Cycling Without Age

There are two directions cities on the planet are going today. More cars and congestion or more spaces for people. There really isn’t any in-between. If you invite cars into your city from across the region you have a congested mess. We’ve done that. No ‘traffic officers’ waving through a car or two at a time will change things. They just won’t. London can pedestrianism Oxford because London has experimented with Congestion Pricing for 23 years and it has transformed the city (and for those about to ‘ but transit’ - congestion pricing was implemented with an aggressive *bus* strategy). We continue to add significant density to Toronto, but we are missing the secret sauce - a city rich in public spaces.

Toronto won’t solve congestion by relying on officers waving cars through intersections. The real issue is the sheer volume of vehicles entering the core. Our sprawling region means any new capacity is quickly filled with more cars. This car-centric approach only worsens the problem. As a dense urban city, Toronto must focus on: 1. Promoting transit: Visitors should be encouraged to use public transport like the UP Express. Pearson International should feature clear signage urging people to take transit rather than drive into the core. 2. Walkability: Let visitors know that driving into downtown is not practical. Instead of pretending there’s space, we should be honest and promote parking-and-walking as the better option. 3. Expanding bike share: Discounted day passes and widespread advertising of bike share can get visitors moving easily. Expand stations, run free blitz days, and place ambassadors at Union Station to assist newcomers. 4. Congestion pricing: The most effective tool for reducing congestion, as seen in London and NYC. Since NYC implemented charges for rideshare vehicles, getting around has become noticeably easier—Toronto should follow suit. Toronto’s stuck in the past, clinging to outdated solutions. It’s time to adopt forward-thinking strategies to meet the needs of our growing population and sprawling region. We have the tools—we just need the will. thestar.com/entertainment/ti… via @torontostar