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Brent Toderian

@brenttoderian.bsky.social
69K followers 1.4K following 6.8K posts

Global advisor on better cities, city planning, transportation & urban change. City planner + urbanist leading @ToderianUW.bsky.social. Past Chief Planner for Vancouver BC. Past/founding President of @CanUrbanism.bsky.social. International speaker & media.

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Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 38m
Your city could embrace a patio/street seating culture if it really wanted to. You don’t have to be like Paris to do better, you just have to WANT to do better. Between now and next summer, your city could put in place everything it needs to transform streets as people-places. So do you want to?
Street filled with cafe seating in Paris.
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Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 59m
Here’s what we really need to focus a lot more discussion on — you don’t need to hate cars in order to want people to have the CHOICE to walk, bike and take public transit in your city. Better cities provide more choices, and work better for EVERYONE. Bad cities offer only dependency. #CarDependency
Picture of a street with public transit (trams), people riding bikes in a bike lane, and people strolling while holding hands on a wide sidewalk, in central Melbourne. #MultiModal
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Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 13h
Paris has been praised in recent years for their visionary, progressive city-building, but they don’t get enough credit for just being really pragmatic! Everything they’ve been doing is common sense. They’re moving a lot more people with less space while cleaning the air and cooling the city.
People riding bikes in a full separated bike-lane in Central Paris.Cars jamming a street in central Paris.
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shauna @goldengateblond.bsky.social · 13h
i thought about this old tweet tonight and how nothing has ever aged better
@Merman_Melville • Jan 24, 2019
Being a billionaire must be insane. You can buy new teeth, new skin. All your chairs cost 20,000 dollars and weigh 2,000 pounds. Your life is just a series of your own preferences. In terms of cognitive impairment it's probably like being kicked in the head by a horse every day
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Naheed Nenshi @naheednenshi.bsky.social · 23h
Danielle Smith’s referendum is an evil plot to keep the separatist fire burning. On referendum day: Vote Option 1 on Question 10. Vote NO on Questions 1–9. It’s the only way to save Canada.  To find referendum information and get involved with the campaign, visit savecanada.albertandp.ca.
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Bryan Heal @bryanheal.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Housing First works.
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Janne M. Korhonen @jmkorhonen.fi · 29/09/2026
Sadly, this is another casualty of the most right-wing government in Finnish history. Homelessness is on the rise again, as is child poverty and so many other measures of societal failure.
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Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 13h
Paris has been praised in recent years for their visionary, progressive city-building, but they don’t get enough credit for just being really pragmatic! Everything they’ve been doing is common sense. They’re moving a lot more people with less space while cleaning the air and cooling the city.
People riding bikes in a full separated bike-lane in Central Paris.Cars jamming a street in central Paris.
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Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 23h
“Paris has embarked on a grand transformation, planting 155k trees, adding hundreds of kms of bike lanes, pedestrianising 300 school streets and banning cars from the banks of the Seine. Parking has been turned into green space…Fewer parents fear their child being run over when they walk to school.”
theguardian.com
How Paris swapped cars for bikes – and transformed its streets
Under Anne Hidalgo – mayor for 12 years until last week – the French capital added bike lanes, cut traffic and reclaimed public space, but not without resistance
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Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 13h
Wait, does he want us to think that’s bad?
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Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 22h
“30% of people in the US and Canada can’t or don’t drive.” — @nondriver.bsky.social. #WeekWithoutDriving Including me now, because of vision issues. But I didn’t need it to happen to me in order to care about mobility that works better for EVERYONE.
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Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
I’m currently discussing 2 new speaking engagements combined with local work, one in Europe in a city I’ve never worked in, & one in Latin America in a city I last worked in 15 years ago or so. I never take for granted the huge learning opportunity that working in diverse global cities represents.
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Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 22h
“30% of people in the US and Canada can’t or don’t drive.” — @nondriver.bsky.social. #WeekWithoutDriving Including me now, because of vision issues. But I didn’t need it to happen to me in order to care about mobility that works better for EVERYONE.
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Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 23h
“Paris has embarked on a grand transformation, planting 155k trees, adding hundreds of kms of bike lanes, pedestrianising 300 school streets and banning cars from the banks of the Seine. Parking has been turned into green space…Fewer parents fear their child being run over when they walk to school.”
theguardian.com
How Paris swapped cars for bikes – and transformed its streets
Under Anne Hidalgo – mayor for 12 years until last week – the French capital added bike lanes, cut traffic and reclaimed public space, but not without resistance
15599190
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Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
A #WarOnWalking. A war on biking. A war on public transit. A war on any transportation choice other than driving. A war on better cities. But a war on cars? Hardly. Cars still get most of the space, rights, budget, prioritization, etc. And any effort to add more choice is immediately attacked.
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Wreck'd Noose @lasomnie.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
A Canadian sorry means many things. We only swear when we're upset. Sorry: I apologize Sorry: I don't care Sorry: I didn't see you Sorry: I'm ignoring you Sorry: I have better things to do Sorry: You said what? Sorry: If you don't leave through the door, I'll throw you out the window. etc.
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Rotterdamse Dromers @rotterdamsedromers.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
When did you work in Rotterdam? Considering that until 2014 the city was experienced pretty negative by outsiders, since that year everything changed with Markthal, CS and De Rotterdam. Since then Fenix, Depot and Fotomuseum opener as cultural beacons. The Cool neighbourhood is booming real hard.
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Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
I’m looking forward to my next official excuse to go back to my favourite Dutch cities — Groningen, Utrecht, and of course Amsterdam… and I’m looking forward to seeing how much Rotterdam has changed since I last worked there.
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Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
So Trump told reporters in the White House today that “Canada are going to come in and say, ‘Sir, we are sorry’…” Trump is managed to do something I didn’t think was possible — guarantee that Canadians will never say “sorry.”
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Kevin M. Kruse @kevinmkruse.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
This is not something you say if you actually like education or children
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Mika Salonoja 🚲🇫🇮♥️🇺🇦🚲 @mikasalonoja.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Same government also promised to improve economics for all and stop the national debt growth. Now, after 3,5 years we now have record debt and highest unemployment in Europe. But no worries since the richest 2% are happy. I'm sure there's a lesson in there somewhere 🤕
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Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Sadly the current right-wing coalition government in Finland has foolishly cut the funding for the nation’s “Housing First” success story, and homelessness is predictably now on the rise again. That just reinforces the fact that such programs work, if lazy political ideology doesn’t get in the way.
ysaatio.fi
Homelessness on the Rise in Finland - Y-Säätiö
Asunnottomien ihmisten määrä on kääntynyt kasvuun. Nyt asunnottomien määrä kasvoi Helsingissä, vaikka asunnottomia asutettiin vuoden aikana vaikuttava määrä.
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Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
I’m looking forward to my next official excuse to go back to my favourite Dutch cities — Groningen, Utrecht, and of course Amsterdam… and I’m looking forward to seeing how much Rotterdam has changed since I last worked there.
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Senõr Mouse @bythor.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
So true: "Once our eyes are opened to all the ways we’ve prioritized cars over people, we can’t unsee it." Since I sold my car the way I see the world has changed. Cars everywhere. Fossil fuel burners (most of them, still), noise, smell, p-space they take, the priority they get at traffic lights. 🤓
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Doug Hall 🍁 @doughallphd.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Louder for folks in every elected body in North America: "It SAVES PUBLIC MONEY to house people"!!! #housingfirst
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Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
“In Finland, the number of homeless people has fallen sharply. Those affected receive a small apartment & counselling with no preconditions. 4 out of 5 people affected make their way back to a stable life. And all this is CHEAPER than accepting homelessness.” IT SAVES PUBLIC MONEY to house people.
thebetter.news
Finland ends homelessness and provides shelter for all in need - scoop.me
In Finland, the number of homeless people has fallen sharply. Why? The country applies the "Housing First" concept agains homelessness.
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Chloe @xingmaps.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Replied to @brenttoderian: Canada should state that his "Lake America" decree is cartographically impossible. Lake Ontario's international boundary line splits exactly 50/50 through the central deep-water troughs. You cannot rename a shared physical basin without mutual geographic treaty amendments
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Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
So Trump told reporters in the White House today that “Canada are going to come in and say, ‘Sir, we are sorry’…” We all know that only made up people call Trump “sir” in his stories… Anyone care to suggest what Canada REALLY should say to someone that vain, condescending and arrogant?
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Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
So Trump told reporters in the White House today that “Canada are going to come in and say, ‘Sir, we are sorry’…” Trump is managed to do something I didn’t think was possible — guarantee that Canadians will never say “sorry.”
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Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
So Trump told reporters in the White House today that “Canada are going to come in and say, ‘Sir, we are sorry’…” We all know that only made up people call Trump “sir” in his stories… Anyone care to suggest what Canada REALLY should say to someone that vain, condescending and arrogant?
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Nicky Schwenzer @nickyschwenzer.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
His ultimate conclusion was when u have an autocrat at the top—there is one selection criteria—& that's loyalty & not the law—& if you're loyal—that means you're willing to do anything—that means you'll say yes to anything—that means the worst will rise to the top—we saw that in Stalin's Russia 2/5
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Nicky Schwenzer @nickyschwenzer.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
”Well, there's this illusion, I think, in American politics that our institutions are this like literal brick wall that protects us from bad things. The institutions are only as strong as the people. Only as strong as the people.” Miles Taylor @milestaylor.bsky.social • I've Had It 🎧 Thread 1/5🧵
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Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
“In Finland, the number of homeless people has fallen sharply. Those affected receive a small apartment & counselling with no preconditions. 4 out of 5 people affected make their way back to a stable life. And all this is CHEAPER than accepting homelessness.” IT SAVES PUBLIC MONEY to house people.
thebetter.news
Finland ends homelessness and provides shelter for all in need - scoop.me
In Finland, the number of homeless people has fallen sharply. Why? The country applies the "Housing First" concept agains homelessness.
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Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
A new client just contacted me after watching this podcast interview. They said they were attracted by the blunt title, “How To Actually improve A City.” Inspiration is very important, but ideas, action, leadership and much more persuasive communication are key to the urban change we badly need.
youtube.com
How to Actually Improve a City (w/Brent Toderian)
YouTube video by The Urbanist Agenda Podcast
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Calgary Climate Hub @calgaryclimatehub.ca · 11/09/2026
Tune in to our MOST POPULAR show ever, featuring one of the world's best Urbanists, Canadian @brenttoderian.bsky.social! #yyc #ClimateChange #Urbanism #CityBuilding #yyccc
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Brent Bellamy @brentbellamy.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
I was once fortunate to chauffeur Jan across Winnipeg. He followed along on a paper map. Was intrigued by how many porches are closed in with windows because of winter. He appreciated the city’s bones. Loved the boulevard trees, old neighbourhoods, and downtown heritage buildings.
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Cooper Lund @cooperlund.online · 28/09/2026
Oh he’s going to do the migrant caravan thing. I hope people ignore him.
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Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
Posts like this about biking in Dutch cities are routinely replied to with comments like “well, they have the big advantage of being relatively flat.” The Dutch also have the big advantage of not constantly making excuses about why they can’t make clearly smarter city-making decisions. #Leadership
People riding bikes along a Dutch canal in Utrecht, Netherlands.
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Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
I’m currently discussing 2 new speaking engagements combined with local work, one in Europe in a city I’ve never worked in, & one in Latin America in a city I last worked in 15 years ago or so. I never take for granted the huge learning opportunity that working in diverse global cities represents.
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Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
A new client just contacted me after watching this podcast interview. They said they were attracted by the blunt title, “How To Actually improve A City.” Inspiration is very important, but ideas, action, leadership and much more persuasive communication are key to the urban change we badly need.
youtube.com
How to Actually Improve a City (w/Brent Toderian)
YouTube video by The Urbanist Agenda Podcast
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Urban Truth Collective @urbantruth.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
They tried their best to make the idea of having more things we want nearby, more options and choices in our cities and neighborhoods, seem like a conspiracy. But never forget what the REAL urban conspiracy has been — moving everything further away and making us car dependent. #1HourCityConspiracy
White text on black background reading “The real ‘urban conspiracy’ isn’t proximity, it’s distance. The ‘one hour city’ traps millions in long commutes, car dependency, and lost time. We need cities of proximity, time, and quality of life.” — @carlosmorenofr.bsky.social #UrbanTruth
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Bess Hamilton @besshamilton.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Instead, in Ontario, we have our premier ordering cities to rip out their bike lanes. Our leaders (and often our voters) have no imagination. "Things are too far apart for cycling to be feasible!" What if building the cycling infrastructure led to a shift in municipal layouts? 🤔
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Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
One of my unexpected new joys is that, in the later half of my 50s, I’ve gotten back into drumming. I was a drummer in my parents band from age 5 to 14, but stopped, and for over 4 decades I’ve relentlessly hand-drummed on everything. But getting my 8yr old into drumming got me back into it too. 1/
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Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
I know the BC Conservatives will be much worse because I’ve watched and listened carefully to who they are, and because I’m VERY familiar with what’s been happening in Alberta and Ontario (the BC Conservatives are at least as bad). Voting for “Change” can be worse. Flesh eating disease is “change.”
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Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
A British Columbia election is coming. I’m able to separate my anger at BC Premier David Eby for calling an early election, and in general for the bad decisions that have greatly frustrated me, from my absolute certainty that the far right extremist BC Conservative Party would be much, MUCH worse.
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Adam Cohen (My Personal Views Only) @axidentaliberal.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
And yet, despite being in Congress-with the power to do something about all this-Kennedy will take no action whatsoever to stop Trump
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Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
A British Columbia election is coming. I’m able to separate my anger at BC Premier David Eby for calling an early election, and in general for the bad decisions that have greatly frustrated me, from my absolute certainty that the far right extremist BC Conservative Party would be much, MUCH worse.
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Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
One of my unexpected new joys is that, in the later half of my 50s, I’ve gotten back into drumming. I was a drummer in my parents band from age 5 to 14, but stopped, and for over 4 decades I’ve relentlessly hand-drummed on everything. But getting my 8yr old into drumming got me back into it too. 1/
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Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
There are many inspiring cities around the world for things like urban biking, including Montreal and Vancouver in North America, that can seriously change your perspective about what’s possible in cities with vision and real leadership. But it’s true that Copenhagen is on a whole different level.
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