Brent Toderian

Global advisor on better cities, city planning, transportation & urban change. City planner + urbanist leading TODERIAN UrbanWORKS Inc. Past Chief Planner for Vancouver BC. Past/founding President of the Council For Canadian Urbanism. International writer, speaker & media.

Website: www.TODERIANUrbanWORKS.com

Public Key

npub1ztg06yhpggpnyyutcf47eflvgjjqw8wxmzjshekgd7zply2v976q6ug0py

NIP-05 Address

brenttoderian_at_mastodon.online@momostr.pink

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Last Notes

2026-06-07 02:51:11 UTC

“Air pollution fell substantially as Paris restricted car traffic and made way for parks, people-streets and bike-lanes.”
Better for the climate, better for health, better for livability and quality of life.
Common sense.
Such a no-brainer, it’s remarkable that more cities HAVEN’T done the same.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/2025/04/12/air-pollution-paris-health-cars/
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/116/706/552/320/687/730/original/ee5b4d03153c5fe3.png

2026-04-24 04:30:03 UTC

NEW: “We really need to change our approach, attitudes, biases, norms, our sense of politeness…we have to rethink all of our tactics if we’re actually going to win. Because right now we’re losing.”
LISTEN to our brand new #TalkingHeadways podcast with @npub1cq2…uzdv via @npub1xqa…z0kj!
https://usa.streetsblog.org/2026/04/23/talking-headways-podcast-the-urban-truth-collective
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/116/457/799/514/902/075/original/301edc20e6ca2b78.png

2026-04-04 03:48:48 UTC

“We could never do THAT in OUR city!”
Leadership doesn’t make excuses. Via our Urban Truth Collective. #UrbanTruth
For decades I’ve been talking about what I call “the 8 most unhelpful words in the English language — we could never do THAT in OUR city!” It’s critically important for us to call out the difference between energy & excuse. The Urban Truth Collective will be doing an ongoing series showing inspiring city action we SHOULDN’T BE MAKING ANY EXCUSES ABOUT. https://www.urbantruthcollective.com/content
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/116/344/385/813/404/666/original/5cab40893db053d1.png

2026-04-03 03:16:51 UTC

One of the biggest disinformation campaigns ever applied to cities involves the constant claims that “driving pays its way.” It’s actually MASSIVELY subsidized, while things like walking, biking, public transit & supportive housing for the unhoused actually SAVE PUBLIC MONEY. HT to the classic Andy Singer cartoon. #UrbanTruth
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/116/338/601/507/179/968/original/9d4b4034142f0486.png

2026-03-31 06:04:13 UTC

“Gas prices? What gas prices?”
Even without insane and illegal wars, the thing about any dependency, including car dependency, is that once you’re dependent, they can do whatever they want with the prices.
Real freedom is choices. Better cities create choices. Graphic via the Urban Truth Collective. Check out our website here:
https://www.urbantruthcollective.com/#UrbanTruth
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/116/322/274/058/619/392/original/eb629f8b7a4c17d6.png

2026-03-25 16:19:46 UTC

If you’re in your car in traffic and you see people moving smoothly on bikes in a protected bike-lane, or a full bus zooming past you in a bus-only lane, sure you could be mad at them for moving faster than you, or you could be someone who understands geometry and knows that providing mobility choices that take less space makes getting around cities better for EVERYONE.
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/116/290/720/819/851/474/original/9b200b3672cb2be5.png

2026-03-25 00:44:48 UTC

Safe, protected bike-lanes are:
Better for business
Better for emissions
Better for air quality
Better for public health
Better for noise
Better for space
Better for equity
Better for affordability
Better for public cost
Better for safety for EVERYONE
Better for oil independence
Better.
Graphic by our URBAN TRUTH COLLECTIVE. Check out our website: https://www.urbantruthcollective.com/content
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/116/287/044/437/999/540/original/cc56a1a5ce4dec13.png

2026-03-23 19:20:39 UTC

Not density OR trees. Density AND trees.
Better cities are climate action. #UrbanTruth
Shared via the Urban Truth Collaborative. Check out our website. https://www.urbantruthcollective.com/
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/116/280/105/995/005/281/original/af99ee25c300d50d.png

2026-03-21 20:31:53 UTC

“A city’s creativity doesn’t depend on cars. That’s the 20th century. We’re in the 21st.”— Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo.
No matter what happens in the Paris election, the world’s cities owe Anne Hidalgo a huge debt of gratitude.
The boldest, most inspiring mayor I’ve seen.
https://www.ft.com/content/8fbad76c-6705-43d8-b57e-292ee3563539?syn-25a6b1a6=1

2026-03-18 19:01:28 UTC

Don’t buy a cow, or a car, and expect your city to give you someplace to park it. #UrbanTruth
Via the Urban Truth Collective. https://www.urbantruthcollective.com/
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/116/251/710/037/531/690/original/4a428bf4cdb0cad1.png

2026-03-17 06:19:04 UTC

If you haven’t watched this before, you should. The brilliant Carl Sagan testifying before the United States Congress in 1985 on #ClimateChange.
We should have listened then. Will we now?
Climate change isn’t an on & off switch. It’s an exponential dial. https://youtu.be/Wp-WiNXH6hI?si=pWQ4VgYpSkA9NQx5

2026-03-01 05:55:06 UTC

“Helsinki hasn’t registered a single traffic-related fatality in the past year…Citing data that shows the risk of pedestrian fatality is cut in half by reducing a car’s speed from 40 to 30km/hr, city officials imposed the lower limit in most of Helsinki’s residential areas and city center in 2021.”
https://www.politico.eu/article/helsinki-no-traffic-death-roads-eu-accident-finland-driving-transport/

2026-02-24 21:10:59 UTC

NEW THIS WEEK: We’ve officially launched the URBAN TRUTH COLLECTIVE, to tell the truth more persuasively about better cities, and unapologetically call out the lies and liars! Explore our new website https://www.urbantruthcollective.com/about-1 and please help us spread the word! #UrbanTruth
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/116/127/653/614/209/098/original/8d4a2cea0ab26784.png
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/116/127/653/766/609/846/original/7f863e601b686d32.png
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/116/127/653/931/432/844/original/e45557e03ba8dca5.png

2026-02-23 04:00:34 UTC

A good thing to remember every time you’re thinking about supporting US businesses or tourism, Canada.
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/116/117/940/245/235/857/original/ab571dd1139b040f.png

2026-02-23 03:47:44 UTC

“The effort to quiet Paris complements the wider campaign to make Paris greener, cleaner & less car-dependent, which include vehicle restrictions in the center, crackdowns on polluting vehicles, & an ambitious expansion of bike networks. Those have cut the city’s average noise level by 2 decibels.”
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2022-04-27/how-paris-is-waging-a-war-on-noise-pollution

2026-02-02 07:59:01 UTC

I’m still not sure if enough Americans fully understand how hard it is for the rest of us to continually see polls showing “how unpopular Trump is” when he’s still ridiculously and shockingly more popular than he should be in any sane nation.

2026-01-18 22:36:58 UTC

“The collapse of the AI bubble is going to be ugly…AI is the asbestos in the walls of our technological society, stuffed there with wild abandon by a finance sector & tech monopolists run amok.“
Read this article by @npub1fdr…lvhs. Whether you agree with it all or not, it’s important.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2026/jan/18/tech-ai-bubble-burst-reverse-centaur

2026-01-05 21:08:54 UTC

“In Finland, the number of homeless people has fallen sharply. Those affected receive a small apartment & counselling with no preconditions. 4 out of 5 people affected make their way back to a stable life. And all this is CHEAPER than accepting homelessness.”
IT SAVES PUBLIC MONEY to house people.
https://thebetter.news/housing-first-finland-homelessness/

2025-12-31 16:00:12 UTC

“Elon Musk admitted to his biographer that the reason the Hyperloop was announced—even though he had no intention of pursuing it—was to try to disrupt the California high-speed rail project to get in the way of that actually succeeding.” — @parismarx.com in @gizmodo.com
He’s always been this way.
https://gizmodo.com/silicon-valleys-transportation-failures-tesla-waymo-bir-1849382788

2025-12-25 06:19:24 UTC

“Pope Leo said in a Christmas Eve sermon on Wednesday that the story of Jesus being born in a stable because there was no room at an inn should remind Christians that refusing to help the poor & strangers today is tantamount to rejecting God himself.”
Understood well by any REAL Christian. #MerryChristmas
https://www.reuters.com/world/pope-leo-christmas-eve-says-denying-help-poor-is-rejecting-god-2025-12-24/

2025-12-15 00:21:41 UTC

“Electric cars are no more dangerous for pedestrians than petrol and diesel models, researchers find.”
They’re also no safer. Which reminds us that “better cars” aren’t the main answer to the consequences of cars. The main answer is fewer (and smaller) cars driven less frequently in better cities.
https://www.leeds.ac.uk/research-32/news/article/5900/evs-just-as-safe-for-pedestrians

2025-12-12 16:13:19 UTC

NEW/LISTEN! Been really looking forward to this one — my interview with Jason from @npub1z7x…q5jf is LIVE on many podcast platforms plus YouTube! We cover a LOT of really important ground on how to ACTUALLY ACHIEVE BETTER CITIES IN REAL PRACTICE; how city planners can and should be a lot better, a lot less boring, and much more effective (and NOT Neutral!); and how to actually transform the public and media conversation out there about better city-making! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9Xevlt7aes

2025-12-09 06:21:46 UTC

Never forget, if you design a city for cars, it fails for everyone, including drivers.
If you design a multi-modal city that makes walking, biking & public transit attractive options, it works better for everyone, including drivers.
INCLUDING DRIVERS.
The “war on cars” has always been a lie.
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/115/688/163/165/469/866/original/2f444ecc0f2c8c7a.png

2025-11-24 02:58:14 UTC

ICYMI: "Paris started with periodic, strategic closures of key streets, then day-long closures of the entire city center, always in the context of the conversation about air quality, livability & noise…It's a very smart way of doing it." — @npub1ztg…g0py in BlogTO. #Paris
https://www.blogto.com/city/2024/12/new-solution-toronto-traffic-limit-cars-streets/

2025-11-11 23:10:43 UTC

WATCH: If you REALLY want to understand a BIG reason why cycling [aka riding a bicycle] is so dangerous in North America, and one of the biggest villains in the origin story of our unsafe status quo, invest some time watching this one, by NOT JUST BIKES (@npub1z7x…q5jf). Then share it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRPduRHBhHI

2025-10-20 05:41:03 UTC

It's a goal of mine to help make this the most famous, well-known and UNDERSTOOD quote about cities in history. Please share it as much as you can.
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/115/404/887/424/670/449/original/379bc5c6133ef5e4.png

2025-10-14 17:23:50 UTC

“Once rare, 7-year car loans are fast becoming the norm. They’re often the only way buyers can afford new rides, with average sale prices surging 28% in 5 years to approach $50k.”
Designed-in car dependency, surging car prices, longer loan periods with more interest.
Sound like “freedom” to you?
https://www.seattletimes.com/business/cars-are-so-expensive-that-buyers-need-7-year-loans/
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/115/373/678/039/177/836/original/9df6dea9f8d871b8.png

2025-10-12 18:07:42 UTC

NEW: “Toderian says it’s easy to be distracted by futuristic innovations like electric cars, drone delivery networks & hyperloops. ‘The real solutions are a lot less sexy and a lot more common sense… Tech won’t save us if we get the fundamentals wrong.”
I was 1 of 3 urban experts asked to weigh in.
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/article-a-world-without-traffic-three-urban-experts-rethink-how-cities-move/
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/115/362/523/379/607/389/original/475c5f52c27ee8c9.png

2025-09-22 23:11:35 UTC

You can be a “car guy” and not like car dependency. You can be a “car guy” and get that too many cars in cities is bad for everyone, including drivers. You can be a “car guy” and be tired of lies & manipulations like “the war on cars.” You can be a “car guy” and know more choice means more freedom.
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/115/250/474/136/396/510/original/b61115b2f6e647ef.png

2025-09-04 21:43:14 UTC

“We can’t all be expected to bike.”
Fair. But that’s not the point.
“Not everyone can or wants to bike. But some people can & do—and they deserve a safe, efficient, affordable way to move through the city. It’s about freedom of choice.”
This & other useful comebacks, in Momentum Magazine.
https://momentummag.com/your-comeback-guide-to-all-the-anti-cycling-arguments-youll-hear-this-year/
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/115/148/202/944/356/434/original/173e462cae14ac84.png

2025-09-03 22:37:58 UTC

“The rise in high-fronted SUVs poses a clear and growing threat to public safety, especially for children,” states the report. “With no benefit to society, it’s time for lawmakers at all levels to act.” Via @carltonreid.com in @forbes.com.
Cap SUV/truck hood heights. And ban unsafe designs.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/carltonreid/2025/06/11/eu-must-cap-suv-hood-heights-urges-report-crash-test-body-says-not-as-simple-as-that/
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/115/142/758/915/234/648/original/2f7d50324ca22506.png
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/115/142/759/065/860/040/original/0b1d47819f4ba159.png

2025-08-30 07:10:35 UTC

One of the most successful pedestrian streets in the world, the Strøget in Copenhagen, was filled with cars until a 2 year pedestrianization pilot project in 1962. The opposition argued “no cars means no business,” but the street has been a massive retail success, the city’s busiest shopping street.
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/115/116/462/136/994/635/original/f627611e38defb23.png

2025-08-28 17:11:40 UTC

This is an INSANE decision by the E.U.
“By signing up to mutual recognition of vehicle standards with the U.S., the E.U. has waved the white flag on road safety. This is not a technical detail – it is a political choice that puts trade convenience ahead of saving lives.”
This will kill people.
https://etsc.eu/etsc-mutual-recognition-deal-with-u-s-will-cost-lives-on-europes-roads/

2025-08-24 23:34:41 UTC

NEW: 1km of Montreal’s Ste-Catherine Street will become permanently “pedestrian only” (less than perfect term since it will be a people-place for a LOT more than walking). 225+ new trees, vegetation-covered pits for rain drainage, more seating, illuminated canopy, financial help for businesses, etc. https://bsky.app/profile/brenttoderian.bsky.social/post/3lx3l6uzmgs2v
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/ste-catherine-east-pedestrian-street-1.7615675
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/115/086/358/141/986/180/original/9d8835ed93a95543.png

2025-07-30 14:52:43 UTC

“Helsinki has not recorded a single traffic fatality in the past 12 months, city and police officials confirmed this week.”
City engineer credits lower speed limits and smart design.
I agree. #Helsinki #VisionZero
https://yle.fi/a/74-20174831

2025-07-28 17:23:59 UTC

PARIS: “If we’re honest, we’ll admit that many cities still need to take their first real steps toward more sustainable city-making. And every city needs to go much further & faster.” Forbes writer @npub1aez…xxkc interviews me on our bold new PARIS EXHIBITION launched by Mayor Anne Hidalgo and the City of Paris. #Paris
https://www.forbes.com/sites/carltonreid/2025/07/28/cities-vs-climate-change-global-exhibition-in-paris-inspires-action/

2025-07-10 15:00:10 UTC

“One mile on a bike is a $.42 economic gain to society, one mile driving is a $.20 loss.”
“Which means that Copenhagen, a city of 1.2 million people, saves $357 million a year on health costs because something like 80% of its population commutes by bike.”
https://grist.org/biking/one-mile-on-a-bike-is-a-42-economic-gain-to-society-one-mile-driving-is-a-20-loss/

2025-07-07 05:41:09 UTC

In a sane world, this would be the biggest, most important news story in the world.
‘Tipping points’ experts issue urgent message to world leaders.
“Every fraction of a degree above 1.5°C matters. And every year of “overshoot” matters too.”
“It’s ultimately a matter of survival.”
#ClimateCrisis
https://news.exeter.ac.uk/faculty-of-environment-science-and-economy/tipping-points-experts-issue-urgent-message-to-world-leaders/

2025-07-06 19:59:32 UTC

This is really important.
The main thing that makes it hard to achieve integrated nature and green in cities isn’t density of buildings or density of people — it's density of cars. And the more well-designed and integrated density of people & buildings you achieve, the fewer cars you need or want.
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/114/808/059/197/456/334/original/eeaf56ef40734985.png

2025-07-05 14:34:27 UTC

As our cities get hotter and hotter, dark coloured buildings make no rational sense, even if you like that aesthetic (I do).
The same goes for dark coloured roofs.
And dark coloured streets and parking lots with dark coloured asphalt.
That really should be obvious.

2025-06-22 09:02:29 UTC

Whether it’s city cooling, air cleaning, quality-of-life & comfort, storm water management, habitat/biodiversity, or many more reasons, urban greening is one of the smartest “common sense” things a city can do. Paris has been showing cities everywhere how much farther and faster you can go when you really want to, even in a really “tight” city (both above ground and underground). Great to reconnect with Paris Deputy Mayor Christophe Najdovski — that’s his portfolio.
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/114/726/196/129/866/528/original/bf022614df7878c6.png
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/114/726/196/682/858/521/original/cf40025960aa9c24.png
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/114/726/197/172/140/219/original/e858c53663bd794b.png
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/114/726/197/764/598/710/original/0e8d7090e99df413.png

2025-06-21 18:24:03 UTC

Want greener, cooler cities that are a “breath of fresh air?“ In case you thought Paris wasn’t ambitious enough this weekend, on top of our new exhibition, they opened the wonderful new “Urban Forest” in the square in front of City Hall! Part of Mayor Anne Hidalgo and her great team’s brilliant urban greening strategy.
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/114/722/742/572/376/750/original/eb3c81d585d657c1.png
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/114/722/743/804/722/882/original/f1b779966bbf3ef6.png
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/114/722/745/045/522/906/original/0c9d27d960ebb3cf.png
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/114/722/747/688/697/066/original/faca2c36d84dbf87.png

2025-06-19 10:24:40 UTC

As a general rule, in every election everywhere, we really might want to consider not supporting the candidates that billionaires like best.

2025-06-13 20:42:08 UTC

EXPERIMENT: Since Slate has been attacking Bluesky lately, yesterday I tried a simple test. I posted the QUESTION below on Bluesky, X, Mastodon & LinkedIn to test my sense that Bluesky gets the most engagement (replies, reposts) with urbanism content.
Guess which came in first? Last?
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/114/677/990/749/031/824/original/d1dcc4197439c755.png

2025-06-13 01:28:07 UTC

What’s the MOST IMPORTANT THING you wish your local elected leaders understood about better cities for EVERYONE?

2025-06-08 02:06:53 UTC

Once again, Montreal is showing the rest of North America how to transform streets for people — 8 commercial streets in Montreal will be “pedestrianized” [turned into great people-places] this summer with 7.3km across 6 boroughs. Plus additional smaller sections.
https://montreal.citynews.ca/2025/05/26/montreal-summer-2025-pedestrian-streets/
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/114/645/295/770/463/490/original/ee75ecbc2d1fb878.png

2025-05-16 20:42:52 UTC

How tall is this Downtown Vancouver building?
The answer isn’t nearly as important as how well it’s designed. Street-lining shops and restaurants with outdoor seating, wide sidewalks, & a double row of street trees creating a “kissing canopy” overhead.
And that height above just means more homes.
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/114/519/451/053/760/293/original/b2e897e8906116d8.png

2025-05-14 14:25:22 UTC

BIG NEWS: I’m very honoured to announce that I’ve been collaborating with the CITY OF PARIS under Mayor Anne Hidalgo’s leadership to co-curate a unique exhibition opening this summer at Paris City Hall on BOLD URBAN TRANSFORMATION around the world.
Stay tuned for more details soon!
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/114/506/640/923/836/750/original/bca45e152548a5a8.png

2025-05-03 22:47:17 UTC

Don’t forget those who insisted that actions needed to avoid the #ClimateCrisis were “too expensive.”
 Don’t forget all the record-breaking, historic or “100 year” events we’ve seen lately.
 They’re not the “new normal.
 It’s going to keep getting exponentially worse.
 Don’t forget Valencia, Spain.
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/114/446/327/029/166/517/original/d0390e0bfe3b7834.png

2025-04-26 15:23:48 UTC

The Canadian Election is on Monday.
Pierre Poilievre, who has been running for YEARS, still refuses to apply for the normal security check, in the middle of a security crisis.
He must know that his refusal has been badly hurting him with voters.
So I have to assume that he knows he CAN’T pass it.

2025-04-10 02:50:51 UTC

Your periodic reminder that cities aren’t loud, cars are loud.
Easier to remember thanks to new sticker by @npub1thu…8zxf.
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/114/311/391/119/640/343/original/01eacc87a613741a.png

2025-03-12 19:38:39 UTC

‘I feel utter anger’: From Canada to Europe, a movement to boycott US goods is spreading.
“Tesla sales are falling and apps and online groups are springing up to help consumers choose non-US items.”
Via @guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/12/i-feel-utter-anger-from-canada-to-europe-a-movement-to-boycott-us-goods-is-spreading

2025-03-06 06:13:00 UTC

“In Finland, the number of homeless people has fallen sharply. Those affected receive a small apartment & counselling with no preconditions. Four out of five people affected make their way back into a stable life. And all this is CHEAPER than accepting homelessness.”
https://thebetter.news/housing-first-finland-homelessness/

2025-03-04 21:01:50 UTC

You can’t overstate the historic importance of today’s speech to both American and Canadian citizens by Canada’s Prime Minister.
Please watch it and share it wherever you live, but especially if you’re in the United States. You need to know what Trump is doing, and why.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wz_42pckM7w

2025-03-02 06:59:02 UTC

Mike Myers, Canadian legend, on SNL tonight.
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/114/091/538/254/593/229/original/77a57ed06ae9c2c0.png

2025-01-31 01:44:27 UTC

Don’t forget those who insisted that actions needed to avoid the #ClimateCrisis were “too expensive.”
Don’t forget all the record-breaking, historic or “100 year” events we’ve seen lately.
They’re not the “new normal.
It’s going to keep getting exponentially worse.
Don’t forget Valencia, Spain.
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/113/920/430/850/131/882/original/df666c5d13108894.png

2025-01-23 21:37:05 UTC

Better for congestion AND better for crashes!
In the first 12 days of New York City’s new de-congestion pricing program, there’s been a 51% drop in crash-related injuries and a 55% drop in crashes year over year.
Via @npub1xqa…z0kj
https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2025/01/23/congestion-relief-zone-is-also-a-crash-relief-zone-data

2025-01-16 15:45:19 UTC

A big part of the reason the rich bad guys are winning is that they understand that buying mainstream media and social media isn’t about making money on that mainstream media or social media. It’s about power and control, and making MUCH more money as a result of that power and control.

2025-01-15 16:05:17 UTC

AMAZING JOB ALERT! Commissioner of Transportation & Infrastructure Services. I’ve been advising the City of Kingston Canada for 7 years now, and they’ve become a rock star city for innovation & boldness among mid-sided cities. This is a KEY LEADERSHIP role! Deadline coming fast, check it out. https://careers.cityofkingston.ca/CL2/XWEB/XWEB.ASP?CLID=61577&PAGE=JOBDETAILS&JOBID=J1224-0216&BRID=362443&UTM_SOURCE=NJOYN&UTM_MEDIUM=RSS&UTM_CAMPAIGN=PCANDIDATES&LANG=1

2024-12-14 01:19:31 UTC

Before choosing bottled water over tap water, remember it takes more than 10X the water that a bottle of water holds to make the plastic bottle and transport the water. And that’s before considering the fuel and GHGs, the 1000 year bottle life, and the RIDICULOUS amount of $ we’re paying for water.
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/113/648/543/707/082/475/original/d6a9cae8fd7f675d.png

2024-12-13 22:05:09 UTC

WATCH THIS! Every person in Ontario should watch & share this new video, whether you care about Toronto’s success & bike-lanes or not. An absolutely DEVASTATING slaughter of “The World’s Dumbest Bike-Lane Law” using facts, evidence and COMMON SENSE, by #NotJustBikes. @npub1z7x…q5jf https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgFCQ7jEZxI

2024-12-08 03:10:29 UTC

Did you know, the hotel that #TaylorSwift is staying at in downtown Vancouver, wouldn’t exist without Vancouver’s heritage density bonusing system?
The Hotel Georgia had a stunning full interior and exterior renovation while I was #Vancouver’s chief planner, and the cost of the restoration & seismic upgrading was incentivized, essentially paid for, with bonus density in that tower beside it.
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/113/615/005/049/152/340/original/2d44bd4758ea2368.png

2024-12-01 16:41:40 UTC

Every year, billions of vehicles worldwide shed an estimated 6 million tonnes of tire fragments. These tiny flakes of plastic, generated by normal driving, account for 28% of microplastics entering the environment globally.
Heavy vehicles eg SUVs/EVs especially.
https://theconversation.com/car-tyres-shed-a-quarter-of-all-microplastics-in-the-environment-urgent-action-is-needed-244132

2024-11-26 07:08:09 UTC

BREAKING: "I will be Mayor of Paris until the last day, with the same energy as I’ve had since the beginning.” Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, probably the best and most inspiring mayor in the world in recent years, has announced that she won’t run for a 3rd term. #Paris https://www.lemonde.fr/politique/article/2024/11/26/anne-hidalgo-je-ne-me-presenterai-pas-a-un-troisieme-mandat-de-maire-de-paris_6414736_823448.html

2024-11-24 02:53:50 UTC

Hey, remember when car and oil companies successfully lobbied governments to create car dependent cities and suburbs, and once we became almost completely car dependent, WE became the loudest, angriest champions of unhindered road space for cars, unnaturally cheap gas, and subsidized free parking?
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/113/535/665/884/779/604/original/886a30c587454bf3.png

2024-11-19 00:36:36 UTC

URBANISM BOOK ALERT: One of the most interesting cities to learn from when it comes to smart city-building is Oslo, Norway. My old friend Erling Fossen has a new book ready for pre-order on Oslo urbanism, and I wrote the forward.
Oslo: In The Air.
Spread the word. #UrbanismBookClub https://ao-publishing.com/product/oslo-in-the-air/
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/113/506/816/655/592/038/original/6bf0a105ce3ab91a.png

2024-11-18 19:25:57 UTC

IMPORTANT: “What impressed Mr. Toderian most was not just the exclusion of cars but what replaced them. ‘They weren’t lazy about it. They didnt just throw up barriers & ban cars,’ he said.”
A key message for cities already working on #OpenStreets for people, for next year. Don’t just do it — do it well. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-montreal-avenues-car-free-transformation-proves-a-hit-with-residents/
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/113/505/594/986/564/701/original/763c07d2f38f9e61.png

2024-11-14 02:26:43 UTC

I’m surprised that while my Bluesky account has grown by 8000 followers — DOUBLED to 16k+ — in just the last week since the election, my Mastodon count hasn’t changed at all.
Is Mastodon not seen as an alternative to Twitter?
Or is my account hard to find for those not following me?
Honestly curious.

2024-11-13 20:47:39 UTC

Trump wants Matt Gaetz to be Attorney General of the United States of America.
Presumably because Jeffrey Epstein is unavailable.

2024-11-13 17:20:11 UTC

"Without our bikes, we would not have been able to buy much-needed food and water supplies and then quickly deliver them to cut-off villages within half-an-hour.”
Bicycles save lives: How bikes have been critical after Spain's Valencia floods.
https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/bicycles-save-lives-how-bikes-have-been-critical-after-the-valencia-floods
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/113/476/789/089/127/203/original/1ea9a5acdcb60774.png

2024-11-11 17:06:12 UTC

The “E-Bike Effect:” Those who bought e-bikes increased their average daily bicycle use from 2.1km (1.3 miles) to 9.2km (5.7 miles), a 340% increase. The e-bike share of all their transportation increased dramatically too; from 17% to 49%. Via @Treehugger
https://www.treehugger.com/e-bikers-ride-much-farther-and-more-frequently-than-regula-bikers-5076231
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/113/465/408/794/163/661/original/222aa99ede52a9fd.png

2024-11-10 15:14:03 UTC

IMPORTANT: “That ignores a big determinant of political behavior: where people get their news & information. It’s odd how little attention has been given to this, given that in the past decade we’ve had a revolution in how information flows.” Via [@politico](https://flipboard.com/@politico ) https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2024/11/09/social-media-traditional-news-elections-00188548
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/113/459/307/338/431/810/original/838a2d6625c9bb26.png

2024-11-09 17:47:13 UTC

Nations too often let us down. My biggest faith is in cities.

2024-11-06 04:28:53 UTC

Want an example of a broken system? Florida DIDN’T “reject” the proposal to include a right to abortion in the constitution — they voted 58.2% in favor of abortion rights. But it needed 60% to pass, so it failed WITH A MAJORITY.
Can’t imagine what Florida women must be thinking.
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/113/434/121/125/824/613/original/bdeef4573afc0238.png

2024-11-01 19:11:13 UTC

PARIS: “City Hall says that its aim is to reduce thru traffic. That is, non-resident motorists driving thru while traveling from one side of Paris to another. Currently, between 350k & 500k cars use what will be the ZTL every day, & City Hall estimates that up to 50% of those journeys is thru traffic.” Via @npub1aez…xxkc
https://www.forbes.com/sites/carltonreid/2024/11/01/central-paris-to-ban-through-motor-traffic-from-next-week/
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/113/409/278/843/116/879/original/a8d6297c725af293.png

2024-11-01 18:32:14 UTC

THIS IS HUGE. Paris City Hall has announced that starting on Monday, Paris will limit (not ban) car traffic in the city centre, as cities like Ghent have done. They’re creating a limited traffic zone (ZTL) about 2 sq miles in size, to clean the air & create more space for people.
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/113/409/125/749/871/261/original/b647dc5e2d5cedbc.png

2024-10-31 00:25:15 UTC

Valencia, Spain.
Tell us again how the actions that would allow us to avoid the #ClimateCrisis were “too expensive.”
None of the record-breaking, historic or “100 year” events we’ve been seeing a lot of lately are the “new normal.” Because it’s actually going to keep getting exponentially worse.
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/113/399/189/217/276/642/original/995d0117300b2b66.png

2024-10-28 14:21:50 UTC

NEW: “Wrong-headed is an understatement,” says Toderian. “This is like instituting a ban on intelligence.”
“Bike-lanes aren’t anti-car. They’re pro-city.”
New @TorontoStar article by @TaylorNoakes with blunt quotes from me.
This is NO time to hold back.
https://www.thestar.com/news/insight/heres-why-toronto-must-fight-for-its-bike-lanes-but-montreal-keeps-rolling-along/article_7e7dbf8e-8b11-11ef-92e5-7b1ceab07fca.html
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/113/385/491/048/018/847/original/9fc9718ee5df2a52.png

2024-10-26 00:11:54 UTC

WATCH: Seriously, if you’re following ANY bike-lane debate, you HAVE TO WATCH this news story. You actually can’t make this up. Ford claims without evidence that bike-lanes are bad for small business, and THE ACTUAL BUSINESS ASSOCIATION obliterates him with data.
https://toronto.citynews.ca/video/2024/10/24/annex-businesses-tell-ford-to-back-off-bloor-bike-lanes/
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/113/370/824/965/171/824/original/c41fcdc33356488d.png

2024-10-23 00:42:52 UTC

NEW: “Do bike lanes really cause more traffic congestion? Here's what the research says. Studies from around the world show bike lanes ease congestion, reduce emissions & are a boon to businesses.”
And removing them would cost a lot & make traffic worse.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/bike-lanes-impacts-1.7358319
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/113/353/959/987/253/044/original/f147a3a83ca71a02.png

2024-10-19 17:23:45 UTC

IMPORTANT: Ontario Premier Doug Ford doesn’t JUST plan to block new bike-lanes, hamstringing cities from making improvements that help them succeed in every way we measure — he ALSO plans to obscenely waste public money and endanger the public by ripping out working bike routes that are already built.
This all is a blatant attack on better, smarter city-building that would hurt Ontario. And it would MAKE TRAFFIC WORSE.
https://globalnews.ca/news/10816779/doug-ford-plans-to-rip-out-existing-bike-lanes/
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/113/335/235/838/916/201/original/103ffffb74a91384.png
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/113/335/236/082/358/654/original/967da56f8facf690.png
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/113/335/236/290/307/394/original/84307d7802c8d6d0.png
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/113/335/236/536/613/980/original/f3281e465df71548.png

2024-10-13 16:24:46 UTC

One of the most successful pedestrian streets in the world, the Strøget in Copenhagen was filled with cars until a 2 year pilot project in 1962. The opposition argued “no cars means no business” but the street has been a massive retail success, the city’s busiest shopping street.
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/113/301/040/439/557/732/original/91120711eb3051ab.png

2024-10-12 04:29:06 UTC

“Hell is other people.” — Jean-Paul Sartre.
“Traffic is other people.” — most drivers.
#YouAREtraffic
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/113/292/564/160/282/519/original/d71baccc823b9f8a.png

2024-10-11 01:43:54 UTC

Seville, Spain eliminated 5,000 car parking spaces and built an 80 km protected cycling network in just 18 months with 32 million €.
Result: An average 70,000 bike trips a day.
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/113/286/251/899/999/612/original/214680963464ddcf.png
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/113/286/252/075/768/221/original/fb1ce2d988308d49.png

2024-10-06 02:40:10 UTC

IMPORTANT: According to the City of Paris, in the last 10 years 150,000 trees have been planted and 45 hectares of parks created in the city, all intended to not only improve quality-of-life today, but also help the city adapt to and manage summer heatwaves of 50℃ (122F) by 2050.
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/113/258/161/991/597/630/original/91ccee6b3fc655ad.png

2024-09-16 21:37:57 UTC

“What about all the cars? And where will we park?!?” One of the biggest elephants in the room in every North American downtown is the flawed assumption that prioritizing cars over people fuels downtown success. Read our Downtown Sacramento Livability Strategy tackling that and a lot more head on!
https://www.downtownsac.org/about/reports-publications/downtown-sacramento-livability-strategy/
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/113/149/389/530/795/551/original/a9268938aee9bea5.png
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/113/149/389/701/858/685/original/29e4440a68070c17.png

2024-08-28 21:32:29 UTC

NEW: “The result is an endless cycle in which congestion leads to highway expansion, which invites more peak-hour trips, which brings back traffic & so on. The pattern is so inevitable that economists have dubbed induced demand the iron law of congestion.” Via @npub1zra…080t
https://slate.com/business/2024/08/construction-traffic-cars-driving-transportation-highway.html
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/113/041/784/327/226/812/original/5446de8cc3bc1a33.png

2024-08-17 13:50:00 UTC

STUDY: ‘Dual-mode households’ (cars & ebikes) can reduce their car use by 19% compared to those solely reliant on cars, particularly affecting shorter trips. This supports households moving to one car and adopting a ‘car light’ lifestyle. Via @MomentumMag https://momentummag.com/study-shows-how-e-bikes-are-shifting-the-transportation-landscape/
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/112/977/680/300/935/439/original/6e4f2fbbf7c01ff0.png

2024-08-06 00:44:57 UTC

IMPORTANT: This kind of small-scale retail, cafe/restaurant or service should be legal on every corner in cities/suburbs. A basic part of walkable communities. They aren’t easy financially, but at least they should be legal in policy and zoning. In plans I’m working on, I’m calling them “corner convenience.”
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/112/912/304/598/410/403/original/206e3d2da13ee4bf.png

2024-07-10 05:44:40 UTC

IMPORTANT STUDY: “On average, the implementation of 30 km/h speed limits in European cities demonstrated a 23%, 37%, and 38% reduction in road crashes, fatalities, and injuries respectively. Lower speed limits also yielded environmental benefits, with emissions decreasing on average by 18%, and fuel consumption by 7%, indicating enhanced fuel efficiency and reduced environmental impact.”
https://www.nrso.ntua.gr/review-of-city-wide-30-kmh-speed-limit-benefits-in-europe-may-2024/
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/112/760/604/123/124/494/original/b5269390f0be5fe6.png

2024-07-08 21:07:37 UTC

A new NASA map shows temperatures of up to 160 degrees on Phoenix streets and sidewalks. All that unrelenting concrete and asphalt for cars. Not nearly enough trees. They start with ridiculous heat that’s only getting worse, and then make it much worse with bad design.
https://www.kjzz.org/news/2024-07-05/nasa-map-shows-temperatures-up-to-160-degrees-on-phoenix-streets-sidewalks
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/112/752/908/616/201/178/original/4e48f941b3b0dd66.png

2024-07-03 02:16:11 UTC

NEW: Ford’s CEO tells the truth, that the automaker needs a “radical change.”
“We are just in love with these monster vehicles. We have to start to get back in love with smaller vehicles. It’s super important for our society and for EV adoption.”
Right.
https://electrek.co/2024/07/01/ford-ceo-calls-out-americas-love-monster-vehicles/
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/112/720/147/492/910/360/original/629eabf1e807b147.png

2024-06-22 22:35:00 UTC

If you widen that highway
you won’t reduce emissions
or congestion.
What you WILL do
is spend a lot of public money
to induce even more cars
emitting even more GHGs & pollution
in the same or worse congestion
with people still telling you to widen the highway.
Period.
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/112/662/655/324/370/165/original/6891589d7a882711.png

2024-06-20 04:17:32 UTC

“Nearly 2,000 children under five are dying every day from air pollution, which has overtaken poor sanitation and a lack of clean water to become the second biggest health risk factor for young children around the world.
More than 8 million deaths, of children and adults, were caused by air pollution in 2021.”
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/jun/18/almost-2000-children-die-every-day-from-air-pollution-report-finds
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/112/647/015/312/376/399/original/b248c72a8581fac5.png

2024-06-20 02:13:58 UTC

“Currently about 2/3rds of all Dutch children walk or bike to school, with 75% of secondary school kids cycling to school. By enabling safe and active travel, #Dutch cities prevent an estimated one million car journeys to school each morning.” — @npub18me…e7xm in #CurbingTraffic
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/112/646/529/525/410/424/original/56644735458a0175.png

2024-06-16 15:29:02 UTC

“To use a technical term, it blew my mind,” said Vancouver’s former chief planner Brent Toderian…”They weren’t lazy about it—they didn’t just throw up barriers and ban cars. It might be the best bargain I’ve ever heard,” Toderian said. #Montreal
https://www.theenergymix.com/montreal-adds-nine-more-car-free-streets-after-mind-blowing-success/
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/112/627/006/458/211/623/original/f863d212dff73c03.png

2024-06-15 20:05:43 UTC

A 5 yr Belgian study showed the BIG impact of increasing vehicle weight on road deaths & injuries. When a person on a bike or walking is hit by a pick-up, the risk of serious injury increases by 90% compared to a car. The risk of death goes up by 200%.
https://www.vias.be/fr/newsroom/des-voitures-plus-lourdes-plus-hautes-et-plus-puissantes-pour-une-securite-routiere-a-deux-vitesses-/
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/112/622/431/773/345/952/original/0cd83c79c3582a6d.png

2024-06-14 01:17:45 UTC

READ: Barcelona has a plan to create a city-wide network of quieter streets that are easier and safer to travel on foot or by bike. Instead of bumper-to-bumper cars, streets will be lined with trees, play parks, bike-lanes, benches and green people places.
https://www.politico.eu/article/barcelona-green-spaces-mental-health-superblocks-eixos-verds/

2024-05-23 03:48:26 UTC

This Vienna street isn’t “closed” because cars have been removed. It has successfully been “opened” to everything else, to a diverse and invigorated civic life, because cars have been replaced by a multitude of wonderful things.
Language matters.
HT @npub16x8…sx2w for pic
#urbanism #OpenStreets #Vienna
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/112/488/356/190/695/580/original/3fe338f4aa935c50.png

2023-12-12 17:28:41 UTC

There are many versions of this image out there. The good ones illustrate why “better cars” will never be more than part of the answer, and actually help “lock in” the #CarDependency that’s the real problem. They also show why status-quo interests want to focus on the vehicles.
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/111/568/625/079/855/421/original/bd82c30cdee32928.png