Brent Toderian
@brenttoderian.bsky.social
Global advisor on better cities, city planning, transportation & urban change. City planner + urbanist leading @ToderianUW.bsky.social. Past Chief Planner for Vancouver BC. Past/founding President of @CanUrbanism.bsky.social. International speaker & media.
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Brent Toderian
@brenttoderian.bsky.social
· Jun 25
NEW: “Canadian urbanist @brenttoderian.bsky.social teamed up with the city of Paris and, in particular, its mayor, @annehidalgo.bsky.social on a new exhibition that shines a light on cities and global climate action.”
Thanks very much @momentummag.bsky.social for the great questions! #Paris
Thanks very much @momentummag.bsky.social for the great questions! #Paris
Reposted by Brent Toderian
Finally got a chance to listen to this really great interview. This is really fantastic. Give it a listen, and if you don’t already follow Brent. The stuff is fantastic. This is the voice of leadership.
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!
How to Actually Improve a City (w/Brent Toderian)
YouTube video by The Urbanist Agenda Podcast
www.youtube.com
December 16, 2025 at 12:15 AM
Finally got a chance to listen to this really great interview. This is really fantastic. Give it a listen, and if you don’t already follow Brent. The stuff is fantastic. This is the voice of leadership.
Reposted by Brent Toderian
Fundamentals
5 steps to making better cities
by @brenttoderian.bsky.social
Step 1: STOP Doing The Wrong Things
Step 2: STOP Doing The Wrong Things “Better”
Step 3: QUIT Trying To Have Your Cake And Eat It, Too
Step 4: STOP Doing The Right Things Badly
& finally:
Step 5: DO The Right Things Well
5 steps to making better cities
by @brenttoderian.bsky.social
Step 1: STOP Doing The Wrong Things
Step 2: STOP Doing The Wrong Things “Better”
Step 3: QUIT Trying To Have Your Cake And Eat It, Too
Step 4: STOP Doing The Right Things Badly
& finally:
Step 5: DO The Right Things Well
As I discussed in the interview, these are the 5 STEPS TO MAKING BETTER CITIES I’ve been using for many years, and eventually wrote about in @fastcompany.com. Too many cities are stuck in Step 2 (doing the wrong things better), and have to really be careful in Step 4 (doing the right things badly).
5 steps to making better cities
Before you can do the right thing, you have to do the right thing badly. And before that, you have to do the wrong thing.
www.fastcompany.com
December 16, 2025 at 2:17 AM
Fundamentals
5 steps to making better cities
by @brenttoderian.bsky.social
Step 1: STOP Doing The Wrong Things
Step 2: STOP Doing The Wrong Things “Better”
Step 3: QUIT Trying To Have Your Cake And Eat It, Too
Step 4: STOP Doing The Right Things Badly
& finally:
Step 5: DO The Right Things Well
5 steps to making better cities
by @brenttoderian.bsky.social
Step 1: STOP Doing The Wrong Things
Step 2: STOP Doing The Wrong Things “Better”
Step 3: QUIT Trying To Have Your Cake And Eat It, Too
Step 4: STOP Doing The Right Things Badly
& finally:
Step 5: DO The Right Things Well
Reposted by Brent Toderian
Hard seeing others live out your dreams.
Commuting by bicycle in Belgium pays off as employees earn compensation for every km they ride. 1 in 6 employees commute by bike and get a bicycle allowance of €0.28/km. People cycling to work in 2024 earned an average of around €460 net per year (some as high as €810), up 20% over the past year.
Belgian commutes pay off: Employees earn up to €810 for cycling to work
One in five people in Flanders commuted by bike and received compensation last year, but this figure is significantly lower in Brussels and Wallonia.
www.brusselstimes.com
December 17, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Hard seeing others live out your dreams.
Reposted by Brent Toderian
Urbanists are people dedicated to making EVERYONE'S lives better. It really is a joy to read about successes all over the world to show momentum is building for a better future.
Word on the street is that there are a bunch of new folks joining Bluesky right now, so it seems like a good time to re-share my first & biggest STARTER PACK of urbanists & city-making organizations from across the world. Hope you’ll consider following the excellent accounts here. And please share!
November 26, 2025 at 12:43 AM
Urbanists are people dedicated to making EVERYONE'S lives better. It really is a joy to read about successes all over the world to show momentum is building for a better future.
Reposted by Brent Toderian
*cough* NZTA plans for urban highways and tunnels in Wellington
Still not sure who did this, but it’s really good advice for cities.
December 17, 2025 at 10:36 PM
*cough* NZTA plans for urban highways and tunnels in Wellington
Reposted by Brent Toderian
Trump’s approach of placing economic blame on Biden isn’t just a little spin on the ball: “It's an effort to completely mislead Americans on the economy his administration inherited, and the harm his policies have done.”
www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...
www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...
The Affordability Crisis Is Real and Tariffs Caused It
President Donald Trump traveled to Pennsylvania last week to double down on his economic messages: The affordability concerns of Americans are a Democratic “hoax” and if anyone is unhappy, it's a Blam...
www.bloomberg.com
December 17, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Trump’s approach of placing economic blame on Biden isn’t just a little spin on the ball: “It's an effort to completely mislead Americans on the economy his administration inherited, and the harm his policies have done.”
www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...
www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...
Reposted by Brent Toderian
Still not sure who did this, but it’s really good advice for cities.
December 17, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Still not sure who did this, but it’s really good advice for cities.
Reposted by Brent Toderian
Brent is an effective communicator in writing but he’s even better in conversations like this one. Give it a listen!
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!
How to Actually Improve a City (w/Brent Toderian)
YouTube video by The Urbanist Agenda Podcast
www.youtube.com
December 17, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Brent is an effective communicator in writing but he’s even better in conversations like this one. Give it a listen!
Reposted by Brent Toderian
🚨 Trump's bizarre address BRUTALLY mocked
Instead of [saying], 'I feel your pain, I understand that things hurt, but here's what I'm doing to try to make it better. Give me some time.'
This message was, 'I'm awesome. Don't you see how awesome I am?' www.rawstory.com/trump-speech...
Instead of [saying], 'I feel your pain, I understand that things hurt, but here's what I'm doing to try to make it better. Give me some time.'
This message was, 'I'm awesome. Don't you see how awesome I am?' www.rawstory.com/trump-speech...
Trump's bizarre address brutally mocked on CNN: 'Don't you see how awesome I am?'
A CNN political commentator mocked President Donald Trump's address to the nation on Wednesday night. Trump's address to the nation comes at a time when public polls show support for some of his signa...
www.rawstory.com
December 18, 2025 at 3:47 AM
🚨 Trump's bizarre address BRUTALLY mocked
Instead of [saying], 'I feel your pain, I understand that things hurt, but here's what I'm doing to try to make it better. Give me some time.'
This message was, 'I'm awesome. Don't you see how awesome I am?' www.rawstory.com/trump-speech...
Instead of [saying], 'I feel your pain, I understand that things hurt, but here's what I'm doing to try to make it better. Give me some time.'
This message was, 'I'm awesome. Don't you see how awesome I am?' www.rawstory.com/trump-speech...
Reposted by Brent Toderian
Zelenskyy: “Today, we heard signals from Moscow that they are preparing next year as a year of war. And these signals are not just for us. It’s important our partners see this [and] react to it, especially our partners in the United States, who often say that Russia supposedly wants to end the war."
Vladimir Putin predicts European ‘swine’ backing Ukraine will lose power
Russian president vows to liberate ‘historic lands’ in hardline speech, showing no signs of compromise on invasion goals
www.ft.com
December 18, 2025 at 6:41 AM
Zelenskyy: “Today, we heard signals from Moscow that they are preparing next year as a year of war. And these signals are not just for us. It’s important our partners see this [and] react to it, especially our partners in the United States, who often say that Russia supposedly wants to end the war."
Reposted by Brent Toderian
Jacinda Ardern
December 18, 2025 at 1:49 AM
Jacinda Ardern
Reposted by Brent Toderian
Excellent @brenttoderian.bsky.social
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!
How to Actually Improve a City (w/Brent Toderian)
YouTube video by The Urbanist Agenda Podcast
www.youtube.com
December 18, 2025 at 5:11 AM
Excellent @brenttoderian.bsky.social
Reposted by Brent Toderian
In Finnish "me" means us (we). 😄
December 18, 2025 at 5:09 AM
In Finnish "me" means us (we). 😄
I regularly get asked if I’m hopeful. Or optimistic.
My answer is always the same.
What I am, is determined.
My answer is always the same.
What I am, is determined.
December 18, 2025 at 6:25 AM
I regularly get asked if I’m hopeful. Or optimistic.
My answer is always the same.
What I am, is determined.
My answer is always the same.
What I am, is determined.
Reposted by Brent Toderian
Reposted by Brent Toderian
Reposted by Brent Toderian
Trump Spews Lies About The Economy In His Year-End Address To Nation
Trump Spews Lies About The Economy In His Year-End Address To Nation
Trump Spews Lies About The Economy In His Year-End Address To Nation
www.huffpost.com
December 18, 2025 at 2:55 AM
Trump Spews Lies About The Economy In His Year-End Address To Nation
Can it be an 8-way tie? #WORST
🚨 THE FINAL EIGHT 🚨
We’ve made it to the quarter finals — only two days away from crowning a winner for Worst Person in Tech 2025.
Don’t miss your chance to vote!
🗳️ Cast your ballot: twsu.forms.app/wpit2025-qf
We’ve made it to the quarter finals — only two days away from crowning a winner for Worst Person in Tech 2025.
Don’t miss your chance to vote!
🗳️ Cast your ballot: twsu.forms.app/wpit2025-qf
December 18, 2025 at 3:21 AM
Can it be an 8-way tie? #WORST
You know… “It.”
“Of course, it doesn’t feel right to want IT to HAPPEN. And it’s obviously not okay to try to make IT HAPPEN. That’s not what this is ABOUT, just to make things CLEAR LEGALLY as far as VARIOUS AGENCIES are concerned.”
www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/whe...
www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/whe...
When It Happens
It’s been so long, you sometimes forget that eventually, IT will HAPPEN.
It’s impossible to say when IT will HAPPEN. But it can’t be too long until...
www.mcsweeneys.net
December 18, 2025 at 3:17 AM
You know… “It.”
Reposted by Brent Toderian
“The phenomenon is known as induced demand. The result is an endless cycle in which congestion leads to highway expansion, which invites more trips, which brings back traffic…The pattern is so inevitable that economists have dubbed it the iron law of congestion.” #InducedTraffic
It’s an American Obsession. It’s Based on a Total Lie. We Have to Stop Before It’s Too Late.
The truth about what's happening on America's roads—and how we can stop it.
slate.com
December 17, 2025 at 4:34 AM
“The phenomenon is known as induced demand. The result is an endless cycle in which congestion leads to highway expansion, which invites more trips, which brings back traffic…The pattern is so inevitable that economists have dubbed it the iron law of congestion.” #InducedTraffic
Reposted by Brent Toderian
There is no question that Donald Trump is the worst person to have ever been elected president. But I think a case can be made that he is the worst person to ever have become famous.
December 17, 2025 at 8:14 PM
There is no question that Donald Trump is the worst person to have ever been elected president. But I think a case can be made that he is the worst person to ever have become famous.
Reposted by Brent Toderian
Someone already proven to be an inspiring leader - any field, science, military, business, public service. Get evidence from those they lead. Note “inspiring”. Which denotes admiral character.
December 18, 2025 at 12:54 AM
Someone already proven to be an inspiring leader - any field, science, military, business, public service. Get evidence from those they lead. Note “inspiring”. Which denotes admiral character.
In my observation, experience in federal politics teaches you to do things wrong and badly at least as often as it teaches you to do things well. And not being a politician doesn’t mean you’re an amateur.
And most importantly, in my opinion, none of Trump’s awfulness is about him being an amateur.
And most importantly, in my opinion, none of Trump’s awfulness is about him being an amateur.
Forgive me, but it *does* have to be a politician. The current US administration is a real-time illustration of what happens when you elect amateurs.
December 18, 2025 at 12:57 AM
In my observation, experience in federal politics teaches you to do things wrong and badly at least as often as it teaches you to do things well. And not being a politician doesn’t mean you’re an amateur.
And most importantly, in my opinion, none of Trump’s awfulness is about him being an amateur.
And most importantly, in my opinion, none of Trump’s awfulness is about him being an amateur.
QUESTION: If you could have any living person as the democratically chosen leader of your country, who would you choose?
Doesn’t have to be a politician.
Explain why, with the characteristics they have.
If I were a US voter, I’d chose Stephen Colbert. Character, morality, intelligence, humour.
Doesn’t have to be a politician.
Explain why, with the characteristics they have.
If I were a US voter, I’d chose Stephen Colbert. Character, morality, intelligence, humour.
December 18, 2025 at 12:35 AM
QUESTION: If you could have any living person as the democratically chosen leader of your country, who would you choose?
Doesn’t have to be a politician.
Explain why, with the characteristics they have.
If I were a US voter, I’d chose Stephen Colbert. Character, morality, intelligence, humour.
Doesn’t have to be a politician.
Explain why, with the characteristics they have.
If I were a US voter, I’d chose Stephen Colbert. Character, morality, intelligence, humour.