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.
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.
If I was a mayor, or ran a city’s transportation dept, I’d be meeting frequently with the local police chief/deputy chiefs, explaining the MANY public interest reasons why we want as many people as possible riding bikes, and how their approach to bike theft, ticketing, etc makes a BIG DIFFERENCE.
December 17, 2025 at 10:04 PM
If I was a mayor, or ran a city’s transportation dept, I’d be meeting frequently with the local police chief/deputy chiefs, explaining the MANY public interest reasons why we want as many people as possible riding bikes, and how their approach to bike theft, ticketing, etc makes a BIG DIFFERENCE.
Posts like this about biking in Dutch cities are routinely replied to with comments like “well, they have the big advantage of being relatively flat.”
The Dutch also have the big advantage of not constantly making excuses about why they can’t make clearly smarter city-making decisions. #Leadership
The Dutch also have the big advantage of not constantly making excuses about why they can’t make clearly smarter city-making decisions. #Leadership
December 14, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Posts like this about biking in Dutch cities are routinely replied to with comments like “well, they have the big advantage of being relatively flat.”
The Dutch also have the big advantage of not constantly making excuses about why they can’t make clearly smarter city-making decisions. #Leadership
The Dutch also have the big advantage of not constantly making excuses about why they can’t make clearly smarter city-making decisions. #Leadership
“It's not my duty as Mayor to make sure you have a parking spot. For me it's the same as if you bought a cow, or a refrigerator, and then asked me where you're going to put them.” — Mayor of Pontevedra, Spain (re-elected 6 times)
December 13, 2025 at 12:55 AM
“It's not my duty as Mayor to make sure you have a parking spot. For me it's the same as if you bought a cow, or a refrigerator, and then asked me where you're going to put them.” — Mayor of Pontevedra, Spain (re-elected 6 times)
you will be visited by 3 spirits
December 9, 2025 at 5:29 PM
you will be visited by 3 spirits
Never forget, car dependency isn’t freedom.
Some might ask “what’s more free than cars?”
Choices.
Choices are more free than car dependency.
It’s not a hard concept.
I’m not pitting cars against any other single mode of transport.
I’m rejecting design that creates dependency on just one mode.
Some might ask “what’s more free than cars?”
Choices.
Choices are more free than car dependency.
It’s not a hard concept.
I’m not pitting cars against any other single mode of transport.
I’m rejecting design that creates dependency on just one mode.
December 9, 2025 at 8:25 AM
Never forget, car dependency isn’t freedom.
Some might ask “what’s more free than cars?”
Choices.
Choices are more free than car dependency.
It’s not a hard concept.
I’m not pitting cars against any other single mode of transport.
I’m rejecting design that creates dependency on just one mode.
Some might ask “what’s more free than cars?”
Choices.
Choices are more free than car dependency.
It’s not a hard concept.
I’m not pitting cars against any other single mode of transport.
I’m rejecting design that creates dependency on just one mode.
Never forget, if you design a city for cars, it fails for everyone, including drivers.
If you design a multi-modal city that makes walking, biking & public transit attractive options, it works better for everyone, including drivers.
INCLUDING DRIVERS.
The “war on cars” has always been a lie.
If you design a multi-modal city that makes walking, biking & public transit attractive options, it works better for everyone, including drivers.
INCLUDING DRIVERS.
The “war on cars” has always been a lie.
December 9, 2025 at 6:18 AM
Never forget, if you design a city for cars, it fails for everyone, including drivers.
If you design a multi-modal city that makes walking, biking & public transit attractive options, it works better for everyone, including drivers.
INCLUDING DRIVERS.
The “war on cars” has always been a lie.
If you design a multi-modal city that makes walking, biking & public transit attractive options, it works better for everyone, including drivers.
INCLUDING DRIVERS.
The “war on cars” has always been a lie.
This iconic Fabian Todorovic cartoon is still one of the best I’ve seen at illustrating the remarkable amount of space we surrender to cars, leaving little space left for everyone and everything else. The text added later makes the bonus point that many drivers still manage to complain about it.
December 8, 2025 at 12:52 AM
This iconic Fabian Todorovic cartoon is still one of the best I’ve seen at illustrating the remarkable amount of space we surrender to cars, leaving little space left for everyone and everything else. The text added later makes the bonus point that many drivers still manage to complain about it.
This design appears to be commemorating a global zombie apocalypse.
December 6, 2025 at 5:00 PM
This design appears to be commemorating a global zombie apocalypse.
Bike-lanes don’t cause traffic congestion.
Car dependency, dumb land-use sprawl, too many (& bigger) cars being driven too much taking up too much space, highly subsidized driving costs, and not enough choices in how to get around, ALL cause traffic congestion.
Think about it. THAT’S common sense.
Car dependency, dumb land-use sprawl, too many (& bigger) cars being driven too much taking up too much space, highly subsidized driving costs, and not enough choices in how to get around, ALL cause traffic congestion.
Think about it. THAT’S common sense.
December 5, 2025 at 4:04 AM
Bike-lanes don’t cause traffic congestion.
Car dependency, dumb land-use sprawl, too many (& bigger) cars being driven too much taking up too much space, highly subsidized driving costs, and not enough choices in how to get around, ALL cause traffic congestion.
Think about it. THAT’S common sense.
Car dependency, dumb land-use sprawl, too many (& bigger) cars being driven too much taking up too much space, highly subsidized driving costs, and not enough choices in how to get around, ALL cause traffic congestion.
Think about it. THAT’S common sense.
Tonight’s #UrbanismBookClub offering is “The Design Of Childhood” by @langealexandra.bsky.social. A GREAT book by an author who WON THE PULITZER PRIZE for a series of articles on the same broad subject in @opinion.bloomberg.com Citylab! Alexandra interviewed me for the book on Vancouver’s work. 6/
December 5, 2025 at 3:20 AM
Tonight’s #UrbanismBookClub offering is “The Design Of Childhood” by @langealexandra.bsky.social. A GREAT book by an author who WON THE PULITZER PRIZE for a series of articles on the same broad subject in @opinion.bloomberg.com Citylab! Alexandra interviewed me for the book on Vancouver’s work. 6/
Despite the best efforts of unhinged conspiracy theorists who badly want us to be scared of having more things to walk to near-by, my friend @carlosmorenofr.bsky.social’s very important book “The 15-Minute City,” and the simple concept of proximity, are thankfully here to stay. #UrbanismBookClub 5/
December 1, 2025 at 2:58 AM
Despite the best efforts of unhinged conspiracy theorists who badly want us to be scared of having more things to walk to near-by, my friend @carlosmorenofr.bsky.social’s very important book “The 15-Minute City,” and the simple concept of proximity, are thankfully here to stay. #UrbanismBookClub 5/
One of the many reasons change is hard when it comes to better cities is that the ability to picture your city being and working very differently than it does now, aka “having vision,” is not nearly as common as we think. And it’s sadly not a prerequisite for leadership, although it should be.
November 30, 2025 at 8:28 PM
One of the many reasons change is hard when it comes to better cities is that the ability to picture your city being and working very differently than it does now, aka “having vision,” is not nearly as common as we think. And it’s sadly not a prerequisite for leadership, although it should be.
Remember this picture, & others like it, every time you hear someone in your city say "we're not Amsterdam."
This was #Amsterdam in the 1970s.
Many of the cities we admire made better choices regarding cars in the past. and are still making better choices today.
Better choices instead of excuses.
This was #Amsterdam in the 1970s.
Many of the cities we admire made better choices regarding cars in the past. and are still making better choices today.
Better choices instead of excuses.
November 30, 2025 at 7:34 AM
Remember this picture, & others like it, every time you hear someone in your city say "we're not Amsterdam."
This was #Amsterdam in the 1970s.
Many of the cities we admire made better choices regarding cars in the past. and are still making better choices today.
Better choices instead of excuses.
This was #Amsterdam in the 1970s.
Many of the cities we admire made better choices regarding cars in the past. and are still making better choices today.
Better choices instead of excuses.
Posts about urban biking in Dutch cities are routinely replied to with comments like “well, they have the big advantage of being relatively flat.”
The Dutch also have the big advantage of not constantly making excuses about why they can’t make clearly smarter city-making decisions. #Leadership
The Dutch also have the big advantage of not constantly making excuses about why they can’t make clearly smarter city-making decisions. #Leadership
November 29, 2025 at 6:09 AM
Posts about urban biking in Dutch cities are routinely replied to with comments like “well, they have the big advantage of being relatively flat.”
The Dutch also have the big advantage of not constantly making excuses about why they can’t make clearly smarter city-making decisions. #Leadership
The Dutch also have the big advantage of not constantly making excuses about why they can’t make clearly smarter city-making decisions. #Leadership
Tonight’s #UrbanismBookClub book tackles better city-making from the communications, branding, & public relations spheres. “Dark PR: How Corporate Disinformation Undermines Our Health & Environment” by my friend @grantennis.bsky.social is a HUGELY important book today. Every urbanist should read it.
November 29, 2025 at 4:58 AM
Tonight’s #UrbanismBookClub book tackles better city-making from the communications, branding, & public relations spheres. “Dark PR: How Corporate Disinformation Undermines Our Health & Environment” by my friend @grantennis.bsky.social is a HUGELY important book today. Every urbanist should read it.
November 28, 2025 at 9:30 PM
We have no shortage of solutions when it comes to the #ClimateCrisis & better city-building. We know what works, & what doesn’t. We know the difference between action & excuse. We have smart cities that inspire us.
We need leadership.
#ActionStartsHere #PaidPartnership @mayors4climate.bsky.social
We need leadership.
#ActionStartsHere #PaidPartnership @mayors4climate.bsky.social
November 28, 2025 at 5:50 AM
We have no shortage of solutions when it comes to the #ClimateCrisis & better city-building. We know what works, & what doesn’t. We know the difference between action & excuse. We have smart cities that inspire us.
We need leadership.
#ActionStartsHere #PaidPartnership @mayors4climate.bsky.social
We need leadership.
#ActionStartsHere #PaidPartnership @mayors4climate.bsky.social
If you’re wondering how these kinds of ideas actually happen in cities, the truth is they usually need champions, including in city hall. Credit is due to Councillor @sarahkirbyyung.bsky.social for proactively reaching out to help. This is her Council motion, which was unanimously approved tonight!
November 27, 2025 at 5:54 AM
If you’re wondering how these kinds of ideas actually happen in cities, the truth is they usually need champions, including in city hall. Credit is due to Councillor @sarahkirbyyung.bsky.social for proactively reaching out to help. This is her Council motion, which was unanimously approved tonight!
For decades, sustainable & responsible cities haven’t just been possible — they’ve been common sense, logical, ridiculously obvious! And yet we’ve failed to act. A better future through better cities is STILL possible with real leadership at every level. #ActionStartsHere @mayors4climate.bsky.social
November 26, 2025 at 6:45 AM
For decades, sustainable & responsible cities haven’t just been possible — they’ve been common sense, logical, ridiculously obvious! And yet we’ve failed to act. A better future through better cities is STILL possible with real leadership at every level. #ActionStartsHere @mayors4climate.bsky.social
Smart cities are transforming transportation, reducing emissions and public costs while adding more choice and improving quality of life. COMMON SENSE!
Smart infrastructure for public transit, walking & biking is a GREAT INVESTMENT. Fund it accordingly. #ActionStartsHere @mayors4climate.bsky.social
Smart infrastructure for public transit, walking & biking is a GREAT INVESTMENT. Fund it accordingly. #ActionStartsHere @mayors4climate.bsky.social
November 26, 2025 at 12:55 AM
Smart cities are transforming transportation, reducing emissions and public costs while adding more choice and improving quality of life. COMMON SENSE!
Smart infrastructure for public transit, walking & biking is a GREAT INVESTMENT. Fund it accordingly. #ActionStartsHere @mayors4climate.bsky.social
Smart infrastructure for public transit, walking & biking is a GREAT INVESTMENT. Fund it accordingly. #ActionStartsHere @mayors4climate.bsky.social
Cities like Paris are showing that urban greening thru street & place transformation is just COMMON SENSE, for cooling cities that are getting hotter due to the #ClimateCrisis, and for reducing emissions, cleaning the air, and improving quality-of-life!
#ActionStartsHere @mayors4climate.bsky.social
#ActionStartsHere @mayors4climate.bsky.social
November 25, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Cities like Paris are showing that urban greening thru street & place transformation is just COMMON SENSE, for cooling cities that are getting hotter due to the #ClimateCrisis, and for reducing emissions, cleaning the air, and improving quality-of-life!
#ActionStartsHere @mayors4climate.bsky.social
#ActionStartsHere @mayors4climate.bsky.social
Any political “leader” still selling the obviously false choice between #ClimateAction and “the economy” is just reminding us that they clearly don’t understand either the climate crisis OR the economy.
Or they’re cynically hope that WE don’t understand the difference.
Or both.
Or they’re cynically hope that WE don’t understand the difference.
Or both.
November 25, 2025 at 7:02 AM
Any political “leader” still selling the obviously false choice between #ClimateAction and “the economy” is just reminding us that they clearly don’t understand either the climate crisis OR the economy.
Or they’re cynically hope that WE don’t understand the difference.
Or both.
Or they’re cynically hope that WE don’t understand the difference.
Or both.
November 25, 2025 at 12:12 AM