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Toronto Bikes

Tough Year for Bikes but Optimism Lies Ahead

Rob Zaichkowski looks back at the state of Toronto cycling in 2025, and at what to look for in 2026

By Robert Zaichkowski

Last year was a tough year for cycling and road safety in Toronto. The Ford government secured a third straight majority in February and followed up on last year’s Bill 212 with Bill 60, which banned cities from converting motor vehicle lanes to bike lanes or any other prescribed purpose. They also banned speed cameras via Bill 56 despite the evidence proving speed cameras save lives. These two bills effectively denied the residents of Parkside Drive a safer street – something already... Read more

Vancouver Spacing

UCS #83: Your Tax Dollars at Work

See our Launch and Introduction about the launch of the © Urban Cartoon Syndicate and the announcement by CityHallWatch. *** Related Readings: City of...
By Urban Cartoon Syndicate
Toronto Bikes

LORINC: Uncomfortable conversations about road safety

Council needs to reconcile its Vision Zero and cycling infrastructure goals with those of its new traffic czar
By John Lorinc
Vancouver Features

21st Century Road Allowances

Yvonne was in her early 40s, with short brown hair and a solid build. She was taller than my 5’ 5” frame, but when I met her she was seated on the steps...
By mariastanborough
Toronto Transit

Photographing the Finch West LRT

Peter MacCallum tries Toronto's new transit line
By Peter MacCallum
Vancouver Spacing

UCS #82: Welcome to the New Year!

See our Launch and Introduction about the launch of the © Urban Cartoon Syndicate and the announcement by CityHallWatch. *** Related Readings: Square 1 �...
By Urban Cartoon Syndicate
Toronto Transit

OP-ED: Toronto transit needs to build on what we have, not fall for old tropes

Sean Marshall argues that the best way to improve transit in Toronto is to focus on affordable, quick, and effective solutions
By Sean Marshall

Toronto Photos

Gerrard Street East Part 2, 2023-2024

Photographer Peter MacCallum continues his exploration of an east end street facing significant changes
By Peter MacCallum
National Podcast

The Overhead: Community land trusts gaining ground

Spacing and the Balanced Supply of Housing research node proudly present The Overhead: Understanding Canada’s Affordable Housing Crisis, a special podcast series.
By Spacing Radio
Vancouver Spacing

The (Ur)banality of Evil

Thoughtless Bureaucracy and When Harm Becomes Routine
By Erick Villagomez
Toronto Architecture

Joe Medwecki and the triumph of the wraparound balcony

An Annex apartment building reminds us of the potential of good design
By Alfred Holden
Toronto Waterfront

Who’s behind the deep-pocketed private equity firm that’s bought into Therme?

A new player has joined the Ontario Place melodrama — a mega-investor with billions to spend
By John Lorinc
Vancouver Spacing

UCS #81: Twas the Night Before Christmas

See our Launch and Introduction about the launch of the © Urban Cartoon Syndicate and the announcement by CityHallWatch. *** Twas the night before...
By Urban Cartoon Syndicate

Podcasts

National Podcast

The Overhead: Decommodifying Housing

Spacing and the Balanced Supply of Housing research node proudly present The Overhead: Understanding Canada’s Affordable Housing Crisis, a special podcast series.
By Spacing Radio
National Podcast

The Overhead: Indigenous-led housing

Spacing and the Balanced Supply of Housing research node proudly present The Overhead: Understanding Canada’s Affordable Housing Crisis, a special podcast series.
By Spacing Radio
Toronto Podcast

PODCAST: Spacing Radio 90, Bless this urban mess

In This Episode: we talk incremental change, embrace urban chaos, and take a stroll down Toronto's laneways
By Spacing Radio

Toronto Podcast

PODCAST: Spacing Radio 089, Global ideas for local placemaking

In This Episode: what is placemaking and what can we learn from placemakers around the world?
By Spacing Radio
Toronto Podcast

PODCAST: Spacing Radio 088, Big City Mayor Takes on Canadian Housing

In This Episode: recent Vancouver history, Canada's new housing minister, and Scarborough cuisine
By Glyn Bowerman
Toronto Podcast

PODCAST: Spacing Radio 087, Building housing with election planks

In this episode: campaign promises, court injunctions, and taking Doug Ford to court (again)
By Spacing Radio
National Podcast

The Overhead: The Housing Crisis in Trump’s America

Spacing and the Balanced Supply of Housing research node proudly present The Overhead: Understanding Canada’s Affordable Housing Crisis, a special podcast series.
By Spacing Radio
National Podcast

The Overhead: Tracking Evictions Across Canada

Spacing and the Balanced Supply of Housing research node proudly present The Overhead: Understanding Canada’s Affordable Housing Crisis, a special podcast series.
By Spacing Radio
Toronto Podcast

PODCAST: Spacing Radio 086, Lost Highways

In this episode: the Ontario election, do highways solve congestion, and Winnipeg's famous intersection
By Spacing Radio
National Podcast

The Overhead: Security for Renters

Spacing and the Balanced Supply of Housing research node proudly present The Overhead: Understanding Canada’s Affordable Housing Crisis, a special podcast series.
By Spacing Radio
Toronto Podcast

PODCAST: Spacing Radio 085, City accounting for global chaos

In this episode: Trudeau's urban legacy, Toronto's budget, and potential economic meltdowns
By Spacing Radio
National Podcast

The Future Fix: l’innovation au service des citoyens

Spacing and Evergreen proudly present The Future Fix: Solutions for Communities Across Canada, a special podcast series. This is a special, French-language edition.
By Spacing Radio

Trending

Toronto Culture

The Ultimate Guide to the Best Songs About Toronto

In the Fall 2023 issue of Spacing (coming soon to a store or mailbox near you), we shine a spotlight on five “Toronto Troubadours” — musicians “dedicated...
By Todd Harrison
Toronto Pandemic

LORINC: The pandemic is about cities

Viruses, in the abstract, don’t care much about their host organisms, beyond the latter’s on-board, physiological defenses. Yet it’s clear the coronavirus...
By John Lorinc
Vancouver Architecture

S101S—Understanding Residential Density: FSR, Building Setbacks and Height Regulations

What is Floor Space Ratio (FSR) and how does it interact with building setbacks and height regulations to create building forms and the ‘look and feel’ of...
By Erick Villagomez
Toronto Waterfront

What’s really happening at Ontario Place? (Part 1)

The investigation by Ontario Auditor-General Bonnie Lysyk into the Ford government’s removal of 7,400 acres of prime farmland and wetlands from the...
By Ian Darragh
Toronto Housing

LORINC: The Tories’ use-it-or-lose housing ruse

On the north-east corner of Bathurst and St. Clair West sits a snazzy purpose-built condo sales office, ostensibly there to promote Foret, a giant...
By John Lorinc
Toronto Waterfront

Q&A with Steven Evans on photographing Ontario Place

With the chaotic Greenbelt scandal swirling in the background, the updated plans for the Ford government’s deeply contentious and destructive scheme...
By John Lorinc