On the highly rare occasion one encounters an American pickup beast in Asia or Europe—one can go years without seeing one thankfully—it looks like a big, glossy, and absurdly silly waste of metal and brainpower.

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

SERIOUSLY, WATCH THIS: If you really want to understand how SUVs and pick-up trucks have ended up being MOST of the vehicles out there in cities, and the absolutely HUGE consequences of that, watch this easy-to-watch video by Not Just Bikes. Then share it as much as you can. youtu.be/jN7mSXMruEo

I have two because there's one for a city I've been to and one that has always looked and felt like I would finally be home but I haven't been there yet: Portland, OR. It's my birthplace and every time I visit, even if it's just driving through on my way somewhere else, I want to stop and stay

Do you know about soccer tennis? Saturday nights are tournament night for the sport on the Granville Street Pedestrian Zone, & these teams are no joke! Nice way to cap off a great day on the people-street. Overheard one family talking about how they “can’t believe how great Granville Street is now.”

Brent Toderian@brenttoderian.bsky.social · 6d ago

The Big Apple bench is going in. The ball chairs that were all soccer balls during the World Cup, now reflect all sorts of summer sports you can watch on Granville Street patios. Tonight’s Dominican Street Dance drew a crowd. And simple games help make the street magnetic. Week Two looking good.

@marjolainekoch.bsky.social Ne Koch is an excellent French journalist, and she has chosen to interview a close friend and, above all, one of the pioneers and leading figures in 21st-century urban planning, Brent Toderian. Do read it and enjoy it!

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

ICYMI: “A North American city planner contracted by European cities—that’s curious.” My interview with France-based Lettre du Cadre and writer @marjolainekoch.bsky.social covering a lot of ground on how to actually achieve better European & North American city-building. Article in the screen shots.

“According to the finance ministry’s calculations, the cost to society of trips by car is close to one euro/km. On the other hand, every km travelled by bike yields societal gains of 60 euro cents thanks to the health benefits of cycling, transport efficiency gains, & lower infrastructure spending.”

Copenhagen Cycling Revolution: Lessons for Cities

Close to two-thirds of the city’s residents commute by bike to school or work every day.

theprogressplaybook.com

Point number 4 on this is particularly good imo. I will gladly take on the sins of every bad cyclist out there, if any motorist complaining about cyclists will take on the sins of the millions of deaths caused by drivers every year.

Brent Toderian@brenttoderian.bsky.social · last wk.

“10 reasons your anti-cycling ranting just sounds daft, even if some people are nodding along.” A definitely Irish way of making some reasonable points, via @irishcycle.com. Think it’s too aggressive? Try reading some of the rants that the article is clapping back on.

BREAKING: Congratulations to HAVN floating sauna & the Vancouver Maritime Museum — their innovative collaboration that financially stabilizes the museum and establishes a new waterfront activity here in Vancouver, was just approved unanimously by City Council. Happy to have helped them. See thread.

Brent Toderian@brenttoderian.bsky.social · 9mo ago

I’m one of many who believe our Vancouver waterfront should have more things to go to. Here’s one I’ve been advising & helping with— HAVN now has a proposed site in Vancouver for a floating sauna boat. They have one in Victoria already. I’ve experienced similar in Helsinki & Oslo! www.havnsaunas.com

Vision Zero Volunteers loving the Granville St pedestrianization! What a great hang out spot after our monthly meeting.

Brent Toderian@brenttoderian.bsky.social · last wk.

Never forget, you can double the number of people in a pedestrian street or people-place in two different ways — by doubling the number of people who come (which is harder), or by doubling the length of time that people stay (easier, but we too often get this wrong). Make streets magnetic places.

LISTEN: Here’s my chat on CBC Radio from this morning with @cbcstephenquinn.bsky.social on the Granville Street pedestrian zone 7-week extension, and why if would have been a huge mistake to NOT extend it and lose that unique momentum/economic opportunity. Plus see thread. www.cbc.ca/listen/live-...

Brent Toderian@brenttoderian.bsky.social · last wk.

Was Vancouver City Council’s decision to extend the Granville Street Pedestrian Zone beyond the World Cup a “mistake?” Despite its popularity with businesses, residents, etc, some in the media, and a city councillor, have suggested that. Here’s how I responded to a media post on the other site.

In this week’s episode, Amber speaks with journalist John Vaillant, bestselling author of Fire Weather, about what we can learn from an oil town that went up in flames. Plus, city planner Brent Toderian unpacks the truth about bike lanes & car-dependent cities. ambermac.com/the-ambermac...

The AmberMac Show Ep075: The Science of Wildfires + Why...

In this week's episode, we explore the science behind out-of-control wildfires and we ask how we can save our cities from Cybertrucks. Jeff hosts this summer special, featuring two of our most…

ambermac.com

Always good to be back in Toronto, and @jasonthorne.bsky.social is the perfect tour guide. Thanks for making it happen, @brenttoderian.bsky.social!

Jason Thorne@jasonthorne.bsky.social · 3w ago

I’ve been a regular reader of his work for years, so it was nice to finally get to meet @davidzipper.bsky.social in person today. Thanks for the introduction @brenttoderian.bsky.social !

When urbanists take pictures of a Paris street (like Rue de Rivoli) showing all the people on bikes now taking advantage of protected infrastructure, it’s not just because we “like bikes.” It’s because we’re picturing the gridlock if they were driving cars. And the public cost, pollution, noise…

I know Vancouver well and think making Granville Street car free would be a great idea! Brisbane did it in the 1980s and it has made its main street Queen Street into one of the worlds great pedestrian areas.

Brent Toderian@brenttoderian.bsky.social · last wk.

If you’re interested in the Granville Street Pedestrian Zone* that’s been extended until the end of summer after the World Cup, or if you’re interested in making the case for any challenging pedestrian street, follow and share this thread below, which I’ll keep adding to. * not a fan of that word

And finally, @brenttoderian.bsky.social made a presentation on building density while improving the public realm. He draws on examples from his time as the chief planner for Vancouver, consultancy work, and what Halifax can learn. 4/ youtu.be/Gz7U3SJjA98?...

Brent Toderian - Density Done Well

YouTube video by PLANifax

youtu.be

To create a truly great people-place, it starts with removing the vehicles, to make room for everything else a GREAT STREET can offer. But that’s not NEARLY enough — it’s not just what you remove, it’s WHAT YOU ADD! Things that are magnetic, that attract people, and entice them to stay a long time.

Downtown Van@downtownvan.bsky.social · last wk.

What makes a good Pedestrian Street? We spoke with @brenttoderian.bsky.social, city expert and former Chief Planner of Vancouver to get some insight 🤔 www.instagram.com/p/DbMWaSCBwbq/

I’ve been a regular reader of his work for years, so it was nice to finally get to meet @davidzipper.bsky.social in person today. Thanks for the introduction @brenttoderian.bsky.social !

Great interview. Toderian destroys these ridiculous lies being told around walkable and bikeable cities by conspiracists.

Great day with the family on Vancouver’s Granville Street Pedestrian Zone. A LOT of families were there enjoying the free family entertainment (including BABY RAVE), games, food + lots of giveaways. AND the street’s now the Whitecaps pre-game party hub! “Soccer Tennis Tournament” with DJ TONIGHT.

Brent Toderian@brenttoderian.bsky.social · 6d ago

The Big Apple bench is going in. The ball chairs that were all soccer balls during the World Cup, now reflect all sorts of summer sports you can watch on Granville Street patios. Tonight’s Dominican Street Dance drew a crowd. And simple games help make the street magnetic. Week Two looking good.

'De stad autovrij maken is geen 'oorlog tegen de auto'. Het gaat om bevrijding. Zodra de auto's weg zijn, vraagt iedereen zich af: waarom is dit niet jaren eerder gedaan?' (Brent Toderian) De #Steenweg, #Utrecht, gefotografeerd in 1973 en door mij, 2026. #stadsmens @zowasutrecht.bsky.social

« Ce n’est pas seulement ce qu’on retire — les voitures — qui compte, c’est aussi ce qu’on ajoute. »

Brent Toderian@brenttoderian.bsky.social · 5d ago

“L’avenue du Mont-Royal, à #Montréal, constitue un exemple particulièrement réussi, estime Brent Toderian... Son succès tient non seulement à l’absence de voitures, mais aussi à la présence de restaurants, de commerces et d’autres activités qui animent l’espace public.” My comments in Le Devoir.

That is some really important #UrbanTruth right there.

The War on Cars@thewaroncars.bsky.social · 5d ago

Catching 74 distracted drivers in six hours is good, but what would be better is redesigning the street so drivers are forced to pay attention.

Bike-centric cities are living cities. You won't reget it.

Brent Toderian@brenttoderian.bsky.social · 6d ago

“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.’”

Never forget, we can double the # of people in a pedestrian street or people-place in 2 ways— by doubling the # of people who come (which is harder), or by doubling the length of time people stay (easier, but we often get this wrong). My kids played in this spot for an hour. Make streets magnetic.

Brent Toderian@brenttoderian.bsky.social · 6d ago

The Big Apple bench is going in. The ball chairs that were all soccer balls during the World Cup, now reflect all sorts of summer sports you can watch on Granville Street patios. Tonight’s Dominican Street Dance drew a crowd. And simple games help make the street magnetic. Week Two looking good.

What?! It’s cost effective to HELP PEOPLE?!?!

Brent Toderian@brenttoderian.bsky.social · 4w ago

“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.

Cars have a geometry problem. They’re incredibly spatially inefficient.

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

To carry 50,000 people per hour in each direction, a city needs a 175m wide road for cars. Even if those cars are electric. And then there’s all the parking. OR a city can move A LOT MORE people in a lot less space, with A LOT LESS public money, emissions, pollution, noise etc. Choices. Simple.

This is a fact I bring up often when people wield ableism in bad faith to argue against active transportation infrastructure. Creating safe and efficient mobility options for disabled nondrivers does not take away options from disabled folks who do need to drive.

Urban Truth Collective@urbantruth.bsky.social · 2w ago

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

« L’avenue du Mont-Royal, à Montréal, constitue un exemple particulièrement réussi, estime Brent Toderian. » « Son succès tient non seulement à l’absence de voitures, mais aussi à la présence de restaurants, de commerces et d’autres activités qui animent l’espace public. » 💚

Comment les rues sans voitures rendent-elles les communautés plus saines?

Interdire temporairement les véhicules dans certaines rues diminuerait de 60% la pollution de l’air et le bruit.

ledevoir.com

WEEK TWO of Vancouver’s Granville Street Pedestrian Zone extension has more live music/events, more seating (2nd banana bench!), PLENTY of people, & the arrival today of new music-creating installations. STILL just the beginning! CHECK OUT the weekend live line-up (dj’ed soccer tourney, BABY RAVE!)

Brent Toderian@brenttoderian.bsky.social · 2w 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 the GRANVILLE PEDESTRIAN STREET EXTENSION a “mistake?” Hell no. The mistake would have been to fail to seize the unique momentum AGAIN. To ignore the huge costs of INACTION, and fail to see the ROI. To underestimate our city again. Come support Granville Street. It needs ALL of us. 9/

Although it’s important to be honest about the base challenges of the street, many of which MUST be addressed with much greater urgency, unhelpful negativity about this SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY sends the message that “things won’t change,” and if we’re not careful, becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. 8/