Toronto, Moving Forward or Falling Behind

Photo by Enrique Diaz. More of his photos here.

In rain, snow or shine, my commuting preference in Toronto is to bike or walk. I never understood why I would choose to cram into a streetcar for 45 minutes with 100 others carrying wet umbrellas when I can walk for 30 minutes and cover more distance? But, my bike has been put away not by choice, and I’m now subjected to taking Toronto’s public transportation on a daily basis.

Since February 23, the Queen Streetcar has been the bain of my existence. An article in the National Post describes Toronto’s streetcar service as the most iconic feature of Toronto’s transit system, but now, its weakest link. Having been aware of the service problems of the Queen streetcar, firsthand experience has now proved this point to be true. For instance, a recent post Waiting for the 501 by Dylan Reid, in Spacing Wire, cleverly tells a story of the commuter’s struggle.

Last night, I considered myself fortunate not to have to wait for the 501 as it pulled up just as I got to the streetcar stop. Brilliant! I would be home in less than half an hour. We chugged westbound slowly along Queen street but no sooner had I plugged my Ipod into my ears did I hear a horn blast loudly. This was soon followed by an announcement, “Sorry folks, we won’t be going anywhere. There’s a car parked too far out because of the snowbank and I’ll smash his bumper if we continue”. The commotion started as the driver proceeded to call for help, passengers debated whether to stay on or get off, and the airwave cluttered with the increase use of mobile phones to report the delay to loved ones waiting at home. Thankfully, we were on our way again twenty minutes later.

I quickly zoned back out to Glen Hassard on my Ipod, only to realize that the flashing indicator lights of the streetcar were flashing again, just three blocks later. I looked at the girl next to me who responded with two words, “parked truck”. So ridiculous, we could only break out in laughter.

Sometimes the infrastructure of Toronto whether it is in relation to urban planning, city maintenance or the TTC transport system amazes me. This is Canada. It snows here. When this weather phenomenon happens in Toronto, the city’s transportation and parking infrastructure falters easily. Is the fact that while enroute, a streetcar driver has to constantly get out of his seat to chip ice away from the tracks a sign of a failing transit system that is simply not made for this country? Is the fact that snow is removed from the roads and piled onto the cycling lanes an indication of the poor cultural mentality towards cyclists? Vehicles require parking, cyclists must be able to commute, public transportation needs to continue running. The negative impact on the functionality of Toronto’s transportation system, resulting so easily from the domino effect due to snow accumulation, is truly an embarrassment for a city that considers itself a leading edge and internationally renowned.

This winter has recorded the most snowfall in Ontario since 1947. With the evolving climate, change in Toronto’s planning and transportation system is eminent. Known as one of the top five poorest richest cities in the world, can Toronto keep up?

Frozen Aftermath

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Hide and Seek by Imogen Heap

Queen St. West Fire Day After

On February 20th, the streetcar I sat on was rerouted due to a 6-alarm fire on Queen St. West. I work close enough that it only took a 5 min walk after getting of the streetcar that morning to leave me smelling like soot. The Torontoist has an exclusive series of photographs that document the blaze.

During lunch the next day, I went down to the site. Between the police barricades, media reporters and photographers, it was hard to get close to the scene. Along with many others, I stood behind the barrier starring at the mess, destruction and loss.

Urban Life

The gym, the nightclub, the all-night deli,

Toronto and its' layers of existence

Winter Solstice in Toronto

The Winter Solstice is celebrated in Toronto on December 21 with the the Festival of Lights in Kensington Market. While this tradition of saying goodbye to the shortest day of the year in Toronto is only 20 years old, the event gathers a fantastic mass of locals and performers, including musicians, puppeteers, stiltwalkers and firebreathers.

Despite the limitations of my point and shoot camera, and the numbness from the cold hitting my exposed fingers, I think I captured the magic of the night. Cheers to longer days!

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

501 Streetcar Ride

As a cyclist, I have to admit that I rarely take the streetcar. Why sit on a 2km/hr moving vehicle when I can sail freely past traffic. But with a winter storm warning for the night and a destination further west along Queen street than I was used to wandering to, I opted to take public transportation, the 501 Queen streetcar.

During this slow journey, I sat bundled, lost in thought in my single seat, half cold from the draft coming through the door and half warm from the heater blowing at my feet. Frequently, the automated voice would speak, announcing stops, but not breaking the moment as I looked at Toronto through a window with traveller's eyes.

In recent months, the inefficiencies of the 501 Queen streetcar have been a continuing debate in Toronto. Problems include long wait times, irregular service, and frequent short turns. User groups have since started a petition calling on the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) to improve the service of the most frequently used route in the city.

Nuit Blanche

Nuit Blanche translated as 'White Night' is an all night event celebrating art and culture from sundown to sunrise. The original one started in Paris in 2002 and continues to take place every year on the the first Saturday and Sunday of October.

In Canada, la belle ville de Montreal was the first to follow the Parisian lead in March of 2004, in the midst of rain, sun or snow.

Last year, Toronto followed in suite with their first ever Nuit Blanche. I missed it, opting to have dinner out instead which left me retired on my couch for the rest of the evening full of good food and wine. After hearing the positive reviews, which I don't normally listen too, I found myself paying attention to the rant and rave about it and feeling like I had missed out on an important Torontonian ocassion. After all, something had to be pretty good in order to bring masses of people into the streets despite cold and drizzly weather.

So with good weather this year, and only brown rice in my stomach, I had no excuse but to venture out on Saturday night to join the festivities of Toronto's 2nd annual Nuit Blanche.

Conversion of a garbage dumpster into a spa hotel room

Most interesting were the lineups and crowds of people hanging in to see something not so interesting.

With public help, the contents of an apartment are moved to an outdoor location 2 blocks away

Ingenious! Next time I relocate I'll do the same instead of hiring movers.

Telling stories in window frames

I couldn't grasp the story but does it matter since this was still mesmerizing and effective!

Balancing rocks using mental power

If only I had that kind of strength, what would I build?

Something for the kids

Glad to have been able to photograph her fascination and email the photo along. Three cheers to technology of today so that even I can give a stranger a lasting moment to remember.

The Voiceless Choir

I was too busy taking photos and didn't hear them sing.

A downtown drive-in experience under the Ontario College of Arts Building

What would you choose? To be entertained outdoors amongst others or...

The latest concept for sustainable energy

...at home by the television?

Art Gallery of Ontario Party Room

Me, I prefer this option!

Alley Jaunt

Alley Jaunt, which began in August 2003, is a 2-day event dedicated to promoting and integrating comtemporary art into public space, specifically in alternative spaces such as the back alleys around the Trinity Bellwoods Park area. This year, there were 32 artists and a mixture of exhibitions, art installations and back street performances.
Promoting public spaces for people is a low priority for the City of Toronto and it takes a collective of local artists to dream up a concept like this one and keep it going. Bravo to them!

The interactivity between art and people was such that you could listen to alley noises through the Tin Can

or pose for projected paintings.

My favourite was still: DEAR TORONTO

A question I, too, often wonder?

Behind the scenes

I have to acknowledge that one of the greatest things about the residential neighbourhoods in Toronto is the wonderful set of back alleys. On the main street in front of homes, cars race up tree-lined roads barely stopping at speed bumps. But behind, another world lies, less frequented, less visible.

Some parts discovered by graffitti artists,

others still waiting to be found.