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SWO Transit

@swotransit.bsky.social
177 followers 314 following 513 posts

Geeking out on transit, cycling, and amusement parks!

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SWO Transit @swotransit.bsky.social · 22/01/2026
I used to get Greenland and Iceland mixed up all the time till about grade 3. Thanks the quality Canadian education I received I don’t make that mistake anymore.
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SWO Transit @swotransit.bsky.social · 17/01/2026
I’ll never understand how half of the US can’t see this as clearly as those of us in the rest of the world do. This is corruption at a level never before seen in the world.
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SWO Transit @swotransit.bsky.social · 16/01/2026
I’ve been in the market for a new car for a while, but what I wanted didn’t exist in the current North American auto industry. The quality, price and options in Chinese EV cars can be a game changer. (Side note: really weird I’m less concerned with Chinese software than Tesla controlled stuff)
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SWO Transit @swotransit.bsky.social · 16/01/2026
Just wait till what’s happening in Minneapolis is fully appreciated by the Canadian public. Us, like the rest of the world know the US is not the safe place to visit it was before Trump used the US constitution for toilet paper. www.travelweek.ca/news/destina...
travelweek.ca
Cross-border travel from Canada to U.S. down 31% by car, 19% by air
Canadian-resident return trips from overseas countries continued to trend up, by 10.4% year over year
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SWO Transit @swotransit.bsky.social · 15/01/2026
There have been several service cuts to VIA rail over the years but two dates remain the most damaging to the network. Nov 15th, 1981 and Jan 15th, 1990. The 1990 cuts to service 36 years ago today reduced the VIA network by 55% and those keeping service often was a less frequent and reliable level
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Michael de Adder @deadder.bsky.social · 12/01/2026
The Globe and Mail
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Melissa Bowman @dtkmelissa.bsky.social · 12/01/2026
"Toronto doubled its number of speed cameras from 75 to 150 last year, a measure that studies show did change driving habits. By the end of 2025, the city saw its fewest fatalities and serious injuries since the beginning of the Vision Zero program."
buff.ly
'Hogwash': Ford downplays speed camera effect as Toronto traffic fatalities hit record low in 2025
In 2025, Toronto’s streets were the safest in over a decade but not everyone is convinced that speed cameras were largely responsible
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SWO Transit @swotransit.bsky.social · 10/01/2026
In no world does adding flexibility and lowering red tape to develop property reduce values. These are essential steps towards addressing fundamental housing shortages and building missing middle housing that’s affordable. But NIMBYs gonna NIMBY.
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SWO Transit @swotransit.bsky.social · 04/01/2026
It isn’t about fentanyl or else the pressure would be on Mexico It isn’t about drugs at all or else Hernández wouldn’t have been pardoned It isn’t about human rights or else they wouldn’t be chumming it up with MBS It isn’t about sham elections or they wouldn’t fawn over Putin It’s about the oil
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SWO Transit @swotransit.bsky.social · 03/01/2026
Well at least we can stop worrying about becoming the 51st state…. But we can start worrying a whole bunch more about becoming the 52nd!
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SWO Transit @swotransit.bsky.social · 03/01/2026
At what point does the international community draw the line? Are sanctions coming? Do international events like the World Cup or Olympics get boycotted? Other places that Trump has been sabre rattling about like Panama, Greenland and even Canada all feel a whole lot less safe today.
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SWO Transit @swotransit.bsky.social · 02/01/2026
Instead of fixing supply and the problems that led to not building enough new housing we closed the tap on demand and capped international student counts. In doing so we forfeited economic gain and world influence because the brightest and the best are avoiding the US and need a new place to learn
Graph from NY times article posted October 2025.
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SWO Transit @swotransit.bsky.social · 02/01/2026
We need to build more quality transit, but to build the right stuff we need to listen to the right experts. First clue the expert you’re listening to isn’t the right one, so they use the term ‘LRT’ to generically describe all rail projects?
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Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 23/12/2025
SERIOUSLY, WATCH THIS: If you really want to understand how huge SUVs and pick-up trucks have ended up being MOST of the vehicles out there in our cities, and the absolutely INSANE consequences of that, watch this easy-to-watch video by #NotJustBikes. Then please share it as much as you can.
youtube.com
These Stupid Trucks are Literally Killing Us
YouTube video by Not Just Bikes
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SWO Transit @swotransit.bsky.social · 17/12/2025
I think reviving the Northlander service is a good thing, but I still feels to me that the focus on returning service to near its prior state ignored the bigger opportunity of daily rail service to downtown Sudbury via North Bay. Maybe we should start talking stage 2 now?
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SWO Transit @swotransit.bsky.social · 17/12/2025
I know a lot of London, ON folks are still upset we built BRT instead of LRT, but the outcome of the Finch LRT in Toronto should help us realize we dodged a bullet with that one. The anti-transit people were somewhat right, but for the wrong reasons.
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SWO Transit @swotransit.bsky.social · 10/12/2025
Did you see the news about how the new Finch LRT was slower than a runner over 10km, well TO us finally giving streetcars proper signal prioritization so a full street car doesn’t wait for one left hand turning car. Did you know London’s new BRT does not have proper signal priority either?
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Brian Doucet @briandoucet.bsky.social · 07/12/2025
Kitchener station extremely busy! To reiterate: this train didn’t exist a month ago. Build it and they will ride!
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SWO Transit @swotransit.bsky.social · 07/12/2025
I know a lot of people that drive out of their way to buy cheap gas in First Nations communities. 1) Gas is cheaper there because they aren’t charging taxes 2) tax exemption is only supposed to apply to registered band members 3) knowingly buying tax free gas is illegal tax evasion
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Reece Martin @rmtransit.bsky.social · 07/12/2025
One last post *before* the Finch West LRT -- Toronto Line 6 opens tomorrow. This whole experience has been deeply frustrating. I want the line to work because even if I wouldn't have built it, we did and now we should get maximum benefit. The City could do a lot to fix things, will they?
open.substack.com
The Finch LRT and Our Mistakes.
A post to get it out of my system.
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SWO Transit @swotransit.bsky.social · 06/12/2025
Under Ontario rules w-bikes than can travel faster than 32 kph unassisted and scooters than can travel. I’ve than 24 kph are not e-bikes or scooters. There sale and use undermines micro mobility implementations and acceptance.
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SWO Transit @swotransit.bsky.social · 30/11/2025
Reminder from Not Just Bikes on why we need to seriously improve regulations on SUV/Light Trucks not for environmental reasons, but for public safety. m.youtube.com/watch?v=--83...
m.youtube.com
Keep these Stupid American Trucks out of Europe
YouTube video by Not Just Bikes
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Michael Druker 🇨🇦 @mdruker.app · 30/11/2025
For the KW transit & history nerds — @swanboatsteve.bsky.social took some great photos in 1973 of the last of the Kitchener Public Utility Commission trolleybuses. Surprisingly many places are still recognizable
stevemunro.ca
Kitchener Trolleybus Gallery
Many readers of this site have been posting photos of the ION LRT construction in Kitchener-Waterloo over the past years. Normally, I stick to Toronto news, but as a gift back to readers in K-W, he…
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SWO Transit @swotransit.bsky.social · 29/11/2025
In Ontario we seem to like building poor performing higher order transit. From the illogical use of low-floor trains, passing over more grade separations, and poor adoption of signal prioritization. The O-train, Ion, Finch, Eglinton crosstown and soon London BRT, all shadows of what could have been.
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SWO Transit @swotransit.bsky.social · 15/11/2025
VIA rail making a stop at Chatham on a cloudy Saturday afternoon. Love the look of Siemens Charger train sets.
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SWO Transit @swotransit.bsky.social · 07/11/2025
CASO had tracks that went from the abandoned international rail bridge to right past the top of Clifton Hill. When the CASO was sold jointly to CP/CN in the 80s that section of rail along either many others got abandoned. If that was kept and GO trains went right to Clifton Hill - game changer!
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SWO Transit @swotransit.bsky.social · 31/10/2025
Every holiday needs a soundtrack. Here’s what i pulled together for the evening. spotify.link/MXUVYR2tVXb
spotify.link
Spotify – Web Player
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SWO Transit @swotransit.bsky.social · 31/10/2025
I’m amazed every year how many of my neighbours are stick on muds who turn off all their house lights and don’t give out Halloween candy.
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SWO Transit @swotransit.bsky.social · 31/10/2025
If the Jays win the WS that doesn’t prove that baseball doesn’t have a parity problem. Jays are 5th in MLB salary. 5 teams had 93 or more regular season wins this year 4/5 teams were top 5 in salary.
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SWO Transit @swotransit.bsky.social · 31/10/2025
Eliminate auto renewal fees Eliminate tolls on 412/418 Lower gas taxes Build highway 413 Kill photo radar I think sometimes Doug Ford forgets it’s people that vote and not cars.
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SWO Transit @swotransit.bsky.social · 18/10/2025
I get the booing of former Astros players, but come on, guy gets nailed by a pitch and Mariners fans cheer, tries to walk it off and they boo, comes out of the game injured and they cheer again. That’s classless Seattle fans.
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SWO Transit @swotransit.bsky.social · 27/09/2025
Well what they charge for hand made soap or fresh squeezed juice in these markets can be criminal?
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SWO Transit @swotransit.bsky.social · 17/09/2025
Was trying to remember when it rained last here is London Ontario, apparently it was 12 days ago, and it only rained twice in the last 47 days. This ain’t normal, or maybe it’s the new normal, either way it’s bad.
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SWO Transit @swotransit.bsky.social · 15/09/2025
Meanwhile in Ontario the Premier wants to remove traffic safety photo systems because some people who like to speed think their a cash grab.
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SWO Transit @swotransit.bsky.social · 15/09/2025
EMD was sold to Caterpillar in 2010, less than 2 years later the EMD plant in London was permanently closed when workers refused to take a pay cut from $35.00 to $16.50 per hour.
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SWO Transit @swotransit.bsky.social · 15/09/2025
Seen today on the 401, can someone explain to me why these 2 trucks are street legal? Lift kits ☑️ Oversized wide tires ☑️ Blowing coal 💨☑️
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SWO Transit @swotransit.bsky.social · 15/09/2025
Watching the Yankees and Red Sox and can’t believe Boston fans just booed the Yankees hurler for throwing to first. Must be low baseball IQ in Boston too?
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SWO Transit @swotransit.bsky.social · 11/09/2025
What happened in Utah today occurred while an answer was being given that spread misinformation and generates hate towards a group that includes some of the people in this world I love the most. I do not celebrate an act where one human takes the life of another, but I will not shed any tears either
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SWO Transit @swotransit.bsky.social · 10/09/2025
The same Premier who passed legislation to rip out bike lanes is now telling municipalities they need to rip out speeding cameras, they’re issue, they were too successful at reducing speeding and making roads safer. Can’t make this shit up. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
cbc.ca
Ford's vow to rid cities of speed cameras '100% politics,' Ottawa councillor says | CBC News
As Premier Doug Ford threatens to get rid of speed cameras in Ontario, one Ottawa city councillor is defending them as a vital tool for community safety.
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SWO Transit @swotransit.bsky.social · 17/08/2025
I’m happy Buck is back, but man, why does he keep saying ‘the jays don’t hit many home runs’ when they are literally league average. 8/15 in the American League and 13/30 in MLB. #BlueJays
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SWO Transit @swotransit.bsky.social · 16/08/2025
Mikes Straw! Really? So cliche but there really is a different hero every game for these #BlueJays
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SWO Transit @swotransit.bsky.social · 14/08/2025
When we talk about climate change we should never say ‘it rained that’s climate change’ or ‘it’s hot that’s climate change’ because weather events always have and will happen. But frequency and severity ARE CLIMATE CHANGE. When the number of severe storms trends up it should be obvious.
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Michael McLean @michaelmclean.me · 14/08/2025
It should not require special knowledge to know how to bike around safely in a city
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Toronto Railway Museum @torailwaymuseum.bsky.social · 12/08/2025
Aug 11, 1950: General Motors Diesel Limited opens a new plant in London, ON, to produce the company's Electro-Motive Division diesel locomotives. The London plant would also manufacture unique GMD locomotive designs for the Canadian domestic and export markets. 1/3
An aerial view of the new General Motors Diesel Ltd. locomotive plant in London, Ontario shortly after it opened in 1950. Photo from the CN Collection, Canada Science and Technology Museum.
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SWO Transit @swotransit.bsky.social · 24/07/2025
Nearly 2/3rd of the way through the season, up by 4 games in the division, hold the tie breakers over 2nd and 3rd place teams, and yet somehow the Blue Jays are still the mathematical underdogs to win their division.
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SWO Transit @swotransit.bsky.social · 24/07/2025
Think the Blue Jays are a matchup nightmare for the Yankees. Yankees have fielding problems and a Jays team that rarely strikes out and puts a lot of pressure on the D really takes advantage of that.
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George Takei @georgetakei.bsky.social · 21/07/2025
When I was little, the U.S. military came to our home at gunpoint and took me and my family away. We were imprisoned for years in barbed wire camps simply because we were Japanese American. I have spent my life telling that story, hoping it would never be repeated.
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SWO Transit @swotransit.bsky.social · 06/07/2025
Everyone in London remember that loud annoying warning that came through all our phones when a minor tornado touched down just north of the city. Systems like that prevent tragedies like the flash floods in Kerr County Texas from happening. That’s where our extra tax dollars go.
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SWO Transit @swotransit.bsky.social · 04/07/2025
Please, please, please take a civic leader from London, ON there. As the city approaches its 500,000 people we can start talking about light-metro to the north and west from downtown instead of more non-prioritized bus lanes.
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SWO Transit @swotransit.bsky.social · 28/06/2025
When roads are closed on the city for extended periods of time they complain about the road themselves, but often this work has nothing to do with the roads but the stuff underneath it. This project for example is intended to upgrade sewers that are over 100 years old.
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