Nick Shaw
@nickshaw.ca
🚉 I’m a transit planner based in Toronto
🫡 Registered Planner (RPP, MCIP) & PRINCE2 certified (UK+Europe’s PMP)
🌎 I do this because it’s the space between places that determines the health of self and community. and peace blooms in cities 🏳️🌈
🫡 Registered Planner (RPP, MCIP) & PRINCE2 certified (UK+Europe’s PMP)
🌎 I do this because it’s the space between places that determines the health of self and community. and peace blooms in cities 🏳️🌈
Allowing shops, retail, and small business within neighbourhoods is good planning. Period.
When a supermajority of the community says HELL YES (repeatedly, over a multi-year engagement process), leaders lead the charge to reform.
Toronto just gave up. Where are the leaders?
When a supermajority of the community says HELL YES (repeatedly, over a multi-year engagement process), leaders lead the charge to reform.
Toronto just gave up. Where are the leaders?
October 31, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Allowing shops, retail, and small business within neighbourhoods is good planning. Period.
When a supermajority of the community says HELL YES (repeatedly, over a multi-year engagement process), leaders lead the charge to reform.
Toronto just gave up. Where are the leaders?
When a supermajority of the community says HELL YES (repeatedly, over a multi-year engagement process), leaders lead the charge to reform.
Toronto just gave up. Where are the leaders?
“Business as usual” is not free. Yet in transit investment decisions, BAU is often seen as “do nothing”—a non-choice.
On Eglinton East LRT in Toronto, we showed that buses couldn’t absorb projected growth. A higher-capacity line isn’t just better—it’s the only viable choice.
On Eglinton East LRT in Toronto, we showed that buses couldn’t absorb projected growth. A higher-capacity line isn’t just better—it’s the only viable choice.
September 25, 2025 at 12:35 PM
“Business as usual” is not free. Yet in transit investment decisions, BAU is often seen as “do nothing”—a non-choice.
On Eglinton East LRT in Toronto, we showed that buses couldn’t absorb projected growth. A higher-capacity line isn’t just better—it’s the only viable choice.
On Eglinton East LRT in Toronto, we showed that buses couldn’t absorb projected growth. A higher-capacity line isn’t just better—it’s the only viable choice.
The art of storytelling in transit planning is under appreciated. You can have all the quantitative proof your project is great, but if you can’t inspire it will be at risk.
Graphics are key and I love the evolution in Toronto from 1950s hand sketch to shiny renderings in the 2020s.
Graphics are key and I love the evolution in Toronto from 1950s hand sketch to shiny renderings in the 2020s.
September 5, 2025 at 10:45 AM
The art of storytelling in transit planning is under appreciated. You can have all the quantitative proof your project is great, but if you can’t inspire it will be at risk.
Graphics are key and I love the evolution in Toronto from 1950s hand sketch to shiny renderings in the 2020s.
Graphics are key and I love the evolution in Toronto from 1950s hand sketch to shiny renderings in the 2020s.
Paris fire station: where the trucks and uniforms fit the form. A gay transportation planner’s dream.
August 31, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Paris fire station: where the trucks and uniforms fit the form. A gay transportation planner’s dream.
A fun design tweak in Tbilisi flipping the travel direction of their BRT system. Allows island platforms without the need for specialized bus fleet with driver-side doors. Save capital and O&M costs while allowing interlining with routes that run curbside part of the way. Probably slows traffic too
August 31, 2025 at 7:28 PM
A fun design tweak in Tbilisi flipping the travel direction of their BRT system. Allows island platforms without the need for specialized bus fleet with driver-side doors. Save capital and O&M costs while allowing interlining with routes that run curbside part of the way. Probably slows traffic too
Toronto Bike Share’s growing e-bike fleet is a promising addition to the city’s mobility landscape.
Loaded with groceries from the St. Lawrence Market, I only chose bike share for the 6.5km uphill trip home because of an available e-bike. Reliable 29 min $2.10 vs 42+min $3.30 on streetcar /1
Loaded with groceries from the St. Lawrence Market, I only chose bike share for the 6.5km uphill trip home because of an available e-bike. Reliable 29 min $2.10 vs 42+min $3.30 on streetcar /1
August 30, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Toronto Bike Share’s growing e-bike fleet is a promising addition to the city’s mobility landscape.
Loaded with groceries from the St. Lawrence Market, I only chose bike share for the 6.5km uphill trip home because of an available e-bike. Reliable 29 min $2.10 vs 42+min $3.30 on streetcar /1
Loaded with groceries from the St. Lawrence Market, I only chose bike share for the 6.5km uphill trip home because of an available e-bike. Reliable 29 min $2.10 vs 42+min $3.30 on streetcar /1
I think it’s time for N. American transit agencies to get serious about bus passenger comfort. You can’t even savour the “new bus smell” before the sensory onslaught begins. Close your eyes and imagine what astronauts must feel like when reentering the earth’s atmosphere.
It’s about procurement /1
It’s about procurement /1
August 29, 2025 at 2:43 PM
I think it’s time for N. American transit agencies to get serious about bus passenger comfort. You can’t even savour the “new bus smell” before the sensory onslaught begins. Close your eyes and imagine what astronauts must feel like when reentering the earth’s atmosphere.
It’s about procurement /1
It’s about procurement /1
In downtown Toronto, Queen St is closed to all traffic for 2 blocks for Ontario Line construction. When evaluating alternative closure options back in '21, I was struck by how person-trips by transit riders and pedestrians dwarfed auto trips
When this reopens in 2027, let's be like Nice, France 💖
When this reopens in 2027, let's be like Nice, France 💖
August 10, 2025 at 6:49 PM
In downtown Toronto, Queen St is closed to all traffic for 2 blocks for Ontario Line construction. When evaluating alternative closure options back in '21, I was struck by how person-trips by transit riders and pedestrians dwarfed auto trips
When this reopens in 2027, let's be like Nice, France 💖
When this reopens in 2027, let's be like Nice, France 💖
The future Bloor-Landsdowne GO station in Toronto’s west end is advancing. I found out at yesterdays public meeting that the scope includes a multi-use path connecting the Davenport Diamond Greenway (under construction) and West Toronto Rail Path. Finally some good cycling news! youtu.be/hGjlcdBnA34
July 17, 2025 at 12:40 PM
The future Bloor-Landsdowne GO station in Toronto’s west end is advancing. I found out at yesterdays public meeting that the scope includes a multi-use path connecting the Davenport Diamond Greenway (under construction) and West Toronto Rail Path. Finally some good cycling news! youtu.be/hGjlcdBnA34
@nytimes.com I followed a strange ad on one of your articles and it took me to a site pretending to be the CBC. The article dated today claimed that Justin Trudeau was being sworn in as prime minister next was launching a crypto initiative… I suggest looking into your ad partnerships: juicedudez.com
July 5, 2025 at 9:54 PM
@nytimes.com I followed a strange ad on one of your articles and it took me to a site pretending to be the CBC. The article dated today claimed that Justin Trudeau was being sworn in as prime minister next was launching a crypto initiative… I suggest looking into your ad partnerships: juicedudez.com
Lots of other interesting insights to draw from the new temporal view feature on the @electricitymaps.com app!
June 22, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Lots of other interesting insights to draw from the new temporal view feature on the @electricitymaps.com app!
In 2024 Ontario broke two unenviable records: most gas burned for electricity and most electricity exported to neighbouring markets.
Is Ontario pushing dirtier and more expensive gas plants over cleaner and cheaper renewables just to be a proxy peaker plant for New England and the Midwest?
Is Ontario pushing dirtier and more expensive gas plants over cleaner and cheaper renewables just to be a proxy peaker plant for New England and the Midwest?
June 22, 2025 at 1:26 PM
In 2024 Ontario broke two unenviable records: most gas burned for electricity and most electricity exported to neighbouring markets.
Is Ontario pushing dirtier and more expensive gas plants over cleaner and cheaper renewables just to be a proxy peaker plant for New England and the Midwest?
Is Ontario pushing dirtier and more expensive gas plants over cleaner and cheaper renewables just to be a proxy peaker plant for New England and the Midwest?
TX shows $$$ talks. Renewables are the lowest cost option so the market delivered renewables—in the heart of oil country. PT regulators just rode that wave. Ontario? Hard pass. “Open for Business” unless it’s cost effective renewable energy. It’s rapidly losing a competitive advantage.
June 22, 2025 at 1:26 PM
TX shows $$$ talks. Renewables are the lowest cost option so the market delivered renewables—in the heart of oil country. PT regulators just rode that wave. Ontario? Hard pass. “Open for Business” unless it’s cost effective renewable energy. It’s rapidly losing a competitive advantage.
Portugal, Ontario, and Texas offer some insights into the path to net zero electricity.
First, PT and ON grids are centrally planned+integrated while TX is market-driven and isolated. Yet PT and TX grids are getting cleaner while ON is getting dirtier. Why?
First, PT and ON grids are centrally planned+integrated while TX is market-driven and isolated. Yet PT and TX grids are getting cleaner while ON is getting dirtier. Why?
June 22, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Portugal, Ontario, and Texas offer some insights into the path to net zero electricity.
First, PT and ON grids are centrally planned+integrated while TX is market-driven and isolated. Yet PT and TX grids are getting cleaner while ON is getting dirtier. Why?
First, PT and ON grids are centrally planned+integrated while TX is market-driven and isolated. Yet PT and TX grids are getting cleaner while ON is getting dirtier. Why?
Scans of the last 125 years of the Toronto Star are now online (subscribers only I think..) Naturally I searched for the issue from my birthday July 1987. Aside from reflecting oddly familiar the headlines are today--postal strike, traffic, drugs, UFOs, etc.--I LOVE this simple weather graphic.
June 12, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Scans of the last 125 years of the Toronto Star are now online (subscribers only I think..) Naturally I searched for the issue from my birthday July 1987. Aside from reflecting oddly familiar the headlines are today--postal strike, traffic, drugs, UFOs, etc.--I LOVE this simple weather graphic.
Agreed. That unveiling photo foreshadowed this outcome: a 4-lane racetrack with what looks like 3.6-4m wide lanes, at least 60kph design speed; posted speed dropped to 40 at some point as the min cost vision zero measure; near 100% auto mode share. This is borderline entrapment. Fix. The. Streets.
June 12, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Agreed. That unveiling photo foreshadowed this outcome: a 4-lane racetrack with what looks like 3.6-4m wide lanes, at least 60kph design speed; posted speed dropped to 40 at some point as the min cost vision zero measure; near 100% auto mode share. This is borderline entrapment. Fix. The. Streets.
When did this happen? I pretend this doesn’t excite me but it does.
June 4, 2025 at 3:44 PM
When did this happen? I pretend this doesn’t excite me but it does.
Sometimes it feels like I blink and California’s solar and battery grid capacity increased.
By 2028, batteries expected to meet all overnight demand.
So in <3 years the sunshine state and world’s 5th largest economy will be entirely powered by the sun ☀️🥹
pv-magazine-usa.com/2025/04/10/c...
By 2028, batteries expected to meet all overnight demand.
So in <3 years the sunshine state and world’s 5th largest economy will be entirely powered by the sun ☀️🥹
pv-magazine-usa.com/2025/04/10/c...
May 28, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Sometimes it feels like I blink and California’s solar and battery grid capacity increased.
By 2028, batteries expected to meet all overnight demand.
So in <3 years the sunshine state and world’s 5th largest economy will be entirely powered by the sun ☀️🥹
pv-magazine-usa.com/2025/04/10/c...
By 2028, batteries expected to meet all overnight demand.
So in <3 years the sunshine state and world’s 5th largest economy will be entirely powered by the sun ☀️🥹
pv-magazine-usa.com/2025/04/10/c...
Unfortunately the city removed the stairs you see at the end there for some unclear code reason. Hits close to home literally because my 70yo mom slipped last year and broke her wrist after petitioning for years for their return. Otherwise I love this park 💔
March 26, 2025 at 12:31 AM
Unfortunately the city removed the stairs you see at the end there for some unclear code reason. Hits close to home literally because my 70yo mom slipped last year and broke her wrist after petitioning for years for their return. Otherwise I love this park 💔
Today: Beck Taxi fare is cheaper, paid directly to the driver. Uber is more expensive and 35-45% of that is clawed to uber headquarters in USA.
#BuyCanadian
#BuyCanadian
March 10, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Today: Beck Taxi fare is cheaper, paid directly to the driver. Uber is more expensive and 35-45% of that is clawed to uber headquarters in USA.
#BuyCanadian
#BuyCanadian
I’m kinda living for St. Patrick station’s temporary look. I feel like Pinocchio living inside a whale
March 5, 2025 at 3:50 PM
I’m kinda living for St. Patrick station’s temporary look. I feel like Pinocchio living inside a whale
Reversing the trend on large cars, SUVs and trucks sales is key to meeting our emission reduction obligations—if SUVs were a country, their CO2 output would exceed Japan’s………Demanding and mandating smaller EVs, shared mobility models, and sustainable mass transport is key www.iea.org/commentaries...
January 31, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Reversing the trend on large cars, SUVs and trucks sales is key to meeting our emission reduction obligations—if SUVs were a country, their CO2 output would exceed Japan’s………Demanding and mandating smaller EVs, shared mobility models, and sustainable mass transport is key www.iea.org/commentaries...
When I grow up and die, I wanna be reincarnated as one of these two toddlers snoozing in their personal sled carriages in Bruce County
January 29, 2025 at 5:11 AM
When I grow up and die, I wanna be reincarnated as one of these two toddlers snoozing in their personal sled carriages in Bruce County