“…the managing of traffic should never have been given to engineers. They aren’t trained to understand it, in part because they aren’t trained to understand people or cities.” @BrentToderian

The problem with treating #traffic like a hard science - like a liquid or a gas, instead of like people. Comments? pic.twitter.com/qWo89sjfWo

— Brent Toderian (@BrentToderian) September 5, 2015

"...when universities give science degrees in traffic engineering...They are perpetrating a fraud upon students and the public" #JaneJacobs
— TheSidewalkBallet (@1sidewalkballet) March 19, 2013

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From @BrentToderian — 4 classic #roaddiets in one 2-minute video via @JeffSpeckAICP

"4 classic #roaddiets in one 2-minute video" via @JeffSpeckAICP. https://t.co/R5xwmvEq7N What do you think, Tweeps? pic.twitter.com/xP0hqLpnDC

— Brent Toderian (@BrentToderian) August 20, 2015

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Brent Toderian in Halifax

#Halifax's new downtown library doesn't disappoint - distinct architecture, nice urban edges, good public spaces. pic.twitter.com/7Tpvb6k5ig

— Brent Toderian (@BrentToderian) June 17, 2015

Pop-up movable chairs, piano, food kiosks, even container beer garden, all enlivening #Halifax's evolving waterfront. pic.twitter.com/BaRp421q8O

— Brent Toderian (@BrentToderian) June 18, 2015

Few more images of #Halifax's remarkable, award-winning new downtown library. Spent an enjoyable evening as a patron. pic.twitter.com/fWvF8VAG0Y

— Brent Toderian (@BrentToderian) June 19, 2015

#Halifax's Argyle Street evolution: 1st Gen, patios & sidewalks replace parking. Next Gen, pedestrian painted street. pic.twitter.com/RBKOLGYt8D

— Brent Toderian (@BrentToderian) June 19, 2015

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60% of families would choose a smaller home in #walkable, transit-friendly neighbourhood

60% of families would choose a smaller home if it was in #walkable, transit-friendly neighbourhood pic.twitter.com/M4eW3HvFlv v/@BrentToderian
— Canadian Urbanism (@CanUrbanism) January 18, 2015

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Cities are designed to accommodate cars. How do we redesign them to benefit people? @CBCTheNational

Post by Nanaimo Commons.

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#CBCCities Tweets

"Great cities know that streets are places to linger and live..." @BrentToderian

"Great cities know that streets are places to linger and live; not just move through." @BrentToderian #northvan pic.twitter.com/g4RWYO8bHZ

— NorthShoreSRA (@NorthShoreSRA) January 15, 2015

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@BrentToderian on #Aukland's waterfront @WaterfrontAKL

Well into 2 creative days working with @WaterfrontAKL on planning, design & "culture" of #WynyardQuarter #Auckland. pic.twitter.com/U9x7aJ5lo6

— Brent Toderian (@BrentToderian) October 19, 2014

The transformation of #Auckland's waterfront has been remarkable - creative, successful #placemaking. @WaterfrontAKL pic.twitter.com/5P0JcQQL0z

— Brent Toderian (@BrentToderian) October 19, 2014

Transformative #placemaking. RT @AKLdesignchamp: @WaterfrontAKL before & after. Making dramatic changes. #Auckland pic.twitter.com/NiJtjmEfw7

— Brent Toderian (@BrentToderian) October 19, 2014

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In honour of #InternationalWalkToSchoolDay @BrentToderian

"Your point? Made." In honour of #InternationalWalkToSchoolDay, #LetKidsRide or #LetKidsWalk to school. pic.twitter.com/l5UQzby6EF

— Brent Toderian (@BrentToderian) October 8, 2014

"There is too much #traffic for Billy to walk to school. So we drive him." We can change this. Help spread the word. pic.twitter.com/FC93lCsqmP

— Brent Toderian (@BrentToderian) February 17, 2014

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#Vancouver Seawall "Canada's best public place" - it's also a neighbourhood & multi-modal corridor. @BrentToderian

#Vancouver's Seawall has been named Canada's best public place - but it's also a neighborhood & multi-modal corridor. pic.twitter.com/zATF7zAeSg
— Brent Toderian (@BrentToderian) September 8, 2014

Nanaimo’s seawall parks and neighbourhoods are first rate and our best asset. Our City Hall has just passed an upzoning for a pie-in-the-sky “Hilton” hotel development on the waterfront and our City Hall is considering privatizing large portions of our waterfront Georgia Park.

This stealth privatization is being done on 3 fronts: 

• an outright “lease” turning parkland over to the developer for a loading zone area (semi’s and delivery vans servicing a 330+ room hotel, patio areas for hotel cafes and lounges and a “grand staircase” creating a flow from the hotel lobby directly down to the waterfront promenade).

• portraying the aggressive extension of its lobby into and onto our parkland by a “grand staircase” connecting to the harbour side promenade as a community benefit. “Connectivity” between Front Street through the hotel to the staircase. This staircase is to be included in lands under their control by a 60 year lease agreement.

• perhaps most objectionably of all, the agreement with Staff to apply the very modest Community Amenity Contribution created by the huge uplift in value created by City concessions to be spent only on areas immediately surrounding their property and in concert with their landscape architects.

Staff report to Council here. 

Up-zoning to 114.3 m height and FAR of 12 approved Sept 3 at a well attended public hearing, a large majority of delegates speaking against the height and massing application and the park give-away . Sale of land currently designated lane-way that runs the property perimeter on the north and east sides (which alternatively could have been added to this park area which has been overdue for a redesign for at least 15 years). If there was a strong evidence based argument on which the City made these decisions, I didn’t hear it expressed by Council, it wasn’t made by the proponent at the public hearing and I see no sign of it in the Staff report.

The park lease provision, if the idea itself isn’t pulled off the table now just weeks before the municipal election, will require a referendum. Opposition to the loss of control over parkland, especially a much-loved and popular waterfront park, is strong, broad and spreading.

More background and further thoughts here. 

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Part of making multi-modal cities is designing great experiences - like this, in #Montreal — @TODUrbanWORKS

Part of making multi-modal cities is designing great experiences - like this, in #Montreal: http://t.co/qH15oDlIAH pic.twitter.com/KfirEszHyy

— TODERIAN UrbanWORKS (@TODUrbanWORKS) July 11, 2014

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Designing for cars, or designing for people. #Seoul before and after: via @BrentToderian

Designing for cars, or designing for people. #Seoul before and after: pic.twitter.com/FDyfDMIos0 via @economicsNZ @JulieAnneGenter

— Brent Toderian (@BrentToderian) June 1, 2014

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One of America's best. #placemaking HT @BrentToderian

One of America's best. #placemaking RT @ZacSpicer: Great view of the San Antonio river walk. Wonderful public space. pic.twitter.com/WXwHsNwBtm

— Brent Toderian (@BrentToderian) May 16, 2014

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Public transit & people-places can coexist...

Public transit & people-places can coexist, no matter what some engineers & lawyers say. #Angers pic.twitter.com/JPCUuUlSXr via @AxelLecompte

— Brent Toderian (@BrentToderian) May 7, 2014

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Or You Could Take the Bus...

My fav #transit ad campaign. Can't wait to be back on #Auckland buses in a few weeks. pic.twitter.com/6OfYV3ItIt cc @AklTransport @DarrenDavis10

— Brent Toderian (@BrentToderian) March 10, 2014

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In Walkable CitiesSize and Nature of City Blocks is Crucial

RT @urbandata: In walkable cities, size and nature of city blocks is crucial. Figure-ground maps: pic.twitter.com/Lx8kgs29GS MT @BrentToderian

— TheSidewalkBallet (@1sidewalkballet) March 8, 2014

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The 20 Minute Neighbourhood

The "20 Minute Neighbourhood" made up of #walkable shops, parks, school etc. A simple, powerful #Melbourne vision. pic.twitter.com/totdhaJlwc

— Brent Toderian (@BrentToderian) February 28, 2014

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Waterfront public places at #Vancouver's #OlympicVillage. 1 reason @UrbanLandInst is coming: http://t.co/YXMwKyJBKM pic.twitter.com/7CIWwSmEFM

— Brent Toderian (@BrentToderian) February 11, 2014

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"Public investment" vs "Wasteful Subsidy." This #transit cartoon would be funny if it weren't true. pic.twitter.com/JXfPXKwb1s v.@StreetsblogNet

— Brent Toderian (@BrentToderian) February 10, 2014