How Toronto Got Addicted to Cars
Not Just Bikes・2 minutes read
Toronto's urban development post-war shifted towards car-centric policies, impacting public transportation and urban planning projects like Transit City. The city's amalgamation with suburbs in 1998, influenced by politics, led to significant budget issues and hindered progress in sustainable urban planning initiatives.
Insights
- The dismantling of Toronto's streetcar system post-1940s to prioritize car-centric development, eventually replaced by the subway, reflects a broader North American trend favoring motor traffic over public transit.
- The political influence of figures like Rob Ford and the Ford family in Toronto has perpetuated car-centric policies, hindering urban planning initiatives and delaying the city's transition towards more sustainable transportation options, impacting its potential as a great city.
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Recent questions
What is the population of Toronto?
Over 2.7 million people
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Summary
00:00
Toronto's Car-Centric Urbanization: A Political Challenge
- Toronto, the capital of Ontario, is a bustling metropolis with over 2.7 million people and iconic landmarks like the CN Tower and the Sky Dome.
- The city's streetcar system, with the highest ridership in North America, was gradually dismantled post-1940s to accommodate car-centric development.
- The Toronto subway was constructed post-war to replace streetcars and prioritize motor traffic, reflecting a trend seen across North America.
- Suburban development post-war led to the construction of car-dependent suburbs and urban highways like the Gardner Expressway and the Don Valley Parkway.
- The amalgamation of Toronto with its suburbs in 1998, known as the megacity, was politically motivated and led to significant budget issues.
- Rob Ford, a controversial mayor, favored car-centric policies and faced criticism for his management of the city's finances.
- The suburbs' political dominance post-amalgamation hindered Transit City and bike lane projects, delaying Toronto's urbanization by at least 20 years.
- The Ford family's influence in Ontario politics has perpetuated car-centric policies, hindering urban planning initiatives in Toronto.
- Urban planning in cities like Toronto is inherently political, with decisions on transportation, development, and zoning being influenced by city council.
- Toronto's potential as a great city is hindered by its addiction to cars and the political challenges associated with shifting towards more sustainable urban planning.
16:12
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