“Labour Day marked the final day of Vancouver's Granville Street pedestrian zone, but the city is already facing calls to bring it back next summer.” “We need more spaces like this that feel like they are catered to the people that live in the city rather than the cars that drive through it."

Vancouver wraps Granville Street pedestrian zone, with hopes it will return | CBC News

Labour Day marks the final day of Vancouver's Granville Street pedestrian zone, but the city is already facing calls to bring it back next summer.

cbc.ca

The weather may be a bit chilly and gloomy in Vancouver today after a pretty hot week, but the mood on the Granville Street Pedestrian Zone is anything but! Lots of people out enjoying the soccer tournament, the line dancing (it’s National Day of the Cowboy!), and the generally happy street vibe.

Brent Toderian@brenttoderian.bsky.social · 2mo ago

So was WEEK 1 of Vancouver’s Pedestrian Zone post-World Cup extension a SUCCESS? Absolutely! It was a week of transition/turn-over, setting realistic expectations for a sustainable people-street, and rolling out new ideas. And people came, especially kids! A strong start to build on, & more coming!

So was WEEK 1 of Vancouver’s Pedestrian Zone post-World Cup extension a SUCCESS? Absolutely! It was a week of transition/turn-over, setting realistic expectations for a sustainable people-street, and rolling out new ideas. And people came, especially kids! A strong start to build on, & more coming!

Brent Toderian@brenttoderian.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Are you one of the 69% of Vancouver residents (63% Metro) who wanted Granville Street to STAY a pedestrian zone & people-place after the #WorldCup ends? WEEK ONE of the 7-week extension starts TOMORROW, with emphasis on day-time & families. JUST BEING ON THE STREET SUPPORTS ITS SUCCESS! Come see!

Simple message, really. Thanks for the bluntness, @nondriver.bsky.social. #UrbanTruth

NEW: We’re very pleased to announce the addition of Anna Zivarts @nondriver.bsky.social as an ongoing collaborator with the Urban Truth Collective, author of “When Driving Is Not An Option.” Read her bio and watch for our first collaboration shortly! #UrbanTruth www.urbantruthcollective.com/about-1

The FIRST DAY of Granville Street’s 7-week extended PEDESTRIAN ZONE was a BIG success, especially with kids! Free cotton candy and balloon creatures helped! All sorts of people were out strolling, people-watching, and checking out stores. TOMORROW free cotton candy & balloons again, & free flowers!

Brent Toderian@brenttoderian.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Are you one of the 69% of Vancouver residents (63% Metro) who wanted Granville Street to STAY a pedestrian zone & people-place after the #WorldCup ends? WEEK ONE of the 7-week extension starts TOMORROW, with emphasis on day-time & families. JUST BEING ON THE STREET SUPPORTS ITS SUCCESS! Come see!

Are you one of the 69% of Vancouver residents (63% Metro) who wanted Granville Street to STAY a pedestrian zone & people-place after the #WorldCup ends? WEEK ONE of the 7-week extension starts TOMORROW, with emphasis on day-time & families. JUST BEING ON THE STREET SUPPORTS ITS SUCCESS! Come see!

Brent Toderian@brenttoderian.bsky.social · 2mo ago

How will a pedestrianized Granville Street during the #WorldCup quickly evolve into a successful people-place EVERY day? This week I’ve started advising the very impressive @downtownvan.bsky.social leadership team planning the 7 week extension directed by City Council last Thursday. Challenging!

Downtown Van President & CEO Jane Talbot has long believed in the potential of Granville Street. While many have wondered whether FIFA was worth the investment, this summer showed what's possible. vancouversun.com/news/world-c...

World Cup 2026: Lessons Vancouver learned and what comes next

Streets came alive. Restaurants were packed. But hotels were empty. Can Vancouver keep the fun-times momentum and improve for future events?

vancouversun.com

“Compared with non-active travelers, the cyclists had a 19% lower risk of all-cause dementia, a 22% lower risk of Alzheimer's, a 40% lower risk of young-onset dementia (before the age of 65), & a 17% lower risk of late-onset dementia.” Cycling linked to reduced dementia risk. #HealthyCities

Cycling Linked to Lower Risk of Dementia, Study of Half a Million Finds

Getting from A to B on a bicycle more often could reduce risk of dementia, possibly by protecting a part of the brain tied to memory functions, new research finds.

sciencealert.com

Recently, @brenttoderian.bsky.social took me on a local tour in his ‘hood, which oddly began at his condo. After saying hi to his adorable sons, and alongside his wife @reneedsc.bsky.social—an accomplished planning director—we explored their epic courtyard & other community-centred amenities.

Two organizations doing important work, both worth following — the Union of Concerned Scientists @ucs.org, and the Urban Truth Collective @urbantruth.bsky.social.

Urban Truth Collective@urbantruth.bsky.social · 4mo ago

“The Highway Lobby spends millions to make sure we spend billions.” — Union of Concerned Scientists. Their profit, your cost. Pleased to support @ucs.org in sharing/boosting their important new article below, with our newest @urbantruth.bsky.social poster. #UrbanTruth

“Ever found yourself driving to the grocery store or coffee shop even tho it’s a 10-minute walk & perfectly nice day? New research suggests the reason isn’t just distance—it’s how the walk feels…it’s the sights, street life & amenities along the way that strongly shape whether people decide to walk”

Why walkable neighborhoods aren’t just about distance

New research finds that the experience of a walk plays a major role in whether people leave their cars behind.

colorado.edu

Not density OR trees. Density AND trees. Better cities are climate action. #UrbanTruth

The city’s transition away from the car, tho fantastically chaotic, has become a global role model. Under mayor @annehidalgo.bsky.social, Paris was “the most influential city in the world”, says Canadian urbanist Brent Toderian. Hidalgo, stepping down after 12 yrs, exulted: “The bike beat the car.”

How Paris beat the car

Though chaotic, the city’s transition has become a global role model

ft.com

not complicated

Check this out — Canadian urbanist @brenttoderian.bsky.social (who has launched the @urbantruth.bsky.social with @grantennis.bsky.social & fellow Canadian @tomflood.bsky.social) is the guest on @thewaroncars.bsky.social podcast with @sgoodyear.bsky.social! Discussing Vancouver, & better city-making!

The War on Cars@thewaroncars.bsky.social · 7mo ago

New episode up! We talked with planner @brenttoderian.bsky.social about how to build livable downtowns, what Vancouver does right, why developers should welcome regulation, and his brand-new venture to combat misinformation about cities, @urbantruth.bsky.social! podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/p...

New episode up! We talked with planner @brenttoderian.bsky.social about how to build livable downtowns, what Vancouver does right, why developers should welcome regulation, and his brand-new venture to combat misinformation about cities, @urbantruth.bsky.social! podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/p...

Walkable neighbourhoods aren’t scary, they’re convenient. #UrbanTruth

Our WEBSITE is LIVE! “The Truth About Cities In An Age Of Disinformation.” Read about WHO we are, WHY we started this, our PLANS to grow, and most importantly, WHAT WE’RE GOING TO BE DOING. We hope you’ll support this work, and help us spread the word! #UrbanTruth www.urbantruthcollective.com

“Flawed economic models mean the accelerating impact of the climate crisis could lead to a global financial crash, experts warn. Recovery would be far harder than after the 2008 financial crash, they said, as “we can’t bail out the Earth like we did the banks”.

Flawed economic models mean climate crisis could crash global economy, experts warn

States and financial bodies using modelling that ignores shocks from extreme weather and climate tipping points

theguardian.com

“This would lock the world into a new and hellish “hothouse Earth” climate far worse than the 2-3C temperature rise the world is on track to reach. The climate would also be very different to the benign conditions of the past 11,000 years, during which the whole of human civilisation developed.”

Point of no return: a hellish ‘hothouse Earth’ getting closer, scientists say

Continued global heating could set irreversible course by triggering climate tipping points, but most people unaware

theguardian.com

Check out these urbanism accounts and help grow the great city-making community here on Bluesky! #UrbanistShoutOut

Brent Toderian@brenttoderian.bsky.social · 7mo ago

I don’t know how many people join Bluesky each day, but my sense is that more & more people are discovering the outstanding community/conversation here (best on social media) about better cities. I still think STARTER PACKS are a superpower. I’ve made many, but here’s my first again. Please share.

On the #seabus and the children line the windows and are excited about the view!

NEW/LISTEN! Been REALLY looking forward to this one — my interview with Jason from #NotJustBikes 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! I’m looking forward to your thoughts and comments!

How to Actually Improve a City (w/Brent Toderian)

YouTube video by The Urbanist Agenda Podcast

youtube.com

More bikes in Boston: “The Better Bike Lanes project in the metropolitan area of #Boston has led to a substantial increase in bicycle trips and a modest decrease in the number of motor vehicles on the roads at any given time.”

Bostonians Wanted More Bike Lanes: Now They Have Them, and Traffic Is Down

Mayor Michelle Wu's ran on more protected bike lanes around the city to satisfy a perceived demand for better cycling infrastructure.

goodnewsnetwork.org

Way back in 2018 I did a walking tour of Vancouver with @brenttoderian.bsky.social and he explained how that city overcame this problem. You need family-sized units & also, crucially, *good urban schools*.

Young families typically leave cities for the suburbs. Here’s how to keep them downtown.

Urbanist Brent Toderian explains how Vancouver held onto its families.

vox.com

“In 2023, cars and their drivers killed 8,820 American pedestrians and bicyclists — 7,314 pedestrians and 1,166 cyclists. They injured another 136,281, an increase of over 5,300 injuries from 2022.” Via @jalopnik.bsky.social

No, Defensive Walking Isn't The Solution For Road Deaths - Jalopnik

It's victim-blaming, it's bull, and it's not the solution we need.

jalopnik.com

“When families leave, cities lose far more than tax revenue; they lose their highest earners, biggest spenders, and the next generation of workers. Because Gen Z is a smaller generation… they aren’t going to fill the gap left by millennial families.”

Cities made a bet on millennials — but forgot one key thing

Can cities learn to love kids again?

vox.com

“…the opening of the REM has vaulted Canada’s 2nd largest city from a transportation laggard to a frontrunner. It’s also provided a low-cost template of quick-to-build rapid transit that every Canadian city struggling with gridlock, long commutes and inflated transit costs can, and should, emulate.”

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

Bluesky is at 40 million and the urbanism community on here seems to keep growing. Here’s my updated Starter Pack of Canadian planners, architects, advocates and urbanists. Some well known faces … and some you should get to know! Give them a follow! go.bsky.app/AEYL7FZ