Mick Malowany
@malomick.bsky.social
"Heated arguments between supporters and protesters"?
I don't know about heated arguments, but I (showing up with the counter-protest) had productive discussions with several protestors, most of whom didn't even seem to fully support the speakers. *shrug*
I don't know about heated arguments, but I (showing up with the counter-protest) had productive discussions with several protestors, most of whom didn't even seem to fully support the speakers. *shrug*
Protest at city hall takes aim at bike lanes, bus lanes, shelters — and is met with counterprotest
Protest at city hall takes aim at bike lanes, bus lanes, shelters — and is met with counterprotest
Speakers at Nathan Phillips Square on Tuesday morning all took aim at Mayor Olivia Chow’s government for what they called a lack of consultation.
www.thestar.com
July 15, 2025 at 8:44 PM
"Heated arguments between supporters and protesters"?
I don't know about heated arguments, but I (showing up with the counter-protest) had productive discussions with several protestors, most of whom didn't even seem to fully support the speakers. *shrug*
I don't know about heated arguments, but I (showing up with the counter-protest) had productive discussions with several protestors, most of whom didn't even seem to fully support the speakers. *shrug*
Got hit by a car this morning (right hook on Richmond near Victoria) on my way to a bike-lane counter-protest. I'm fine, bike's fine, and the driver was deeply apologetic. But man, isn't ironic... don't you think? #biketo #topoli
a woman is sitting in the back seat of a car eating ice cream and talking on a cell phone .
Alt: In a scene from the music video for her hit song "Ironic," Alanis Morissette is sitting in the passenger seat of a car smiling, singing into the camera, and leaning out the window
media.tenor.com
July 15, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Reposted by Mick Malowany
Seems pretty telling of Toronto Police's lackadaisical attitude toward traffic enforcement that an officer feels comfortable publicly calling speed cameras a "fucking scam." www.thestar.com/news/gta/the...
July 15, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Seems pretty telling of Toronto Police's lackadaisical attitude toward traffic enforcement that an officer feels comfortable publicly calling speed cameras a "fucking scam." www.thestar.com/news/gta/the...
Reposted by Mick Malowany
If your city can afford to build roads everywhere, it can afford to build cycle networks too. It’s not about money — it’s about priorities. It’s a political choice
May 26, 2025 at 12:48 PM
If your city can afford to build roads everywhere, it can afford to build cycle networks too. It’s not about money — it’s about priorities. It’s a political choice
“The fact that someone else finished in front of me didn't diminish the happiness I felt after finishing that race. I don't feel like first place was taken from me. Instead, I feel like a happy day was turned ugly by a bully who is using children to make political points.”
Well said, Anelise.
Well said, Anelise.
this is a letter to the editor from a high school track runner who came in second to a trans girl in a race. her state house rep in maine started talking about it. so she wrote this: www.pressherald.com/2025/05/14/r...
May 17, 2025 at 3:36 AM
“The fact that someone else finished in front of me didn't diminish the happiness I felt after finishing that race. I don't feel like first place was taken from me. Instead, I feel like a happy day was turned ugly by a bully who is using children to make political points.”
Well said, Anelise.
Well said, Anelise.
Reposted by Mick Malowany
Reposted by Mick Malowany
Finally an insurance company is speaking up about climate change but they should be out there spending big money to counter fossil fuel companies and get the world serious about stopping climate change - and saving their industry.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Climate crisis on track to destroy capitalism, warns top insurer
Action urgently needed to save the conditions under which markets – and civilisation itself – can operate, says senior Allianz figure
www.theguardian.com
April 4, 2025 at 12:10 AM
Finally an insurance company is speaking up about climate change but they should be out there spending big money to counter fossil fuel companies and get the world serious about stopping climate change - and saving their industry.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Precisely why affordable units should be part of the mix in every new residential development; and affordable low-rise apartments and tri- to six-plexes should be built in yellow-belt neighbourhoods across North America. NIMBYs be damned.
Friendships that bridge wealth divides help social mobility, study finds
Friendships that bridge wealth divides help social mobility, study finds
Children from poorer families growing up amid a mix in income groups are likely to earn more as adults
Friendships that bridge economic divides are good for social mobility, a major study has found, with low-income children growing up where there is more mixing among income groups likely to earn an extra £5,100 a year as adults.
The research, combining anonymised Facebook data covering 20 million adults in the UK with official data, points to the benefits of what the authors call more “economically connected communities”. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
March 24, 2025 at 12:20 AM
Precisely why affordable units should be part of the mix in every new residential development; and affordable low-rise apartments and tri- to six-plexes should be built in yellow-belt neighbourhoods across North America. NIMBYs be damned.
Wouldn't it be something if members of the TTC Board, City Councillors, Metrolinx executives, and senior MTO officials (including the Minister of Transportation) were required, with reasonable exceptions, to commute by public transit and/or active mobility a bare minimum of once per month.
In Halifax, the new executive director of the city’s transit system, is committed. We need more of this.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Why Halifax's new transit boss is taking the bus every day | CBC News
Halifax has a new transit boss for the first time in a decade and he's learning the system from the blue seats of a city bus. Robin Gerus became the executive director of Halifax Transit in January.
www.cbc.ca
March 11, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Wouldn't it be something if members of the TTC Board, City Councillors, Metrolinx executives, and senior MTO officials (including the Minister of Transportation) were required, with reasonable exceptions, to commute by public transit and/or active mobility a bare minimum of once per month.
Every time I hear someone say "51st state" all I can think of is Samwise Gamgee in a mesh tank top
a man wearing a hawaiian shirt talks to another man
Alt: In a scene from the film "50 First Dates", a man wearing a Hawaiian shirt talks to two other men
media.tenor.com
February 14, 2025 at 2:43 AM
Every time I hear someone say "51st state" all I can think of is Samwise Gamgee in a mesh tank top
Let’s go whole hog and switch to A4 paper while we’re at it!
Seriously though, the elevator thing is an excellent idea for how to turn this sh*t show into an opportunity.
Seriously though, the elevator thing is an excellent idea for how to turn this sh*t show into an opportunity.
If there was ever a time to internationalize our elevator regulations among others, this would be the time! Double down with the true international allies.
February 2, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Let’s go whole hog and switch to A4 paper while we’re at it!
Seriously though, the elevator thing is an excellent idea for how to turn this sh*t show into an opportunity.
Seriously though, the elevator thing is an excellent idea for how to turn this sh*t show into an opportunity.
Reposted by Mick Malowany
“This week a leading price comparison website reported the biggest annual drop in UK car insurance prices in more than 10 years, with the average cost of cover falling by £161 – or 16% – in the past 12 months.” www.theguardian.com/money/2025/j...
UK’s 20mph speed limits ‘are cutting car insurance costs’
Controversial safety policy has helped drive down premiums to 18-month low, says Confused.com
www.theguardian.com
January 18, 2025 at 5:41 PM
“This week a leading price comparison website reported the biggest annual drop in UK car insurance prices in more than 10 years, with the average cost of cover falling by £161 – or 16% – in the past 12 months.” www.theguardian.com/money/2025/j...
Yes, of course it would. Shouldn't even be posed as a question. NYC only adds to a mountain of evidence that shows (de)congestion pricing is effective.
New York City congestion toll sees 43K fewer cars per day in Manhattan. Would a similar charge help Toronto traffic?
One week into implementation, total traffic in the tolling zone dropped by 7.5 per cent compared to the equivalent period last year.
One week into implementation, total traffic in the tolling zone dropped by 7.5 per cent compared to the equivalent period last year.
New York City congestion toll sees 43K fewer cars per day in Manhattan. Would a similar charge help Toronto traffic?
New York’s new congestion charge saw 43,000 fewer cars per day in Manhattan in its first week.
www.thestar.com
January 14, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Yes, of course it would. Shouldn't even be posed as a question. NYC only adds to a mountain of evidence that shows (de)congestion pricing is effective.
The way I put it:
- Small-government conservative
- For climate action
- Against the carbon tax
You can be any two, but not all three.
- Small-government conservative
- For climate action
- Against the carbon tax
You can be any two, but not all three.
What's frustrating is that carbon taxing and cap-and-trade are the conservative solutions. We were sold on them as "market-based solutions"!
The *real* left-wing solution would be straight-up, ball-busting regulation of emissions, with fines, jail time and forced shutdowns.
Which would rock.
The *real* left-wing solution would be straight-up, ball-busting regulation of emissions, with fines, jail time and forced shutdowns.
Which would rock.
January 6, 2025 at 1:06 AM
The way I put it:
- Small-government conservative
- For climate action
- Against the carbon tax
You can be any two, but not all three.
- Small-government conservative
- For climate action
- Against the carbon tax
You can be any two, but not all three.
Along King, I’d be strongly in favour of removing a bunch of stops (namely Peter, Church, Ontario, and Sackville) and nudging some of the remaining stops to mid-block locations compensate — especially if it came with permanent stop upgrades like proper shelters and bumped-out level boarding.
Less traffic, but also very importantly *less stops*
What's annoying about Toronto's streetcars is that we know they can go fast. Try taking the 505 late at night when there's less car traffic - that thing f**king flies! That should be the norm though, not the exception!
December 23, 2024 at 10:58 PM
Along King, I’d be strongly in favour of removing a bunch of stops (namely Peter, Church, Ontario, and Sackville) and nudging some of the remaining stops to mid-block locations compensate — especially if it came with permanent stop upgrades like proper shelters and bumped-out level boarding.
As a former Big-4 consultant, I'll attest: Pulling the wool over their clients' eyes to obscure their (lack of) qualifications & expertise is a huge part of the business strategy of large consultancies.
Way easier and cheaper to game the procurement process than to actually deliver competently.
Way easier and cheaper to game the procurement process than to actually deliver competently.
"You could do a lot worse than summing up the explanation for the urban crisis of the 21st century as 'the anglophone consultant class doesn’t actually know how to do anything.'" — @jm-mcgrath.bsky.social #onpoli #topoli
Opinion: Why is Toronto so bad at building transit? Let’s talk about consultants | TVO Today
According to a new report, one of the biggest factors driving exploding costs is Metrolinx’s reliance on external consultants to do work that ought to be done inside the agency.
amp.tvo.org
December 6, 2024 at 6:40 PM
As a former Big-4 consultant, I'll attest: Pulling the wool over their clients' eyes to obscure their (lack of) qualifications & expertise is a huge part of the business strategy of large consultancies.
Way easier and cheaper to game the procurement process than to actually deliver competently.
Way easier and cheaper to game the procurement process than to actually deliver competently.
One of the defining features of modern conservatism is shortsightedness (apologies for the ableist descriptor, in search of a good alternative).
<rant>
<rant>
Canada's Conservative premiers love to accuse their opponents of being fiscal spendthrifts.
It's long past time they looked in the mirror. #cdnpoli www.nationalobserver.com/2024/12/06/o...
It's long past time they looked in the mirror. #cdnpoli www.nationalobserver.com/2024/12/06/o...
Canada's Conservative leaders break the bank while preaching prudence
For all their talk about being fiscally prudent, Conservative politicians in Canada have more or less abandoned the idea of balancing the budget.
www.nationalobserver.com
December 6, 2024 at 4:58 PM
One of the defining features of modern conservatism is shortsightedness (apologies for the ableist descriptor, in search of a good alternative).
<rant>
<rant>
In other "p_____ before p_____" phrases, it's time for the opposition to put province before party.
Ford's majority — the reason his rank corruption goes unchecked — is opposed by almost 60% of the electorate. This is both bad, and easy to fix.
Ford's majority — the reason his rank corruption goes unchecked — is opposed by almost 60% of the electorate. This is both bad, and easy to fix.
The Ford govt's abuse and misuse of MZO's is putting billionaire speculator profits ahead of desperately needed affordable housing.
Ontario is at a 70 year low and with Ford in charge there's no change in sight.
It's time for a govt that puts people before profits.
Ontario is at a 70 year low and with Ford in charge there's no change in sight.
It's time for a govt that puts people before profits.
NEW: Ontario's Auditor General find the province's MZO process lacked structure and an ability to measure if it was working. The AG found examples that “give the appearance of preferential treatment.”
globalnews.ca/news/1089900...
#onpoli
globalnews.ca/news/1089900...
#onpoli
December 5, 2024 at 12:14 AM
In other "p_____ before p_____" phrases, it's time for the opposition to put province before party.
Ford's majority — the reason his rank corruption goes unchecked — is opposed by almost 60% of the electorate. This is both bad, and easy to fix.
Ford's majority — the reason his rank corruption goes unchecked — is opposed by almost 60% of the electorate. This is both bad, and easy to fix.
Reposted by Mick Malowany
0.5-0.8%. When you take a step back it’s striking how much of the discussion about the carbon tax in Canada - the easiest and least intrusive environmental policy intervention available, more or less, which conservatives say drives up food prices - is predicated on a total lie.
How do carbon taxes affect food prices? In our latest paper, @dr_jen_winter and I analyze both direct and indirect impacts across the entire food supply chain: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=5024885
It's the most detailed exploration of CTaxes and food yet! 🤓 #cdnecon #cdnpoli
It's the most detailed exploration of CTaxes and food yet! 🤓 #cdnecon #cdnpoli
November 26, 2024 at 2:31 PM
0.5-0.8%. When you take a step back it’s striking how much of the discussion about the carbon tax in Canada - the easiest and least intrusive environmental policy intervention available, more or less, which conservatives say drives up food prices - is predicated on a total lie.
I won't go so far as to say the Venn diagram of greenwashing and well-intentioned aspirational commitments is a circle... but like... maybe greater scrutiny of "aspirational commitments" is a feature, not a bug, of anti-greenwashing legislation?
It is so powerful, even Environment and Climate Change Canada says the uncertainty has led to challenges for one of its programs trying to get companies to adopt net-zero commitments. The department says it may make companies "reluctant to announce well-intentioned aspirational commitments."
November 26, 2024 at 3:02 PM
I won't go so far as to say the Venn diagram of greenwashing and well-intentioned aspirational commitments is a circle... but like... maybe greater scrutiny of "aspirational commitments" is a feature, not a bug, of anti-greenwashing legislation?
Thank god John Sewell was on this panel to keep the naked disinformation on bike lanes and congestion in check. www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4xh...
www.youtube.com
November 26, 2024 at 2:09 PM
Thank god John Sewell was on this panel to keep the naked disinformation on bike lanes and congestion in check. www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4xh...
Meanwhile in Ontario we have an openly anti-choice MPP in cabinet whose donors, staff, & family are actively undermining pro-choice protections at the local level (niagarareproductivejustice.com/2024/08/15/o...) — and his colleagues in cabinet and the rest of the government are totally cool with it.
November 24, 2024 at 2:32 PM
Meanwhile in Ontario we have an openly anti-choice MPP in cabinet whose donors, staff, & family are actively undermining pro-choice protections at the local level (niagarareproductivejustice.com/2024/08/15/o...) — and his colleagues in cabinet and the rest of the government are totally cool with it.
It's actually nuts how much value you can squeeze out of an annual Bike Share Toronto membership. I think I'm down to like $0.25/ride at this point.
I live at Victoria Park & Danforth. I work at Bay & Bloor. When we are in the office, I bike to work. (I could take transit, but why spend $3.35/trip when I have a Bikeshare membership for $120/year?). There's only one sensible way to travel to my office from my home: the Danforth/Bloor bike lane.
November 22, 2024 at 7:55 PM
It's actually nuts how much value you can squeeze out of an annual Bike Share Toronto membership. I think I'm down to like $0.25/ride at this point.
Forward to all your friends and family in the 905. Ford does not care one bit what Torontonians think about #Bill212, but if the pushback starts coming from Markham, Richmond Hill, Vaughan, Brampton, Mississauga, Oakville, Burlington, Milton... he just might be convinced to back down.
Kudos to @azuremagazine.bsky.social for this rundown of where we are with the Ford government bike lane ban and rip out, along with advocacy you can take to save our bike lanes! www.azuremagazine.com/article/toro... #topoli #onpoli #bikeTO
Ghost Bikes: Why Slashing Cycling Infrastructure Will Haunt Our City
We’ve rounded up several ways to take action against Bill 212, which threatens the demise of Toronto’s bike lane network.
www.azuremagazine.com
November 22, 2024 at 7:32 PM
Forward to all your friends and family in the 905. Ford does not care one bit what Torontonians think about #Bill212, but if the pushback starts coming from Markham, Richmond Hill, Vaughan, Brampton, Mississauga, Oakville, Burlington, Milton... he just might be convinced to back down.