Sign in

iiinova is part of the Atmosphere — an open, public network where you own your identity.

itsthectrain.bsky.social

@itsthectrain.bsky.social
77 followers 196 following 4 posts

Not a bot.

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by @itsthectrain.bsky.social
Taras Grescoe 🚇 @taras-grescoe.com · 7h
Robotaxis routinely fail, causing traffic chaos, in temperate San Francisco. Now, as Doug Ford rips out bike lanes, #Toronto is being told to step aside + welcome Waymo. Snow, streetcars—it ain’t gonna end well. And why is Canada’s largest city allowed to be a test ground for the tech bros? 👇
32010 20
Reposted by @itsthectrain.bsky.social
David Zipper @davidzipper.bsky.social · 26/07/2026
When I see "Waymo saves lives" op-eds, I always do a quick search to see what the author has written extolling protected bike lanes. Or automatic speed cameras. Or road diets. The results are always the same: Nope. Nada. Zilch.
1652190 521
Reposted by @itsthectrain.bsky.social
Taras Grescoe 🚇 @taras-grescoe.com · 4h
Option #3: don’t let Waymo in at all. No big city needs robotaxis that spend 40% of their time deadheading (empty and cruising for their next pick-up)
04416 44
Reposted by @itsthectrain.bsky.social
John Michael McGrath @jm-mcgrath.bsky.social · 6h
<most exhausted sigh imaginable>
0334 33
Reposted by @itsthectrain.bsky.social
Julie S. Lalonde @julieslalonde.bsky.social · 14/10/2026
Being GenX/Millennial is such a trip. In our lifetimes, we saw people our age getting wild criminal penalties for pirating music and now have to sit and watch as companies gobble up our work with impunity.
98132243891 13.2K
Reposted by @itsthectrain.bsky.social
Lanrick Bennett @lanrickbennett.bsky.social · 16/10/2026
This is what we do to a two-time Canadian paralympic swimmer, born with cerebral palsy. paralympic.ca/athlete/aly-... Congrats Toronto!
Image of profile photo and person swimming in the background

ALY
VAN WYCK-SMART
720285 202
Reposted by @itsthectrain.bsky.social
Michael Druker 🇨🇦 @mdruker.app · 16/10/2026
Car culture needs to be torn down and we need to start fresh
213623 136
Reposted by @itsthectrain.bsky.social
Chloe @chloeph.bsky.social · 15/10/2026
The people in the car blocking the mobility lane told me I needed to mind my business, and then this happened
A person in a wheelchair scooter attempting to navigate a bike lane that’s being blocked by a selfish asshole in a car
1137944 379
Reposted by @itsthectrain.bsky.social
Tom Flood @tomflood.bsky.social · 15/10/2026
Here is Aly Van Wyck-Smart being arrested today. 🎥 dani3lp3rry
33434160 434
Reposted by @itsthectrain.bsky.social
Jag Villani @jagvillani.bsky.social · 15/10/2026
Single file, one at a time. Fill the whole block.
1031643 316
Reposted by @itsthectrain.bsky.social
Ashley @ashleyquan.bsky.social · 15/10/2026
A cop car carrying a flashing neon sign that says "DOUG FORD HATES YOU." Perfect, no notes, thanks for the great visual @ TV writers of the universe!
21639231 639
Reposted by @itsthectrain.bsky.social
Alex Bozikovic @alexbozikovic.bsky.social · 14/10/2026
Toronto bike lane removal. When your infrastructure project has huge police protection and the contractors hide the logos on their trucks and gear, you are in the wrong.
15954310 954
Reposted by @itsthectrain.bsky.social
Bloor Street Bike Bus @bloorstreetbikebus.bsky.social · 15/10/2026
I made this account (anonymous for now) to discuss an idea I've had about how to push back against Doug Ford's war on Toronto cyclists. Here's the gist: We organize groups to travel down the section of Bloor without bike lanes, taking the lane and ensuring safety in numbers.
1015535 155
Reposted by @itsthectrain.bsky.social
Joshua Hind @joshuahind.bsky.social · 14/10/2026
Where is the Mayor? Where is the Mayor? Where is the Mayor? Where is the Mayor? Where is the Mayor?
28513 85
Reposted by @itsthectrain.bsky.social
Tom Flood @tomflood.bsky.social · 14/10/2026
this image tells me everything I need to know about who actually cares about road safety.
440674 406
Reposted by @itsthectrain.bsky.social
Asher @skydome.bsky.social · 14/10/2026
I like how none of the officials/police there seem to care that the crew is violating their work permit restrictions that the work can only happen after 6 pm. Province can just break the rules when it feels like it.
5585 58
Reposted by @itsthectrain.bsky.social
Miles Grant @milesgrant.bsky.social · 14/10/2026
Drivers never have to lift a finger or pay a dime to get yet another $15M per mile 14’ lane added But to protect their free, life-saving, narrow slice of the street, people riding bikes are expected to work unpaid part-time jobs as activists & lay down in front of trucks - and not metaphorically!
320343 203
Reposted by @itsthectrain.bsky.social
Observing The City @observingthecity.ca · 14/10/2026
Construction trucks leaving Bloor and Islington area after being successfully deterred from starting work on removing bike lanes in Toronto by a large protest.
391984449 2K
Reposted by @itsthectrain.bsky.social
Jason Markusoff @markusoff.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
An organization barring media from covering “the most important free speech event of the year” is chef’s [redacted]
32459177 459
Reposted by @itsthectrain.bsky.social
fsnaris @fsnaris.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Oh look, the President of Toronto wants to spend $48M ripping out bike lanes in Toronto when that money would probably help communities in Northern Ontario, just so he and his cronies can (seemingly) speed thru the city on their way to do absolutely nothing.
1185 18
Reposted by @itsthectrain.bsky.social
Ontario Greens @ontariogreens.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Doug Ford is ripping out bike lanes in Toronto starting next week. This will make our street less safe, add pollution to our cities and make congestion worse, not better. Join the thousands of people fighting to reverse Doug Ford's bike lane ban: gpo.ca/bikelanes
22374123 374
Reposted by @itsthectrain.bsky.social
Mike Schreiner @mikeschreiner.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
According to a sworn statement to the OPP, Doug Ford was using taxpayer funding as leverage to get media coverage. Taxpayer money isn't Ford's personal bank account. He needs to answer to these serious allegations.
thetrillium.ca
Postmedia ex-CEO alleges Doug Ford’s office used ‘leverage’ over son’s company to get newspaper chain to publish pre-election letter
Premier Ford’s office calls the claims ‘categorically untrue and completely disconnected from reality’
46032 60
Reposted by @itsthectrain.bsky.social
The Biking Lawyer LLP @thebikinglawyer.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
The time is nigh. All out to save our bike lanes! We anticipate removals staring this coming Tuesday. Stay tuned here for details on community responses. Location is of course Bloor West between Islington and Royal York. Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more.
010242 102
Reposted by @itsthectrain.bsky.social
Oliver Moore @oliver-moore.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Also, for all the hollering about how this was crucial to help working class people, the benefit has flowed disproportionately to the better off. Per the PBO, families in the poorest quintile will save a bit more than $10/month while families in the wealthiest quintile will save nearly $40/month
172 7
Reposted by @itsthectrain.bsky.social
Fair Vote Canada 🗳️🍁 @fairvote.ca · 07/10/2026
Poll modeling shows Doug Ford's PCs could win another majority government on just 34% of the vote. First-past-the-post bails out unpopular governments while the rest of us suffer. We need proportional representation so governments always represent a broad majority.
A screenshot of a post by Polling Canada (@CanadianPolling) with the text "PC Majority on these numbers" above a table displaying political party polling projections. The table lists party percentages, projected seats, and seat ranges: Green Party (GRN) at 5%, 2 seats (range 2-2); New Democratic Party (NDP) at 27%, 33 seats (range 27-41); Liberal Party (LIB) at 26%, 20 seats (range 13-29); Progressive Conservative Party (PC) at 34%, 66 seats (range 52-78); and Others (OTH) at 8%, 3 seats (range 2-4).   Below the table is a quoted post from Polling Canada detailing Ontario Provincial Polling results and percentage changes from the 2025 election: PCPO at 34% (-9), ONDP at 27% (+8), OLP at 26% (-4), GPO at 5% (-), and Others at 8%. The polling metadata notes Mainstreet, Sept 29, 2026, a sample size of n=1062, a margin of error of 2.8%, and IVR methodology, ending with a link to check out more details on @338Canada.
05135 51
Reposted by @itsthectrain.bsky.social
Jacob Loo Dawang @jacobdawang.com · 02/10/2026
To all my Ontario friends who haven't yet read the WhatsApp chat between the Ontario Big City Mayors, here are the highlights. From complaining about how they count housing starts to Cam Guthrie doing God's work with zoning, to complaining about DCs, it really hits all the bingo squares.
Chat transcript from October 27, 2023, discussing Ontario housing fund allocation criteria. Participants debate whether municipalities should qualify based on building permits approved versus housing starts, and note discrepancies in unit counting methodology between municipalities.Chat conversation from March 21, 2024, discussing a provincial announcement about four-unit housing policy. Participants reference confusion about whether the policy applies to 4-unit buildings or 4-6 storey buildings in neighborhoods, and share a YouTube link to clarify the announcement.Chat messages from August 18, 2024, discussing property tax implications and development charge costs. Topics include Ontario government property tax increases, a condo DC cost example in Oakville, and debate about mechanisms to ensure development charge reductions translate to affordable housing prices.Chat transcript from November-December 2024, discussing revenue shortfalls and property tax increases. Includes discussion of municipal development charge policy changes, statutory exemptions affecting Toronto's budget, and concerns about passing costs to taxpayers and homebuyers.
1338 33
Reposted by @itsthectrain.bsky.social
Max Fawcett @maxfawcett.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Please share this with every "send a message" Alberta voter in your life. #abpoli #cdnpoli www.readtheline.ca/p/jen-gerson...
readtheline.ca
Jen Gerson: Oh, so you want to send Ottawa a message, eh?
Vote to stay and send Washington the right message. Namely, don’t fuck with us.
18294150 294
Reposted by @itsthectrain.bsky.social
Max Fawcett @maxfawcett.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Behold, a column by the @theglobeandmail.com's Tony Keller that cries out for a debunking. Allow me. 🧵 www.theglobeandmail.com/business/com...
theglobeandmail.com
Opinion: This was the week Canada stopped shooting its oil patch in the foot
We’re finally witnessing our country act with some sense of its own self-interest
19252120 252
Reposted by @itsthectrain.bsky.social
The Rundown @therundowntvo.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Are Toronto's bike lanes really empty? Charlie Buckley hit the streets to count cyclists, dug into city data, and compared the numbers with major cycling cities around the world.
14025 40
Reposted by @itsthectrain.bsky.social
The Biking Lawyer LLP @thebikinglawyer.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
"We get lots of patients who unfortunately have been struck by cars or had a crash because of unsafe road infrastructure, because of potholes, damage, or obstructed bike lanes" @edwardxie.bsky.social #DoctorsforSafeCycling www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
cbc.ca
Ontario health-care coalition denounces province's plan to remove bike lanes across Toronto | CBC News
A coalition of Ontario health-care workers gathered in downtown Toronto on Tuesday to denounce the provincial government’s plan to remove bike lanes on three major roadways across the city.
08142 81
Reposted by @itsthectrain.bsky.social
Raywat Deonandan 🍁🇨🇦 @deonandan.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
816474 164
Reposted by @itsthectrain.bsky.social
Lanrick Bennett @lanrickbennett.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
#IdeasAtWork “…from last night's Critical Mass ride is a stark illustration of why more cycling infrastructure reduces congestion, not increases it. On the uphill section visible in the photo, there are about 30 cars in the same space roughly 160 bikes.” - Brian Tao h/t @xkcd.com
Image of Critical Mass taking over street space Brian Tao
...
X
1h • J
This photo and many others from last night's Critical Mass ride is a stark illustration of why more cycling infrastructure reduces congestion, not increases it. On the uphill section visible in the photo, there are about 30 cars in the same space as roughly 160 bikes. Even assuming an average of 1.1 people per car, that's still roughly a 5x greater density achieved by bikes.
Both modes of transportation were travelling at roughly the same speed and taking up the same amount of room in this photo, so the difference is down to the traffic count per unit time. Major arterials like Bloor St can handle about 20,000 cars per day, peaking at 1000-1500 cars per hour of freeflowing traffic. The same amount of road space can accommodate over 10,000 bikes per hour, again while maintaining freeflowing traffic.
Congestion occurs when traffic demand exceeds traffic supply. Adding more lanes increases supply, but then induced demand inevitably also rises to meet the available supply, and we're back to square one.There are two other approaches to solving this problem: decrease demand, or make the supply more efficient. Good bike (and transit!) infrastructure can do both. They offer more viable alternatives for people wanting to travel around the city, instead of pouring money into catering to the least efficient mode of transportation. It also repurposes the same land use with greater efficiency.
Imagine that we have, say, 30 meters between facing buildings on opposite sides of the road along Bloor St W. 15% of that is taken up by each sidewalk, 15% by two bike lanes, and the remaining 70% is made up of two rows of parking spots, two traffic lanes in either direction, and a shared turning lane.
To me, any street classified as a minor or major arterial road by the City of Toronto should _not_ have any parking on it. Why dedicate 20% of your roadway to something that moves exactly O people per hour? Eliminate those, and replace them with transit priority lanes while leaving bike lanes and sidewalks intact. There are still at least three traffic lanes available, but the capacity of the exact same stretch of road has now increased by 50-100%.
Bloor St would thus be usable by all modes of transport: on foot, by bike, in cars, surface transit, and subway. It is the logical choice, but for many who grew up in our heavily car-centric society, they can only ever envision driving anywhere and everywhere.ROAD SPACE COMPARISON by XKCD
0299 29
Reposted by @itsthectrain.bsky.social
Momentum Magazine @momentummag.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Paris cycling numbers double in one year thanks to massive investment and it’s not stopping. momentummag.com/paris-cyclin...
210030 100
Reposted by @itsthectrain.bsky.social
ℳatt @matttomic.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Canadian patriotism and anti-Trump sentiment at an all time high, Canada's premier sporting event, you know there's only one choice for the halftime act: an Alabaman country singer who played Kid Rock's MAGA festival, has lyrics praising Robert E Lee, and promoted an anti-trans Bud Light boycott
59440 94
Reposted by @itsthectrain.bsky.social
The Biking Lawyer LLP @thebikinglawyer.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Despite our protestations, the SIU has seemingly greenlit use of force by police against cyclists for minor traffic infractions. With a mandate to determine criminality, the SIU didn't have to make such a broad anti-cyclist finding: thebikinglawyer.ca/blog/siu-end...
thebikinglawyer.ca
SIU Endorses Police Use of Force That Left 21-Year-Old Cyclist With Traumatic Brain Injury Over Minor Traffic Offence
police ticket cyclists for traffic infractions leading to a violent takedown and injuries to cyclist
33013 30
Reposted by @itsthectrain.bsky.social
Naomi Klein @naomiaklein.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
It's not flooding the zone, it's seizing a crisis in order to ram through a slew of rapid fire changes that are a gift to multinational corporations and are the opposite of what we ran on. What do you call that again?
21575154 575
Reposted by @itsthectrain.bsky.social
Rachel Gilmore @rachelgilmore.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
This lawyer breaks down why the so-called guardrails Carney includes in this bill just create a cog in a machine built to deny workers their right to strike. Then ministers, in deciding what the “national interest” is in quashing a strike, can consider the “impact on the Canadian economy.”
721787 217
Reposted by @itsthectrain.bsky.social
David Ho @davidho.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Please enjoy this photo of two climate solutions.
A folding bike next to a heat pump
1983771 837
Reposted by @itsthectrain.bsky.social
Canada's National Observer @nationalobserver.com · 21/09/2026
New investigation: an Israeli app that allows political campaigns to feed supporters AI-generated arguments to use on social media has arrived in Canada. It's being used in the highest profile mayoral campaign in Canada, @rorywh.bsky.social reveals.
nationalobserver.com
Toronto mayoral candidate Bradford using Israeli app that feeds supporters AI-generated comments
The Victory App, a campaign tool built by the Israeli company LogiVote, prompted users to participate in a mission to post AI-written comments supportive of Toronto mayoral candidate Brad Bradford.
10186134 186
Reposted by @itsthectrain.bsky.social
Alex Ip 葉清霖 @alexip718.com · 20/09/2026
Imagine living in a place where you can complete basic tasks without relying on the automobile
624740 247
Reposted by @itsthectrain.bsky.social
Joshua Hind @joshuahind.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
A wet bulb heat wave is coming. Sooner than later. It scares me more than the prospect of nuclear war or AI apocalypse because it’s more likely, and despite having decades to avoid it, we’re to making it happen anyway.
153 5
Reposted by @itsthectrain.bsky.social
The Serfs (youtube.com/theserfstv) @theserfstv.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
This is the most masculine video on the internet right now
337185685075 18.6K
Reposted by @itsthectrain.bsky.social
Cycle Toronto @cycletoronto.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Ontario Society Of Professional Engineers (OSPE) continues to speak out against the province's reckless and arbitrary scheme to rip out 19 km of protected bike lanes. Now will engineering firms heed this message before bidding on Ontario's RFP?
ospe.on.ca
OSPE Statement: Where Things Stand on Bill 212 and Toronto's Bike Lanes
Explore the OSPE Statement on Bill 212 and its impact on Toronto's bike lanes and transportation planning.
413650 136
Reposted by @itsthectrain.bsky.social
Rachel Gilmore @rachelgilmore.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
🤔
DM request from The Food Professor reads: “CONFIDENTIAL PLEASE. Hi Rachel. Very sorry for the criticism you have received of late. I get the same treatment at times, not fun. I have posted two comments about your work but was intended as a joke, so hopefully you didn't take it personal. Although I don't agree with many of your comments, I did look at a few of your videos and was surprised by how balanced they were, at least more than I thought. I was not familiar with your work until perhaps a few months ago. Just letting you know, we need debates in our country, more than ever, and you deserve to be part of them. Don't give up. SC”Recent public post featuring a picture of me from the Food Professor reads:

“True story.
Back at Dalhousie this fall, teaching a graduate course on information and decision-making.
Told my students: "Diversify your information sources. Explore different perspectives, especially independent ones."
One student replied, "I do that all the time."
Me: "Great! Who's your favourite source?"
Student: "Rachel Gilmore.'
Me: "Excellent. I see we'll need an extra lecture on source legitimacy."”
3934738 347
Reposted by @itsthectrain.bsky.social
Shawn Micallef @shawnmicallef.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Doug Ford was caught giving out $20 bills when he was a councillor at community meetings. Peeling them off a large stack
49331 93
Reposted by @itsthectrain.bsky.social
Geoffrey P Johnston😎🇨🇦🇺🇦 @geoffypjohnston.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
👀
3125 12
Reposted by @itsthectrain.bsky.social
TTCriders @ttcriders.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Just as the school year begins, GO Train service is being cut. One fully-loaded GO Train can take up to 2,000 cars off the road. Doug Ford is allowing train service cuts while throwing money at new highways & bike lane removals, worsening traffic congestion. Details + how to take action!⬇️
graphic with a GO train and Doug Ford's faint face in the sky in the background.

text reads:

Metrolinx is cutting GO Train service under Doug Ford's watch. See the cuts and learn how to take action to stop thema map showing the highlighted lines where GO cuts are happening, and details:

Barrie Line:
73% cut to weekend trains, reduced evening/night trains
Stouffville Line:
73% cut to weekend trains, reduced evening/night trains
Lakeshore West Line:
Weekend wait times doubled, most train service to Niagara eliminated
Lakeshore East Line:
Weekend wait times doubled
36828 68
Reposted by @itsthectrain.bsky.social
Sean Marshall @seanyyz.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Happy Labour Day, your GO train schedules change for the worse tomorrow: seanmarshall.ca/2026/08/29/g...
seanmarshall.ca
GO’s September changes: higher fines, fewer trains
GO Transit passengers might be in for a shock after Labour Day as new schedules and new penalties come into effect.
42313 23
Reposted by @itsthectrain.bsky.social
John Michael McGrath @jm-mcgrath.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Ignorance of Canadian federalism among Canadian voters meant that Doug Ford's comprehensive failure to handle a local policing matter turned into Trudeau's problem; the lines of accountability in the UK are at least clearer.
1022748 227
Reposted by @itsthectrain.bsky.social
City of Guelph @guelph.ca · 02/09/2026
🚲 82 bikes, trikes and scooters found new homes at this year’s ReCycle Bike Rehome and Repair event. The program helps keep usable bikes out of the waste stream while providing free transportation options for residents. Thanks to Freehub volunteers for repairs and safety checks!
062 6