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.

“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”

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.”

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!

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”.

“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.”

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

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!

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.”

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*.

“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

“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.”

“…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.”

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

A global network of urbanists shaping the cities of tomorrow. From sustainability to resilience and fairness, we’re all tackling the same challenges—and we have so much to learn from each other. As climate change and other crises intensify, sharing ideas has never been more urgent.

Canadian Cities Guru Teams Up with Paris Mayor for Groundbreaking New Exhibition. momentummag.com/from-paris-t...

I saw this happen over visits during the last 20 years. It’s amazing.

We could have nice things. Paris quickly cleaned up their air, reduced traffic jams while improving mobility and overall livability 💚

“Recent studies show that between 80% — 89% of the world’s population wants to see climate action. Members of this ‘silent majority’ come from all walks of life…’” #ClimateChange

“One of Hidalgo’s most transformative achievements has been her push to reduce car dominance in Paris, a city historically shaped by automotive culture. Since 2014, her administration has added over 1,300 kilometers (800 miles) of bike lanes, making cycling a viable and safe option for commuters.”

Important piece by Brent—please check it out!

This book is my current transit commute read! I attended the pre-launch of the book "Women Changing Cities: Global Stories of Urban Transformation", by our old friends Melissa & Chris Bruntlett @modacitylife.com at the Consulate General of the Netherlands in Vancouver. #UrbanismBookClub 1/

“But urban thinkers see another way: cities designed for people, not cars. It sounds utopian, maybe even naïve, but these three urbanists say it’s achievable if city builders are willing to take bold steps and rethink the status quo.” www.theglobeandmail.com/life/article...

Really happy to reconnect with old friends Melissa & Chris Bruntlett @modacitylife.com back visiting Vancouver from their amazing global work championing smart urban biking. Great fun at the Dutch Consulate special event celebrating their inspiring new book “Women Changing Cities!” #UrbanismBookClub

“Fast forward to today, and the transformation is astonishing. Paris has quietly—and quickly—become one of the most bike-friendly cities in the world” with pop-up bike-lanes during the pandemic evolving “into a permanent cycling network spanning hundreds of kilometres.” Via @momentummag.bsky.social

“The change shows how ambitious policymaking can directly improve health in large cities. Air pollution is often described by health experts as a silent killer. Both PM 2.5 and nitrogen dioxide have been linked to major health problems, including heart attacks, lung cancer, bronchitis and asthma.”

All the haters who are constantly accusing us of not changing the conversation about better cities must feel pretty stupid right about now.

The bike lane infrastructure in Paris was amazing. I couldn’t get over how many cycle lanes there were. The city is incredibly bike-friendly, with countless protected paths that are fully separated from cars and traffic, making it safe and enjoyable to get around on two wheels.

“The redevelopment plan includes planting more than 225 trees and adding vegetation-covered pits, most of which will also serve as rain drainage. The city will also add more seating along the street and an illuminated canopy, which will be present year-round.” #Montreal www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Great NEW Starter Pack on Canadian Urbanism and Planning, curated by none other than Toronto’s Chief Planner @jasonthorne.bsky.social! That doesn’t happen every day! #UrbanistShoutOut

If you think climate change has gotten worse during your lifetime, you're right and there's a good reason. If you're Gen X like me, more than 3/4 of fossil fuel CO₂ emissions have occurred in your lifetime. Even if you're a Millennial, it's at least half. 📊: @neilrkaye.bsky.social

My street has a huge green canopy of trees now - it makes a huge difference at street level.

"Most recently global top urbanist Canadian @brenttoderian.bsky.social has been contributing to the #FromParisToBelém project, an international effort celebrating urban #ClimatePolicy & connecting it to global #ClimateGoals ahead of the #COP30 climate summit in #Brazil." [art by #ShepardFairey]

The design of your city can help make you healthier, study finds. “A new study in Nature found when people moved from less walkable U.S. cities to more walkable ones, they increased their levels of physical activity and saw health benefits.”

“Paris, and Mayor @annehidalgo.bsky.social, have been the most inspiring in the world over the last 10 years…Not because they’ve been perfect — no city has been — but because they’ve been strategic, determined, & fearless.” — @brenttoderian.bsky.social interviewed by @carltonreid.com in @forbes.com.

Helsinki goes a full year without a traffic death. “A city traffic engineer credits the success to lower speed limits and smarter design.” #VisionZero

“The Seine riverbanks are no longer high-speed roads but instead pedestrian-friendly areas with parks, walkways and cultural spaces. Close to 130,000 trees have been planted on Paris’s streets since 2020 to help create new green spaces…” #Paris

“Every city needs to go much further and faster. The powers that city leaders have to decide urban densities, land-use mix, transportation, infrastructure, & more are game-changing for addressing the climate crisis.” — @brenttoderian.bsky.social discussing the Paris Exhibition with @carltonreid.com.

“Wildfires and heatwaves grip southern Europe as evacuations ordered. Deadly blaze in France and mass evacuations in Spain and Portugal as extreme temperatures fuel fire risk.” #ClimateChange

STILL TIME to check out and apply for this really important PLANNING MANAGER position! Posting closes end of the day on Monday! #Coquitlam

“Nearly 2000 children under 5 are dying every day from air pollution, which has become the 2nd biggest health risk factor for young children around the world.” “More than 8 million deaths of children & adults were caused by air pollution in 2021.”

“In the 1960s, the children’s television show Sesame Street was being conceived at the same time that the urban design book ‘The Death and Life of Great American Cities’ by Jane Jacobs was exploding in popularity.“

A free, child-friendly exhibition staged in the City Hall, Paris, on how large cities around the world are fighting back against climate change opened last month. “From Paris to Belém: 10 years of global climate action” runs until mid-December. #ClimateChange www.forbes.com/sites/carlto...