flurfdesign 🇨🇦

union station approaches from the west, with a passing go train. a complex tangle of crossing tracks and switches can be viewed

this morning's GO train derailment brings up a number of issues people have been talking about for a while:

1) the union station approaches are old, complex, with a million crossovers, necessitating slow operating speeds to avoid derailments, and are long overdue to be rebuilt

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Why American Bars Have Parking Lots YouTube video by flurfdesign

Our efforts to reduce drunk driving are missing a big component: disincentivizing driving itself. After all, the problem is not that people drink, it's that people are driving after they drink.

youtu.be/6Yvz9mRJVf8?...

The Slowest Trams on Earth: Toronto's Streetcars YouTube video by flurfdesign

Ahead of tomorrow's @ttcriders.bsky.social streetcar summit, @flurfdesign.bsky.social put out this video explaining why Toronto's streetcars are the slowest on Earth and how they can be fixed. #TTC #TOpoli youtu.be/CPbXfHFbke0?...

if toronto doesn't tear down the gardiner expressway, i dream of it one day becoming a linear park like the high line in nyc

but hey i saw a cyclist roll past a stop sign the other day

its just a slip lane but somehow even worse

"choose your fate" ahh crosswalk in brampton 💀😭

a pair of go trains entering union together

Page 7 of report: https://www.toronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/8e69-RapidTO-Bathurst-Consultation-Report.pdf

Page 7 of report: https://www.toronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/8e8e-Public-Consultation-Report.pdf

public consultation results for dedicated transit lanes on bathurst+dufferin. note overwhelming support (75%+ dufferin, 67-68% bathurst) for transit priority+converting parking to transit lanes.

transportation services recommendations + councillor compromises do not reflect what people want.

the view from the train west of union station goes hard

Me standing in front of a metrolinx map at pride

Projects in Toronto metrolinx map

Zoom into Scarborough

I go to Pride for the transit agency tent

nice tram system in the songjiang district of shanghai. all it needs is signal priority and more GRASS

oh and if you're wondering, entry is free!

for you transit nerds: there is a cool section showing the evolution of the shanghai metro, including future lines being built

the shanghai urban planning museum is totally worth checking out if you're ever in the city!

it did kinda feel like it was pushing an idealistic narrative at times, but overall a fascinating insight into how chinese urban planning works

[4] the city also has a frequent bus system with a fully electric bus fleet and a BRT line.

i was only able to stay for 2 days but this city, although far from perfect, was very impressive.

[3] however, intersections are unprotected and the bigger ones have slip lanes where pedestrians and scooters share the crosswalk.

[2] most of these lanes are physically separated and VERY wide, sometimes wider than car lanes.

walking around, i saw them on almost every major road, so theres definately a fairly strong network.

of course, 95% of people are riding electric scooters rather than regular bikes.

[1] suburbs and small cities in china have some of the best bike infrastructure, like here in the "small" city of Yancheng, Jiangsu (pop. 1.7 million)

mickey mouse train!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

others came to sunny bay to see hong kong disneyland, i came to sunny bay to see trains

bricelan.ca/metrolinx

The MRT is amazing, but finding a station, going up and down long escalators, and making long transfers is pretty inconvenient when going short distances downtown, and walking outside is a pain in the hot weather

and trams > buses

I wish Singapore had some trams with grassy tram tracks... there's definitely enough room lol

I got like 10 mosquito bites while filming this clip so please appreciate my blood sacrifice

They mostly run on dedicated ROW, and seem to have full signal priority, tons of interlining, and great digital wayfinding

if only the HK island trams were this good

Hong Kong's light rail system, with some great bike paths at Tuen Mun

So: the “Protect Bathurst / Dufferin” astroturf campaign run by Summerhill Market had videos of a guy talking about the neighborhood & RapidTO proposal. Real grassroots feel. Took a screenshot & put it into google image search. Guess what?

Good wayfinding is a key part of any good transit system, and Torontos needs a major overhaul.

I will be displaying my digital wayfinding project at OCAD University's GradEx from May 7 to 11th! Its free and features work from tons of other talented students!

Come check it out if you're in TO!