 2013? Explain your answer. It’ll help update the “best 100 city-making books” list below that I published that year. Don’t forget to use the hashtag #UrbanismBookClub, to make the books easily findable forever! (in theory)
Reposted by Brent Toderian
On the occasion of Elon Musk pretending that he reads books, I thought I’d reshare my “100 Best Books On City-Making Ever Written” article in @planetizen.bsky.social. It’s 12 years old and needs updating, and got plently of debate back then, but I’d still recommend most of these. #UrbanismBookClub
November 11, 2025 at 1:23 AM
On the occasion of Elon Musk pretending that he reads books, I thought I’d reshare my “100 Best Books On City-Making Ever Written” article in @planetizen.bsky.social. It’s 12 years old and needs updating, and got plently of debate back then, but I’d still recommend most of these. #UrbanismBookClub
Reposted by Brent Toderian
I've noticed the opposing team's fans only cheer when the opponents score on us. To win those fans over, I recommend we score on ourselves repeatedly; that will surely make them so happy they'll start supporting us. And I'm sure all our fans will keep cheering for us—who else is there to cheer for?
October 10, 2025 at 12:19 PM
I've noticed the opposing team's fans only cheer when the opponents score on us. To win those fans over, I recommend we score on ourselves repeatedly; that will surely make them so happy they'll start supporting us. And I'm sure all our fans will keep cheering for us—who else is there to cheer for?