Solving the transit crisis.

What if Toronto built street cars along subway routes. If one travels from Union to Queen, the only option should be to take the street car or walk. But if one needs to go from Union to Bloor you take the subway. So the subway acts as an express transit, the street car does the short stops. So hypothetically, if you needed to get to Dupont Station from Union, you'd take the subway to Bloor, get off and take the street car the remaining distance. This would be beneficial for a few reasons. The movement of people would be much faster, more people could be moved, if you lived between stops you could get on or off closer to where you need to with the street car and it would also help with clogging of the subway at rush hour. Not to mention the street car would also add street life and a sense of saftey. Subways can feel rather cold and impersonal.

There also needs to be a express transit from East to West. Ideally from the Beaches to Etobicoke with express stops at Parliament, Yonge, Bathurst, Dufferin & Roncesvalles. The street car can take care of the rest.

Just a thought

What if everyone biked?

I was walking along Queen street the other day and imagined a city where hardly anyone owned cars and the majority biked. It made me think what it would do for the street life of this city. When that Eastern seaboard blackout occurred i think it was one of the best things that happened in this city. My wife and i found a cozy little bar, people were singing, i think it was the most vibrant i ever EVER saw this city. Only one looting was recorded, which i found to be really interesting. But back to my question, if everyone biked, what would that do to the moralle and quality of everyone's life.

Why Toronto can't be Great

I work downtown. Well not downtown downtown but at King and Dufferin. I'd say 2/3 of the staff drive to work. In fact we had to expand our parking lot to fit every car. Of course not one bike pole was installed. For this simple reason alone Toronto can't be great. One person lives about 10 minute walk away, he drives. Another lives 15 minute walk away, she drives. The grocery store is approx a 5 minute walk from work, and usually takes an exceptional beautiful sunny day to even make the walk there a consideration. I'd say this attitude is the mainstream of Toronto. I feel very alone with my frustration on this. I think at times it makes me obsess over it because of it.

To me, this is why Toronto can't be great.

(i secretly hope the price of gas sky rockets)

introduction

I'm starting this blog because of my love for Toronto's waterfront. Even though proper development seems to be one step forward, three steps back I still go as often as possible. I'm creating this blog as a celebration of being in a city that is fortunate for bordering a beautiful lake such as Lake Ontario.

I work in Liberty Village (Dufferin and King) and on my lunch break I tend to head down to the lake for a walk, sometimes to eat my lunch. A lot of my co-workers didn't realize the lake was within walking distance. I find this shocking. This city needs to do a way better job of promoting our lake. In saying that, this city makes it very hard to even get to the lake. Making the lake accessible to everyone is a priority. Last summer the lake was almost completely cut off from the King and Dufferin area for almost 3 months. The only way there was to walk to Jameson, which is a good 15-minute walk. So basically the city is suggesting that if you are old or disadvantaged, sorry the lake is not available.

I think this is why little progress is ever made, if people don't have the lake as part of their thoughts than very little will ever go towards it. Name one local pub that you can sit and look at the lake. I find it unbelievable this doesn't exist with exception of touristy places. Toronto needs to make the waterfront part of its local life if this area is going to thrive.

We need to do a better job Toronto!

The purpose of this blog however is to focus on what is right about the waterfront. I want to bring awareness and a sense of pride to our waterfront. Focusing on what’s not there only makes it more likely it stays that way. I’m going to focus on what is there with images and maybe even some writing.

windsurfer