Reposted by 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 Street Smart
The RFK, jr effect.
December 13, 2025 at 9:40 PM
The RFK, jr effect.
Reposted by 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.
Reposted by Street Smart
#Montreal was rated #1 bicycle city in North America this year.
But the party that won the municipal election campaigned on auditing and removing bike lanes.
They’ve already started in my borough, #Outremont.
So we made our own bike lane this morning. We need to keep our kids active—and safe.
But the party that won the municipal election campaigned on auditing and removing bike lanes.
They’ve already started in my borough, #Outremont.
So we made our own bike lane this morning. We need to keep our kids active—and safe.
December 2, 2025 at 2:08 PM
#Montreal was rated #1 bicycle city in North America this year.
But the party that won the municipal election campaigned on auditing and removing bike lanes.
They’ve already started in my borough, #Outremont.
So we made our own bike lane this morning. We need to keep our kids active—and safe.
But the party that won the municipal election campaigned on auditing and removing bike lanes.
They’ve already started in my borough, #Outremont.
So we made our own bike lane this morning. We need to keep our kids active—and safe.
Reposted by Street Smart
IMPORTANT: “I boarded Montreal’s brand-new light metro line for its first voyage. From the front of the driverless train, the crowd got a privileged view…The journey was not just a tour of the REM’s 14 new stations, however—it was a preview of the most ambitious transit expansion in North America.”
Montreal's New Rail Line Is the Future - Macleans.ca
Canada has forgotten how to build fast, cheap transit. A new megaproject has the fix.
macleans.ca
December 1, 2025 at 2:24 AM
IMPORTANT: “I boarded Montreal’s brand-new light metro line for its first voyage. From the front of the driverless train, the crowd got a privileged view…The journey was not just a tour of the REM’s 14 new stations, however—it was a preview of the most ambitious transit expansion in North America.”
Reposted by Street Smart
“If you saw this happening anywhere else in the world, you'd call it the opening phase of a failed state.”
“Unless you're watching the news for several hours a day, it's impossible to keep track.”
“All those second amendment tyranny resisters are suddenly silent.”
“Unless you're watching the news for several hours a day, it's impossible to keep track.”
“All those second amendment tyranny resisters are suddenly silent.”
Authoritarianism Is Here
YouTube video by LegalEagle
www.youtube.com
December 1, 2025 at 4:48 PM
“If you saw this happening anywhere else in the world, you'd call it the opening phase of a failed state.”
“Unless you're watching the news for several hours a day, it's impossible to keep track.”
“All those second amendment tyranny resisters are suddenly silent.”
“Unless you're watching the news for several hours a day, it's impossible to keep track.”
“All those second amendment tyranny resisters are suddenly silent.”
Reposted by Street Smart
riders are going to lose a bus that's scheduled to come every 6 minutes in the off-peak to a train that will run up to every 12 min.
and that train will be marginally faster than the bus at rush hour, and slower in other time periods.
but it's a train, so it must be better, right? 😒
and that train will be marginally faster than the bus at rush hour, and slower in other time periods.
but it's a train, so it must be better, right? 😒
At $240M/km, Finch West LRT is…
- MORE expensive per-km than the Sheppard Subway
- 2X the per-km cost of the Montreal REM & underground metros in other developed nations
… for a tram that’s SLOWER than a bus in traffic.
Let’s not mislead the public; Line 6 should be the 536 Finch West streetcar!
- MORE expensive per-km than the Sheppard Subway
- 2X the per-km cost of the Montreal REM & underground metros in other developed nations
… for a tram that’s SLOWER than a bus in traffic.
Let’s not mislead the public; Line 6 should be the 536 Finch West streetcar!
November 29, 2025 at 6:35 PM
riders are going to lose a bus that's scheduled to come every 6 minutes in the off-peak to a train that will run up to every 12 min.
and that train will be marginally faster than the bus at rush hour, and slower in other time periods.
but it's a train, so it must be better, right? 😒
and that train will be marginally faster than the bus at rush hour, and slower in other time periods.
but it's a train, so it must be better, right? 😒
Reposted by Street Smart
Wild that Toronto, which is Canada's largest city and has Canada's first subway system, now has the smallest metro system in Canada by quite a margin. I don't think it is the busiest either.
November 18, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Wild that Toronto, which is Canada's largest city and has Canada's first subway system, now has the smallest metro system in Canada by quite a margin. I don't think it is the busiest either.
Reposted by Street Smart
#Montréal ranks no 1 in North America on Copenhagenize’s Bike-Friendly Cities Index (no. 15 in world). That’s the Val Plante / Projet Montréal effect.
Modest prediction: we’ll be slipping down the rankings in years to come thnx to Ensemble Montréal.
copenhagenizeindex.eu
Modest prediction: we’ll be slipping down the rankings in years to come thnx to Ensemble Montréal.
copenhagenizeindex.eu
November 18, 2025 at 10:18 PM
#Montréal ranks no 1 in North America on Copenhagenize’s Bike-Friendly Cities Index (no. 15 in world). That’s the Val Plante / Projet Montréal effect.
Modest prediction: we’ll be slipping down the rankings in years to come thnx to Ensemble Montréal.
copenhagenizeindex.eu
Modest prediction: we’ll be slipping down the rankings in years to come thnx to Ensemble Montréal.
copenhagenizeindex.eu
Reposted by Street Smart
Have you heard of “The Populist Playbook?”
A few years ago, I posted what I still consider one of my most important messages.
It was about “The Populist Playbook” that I’ve watched play out often over my 33+ years of city planning.
Since then, it’s only gotten worse.
Do the steps sound familiar?
A few years ago, I posted what I still consider one of my most important messages.
It was about “The Populist Playbook” that I’ve watched play out often over my 33+ years of city planning.
Since then, it’s only gotten worse.
Do the steps sound familiar?
November 8, 2025 at 12:48 AM
Have you heard of “The Populist Playbook?”
A few years ago, I posted what I still consider one of my most important messages.
It was about “The Populist Playbook” that I’ve watched play out often over my 33+ years of city planning.
Since then, it’s only gotten worse.
Do the steps sound familiar?
A few years ago, I posted what I still consider one of my most important messages.
It was about “The Populist Playbook” that I’ve watched play out often over my 33+ years of city planning.
Since then, it’s only gotten worse.
Do the steps sound familiar?
Reposted by Street Smart
“many of our former strengths as a country—our economic strengths based on close ties to America—have now become our vulnerabilities”
Carney: But this decades-long process of an ever-closer economic relationship with the United States is now over. And as a consequence, many of our former strengths as a country—more particularly, our economic strengths based on close ties to America—have now become our vulnerabilities…
October 23, 2025 at 10:41 PM
“many of our former strengths as a country—our economic strengths based on close ties to America—have now become our vulnerabilities”
Reposted by Street Smart
Having a baby really makes you appreciate social programs.
Free medical care, a year of paid maternity leave, and $9 a day daycare — totally normal here in Quebec, but unthinkable to a lot of US politicians.
It’s crazy thinking how different the experience would be if we lived in America.
Free medical care, a year of paid maternity leave, and $9 a day daycare — totally normal here in Quebec, but unthinkable to a lot of US politicians.
It’s crazy thinking how different the experience would be if we lived in America.
Convincing lawmakers that paid sick days or paid family leave was not going to obliterate the economy despite the fact that EVERY FUCKING COUNTRY ON EARTH has them, but being able to say that aloud, was something.
October 12, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Having a baby really makes you appreciate social programs.
Free medical care, a year of paid maternity leave, and $9 a day daycare — totally normal here in Quebec, but unthinkable to a lot of US politicians.
It’s crazy thinking how different the experience would be if we lived in America.
Free medical care, a year of paid maternity leave, and $9 a day daycare — totally normal here in Quebec, but unthinkable to a lot of US politicians.
It’s crazy thinking how different the experience would be if we lived in America.
Reposted by Street Smart
🤤 (shocked, shocked I tell you)
Vehicles registered to Ford cabinet ministers caught by speed cameras more than 20 times | Globalnews.ca
Documents obtained by Global News reveal that, over three years, vehicles registered to Ford’s cabinet minister received more than $3,300 in fines for speeding.
globalnews.ca
October 6, 2025 at 12:31 PM
🤤 (shocked, shocked I tell you)
Reposted by Street Smart
This video is a long time coming.
People always ask me: what makes Montreal so ambitious on urbanism? (At least for bikes and pedestrians.)
I've been thinking through this and asking Montrealers, and in this video I want to cover *part* of the answer.
People always ask me: what makes Montreal so ambitious on urbanism? (At least for bikes and pedestrians.)
I've been thinking through this and asking Montrealers, and in this video I want to cover *part* of the answer.
The Secret of Montreal’s Urbanism Success
YouTube video by Oh The Urbanity!
youtu.be
October 5, 2025 at 3:39 PM
This video is a long time coming.
People always ask me: what makes Montreal so ambitious on urbanism? (At least for bikes and pedestrians.)
I've been thinking through this and asking Montrealers, and in this video I want to cover *part* of the answer.
People always ask me: what makes Montreal so ambitious on urbanism? (At least for bikes and pedestrians.)
I've been thinking through this and asking Montrealers, and in this video I want to cover *part* of the answer.
Reposted by Street Smart
Je suis encore abonnée au RSS du journal Métro... et il y a cette nouvelle ⤵️
😮
Annonce mercredi 1er octobre à la Maison du développement durable à 10 h
Retour des nouvelles ultra-locales?
Oui SVP!
#medias #montreal #quebec
😮
Annonce mercredi 1er octobre à la Maison du développement durable à 10 h
Retour des nouvelles ultra-locales?
Oui SVP!
#medias #montreal #quebec
Invitation aux médias – Relance du Journal Métro
Une invitation aux citoyens et aux représentants des médias pour la reprise officielle des activités du Journal Métro.
journalmetro.com
September 30, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Reposted by Street Smart
Car culture thrives on all-or-nothing thinking.
Dedicate some part of the road to bikes? “You’re basically banning cars.”
Safer speeds? “Oh yeah let’s all travel 5 km/h.”
It’s like asking a child to clean their room and they respond dramatically “so you’re kicking me out? to live on the street?”.
Dedicate some part of the road to bikes? “You’re basically banning cars.”
Safer speeds? “Oh yeah let’s all travel 5 km/h.”
It’s like asking a child to clean their room and they respond dramatically “so you’re kicking me out? to live on the street?”.
Some politicians will say out loud that road deaths are the cost of doing business. MPP Ric Breese at the Bill 212 committee meeting said that we would need to slow cars to 5km/h to avoid all deaths, and of course we can't do that, so "there occasionally will be injuries".
Violent crime is more rare, shocking, headline-grabbing. We treat it as an intolerable aberration from the norm. And we should! But that suggests that road deaths and injuries are the norm and are therefore tolerable. No politician will say that out loud, but watch what they prioritize.
September 28, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Car culture thrives on all-or-nothing thinking.
Dedicate some part of the road to bikes? “You’re basically banning cars.”
Safer speeds? “Oh yeah let’s all travel 5 km/h.”
It’s like asking a child to clean their room and they respond dramatically “so you’re kicking me out? to live on the street?”.
Dedicate some part of the road to bikes? “You’re basically banning cars.”
Safer speeds? “Oh yeah let’s all travel 5 km/h.”
It’s like asking a child to clean their room and they respond dramatically “so you’re kicking me out? to live on the street?”.
Reposted by Street Smart
Here’s something people get wrong when they discuss whether Canada is different from the US.
Often they go looking for things that make Canada unique. Bilingualism? Hockey?
But so many of the differences are just the US being an outlier versus the entire rest of the developed world.
Often they go looking for things that make Canada unique. Bilingualism? Hockey?
But so many of the differences are just the US being an outlier versus the entire rest of the developed world.
We asked people in 17 advanced economies what gives them meaning in life.
Americans were much more likely to mention religion as a source of meaning.
www.pewresearch.org/global/2021/...
Americans were much more likely to mention religion as a source of meaning.
www.pewresearch.org/global/2021/...
September 27, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Here’s something people get wrong when they discuss whether Canada is different from the US.
Often they go looking for things that make Canada unique. Bilingualism? Hockey?
But so many of the differences are just the US being an outlier versus the entire rest of the developed world.
Often they go looking for things that make Canada unique. Bilingualism? Hockey?
But so many of the differences are just the US being an outlier versus the entire rest of the developed world.
Reposted by Street Smart
Human rights defender Greta Thunberg: "I am not scared of Israel, I am scared of a world that has seemingly lost all sense of humanity. What we are doing here is trying to show there is some humanity left. That there are still people willing to step up when all other means fail." #3E
September 26, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Human rights defender Greta Thunberg: "I am not scared of Israel, I am scared of a world that has seemingly lost all sense of humanity. What we are doing here is trying to show there is some humanity left. That there are still people willing to step up when all other means fail." #3E
Reposted by Street Smart
Montreal’s new (mostly done) protected bike intersection
(Bellechasse / Christophe-Colomb)
(Bellechasse / Christophe-Colomb)
September 26, 2025 at 1:47 AM
Montreal’s new (mostly done) protected bike intersection
(Bellechasse / Christophe-Colomb)
(Bellechasse / Christophe-Colomb)