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lanrickbennett.bsky.social
Lanrick Bennett
@lanrickbennett.bsky.social
14K followers 340 following 4K posts
Working within the active transportation, environmental protection, affordable housing and placemaking sphere. Always advocating #BikeTO #TransformTO #BLM #TweetsAreMineByDefault
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lanrickbennett.bsky.social
It's funny. You know what bike lane upgrade was not affected by Doug Ford's Bike Lane Ban? Jones Av from Queen St E to Dundas St E in #TorontoDanforth! At least we now know who is 100% reposible for placing vulnerable road users in jeopardy of being hurt or losing their lives on this street. #BikeTO
‪Matt Elliott‬ ‪@graphicmatt.com‬ · 7mo Notable back-and-forth between @lanrickbennett.bsky.social and Councillor Paula Fletcher here. Lanrick makes good argument for protected bike lanes on Jones Ave, as previously approved by council. Fletcher says that plan takes away too many parking spaces. beachmetro.com/2025/06/05/i... In My Opinion: Need for protected cycle tracks on Jones Avenue must be made clear to local councillor Cycle Toronto‬ ‪@cycletoronto.bsky.social‬ · 6mo Zero. That’s the number of kilometres of new bike lanes proposed as part of the 2025.IE23.6 Cycling Network Plan - Second Quarter Update. City Council meets tomorrow. Help us tell Council and the Mayor that this is a time for leadership: www.cycleto.ca/zero_kilomet... Zero Kilometres Zero. That’s the number of kilometres of new bike lanes proposed as part of the 2025.IE23.6 Cycling Network Plan - Second Quarter Update. This isn’t just about Bill 212. Not moving forward with the proposal for contraflow bike lanes on Logan-Carlaw, reversing the Council-approved decision to upgrade Jones to protected bike lanes, or approving the Kingston sections of the Danforth-Kingston Complete Streets is not solely the result of provincial overreach. These are local decisions being made at a local level. Help us tell City Council and the Mayor that this is a time for leadership.
January 22, 2026 at 8:11 PM
lanrickbennett.bsky.social
Thank you to Councillor @shelleycarroll.bsky.social ’s office and the City Clerk for formally receiving and circulating our Toronto–Danforth budget submission to Budget Committee and Council.

h/t @henrikbechmann.bsky.social @planningtoronto.bsky.social

#BudgetTO #TransformTO #VisionZero
Dear Councillor Carroll, I hope you’re well. Budget Committee<buc@toronto.ca> ​ Lanrick Bennett Jr.​ Hello Lanrick, Confirming your submission has been received as a communication. Your communication will be distributed to the members of the Budget Committee and all Members of Council. Your correspondence including any personal information will become part of the public record, your name will be listed as a correspondent on the agenda and minutes of the Budget Committee or City Council, and as agendas and minutes are posted online, your name may be indexed by search engines like Google. For additional information on speaking or writing to Committees, please visit https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/council/council-committee-meetings/have-your-say/ Regards, Fortis City Clerk's Office Councillor Carroll<Councillor_Carroll@toronto.ca> ​ Lanrick Bennett Jr.​ Dear Lanrick, Thank you for taking the time to write and outline your thoughts on this year’s staff-prepared Budget. The City Clerk’s Office will be sure to include as a submission for Budget Committee’s consideration. I will be sure to share your feedback and questions with Councillor Carroll in advance of Councillor Fletcher’s town hall. Best, Tom Gleason Chief of Staff Office of Councillor Shelley Carroll Budget Chief Mayor's Economic Development & Culture Champion Ward 17 - Don Valley North 100 Queen St. W., Ste A3 Toronto, ON M5H 2N2 Phone: 416-338-2650 Website: shelleycarroll.ca Subscribe to Shelley's Thursday night E-Blast Communicating with a councillor or councillor’s staff at the City of Toronto on certain subject matters (e.g. all communication covering sales information, pricing and business development) may require you to register as a lobbyist. To help determine if you are required to register, you may refer to the interactive tool on the Office of the Lobbyist Registrar website. You may also contact the Office of the Lobbyist Registrar by phone at 416-338-5858 or by email at lobbyistregistrar@toronto.ca.
January 22, 2026 at 3:19 AM
lanrickbennett.bsky.social
LBJ's Humpday Podcast Picks for Jan 21st

This week’s Humpday Podcast Picks connect medical racism, U.S. foreign policy, and youth-driven challenges to power.

h/t @namshine.bsky.social @trappedinhistory.bsky.social @willylowry.bsky.social @wearetvo.bsky.social

medium.com/@lanrickbenn...
A set of headphones over a mic Text LBJ’s Humpday Podcast Picks Who am I listening to today? Image of Nam Kiwanuka (MIS)Treated a podcast on women's health CBC Two Blocks from the White House Image of people protesting Trapped History
January 21, 2026 at 1:20 PM
lanrickbennett.bsky.social
Pass.

We can barely pick up recycling bins and for some reason, our elected officials are slack jawed every year when there is snow on the ground.

A Montreal & Quebec City Combo, now you’d be playing with power for a Winter Games

Cc: @ohtheurbanity.bsky.social
January 19, 2026 at 2:37 AM
lanrickbennett.bsky.social
To be honest, parked vehicles for good or bad stay in their lanes closest to the sidewalk.

If the street is swept and cleaned of snow and ice, with a painted line being the bike lane, the clearing could still be possible.

#BikeTO tell me if I’m wrong in that thought process. I need to know.
Overhead map of Jones Av at Strathcona Av showing parked vehicles and the painted bike lane
January 18, 2026 at 3:44 PM
lanrickbennett.bsky.social
Please let me know if the major protected cycling infrastructure in your neighbourhood is a skating rink, because the whole length of Danforth Av from Broadview Av to Coxwell Av in #TorontoDanforth is a horizontal luge track.

It’s absolutely DIABOLICAL what is being done here #BikeTO
January 18, 2026 at 2:45 PM
lanrickbennett.bsky.social
This is #TorontoDanforth

I get it. We had a major snow fall on Wednesday night/Thursday morning.

It’s Sunday Right Now!

Why have the painted bike lanes not been cleaner of snow and ice like the roads beside them?

(My street in front of my home on Jones Av)

#BikeTO
January 18, 2026 at 2:45 PM
lanrickbennett.bsky.social
#HearThis Sharing 3 pieces of Black specific content with my kids this week.

1. The theme for #BlackHistoryMonth
2. 'SINNERS' Chat
3. Black Mothers are dying

h/t @marcmillermp.bsky.social
@moniquewelch.bsky.social

I think these stories are all worth #Amplifying

medium.com/@lanrickbenn...
The Week of January 18th #HearThis Sharing 3 Pieces of Black Specific Content with my kids this week “It took many years of vomiting up all the filth I’d been taught about myself, and half-believed, before I was able to walk on the earth as though I had a right to be here.” ― James Baldwin Halifax Regional Municipality Canada unveils theme for Black History Month 2026 in Cherry Brook, N.S. Announcement at Black Cultural Centre 'a powerful recognition,' says facility's CEO Yuan Wang · CBC News · Posted: Jan 08, 2026 1:48 PM EST | Last Updated: January 8 Canadian Identity and Culture Minister Marc Miller, centre, announced the theme for 2026 Black History Month at the Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia in Cherry Brook, near Dartmouth. (Carolyn Ray/CBC News) Deadline ‘Sinners’ Delroy Lindo Talks With Denzel Washington; Reflects On Early Career Advice, Eating Struggle Meals & Working With Ryan Coogler: “He’s An Incredibly Collaborative Spirit” By Destiny Jackson Destiny Jackson Awards Writer @DestinyDreadful More Stories By Destiny ‘Sinners’ Miles Caton Talks Sacrifice, What He Learned From Co-Stars & The Precipice of Stardom ‘The Chronology Of Water’ Duo Kristen Stewart & Imogen Poots On Feeling “F**king Lucky” For Making Audiences Think Again ‘Butterfly On A Wheel’ Filmmaker Trevor Morris Talks Putting Authenticity In Hopeful Neurodivergent Oscar-Shortlisted Tale View All December 18, 2025 10:38pm This Texas County Is the Deadliest Place in the U.S. for Black Mothers to Give Birth by Monique Welch-Rutherford January 14, 2026 Moriah Ballard holds photos of her deceased infant son Denim provided by the hospital from a keepsake box that she received after his death in August 2019, Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025, in Houston. (Douglas Sweet Jr./Capital B News)
January 18, 2026 at 12:14 PM
lanrickbennett.bsky.social
So ‪@kittykerosene.bsky.social while that unicorn plan gets noodled at @housingnowto.bsky.social & many other affordable housing advocates, building new, smart & efficiently can, in fact, bring more housing to market for the people & families that need it most. What we are missing is #PoliticalWill
Planning and Housing Committee (2022-2026) Highlights The Planning and Housing Committee's primary focus is on urban form and housing development, with a mandate to monitor and make recommendations on planning, property standards, growth, and housing development and services. < Prev Meeting Dec 3, 2025 Select Meeting: January 22, 2026 - Meeting 27 - Scheduled (Preview) Next Meeting Feb 26, 2026 > Planning and Housing Committee - Meeting 27 Meeting Date and Status: January 22, 2026 - 9:30 AM - Scheduled (Preview) Location: Committee Room 1, City Hall/Video Conference Publishing Status: Contact Information Nancy Martins Toronto City Hall 100 Queen Street West Toronto, ON M5H 2N2 Telephone: 416 - 397-4579 Fax: 416 - 392-2980 Email: phc@toronto.ca Members Brad Bradford Vincent Crisanti Josh Matlow Jamaal Myers Frances Nunziata (Vice Chair) Gord Perks (Chair) This list demonstrates the membership of Planning and Housing Committee as of its meeting on January 22, 2026. The membership may change if a different meeting is selected.
January 17, 2026 at 1:03 PM
lanrickbennett.bsky.social
Already tipped off that this was going to be a good one @namshine.bsky.social.
Image of Nam Kiwanuka and Notisha Massaquoi at TVO HQ "Had a blast hanging out with Nam and taping an episode of her amazing podcast (Mis)Treated."
January 16, 2026 at 2:12 PM
lanrickbennett.bsky.social
This is #TorontoDanforth

The safest 150m on Danforth Av (westbound) via Metrolinx and the folks building the Ontario Line #BikeTO
January 16, 2026 at 1:16 PM
lanrickbennett.bsky.social
A nod to @themegandaily.bsky.social

Jan 2 “Governor Kathy Hochul today issued the first ever proclamation declaring January as Muslim American Heritage Month across New York State.”

www.governor.ny.gov/news/governo....
January 15, 2026 at 10:09 PM
lanrickbennett.bsky.social
True!

h/t @plannersean.bsky.social
January 15, 2026 at 3:38 PM
lanrickbennett.bsky.social
Listening to David Common on Metro Morning having to be hand-held through the game of Domino's is making my morning.

This session tomorrow is sold out, but hopefully, more evenings will be scheduled in the future.

www.instagram.com/p/DS2n4yvEbv...
Everybody swears that their Uncle, Auntie, Grandfather, cousin’s cousin was the best to ever touch a Domino set, on January 15th, we’re gonna put that to the test, and see who was paying attention. Now, we should mention If you’re new, or rusty, don’t fret, we’ll be around to offer pointers here and there and make sure you’re set. 🤝

We’re also excited to have @overproofpapi who will be joining us from 7 - 8 PM to host a premium rum tasting and share insight into some of the Caribbean’s most storied and complex rum. All that say, make sure you reach from early. Sound Selection By @ldaati 

🗓️When: Thursday, January 15th
⏰Time: 7:00PM - 10:30PM 🎟️Admission: Free
📍Where: @Annex Hotel

{RSVP link in Bio}
January 15, 2026 at 1:33 PM
lanrickbennett.bsky.social
Not fairweather at all. Smart! I'd usually put myself in the street with bike lanes not cleared, but I can't even properly calculate when Jones Av (a bus route) will get a proper clearing here in #TorontoDanforth

Also the 17 y/o in our house has promised me grilled cheese for lunch today so... :)
PlowTO Map PlowTO shows recent snow-clearing activity—approximately within the past four hours—for road salters, snowplows, sidewalk plows, and cycling plows. When crews are salting, salters appear on the map. When crews are plowing, plows appear instead. This helps you see where active crews have been in your area.
January 15, 2026 at 12:26 PM
lanrickbennett.bsky.social
Yuck #BikeTO
January 15, 2026 at 11:48 AM
lanrickbennett.bsky.social
#ICYMI we had a lot of snow last night. It continues to snow this morning and may thoughout the day.

Plan accordingly #WalkTO & #BikeTO

‘Clearing Snow & Ice from Toronto’s Roads & Sidewalks’ via @toronto.ca

h/t @goodroads.bsky.social @ffsafestreets.bsky.social

www.toronto.ca/services-pay...
Image of snow removal equipment Clearing Snow & Ice from Toronto's Roads & Sidewalks Visit the PlowTO map to see which roads and sidewalks near you have been plowed or salted and where winter maintenance vehicles are in real time. View PlowTO Sidewalk Clearing Clearing ice and snow from the sidewalk in front of/adjacent to your home, private property or business helps keep neighbours and communities safer for everyone when it snows. Snow Accumulation Less than 2 cm 2 cm or more Snow Clearing Responsibility Residents and businesses clear sidewalks adjacent to their property of snow and ice within 12 hours of the end of a snowfall. City crews clear all public sidewalks Winter Cycling Many people in Toronto cycle all year to work, school, for errands or for recreation. Annual counts have shown about 20 per cent of peak summer cycling volumes continue through the winter, which translates to approximately 1,200 people a day cycling on Richmond Street/Adelaide Street, and approximately 1,000 people a day cycling on Bloor Street. Providing clear and safe bikeways in winter encourages more people to cycle on city streets and trails. With a bit of extra planning, preparation and the right mindset, winter cycling is feasible and enjoyable in the colder months. Winter Cycling Route Maintenance All types of cycling infrastructure are cleared when two centimeters of snow accumulates. It takes approximately eight hours for crews to plow each round and it may take multiple rounds of plowing to clear all cycling routes after a snowfall. Cycle tracks and multi-use paths are plowed using smaller plows that are up to 1.5 meters wide. This equipment is used to clear snow and ice from bikeways with physical barriers or that are raised from the roadway. For two-way bikeways, the snow clearer will make one pass in each direction to ensure both lanes are clear of snow and ice. City crews monitor conditions to identify problem areas that need additional service. Residents can also help to identify problem areas by contacting 311 and submitting a winter maintenance request of a bikeway or trail. Crews will be dispatched to inspect and clear the area. as required.
January 15, 2026 at 11:11 AM
lanrickbennett.bsky.social
‪LBJ's Humpday Podcast Picks for Jan 14th

This week explores what happens when urban systems fail, chaotic friendship energy, and elite athletes making meaningful comebacks.

h/t @lookbothwayspod.bsky.social @davidzipper.bsky.social
@wesmars.bsky.social

medium.com/@lanrickbenn...
A set of headphones over a mic Text LBJ’s Humpday Podcast Picks Who am I listening to today? A mic in the middle of a street "Look Both Ways With David & Wes" Illustration of two women in front of a star "two idiot girls" Wave Originals Image of three women "House of Maher with Olivia, Iiona & Adrianna"
January 14, 2026 at 11:15 AM
lanrickbennett.bsky.social
This is #TorontoDanforth

Organized by @c40cities.bsky.social, the ‘Green and Thriving Neighbourhoods’ programme brings together 24 global pilot neighbourhoods that are tackling the climate crisis through purposeful and people-centered design.

h/t @waterfrontoronto.bsky.social bit.ly/OkweninWon
SLASLA 35,513 followers35,513 followers 12h • 12 hours ago • Visible to anyone on or off LinkedIn Our OOKWEMIN MINISING joins the international ‘Green and Thriving Neighbourhoods’ community – the next generation of ambitious, climate-​responsive cities! Organized by C40 Cities, the ‘Green and Thriving Neighbourhoods’ programme brings together 24 global pilot neighbourhoods that are tackling the climate crisis through purposeful and people-centered design. Introduced at last year's World Mayors Summit in Rio de Janeiro by Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, OOKWEMIN MINISING is Toronto’s newest island, transforming 39.6 hectares of former Port Lands into a transformative waterfront project for 15,000 residents. In OOKWEMIN MINISING, we create a piece of city where streets, public spaces, and buildings work together like living ecosystems – boosting biodiversity while managing climate change and reconnecting people with nature. Drawing from Indigenous knowledge, we're designing a cityscape where trees, water, soil, and communities flow and grow together. Read more about OOKWEMIN MINISING here: https://bit.ly/OkweninWon Ookwemin Minising is delivered for Waterfront Toronto and City of Toronto together with our amazing team GHD, Trophic Design Inc., Allies and Morrison, Transsolar KlimaEngineering, Monumental, and Level Playing Field. Overhead view of OOKWEMIN MINISING
January 13, 2026 at 10:33 PM
lanrickbennett.bsky.social
#BikeTO could only hope for that type of coverage and prioritized want to protect vulnerable road users.
h/t @curbed.com

#TOpoli
www.curbed.com/article/zohr...
Mamdani's First Week Was Very Good for Cyclists By Clo Chang Image of the Mayor at work outside curbed One of the first things @zohrankmamdani did in his inaugural week as mayor was to pave over the Big Bump at the foot of the Williamsburg Bridge. The bump, notorious for launching cyclists into the air if they hit it too fast, is now gone. It's a tiny drop of asphalt in a big city but one that may signal the start of a new era for cyclist safety. When Eric Adams took office, he too made a show of being a bike lover, promising to build 300 miles of protected bike lanes by the end of his term. But then he and top aide Ingrid Lewis-Martin spent four years ripping up protected bike lanes and sabotaging planned road diets. In the end, Adams fell 210 miles short of his promise. Mamdani spent his first week in office undoing much of what Adams had wrought, including an announcement that he and new DOT commissioner Mike Flynn would be installing the original McGuinness Boulevard road diet, reversing Adams's reversal. Read about Mamdani's plans for the city's bike riders at the link in our bio. Photo: Adam Gray/Bloomberg/Getty
January 13, 2026 at 5:56 PM
lanrickbennett.bsky.social
I wonder if this type of forward thinking, prioritized public transit infrastructure (red-paint) could be brought into #TorontoDanforth?

Broadview Av to Dundas St E & Queen St
&
Gerrard St E and Queen St E from Broadview Av to Coxwell Av

Will ask @shelleycarroll.bsky.social on Feb 3rd #BudgetTO
Weekly Update: Issues with Provincial Recycling... Share your Feedback Residents will be able to share feedback at Mayor Chow and Budget Committee Chair Councillor Shelley Carroll's telephone town halls later this month. I will also be holding my annual budget town hall for Toronto-Danforth residents on Tuesday, February 3rd with special guest Councillor Shelley Carroll, along with staff from the city's Finance team. • This will be a great opportunity to learn about the budget and make your voice heard. Registration details will be available soon. Learn more about the 2026 City Budget here. Zoomed in TTC Streetcar route in Toronto Danforth
January 13, 2026 at 1:44 PM
lanrickbennett.bsky.social
Grateful for the nod. A thoughtful piece on PlayScore by @sadeenmohsen.bsky.social

PlayScore’s focus on traffic, nature, social spaces, and child-relevant destinations makes clear how uneven access to play still is across Toronto.

This work matters.

h/t @ubcpublichealth.bsky.social
Natalie BrownNatalie Brown • 1st1st Senior Director at Park People / Ami·es des parcsSenior Director at Park People / Ami·es des parcs 52m • 52 minutes ago • Visible to anyone on or off LinkedIn Sadeen M. wrote a great article showcasing PlayScore. It's new playabilty index from UBC (led by Emily Gemmell) that helps us understand how play-friendly our neighbourhoods really are. I enjoyed connecting with Sadeen and putting the research into context with the help of my kids. It was also a chance to reflect on and be grateful for the many people and organizations working to make Toronto a safer, greener, and more vibrant place for kids to play - 8 80 Cities Cycle Toronto High Park Nature Centre Evergreen Brick Works City of Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation Outdoor Play Canada Waterfront Toronto Amanda O'Rourke Lanrick Jr Bennett Sara Street and so many others. https://lnkd.in/gh3XU3MM https://lnkd.in/ghJ-6gCb About Playability Outdoor play is increasingly recognized as important for young children’s health, development and well-being. Today, a majority of Canadian children (about 72%) live in the 35 largest metropolitan areas. So how supportive are these environments for kids' outdoor free play? The PlayScore, an index of neighbourhood playability for young children, was developed to assess neighbourhood environments for outdoor play across major Canadian cities. Five major domains were identified as key factors influencing neighbourhood playability from a review of evidence: Spaces for play Social environment Traffic environment Natural environment Child-relevant destinations Fifteen indicators were developed to capture the multiple dimensions within these domains. Indicators were then weighted, and combined into a overall score. The score was mapped to postal codes across the 35 largest metro areas in Canada. You can read more about development of the index here. PlayScore: Dimensions and Indicators (size indicates relative weight of metric component)
January 12, 2026 at 6:00 PM
lanrickbennett.bsky.social
Hmmm and thank you @cbailey6.bsky.social

Here in #TorontoDanforth we have a budget town hall on Feb 3rd. Will bring this up with @shelleycarroll.bsky.social and her @toronto.ca budget team before hand. A lot happening in our #EastEnd hood.

h/t
‪ @henrikbechmann.bsky.social
January 12, 2026 at 2:55 PM
lanrickbennett.bsky.social
Make It Make Sense!
Bulletin details Ontario’s Cargo Power-Assisted Bicycles (E-Bike) Pilot Program was launched on March 1, 2021, as a 5-year pilot in response to significant stakeholder interest. The pilot was designed to evaluate the broader personal and commercial use of two and three-wheeled cargo e-bikes. The pilot is set to expire on March 1, 2026. Where permitted by municipal by-law, cargo e-bikes may operate anywhere bicycles are allowed, including public roadways, bike lanes, and cycle tracks. Municipalities may set additional restrictions, such as limiting access to multi-use paths based on vehicle weight or size. The ministry is proposing to extend the pilot for an additional five years, until March 1, 2031, to continue evaluating the feasibility of cargo e-bike use. This extension will enable MTO to gather additional data to support its ongoing review and analysis of cargo e-bikes, providing a clearer understanding of the program’s impact and guiding future policy decisions. No additional changes are proposed to the existing cargo e-bike pilot program rules and requirements. For more information on Ontario’s Cargo E-Bike Pilot Program, visit: https://www.ontario.ca/page/cargo-e-bike-pilot-program
January 12, 2026 at 1:27 PM
lanrickbennett.bsky.social
ZERO plans to bring in experts like @880cities.bsky.social and @greencommunities.bsky.social to install (not pilot) School Streets into multiple neighbourhoods that want to prioritize the safety of students, teachers and staff but have lacked #PoliticalWill from their rep 3/ tcat.ca/school-stree...
The Centre for Active Transportation is part of the nationwide movement for School Streets Safer Streets. Happier Children. Healthier Communities.
January 12, 2026 at 12:27 PM