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Shoshanna Saxe

@shoshannasaxe.bsky.social
11K followers 300 following 117 posts

Associate Professor of Civil and Mineral Engineering, @uoft, Canada Research Chair Sustainable Infrastructure. Research: How should we literally build the future? Industrial Ecology. Cities. Transport. Construction.

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Shoshanna Saxe @shoshannasaxe.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
I wrote this oped 7 years ago before generative AI; really before ML had escaped the computer science bubble. www.nytimes.com/2019/07/16/o... As many increasingly fear AI + the need to mitigate risk grows.. Let me highlight: We can have great cities with tools we've had for decades and centuries.
nytimes.com
Opinion | I’m an Engineer, and I’m Not Buying Into ‘Smart’ Cities (Published 2019)
Sensor-equipped garbage cans sound cool, but someone still has to take out the trash.
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Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 16/08/2026
I’ve created a handful of them, but this might still be my most unusual STARTER PACK! A team-up with world famous climate scientist @katharinehayhoe.com, these are folks connecting the dots on climate action via better cities! Please follow these great folks and share the pack! go.bsky.app/7Wh2uvp
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Lanrick Bennett @lanrickbennett.bsky.social · 06/06/2026
"People tend to wildly misunderstand what a transportation system will be like with change. For some people, this is going to feel really inconvenient, but for the vast majority of people...much safer & much more convenient, much faster. - @shoshannasaxe.bsky.social www.youtube.com/watch?v=azK-...
youtube.com
Why Toronto is closing this downtown intersection to cars but opening it to bikes
YouTube video by CBC News Toronto
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Jason Thorne @jasonthorne.bsky.social · 10/05/2026
Expanded Starter Pack! The Canadian urbanism and planning community on here is growing. Give these folks a follow. Some well known faces … and some you should get to know! go.bsky.app/AEYL7FZ
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Shoshanna Saxe @shoshannasaxe.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
Last week we got together to discuss how to build more with less. civmin.utoronto.ca/third-times-...
civmin.utoronto.ca
Third time’s a charm for Embodied GHG Symposium at U of T
CivMin researchers shine a bright light on our future as a record crowd assembled to address the concerns of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions at an annual symposium. The third
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Fietser @americanfietser.bsky.social · 28/03/2026
I talk a lot about replacing car trips with a bike, but getting started can be overwhelming. A friend of mine just built findtheright.bike. It’s a 4-question quiz to help you figure out exactly what kind of utility or cargo bike fits your daily life. Try it out, share it with friends and family.
findtheright.bike
Find The Right Bike
Answer four questions to find your right bike, and see how much you could save by biking!
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David Zipper @davidzipper.bsky.social · 26/03/2026
Manhattan's congestion pricing program has been a stunning success. Other US cities have noticed. Could Chicago go next? In @bloomberg.com, I explored. 🧵
bloomberg.com
Could Congestion Pricing Pay Off for Chicago?
Second City leaders have discussed following Manhattan’s lead in tolling roads to ease traffic. But a Chicago-style version of New York’s policy might look very different.
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Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 19/03/2026
This is very interesting to me. It’s not every day that uncontested evidence under oath by accredited experts successfully defends bike-lanes from irresponsible removal by dim-witted politicians in court. The decision’s worth reading. Kudos @cycletoronto.bsky.social @shoshannasaxe.bsky.social
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Shoshanna Saxe @shoshannasaxe.bsky.social · 18/03/2026
Join us April 30th at U of T for the 3rd Embodied GHG Symposium hosted by the CSBE and the School of Cities schoolofcities.utoronto.ca/event/embodi... (do share within your networks!)
schoolofcities.utoronto.ca
Embodied Greenhouse Gas Symposium 2026 - School of Cities
Come join us at the Embodied Greenhouse Gas Symposium 2026 to learn about the environmental impact on building more housing & infrastructure
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Shoshanna Saxe @shoshannasaxe.bsky.social · 18/03/2026
Join us April 30th at U of T for the 3rd Embodied GHG Symposium hosted by the CSBE and the School of Cities schoolofcities.utoronto.ca/event/embodi... (do share within your networks!)
schoolofcities.utoronto.ca
Embodied Greenhouse Gas Symposium 2026 - School of Cities
Come join us at the Embodied Greenhouse Gas Symposium 2026 to learn about the environmental impact on building more housing & infrastructure
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Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 11/02/2026
I don’t know how many people join Bluesky each day, but my sense is that more & more people are discovering the outstanding community/conversation here (best on social media) about better cities. I still think STARTER PACKS are a superpower. I’ve made many, but here’s my first again. Please share.
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Shoshanna Saxe @shoshannasaxe.bsky.social · 08/02/2026
My first job after grad school included working on the design of two Eglinton Crosstown Stations. Very jazzed to ride the line today. And it was fast! #TTC #Toronto
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Shoshanna Saxe @shoshannasaxe.bsky.social · 04/02/2026
I am look for an engaging speaker who can tell us about Green Steel. Any suggestions?
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The Rundown @therundowntvo.bsky.social · 29/01/2026
Is it Time to Be Hopeful About Transit in Ontario? @jeyantvo.bsky.social asks @shoshannasaxe.bsky.social (@civmin.bsky.social), @giopetti.bsky.social, and Marco D'Angelo (Canadian Urban Transit Association)
youtu.be
Is it Time to Be Hopeful About Transit in Ontario? | The Rundown
YouTube video by TVO Today
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The Rundown @therundowntvo.bsky.social · 28/01/2026
"The provincial government has made it potentially illegal... to make public transit, and just mobility for everybody, really fast." — @shoshannasaxe.bsky.social (@civmin.bsky.social) on dedicated bus lanes, tonight at 8pm with @jeyantvo.bsky.social
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Shoshanna Saxe @shoshannasaxe.bsky.social · 19/01/2026
@mattyglesias.bsky.social would it be possible please to send you a message about work I'm doing on infrastructure and building a better world?
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Shoshanna Saxe @shoshannasaxe.bsky.social · 19/01/2026
@ezraklein.bsky.social would it be possible please to send you a message about infrastructure and abundance?
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Shoshanna Saxe @shoshannasaxe.bsky.social · 14/01/2026
Want to look up the construction GHG budget for your city? Go here: app.powerbi.com/view?r=eyJrI...
app.powerbi.com
Power BI Report
Report powered by Power BI
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Shoshanna Saxe @shoshannasaxe.bsky.social · 14/01/2026
The construction and maintenance of cities is the largest undertaking of human society. Check out our new paper where we calculate the construction emissions and carbon budgets of more than 1,000 cities around the world! www.nature.com/articles/s44...
nature.com
Client Challenge
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Shoshanna Saxe @shoshannasaxe.bsky.social · 07/01/2026
Into infrastructure? Looking for a partner who isn't afraid of winter weather? plowto.com 😂
plowto.com
PlowTO | Toronto's Newest Dating App 🚜❄️
Most dating apps treat you like a delicate snowflake. We treat you like the 12-ton piece of machinery you truly are. Join the fleet today.
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Shoshanna Saxe @shoshannasaxe.bsky.social · 29/12/2025
I have spent much of 2025 recommending @fixthenews.com.web.brid.gy to everyone I know. It’s a newsletter on human progress. Give yourself the gift (it’s free) of reading it. fixthenews.com
fixthenews.com
Fix The News | Angus Hervey | Substack
Fix The News is the world's leading solutions journalism newsletter. We share hidden stories of progress with readers from 195 countries. Steven Pinker calls us "the best source for positive news on t...
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Mark D. Levine @marklevinenyc.bsky.social · 23/12/2025
Year 1 data on congestion pricing in Manhattan… * Vehicle traffic: -11% * Foot traffic: +3.4% * Storefront vacancy: -0.9% * Pollution: -22% * Revenue for mass transit: $548M So YES this has been a huge success.
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Shoshanna Saxe @shoshannasaxe.bsky.social · 18/12/2025
New paper alert! We find a 20 storey tall building can have meaningfully LOWER embodied GHG than a 5 storey building. Embodied GHG is about design not height. csbe.civmin.utoronto.ca/research/jus... First Author: @averyhoffer.bsky.social supervised by Evan Bentz and Shoshanna Saxe
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Shoshanna Saxe @shoshannasaxe.bsky.social · 18/12/2025
New paper alert! We find a 20 storey tall building can have meaningfully LOWER embodied GHG than a 5 storey building. Embodied GHG is about design not height. csbe.civmin.utoronto.ca/research/jus... First Author: @averyhoffer.bsky.social supervised by Evan Bentz and Shoshanna Saxe
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Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 12/12/2025
NEW/LISTEN! Been REALLY looking forward to this one — my interview with Jason from #NotJustBikes IS LIVE on many podcast platforms plus YouTube! We cover a LOT of really important ground on how to ACTUALLY ACHIEVE BETTER CITIES IN REAL PRACTICE! I’m looking forward to your thoughts and comments!
youtube.com
How to Actually Improve a City (w/Brent Toderian)
YouTube video by The Urbanist Agenda Podcast
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Shoshanna Saxe @shoshannasaxe.bsky.social · 20/11/2025
I could not agree more with Cretien and Harris www.theglobeandmail.com/business/com...
theglobeandmail.com
Opinion: Canada needs to step up. We need Candu nuclear technology
Energy security is national security, and the Candu nuclear reactor can help Canada chart its own future
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Shoshanna Saxe @shoshannasaxe.bsky.social · 12/11/2025
Come be a visiting expert at U of T's school of Cities! schoolofcities.utoronto.ca/programs-opp... Opportunities for Canadian Urban Leaders, Early Career Urban Leaders, Urbanists-in-residence and visiting professors.
schoolofcities.utoronto.ca
Visiting Experts - School of Cities
Visiting experts are influential practitioners in civil society, the arts, business, media and government; members of the global urban academic community; and emerging leaders in their urban-related s...
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Shoshanna Saxe @shoshannasaxe.bsky.social · 04/11/2025
Does anyone know what happened with Low Rise LA planning.lacity.gov/preservation.... Says to check back for updates in 2024 but not updates.
planning.lacity.gov
Low-Rise Design Lab | Los Angeles City Planning
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Rebecca Saxe @rebeccasaxe.bsky.social · 17/10/2025
My sister @shoshannasaxe.bsky.social In this podcast, just rocks. So proud. www.podbean.com/ep/pb-bqngw-...
podbean.com
Are Bike Lanes Good for Cities?
Bike lanes are central to city planning, but why do they spark such fierce debate? On Good for Cities, host Matti Siemiatycki sits down with infrastructure expert Dr. Shoshanna Saxe to cut through the...
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Lanrick Bennett @lanrickbennett.bsky.social · 16/10/2025
Are Bike Lanes Good for Cities? via @iiutoronto.bsky.social h/t @shoshannasaxe.bsky.social @uoftcities.bsky.social #BikeTO
Why do bike lanes spark such fierce debate, even when the data shows they make cities safer, fairer, and more vibrant?

On Episode 3 of Good for Cities, host Matti Siemiatycki, Director of the Infrastructure Institute, sits down with Dr. Shoshanna Saxe, infrastructure expert and researcher, to unpack the politics, perception, and data behind cycling infrastructure. They dig into the evidence that demonstrates how bike lanes benefit cities, like a 44% reduction in car-bike conflicts on Bloor Street and up to a 49% increase in retail sales along some urban corridors, and explore why these clear public benefits still face political resistance and public skepticism.

Tune in to hear Shoshanna share her research on the gap between data and perception, and offer practical insights for cities aiming to build data-driven, publicly supported bike networks that make streets safer, fairer, and more vibrant.

🎧 Listen to the full episode and subscribe on Spotify, Apple, Podbean, or directly on our website: https://lnkd.in/gS2QX9jN

hashtag#UrbanPlanning hashtag#CityBuilding hashtag#CyclingInfrastructure hashtag#BikeLanes hashtag#GoodForCitiesPodcast
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Shoshanna Saxe @shoshannasaxe.bsky.social · 21/08/2025
New Paper Alert: Differences in how we build: Material use and intensity in small multi-units’ Buildings in Brazil, Canada, Greece, Nigeria and Switzerland? Free link: lnkd.in/gNZ-hQt8
lnkd.in
LinkedIn
This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn
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Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 13/06/2025
PARIS CITY HALL EXHIBITION TO OPEN JUNE 21st! I’m proud to join Paris Mayor @annehidalgo.bsky.social, iconic artist Shepard Fairey @obeygiant.bsky.social & local leaders next week to open this conversation-changing EXHIBITION on city leadership in climate action! www.paris.fr/evenements/d...
Paris City Hall Exhibition poster art by famous artist SHEPARD FAIREY of OBEY & HOPE (Obama’s poster)  fame.
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Shoshanna Saxe @shoshannasaxe.bsky.social · 12/06/2025
India's railways are hitting net zero early! Ontario, check it out it can be done (on a much bigger scale than our railways even), we just need to you know do it. timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/ind...
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Indian Railways to achieve net zero targets in 2025 itself - 5 years ahead of 2030 goal - Times of India
India Business News: Indian Railways is set to achieve net-zero targets by year-end, surpassing its 2030 goal through extensive electrification. Aiming for 95% electric tr
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T&E @transportenvironment.org · 12/06/2025
In crashes, high-fronted cars typically strike adult pedestrians above the centre of gravity, often first hitting vital organs. The higher the vehicle front the more likely a person will be knocked under the car, rather than pushed to the side, at speeds of up to 50 km/h. 3/
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Shoshanna Saxe @shoshannasaxe.bsky.social · 11/06/2025
The joy of returning a bike share into an empty rack and knowing that the next person who wants one will find a bike!
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Søren Have @sorenhave.dk · 10/06/2025
Thx, @brenttoderian.bsky.social for summing up most car discussions! I framed it for later use 😀
‘Don’t make me tap the sign’-meme, with the 5 points from the quoted post.
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Shoshanna Saxe @shoshannasaxe.bsky.social · 06/06/2025
@davidbelliard.bsky.social I'd love to touch base about bike lanes. May I email you?
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Shoshanna Saxe @shoshannasaxe.bsky.social · 04/06/2025
Avez-vous participé à la planification et à la construction des pistes cyclables parisiennes ? Connaissez-vous quelqu'un qui participe à la planification et à la construction ? J'aimerais beaucoup discuter.
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Shoshanna Saxe @shoshannasaxe.bsky.social · 04/06/2025
Did you/do you work on the planning and construction of the Paris bike lanes? Do you know someone who does/did? I'd love to talk.
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Shoshanna Saxe @shoshannasaxe.bsky.social · 30/04/2025
Toronto is consulting on transit priority on Bathurst. This is many many years in the considering (I was on panels nearly a decade ago where this we recommended this). Weigh in here www.toronto.ca/services-pay...
toronto.ca
RapidTO: Bathurst Street
Register for the virtual public meeting on May 12 or attend the public drop-in events on May 10 and May 14. Complete the survey before May 26. View meeting materials in the Public Consultation tab bel...
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Lanrick Bennett @lanrickbennett.bsky.social · 17/03/2025
With a few exceptions, most streetcar routes share the road with cars, which can leave transit lines paralyzed in traffic - a scene that played out most recently on King Street, but is regularly seen throughout the city where cars and streetcars battle for priority. www.thestar.com/news/gta/tor...
thestar.com
Toronto grew up around its streetcars. Do they fit into its future?
Does Toronto have the faith — and money — to restore a transportation network that’s been on the decline for decades?
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Shoshanna Saxe @shoshannasaxe.bsky.social · 18/03/2025
Interested in how to build the housing we need without screwing the environment? Join us May 7th for the second Embodied GHG Symposium. www.eventbrite.ca/e/embodied-g...
eventbrite.ca
Embodied Greenhouse Gas Symposium 2025
Come join us at the Embodied Greenhouse Gas Symposium 2025 to learn about the environmental impact on building more housing & infrastructure
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Shoshanna Saxe @shoshannasaxe.bsky.social · 25/02/2025
Really enjoyed debating the future of transport with Prof. Murtaza Haider at the U of T Mobility Network Path Conference. Moderated by Prof. S. Farber. Controversial issues (like the future of transportation) require bold talking. Fun to debate positively with someone who disagrees with me.
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Kristian Roed Nielsen @roednielsen.bsky.social · 04/02/2025
📢We are looking for a new #PhD colleague📚📢 Open call for a 3-year PhD on the #green #transition and #sustainability at the #CBS Sustainability Center. #behavioralscience applications are very welcome! @drtanusreejain.bsky.social | @katharinehayhoe.com | @jakereynolds.bsky.social
cbs.dk
PhD scholarship in Green Transition and Sustainability at the Department of Management, Society and Communication | CBS - Copenhagen Business School
Copenhagen Business School invites applications for a vacant PhD scholarship in Green Transition and Sustainability at the Department of Management, Society and Communication.  The expected start date...
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Shoshanna Saxe @shoshannasaxe.bsky.social · 29/01/2025
New paper! Wondered how we're doing on climate change mitigation? Have we switched from talking and planning to action? How can we get moving to meet 2030 targets? We took a look at what's up for the near (but not immediate) future - a time we rarely plan for iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1...
iopscience.iop.org
Barriers and drivers of near-term climate change mitigation: a Canadian case study - IOPscienceSearch
Barriers and drivers of near-term climate change mitigation: a Canadian case study, Sauer, Jeffrey, Posen, I Daniel, Saxe, Shoshanna
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Shoshanna Saxe @shoshannasaxe.bsky.social · 29/01/2025
Interesting. According to Inrix data, congestion in Toronto is improving. inrix.com/scorecard-ci... People are on average moving slightly faster now than in 2019 and 2023.
inrix.com
scorecard-city-2024
INRIX annual scorecard traffic report for Toronto ON
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Shoshanna Saxe @shoshannasaxe.bsky.social · 19/01/2025
Want to see the optimal places to add protected cycling infrastructure in Toronto? Check out the first functions on our website cyclelinx.ca. Thank you to @mbonsma.bsky.social and many others for making this real. Including the Data Science Institute at U of T. Works best on a desktop
cyclelinx.ca
Cyclelinx
A Toronto cycling infrastructure app
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Shoshanna Saxe @shoshannasaxe.bsky.social · 14/01/2025
I talk often about the challenge with infrastructure being people can’t imagine what they haven’t seen. Congestion pricing in New York working isn’t surprising except to the vast majority of people who have never seen such a thing. And that is really important. Helps us imaging a different future.
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Shoshanna Saxe @shoshannasaxe.bsky.social · 31/12/2024
New law coming into effect in Ontario in 2024 according to the Canadian Press. “The province is requiring the construction sector to provide menstrual products for on-site crews of 20 or more workers and for construction projects expected to last three months or more.” Bravo Ontario
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Shoshanna Saxe @shoshannasaxe.bsky.social · 30/12/2024
We have to stop being so afraid of mistakes that we do everything in the most limited unimaginative ways.
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