Ben ✨
@inparts.bsky.social
✨ certified ✨ scheduling ✨ wizard ✨
Victoria / Vancouver BC. Opinions my own.
Victoria / Vancouver BC. Opinions my own.
Road diets and traffic calming necessarily slows down transit vehicles running in mixed traffic too. And that's a perfectly fine, if unfortunate, tradeoff.
Where it becomes a real issue is if transit isn't given the investment to help counteract those tradeoffs -- which is now a very common problem
Where it becomes a real issue is if transit isn't given the investment to help counteract those tradeoffs -- which is now a very common problem
December 23, 2025 at 2:50 AM
Road diets and traffic calming necessarily slows down transit vehicles running in mixed traffic too. And that's a perfectly fine, if unfortunate, tradeoff.
Where it becomes a real issue is if transit isn't given the investment to help counteract those tradeoffs -- which is now a very common problem
Where it becomes a real issue is if transit isn't given the investment to help counteract those tradeoffs -- which is now a very common problem
Reposted by Ben ✨
Nailed it. 🎯
#Edinburgh: “As car usage grows and the city expands, it magnifies a lot of the challenges we face and increases the number of times we have to invest just to stand still.”
www.bbc.com/news/article...
#Edinburgh: “As car usage grows and the city expands, it magnifies a lot of the challenges we face and increases the number of times we have to invest just to stand still.”
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Bus journey times being 'killed by congestion' in cities
The industry warns that traffic jams are slowing average bus speeds and are calling for more priority measures for buses.
www.bbc.com
December 22, 2025 at 11:46 PM
Nailed it. 🎯
#Edinburgh: “As car usage grows and the city expands, it magnifies a lot of the challenges we face and increases the number of times we have to invest just to stand still.”
www.bbc.com/news/article...
#Edinburgh: “As car usage grows and the city expands, it magnifies a lot of the challenges we face and increases the number of times we have to invest just to stand still.”
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by Ben ✨
The so called King Street Priority Corridor on a Saturday night
December 21, 2025 at 6:54 AM
The so called King Street Priority Corridor on a Saturday night
Reposted by Ben ✨
There's a lot of good news in this quarter's service changes, but perhaps the most exciting is mid-day service on the 80, which provides an essential link from the River District to the Canada Line, and also relieves the overcrowded 100 on Marine Drive!
www.translink.ca/servicechang...
www.translink.ca/servicechang...
Service Changes
TransLink makes service changes every April, June, September, and December to reflect seasonal changes in demand.
www.translink.ca
December 16, 2025 at 9:02 PM
There's a lot of good news in this quarter's service changes, but perhaps the most exciting is mid-day service on the 80, which provides an essential link from the River District to the Canada Line, and also relieves the overcrowded 100 on Marine Drive!
www.translink.ca/servicechang...
www.translink.ca/servicechang...
Reposted by Ben ✨
Overly cute bus stops generate Vehicle Miles Traveled from tourists.
Design bus stops to attract and protect bus customers.
Design bus stops to attract and protect bus customers.
December 16, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Overly cute bus stops generate Vehicle Miles Traveled from tourists.
Design bus stops to attract and protect bus customers.
Design bus stops to attract and protect bus customers.
Reposted by Ben ✨
It's been 509 days since @christineboyle.bsky.social 's bus lane motion passed in Vancouver. Maybe 365 additional days since the previous ABC one did.
Do we have anything to show for it? Nope. Nothing.
Dude where's our bus lanes? 🚍🤷
Do we have anything to show for it? Nope. Nothing.
Dude where's our bus lanes? 🚍🤷
December 16, 2025 at 6:10 AM
It's been 509 days since @christineboyle.bsky.social 's bus lane motion passed in Vancouver. Maybe 365 additional days since the previous ABC one did.
Do we have anything to show for it? Nope. Nothing.
Dude where's our bus lanes? 🚍🤷
Do we have anything to show for it? Nope. Nothing.
Dude where's our bus lanes? 🚍🤷
Reposted by Ben ✨
Imagine the dignity of having a publicly-run bus company offering service like this on Vancouver-Kamloops-Prince George-Prince Rupert (on the Highway of Tears) and Vancouver-Kelowna-Nelson?
It is far cheaper than you think and it could be up and running in a year.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXyv...
It is far cheaper than you think and it could be up and running in a year.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXyv...
I rode Europe's BRAND NEW first class sleeper bus
YouTube video by Wingin’ It! Paul Lucas
www.youtube.com
December 14, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Imagine the dignity of having a publicly-run bus company offering service like this on Vancouver-Kamloops-Prince George-Prince Rupert (on the Highway of Tears) and Vancouver-Kelowna-Nelson?
It is far cheaper than you think and it could be up and running in a year.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXyv...
It is far cheaper than you think and it could be up and running in a year.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXyv...
Reposted by Ben ✨
The thing to remember is that the critics of the LRTs when they were proposed took issues with the original run time of 33 minutes, even the most critical opponents would never have believed that the run time would end up in the 50 minute plus time
Runner beats riders on #Toronto 's new $2.6-billion light-rail Finch West line
Bauer, a sub-2:50 marathoner, said he completed the run in 46 minutes through ice and snow. The LRT took 64 minutes.
runningmagazine.ca/the-scene/ru...
Bauer, a sub-2:50 marathoner, said he completed the run in 46 minutes through ice and snow. The LRT took 64 minutes.
runningmagazine.ca/the-scene/ru...
Runner laps Toronto's new $2.6-billion LRT train - Canadian Running Magazine
Toronto's first new transit line in 23 years took 64 minutes to travel 10.27 kilometres
runningmagazine.ca
December 14, 2025 at 6:12 PM
The thing to remember is that the critics of the LRTs when they were proposed took issues with the original run time of 33 minutes, even the most critical opponents would never have believed that the run time would end up in the 50 minute plus time
Speed is one of the most important characteristics for higher order transit, because it directly translates to better access for transit users.
Designing transit to sacrifice speed (and thus access) is tantamount to intentionally sabotaging that transit service from achieving its best potential.
Designing transit to sacrifice speed (and thus access) is tantamount to intentionally sabotaging that transit service from achieving its best potential.
Just realized that the 50km end to end travel time of the Montreal REM is the same as the 10km end to end travel time of Toronto's Finch W Tramway (55 min).
December 13, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Speed is one of the most important characteristics for higher order transit, because it directly translates to better access for transit users.
Designing transit to sacrifice speed (and thus access) is tantamount to intentionally sabotaging that transit service from achieving its best potential.
Designing transit to sacrifice speed (and thus access) is tantamount to intentionally sabotaging that transit service from achieving its best potential.
Reposted by Ben ✨
Just realized that the 50km end to end travel time of the Montreal REM is the same as the 10km end to end travel time of Toronto's Finch W Tramway (55 min).
December 13, 2025 at 4:55 AM
Just realized that the 50km end to end travel time of the Montreal REM is the same as the 10km end to end travel time of Toronto's Finch W Tramway (55 min).
Reposted by Ben ✨
Well, this will get a reaction.
Are Federal Transit Grants Hurting, Not Helping, Public Transportation?
It's by @clmarohn.bsky.social at @strongtowns.org.
Some thoughts .... 🧵 1/
www.strongtowns.org/journal/2025...
Are Federal Transit Grants Hurting, Not Helping, Public Transportation?
It's by @clmarohn.bsky.social at @strongtowns.org.
Some thoughts .... 🧵 1/
www.strongtowns.org/journal/2025...
Are Federal Transit Grants Hurting, Not Helping, Public Transportation? | Strong Towns
Three case studies reveal how top-down funding creates rigidity, waste, and systems that cities cannot afford to fix or abandon.
www.strongtowns.org
December 12, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Well, this will get a reaction.
Are Federal Transit Grants Hurting, Not Helping, Public Transportation?
It's by @clmarohn.bsky.social at @strongtowns.org.
Some thoughts .... 🧵 1/
www.strongtowns.org/journal/2025...
Are Federal Transit Grants Hurting, Not Helping, Public Transportation?
It's by @clmarohn.bsky.social at @strongtowns.org.
Some thoughts .... 🧵 1/
www.strongtowns.org/journal/2025...
The Transit Death Spiral is something that desperately needs to be avoided, but can be easily kickstarted during budget crunches.
Stagnant budgets are actively damaging to transit service. As an extension to this video, my thoughts on "schedule maintenance": bettercolumbia.ca/2025/12/02/f...
Stagnant budgets are actively damaging to transit service. As an extension to this video, my thoughts on "schedule maintenance": bettercolumbia.ca/2025/12/02/f...
December 3, 2025 at 1:47 AM
The Transit Death Spiral is something that desperately needs to be avoided, but can be easily kickstarted during budget crunches.
Stagnant budgets are actively damaging to transit service. As an extension to this video, my thoughts on "schedule maintenance": bettercolumbia.ca/2025/12/02/f...
Stagnant budgets are actively damaging to transit service. As an extension to this video, my thoughts on "schedule maintenance": bettercolumbia.ca/2025/12/02/f...
This is the trap we want to make sure Victoria DOESN'T run into for higher order transit.
The technology choice for a project in Victoria doesn't matter nearly as much as the speed, frequency, reliability, and capacity that the final product actually ends up providing.
The technology choice for a project in Victoria doesn't matter nearly as much as the speed, frequency, reliability, and capacity that the final product actually ends up providing.
At $240M/km, Finch West LRT is…
- MORE expensive per-km than the Sheppard Subway
- 2X the per-km cost of the Montreal REM & underground metros in other developed nations
… for a tram that’s SLOWER than a bus in traffic.
Let’s not mislead the public; Line 6 should be the 536 Finch West streetcar!
- MORE expensive per-km than the Sheppard Subway
- 2X the per-km cost of the Montreal REM & underground metros in other developed nations
… for a tram that’s SLOWER than a bus in traffic.
Let’s not mislead the public; Line 6 should be the 536 Finch West streetcar!
November 30, 2025 at 4:57 AM
This is the trap we want to make sure Victoria DOESN'T run into for higher order transit.
The technology choice for a project in Victoria doesn't matter nearly as much as the speed, frequency, reliability, and capacity that the final product actually ends up providing.
The technology choice for a project in Victoria doesn't matter nearly as much as the speed, frequency, reliability, and capacity that the final product actually ends up providing.
#yyj in January, routes 14 and 15 will be seeing their weekend service restored to 15 mins 0800-1900, a COVID cut dating back to early 2022.
BC's provincial SSMUH policy for frequent transit will finally no longer only apply to one singular bus route outside of Metro Vancouver.
BC's provincial SSMUH policy for frequent transit will finally no longer only apply to one singular bus route outside of Metro Vancouver.
November 29, 2025 at 7:49 PM
#yyj in January, routes 14 and 15 will be seeing their weekend service restored to 15 mins 0800-1900, a COVID cut dating back to early 2022.
BC's provincial SSMUH policy for frequent transit will finally no longer only apply to one singular bus route outside of Metro Vancouver.
BC's provincial SSMUH policy for frequent transit will finally no longer only apply to one singular bus route outside of Metro Vancouver.
today I learned the reindeer bus has a tail
November 29, 2025 at 5:27 AM
today I learned the reindeer bus has a tail
Reposted by Ben ✨
the 510 gotta be a poster child example that slapping dedicated transit lanes don't necessarily allow transit vehicles to glide smoothly past traffic. got to address intersection priority!
Streetcars crawling up Spadina.
Note the left turning cars taking priority over the streetcar.
Note the left turning cars taking priority over the streetcar.
November 26, 2025 at 11:26 PM
the 510 gotta be a poster child example that slapping dedicated transit lanes don't necessarily allow transit vehicles to glide smoothly past traffic. got to address intersection priority!
www.reddit.com/r/VictoriaBC...
Per StatsCan, of Canadian metro areas, Victoria #yyj is among the highest for transit mode share, and is the highest on the list without some form of higher order transit.
Yet we have minimal expansion plans for the next decade due to infrastructure & funding.
Per StatsCan, of Canadian metro areas, Victoria #yyj is among the highest for transit mode share, and is the highest on the list without some form of higher order transit.
Yet we have minimal expansion plans for the next decade due to infrastructure & funding.
Victoria has one of the highest shares of transit commuters among the 140 largest metro areas in Canada and the U.S.
www.reddit.com
November 27, 2025 at 2:11 AM
www.reddit.com/r/VictoriaBC...
Per StatsCan, of Canadian metro areas, Victoria #yyj is among the highest for transit mode share, and is the highest on the list without some form of higher order transit.
Yet we have minimal expansion plans for the next decade due to infrastructure & funding.
Per StatsCan, of Canadian metro areas, Victoria #yyj is among the highest for transit mode share, and is the highest on the list without some form of higher order transit.
Yet we have minimal expansion plans for the next decade due to infrastructure & funding.
Reposted by Ben ✨
Blasting past rush hour traffic on the completed portion of Dufferin RapidTO (up to Dundas)
November 27, 2025 at 1:03 AM
Blasting past rush hour traffic on the completed portion of Dufferin RapidTO (up to Dundas)
Reposted by Ben ✨
A bad day for Canada, and therefore the world.
Ontario (population 16 million, 40% of the country) has passed new legislation prohibiting bike lanes that take a lane from cars.
An escalation from Bill 212, which required municipalities to get approval.
Ontario (population 16 million, 40% of the country) has passed new legislation prohibiting bike lanes that take a lane from cars.
An escalation from Bill 212, which required municipalities to get approval.
November 24, 2025 at 7:50 PM
A bad day for Canada, and therefore the world.
Ontario (population 16 million, 40% of the country) has passed new legislation prohibiting bike lanes that take a lane from cars.
An escalation from Bill 212, which required municipalities to get approval.
Ontario (population 16 million, 40% of the country) has passed new legislation prohibiting bike lanes that take a lane from cars.
An escalation from Bill 212, which required municipalities to get approval.
Reposted by Ben ✨
Could Dawson Creek, BC eliminate their transit network?
If you know anyone up there, please tell them to reach out to city council.
www.cjdctv.com/news/article...
If you know anyone up there, please tell them to reach out to city council.
www.cjdctv.com/news/article...
Comments during city council meeting raise concerns about future of BC Transit in Dawson Creek
The contract between the city and BC Transit expires in Spring 2026.
www.cjdctv.com
November 23, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Could Dawson Creek, BC eliminate their transit network?
If you know anyone up there, please tell them to reach out to city council.
www.cjdctv.com/news/article...
If you know anyone up there, please tell them to reach out to city council.
www.cjdctv.com/news/article...
Taipei is actually such an interesting example of how differently transit network planning is done elsewhere in the world.
Many of the median bus lanes in the city centre w/ 100+ buses per hour run *right on top of and "duplicating" metro lines* -- and they're all nevertheless very very well used.
Many of the median bus lanes in the city centre w/ 100+ buses per hour run *right on top of and "duplicating" metro lines* -- and they're all nevertheless very very well used.
Vancouver needs real bus lanes! I'm convinced that they would give temendous bang for buck for improving quality of life and getting people out of traffic.
We could learn a lot from Taipei's central bus lanes. Check them out!
youtu.be/C6NXrJxx1kg?...
We could learn a lot from Taipei's central bus lanes. Check them out!
youtu.be/C6NXrJxx1kg?...
Check out Taipei's center bus lanes--Vancouver could learn a lot from them!
YouTube video by Peter Waldkirch
youtu.be
November 23, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Taipei is actually such an interesting example of how differently transit network planning is done elsewhere in the world.
Many of the median bus lanes in the city centre w/ 100+ buses per hour run *right on top of and "duplicating" metro lines* -- and they're all nevertheless very very well used.
Many of the median bus lanes in the city centre w/ 100+ buses per hour run *right on top of and "duplicating" metro lines* -- and they're all nevertheless very very well used.
Reposted by Ben ✨
If Montreal hadn’t started building the metro in the 60s, would we be trying to build it today as a tram? Crazy to think.
Trams have their place! (Let’s convert some well-used medium-distance bus routes to trams.)
But not as the high-capacity long-distance spine of a transit network in a big city.
Trams have their place! (Let’s convert some well-used medium-distance bus routes to trams.)
But not as the high-capacity long-distance spine of a transit network in a big city.
The Transit "Experts" That Derail Transit.
My Grand Theory of North America's Transit Expansion Failures.
nextmetro.substack.com
November 20, 2025 at 4:02 PM
If Montreal hadn’t started building the metro in the 60s, would we be trying to build it today as a tram? Crazy to think.
Trams have their place! (Let’s convert some well-used medium-distance bus routes to trams.)
But not as the high-capacity long-distance spine of a transit network in a big city.
Trams have their place! (Let’s convert some well-used medium-distance bus routes to trams.)
But not as the high-capacity long-distance spine of a transit network in a big city.
www.bctransit.com/wp-content/u...
TransLink had 11% weekday bus overcrowding in 2024, and they rolled out the biggest bus expansion since 2018.
Victoria had 8% weekday bus overcrowding in 2024, and our expansion funding was cut to the point where it doesn't even pay for schedule maintenance. 🙃
TransLink had 11% weekday bus overcrowding in 2024, and they rolled out the biggest bus expansion since 2018.
Victoria had 8% weekday bus overcrowding in 2024, and our expansion funding was cut to the point where it doesn't even pay for schedule maintenance. 🙃
www.bctransit.com
November 18, 2025 at 4:28 AM
www.bctransit.com/wp-content/u...
TransLink had 11% weekday bus overcrowding in 2024, and they rolled out the biggest bus expansion since 2018.
Victoria had 8% weekday bus overcrowding in 2024, and our expansion funding was cut to the point where it doesn't even pay for schedule maintenance. 🙃
TransLink had 11% weekday bus overcrowding in 2024, and they rolled out the biggest bus expansion since 2018.
Victoria had 8% weekday bus overcrowding in 2024, and our expansion funding was cut to the point where it doesn't even pay for schedule maintenance. 🙃
Better Airport service is of course well overdue, but doing this without the appropriate expansion funding in place will have adverse negative impacts on not just Sidney residents, but everyone that takes transit to/from the ferries.
We need actual expansion funding to do this right. #yyj
We need actual expansion funding to do this right. #yyj
We need your help to tell transit commissioners that airport service should come alongside all-day 71 service, which would give Sidney residents and ferry riders an all-day direct downtown connection. Transit doesn't have to be zero-sum.
See the proposal:
www.bctransit.com/wp-content/u...
See the proposal:
www.bctransit.com/wp-content/u...
www.bctransit.com
November 17, 2025 at 4:34 AM
Better Airport service is of course well overdue, but doing this without the appropriate expansion funding in place will have adverse negative impacts on not just Sidney residents, but everyone that takes transit to/from the ferries.
We need actual expansion funding to do this right. #yyj
We need actual expansion funding to do this right. #yyj
Reposted by Ben ✨
Toronto may have to lay off about 1,000 people because of Ontario's speed camera ban: mayor
Revenue from speed cameras paid for 911 crossing guards, 18 traffic safety police officers: mayor
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Revenue from speed cameras paid for 911 crossing guards, 18 traffic safety police officers: mayor
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Toronto may have to lay off about 1,000 people because of Ontario's speed camera ban: mayor | CBC News
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow says the city may have to lay off about a thousand workers now that the Ontario government has effectively banned speed cameras in municipalities across the province.
www.cbc.ca
November 16, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Toronto may have to lay off about 1,000 people because of Ontario's speed camera ban: mayor
Revenue from speed cameras paid for 911 crossing guards, 18 traffic safety police officers: mayor
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Revenue from speed cameras paid for 911 crossing guards, 18 traffic safety police officers: mayor
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...