The Hidden Differences Between US and Canadian Urbanism Oh The Urbanity! 2026-09-22 | The Hidden Differences Between US and Canadian Urbanism
How Cycling Saved Montreal From the COVID Car Boom Oh The Urbanity! 2025-04-06 | Sure, Montreal has built all these bike lanes, but do people actually use them? Well, according to new data, cycling mode share almost doubled in the city in just five years.Keep Urbanity rolling:Join our Patreon for early releases, credit at the end of each video, and bonus content: patreon.com/ohtheurbanity Contact form: docs.google.com/forms/d/1NeALCmO6ELwJAGPyV46BVbl5JXzjlWl6emH3ZRNiCiw/editSubscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCN5CBM1NkqDYAHgS-AbgGHA?sub_confirmation=1Instagram: instagram.com/ohurbanityBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/ohtheurbanity.bsky.socialFor professional inquiries, please fill out the following contact form: docs.google.com/forms/d/1NeALCmO6ELwJAGPyV46BVbl5JXzjlWl6emH3ZRNiCiw/editReferences:https://www.artm.quebec/planification/enquete-metropolitaine-perspectives-mobilite/ ("Accédez aux tableaux des résultats détaillés")share.polymtl.ca/alfresco/service/api/path/content;cm:content/workspace/SpacesStore/Company%20Home/Sites/chaire-de-recherche-mobilit-web/documentLibrary/publications/Notes%20de%20recherche/note_recherche_partage_voirie_mtl_2021.pdf?guest=true&fbclid=IwAR2ybkQ_y6WjAa2cJM4pYjwp_PjcVRA1t42BbJlMoyXj2hnIsb1h7iES7BU
Why I’m Talking About “Politics” Now Oh The Urbanity! 2025-03-26 | Why is an urbanism channel covering politics all of a sudden?The short answer is that this is a channel about urbanism, yes, but also about Canada, and this is by far the biggest issue in the country right now. It’s hard to focus entirely on bikes and housing policy when the superpower next door is attacking our economy and threatening our sovereignty.
Donald Trump is 100% Serious About Annexing Canada. Oh The Urbanity! 2025-03-21 | Donald Trump is serious about wanting to annex Canada and make it the 51st state.Big Swing Band by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0Artist: http://audionautix.com
Canada is Under Attack. We Need to Build. Oh The Urbanity! 2025-03-16 | In the most disturbing geopolitical shift of my lifetime, the new US government is siding with dictators and lashing out at allies, waging economic war on Canada with the repeated stated goal of ending our sovereignty. While many Americans are also horrified, realistically their focus right now is internal. We need to stand up, strengthen our country, and reorient to friendlier nations.In this video I talk to three experts to learn how we can strengthen our economy by building more, especially critical needs of housing and transportation.Keep Urbanity rolling:Join our Patreon for early releases, credit at the end of each video, and bonus content: patreon.com/ohtheurbanity Contact form: docs.google.com/forms/d/1NeALCmO6ELwJAGPyV46BVbl5JXzjlWl6emH3ZRNiCiw/editSubscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCN5CBM1NkqDYAHgS-AbgGHA?sub_confirmation=1Instagram: instagram.com/ohurbanityBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/ohtheurbanity.bsky.socialFor professional inquiries, please fill out the following contact form: docs.google.com/forms/d/1NeALCmO6ELwJAGPyV46BVbl5JXzjlWl6emH3ZRNiCiw/editReferences:Canadian construction cost study: stateofcitiessummit.ca/files/051224_Understanding-the-Drivers-of-Transit-Construction-Costs-in-Canada-A-Comparative-Study_2024-12-05-144410_bjnj.pdfConstruction costs in Toronto: rccao.com/research/files/RCCAO-STATION-TO-STATION-REPORT-APRIL2020.pdfNorth American elevator report: static1.squarespace.com/static/634dfe3176afcc36f569d83d/t/6689cb0e8ac6370940a122ff/1720306458871/Elevators.pdfEdmonton single stair buildings design guide: edmonton.ca/sites/default/files/public-files/Point-Access-Block-Design-Guide.pdf?cb=1741883275
The Week The Bike Network Vanished Oh The Urbanity! 2025-03-08 | Last month, something very unique happened in the history of cycling in Montreal. Bike lanes that typically see enormous streams of cyclists in the summer (and pretty decent numbers in the winter) recorded days with 0 cyclists for the first time ever. How in the world does that happen?Keep Urbanity rolling:Join our Patreon for early releases, credit at the end of each video, and bonus content: patreon.com/ohtheurbanity Contact form: docs.google.com/forms/d/1NeALCmO6ELwJAGPyV46BVbl5JXzjlWl6emH3ZRNiCiw/editSubscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCN5CBM1NkqDYAHgS-AbgGHA?sub_confirmation=1Instagram: instagram.com/ohurbanityBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/ohtheurbanity.bsky.socialFor professional inquiries, please fill out the following contact form: docs.google.com/forms/d/1NeALCmO6ELwJAGPyV46BVbl5JXzjlWl6emH3ZRNiCiw/edit
Can Green YIMBYism Fix Housing in Ontario? Oh The Urbanity! 2025-02-24 | Housing in Ontario has become absurdly expensive to buy or rent, and Premier Doug Ford doesn’t seem interested in fixing it. He’s ignored and even scoffed at recommendations from his own Housing Affordability Task Force, which made clear that Ontario has a housing shortage rooted in outdated zoning rules that make it difficult to build denser, more affordable types of housing.This video is an explainer on key parts of the Green Party of Ontario’s housing platform, both for Ontario voters thinking about the upcoming election but also anyone elsewhere curious about a pro-housing Green platform.Keep Urbanity rolling:Join our Patreon for early releases, credit at the end of each video, and bonus content: patreon.com/ohtheurbanity Contact form: docs.google.com/forms/d/1NeALCmO6ELwJAGPyV46BVbl5JXzjlWl6emH3ZRNiCiw/editSubscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCN5CBM1NkqDYAHgS-AbgGHA?sub_confirmation=1Instagram: instagram.com/ohurbanityBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/ohtheurbanity.bsky.socialFor professional inquiries, please fill out the following contact form: docs.google.com/forms/d/1NeALCmO6ELwJAGPyV46BVbl5JXzjlWl6emH3ZRNiCiw/editReferences:Doug Ford rejects multiplexes: youtube.com/watch?v=a4T0VkKjBqsDC study on multiplex feasibility: urban.org/urban-wire/small-apartment-buildings-can-help-address-housing-shortages-high-land-costs-andTOD in BC: www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/local-governments-and-housing/housing-initiatives/transit-oriented-development-areasTOD in Massachusetts: mass.gov/info-details/mbta-communities-law-qa#(1)-what-is-the-mbta-communities-law-and-what-does-it-require?-Toronto fourplex example: thestar.com/real-estate/toronto-rejects-etobicoke-fourplex-opposed-by-neighbours/article_0e359d3e-d8fd-11ef-9fdb-1355603c161c.htmlCMHC (federal housing authority) on development charges: assets.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/sites/cmhc/professional/housing-markets-data-and-research/market-reports/housing-market-insight/2022/housing-market-insight-69949-m07-en.pdf?rev=bbc85058-a9ee-4a77-a047-80ac855278bcGreen Party of Ontario platform: files.ontariogreens.ca/platform/gpo-platform-en.pdf
Are Urbanists Too Obsessed With Bikes? (Why Not Focus on Transit?) Oh The Urbanity! 2025-02-22 | One of the most common arguments against building dedicated bike infrastructure is that we should instead be focusing on improving public transit. This argument sometimes comes from people opportunistically using transit as a cudgel but there’s also a kind of old-school city dweller that fundamentally understands transit in a way that they don’t for this new-fangled bike stuff. It’s worth remembering: in many cities, separated bike lanes are a relatively new idea. Just over a decade ago, Toronto was “considering” building some.Keep Urbanity rolling:Join our Patreon for early releases, credit at the end of each video, and bonus content: patreon.com/ohtheurbanity Contact form: docs.google.com/forms/d/1NeALCmO6ELwJAGPyV46BVbl5JXzjlWl6emH3ZRNiCiw/editSubscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCN5CBM1NkqDYAHgS-AbgGHA?sub_confirmation=1Instagram: instagram.com/ohurbanityBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/ohtheurbanity.bsky.socialFor professional inquiries, please fill out the following contact form: docs.google.com/forms/d/1NeALCmO6ELwJAGPyV46BVbl5JXzjlWl6emH3ZRNiCiw/editReferences:Bike share in Salt Lake City and Minneapolis seems to replace driving the most: https://transweb.sjsu.edu/sites/default/files/1131-public-bikesharing-business-models-trends-impacts.pdfBike share in DC replaces transit as much as walking: d21xlh2maitm24.cloudfront.net/wdc/Capital-Bikeshare_2016MemberSurvey_Final-Report.pdf?mtime=20170303165531Bike share replacing transit vs. complementing transit: sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1361920920305794Transit Cost Project report: transitcosts.com/wp-content/uploads/TCP_Executive_Summary.pdfConstruction costs in Canada report: stateofcitiessummit.ca/files/051224_Understanding-the-Drivers-of-Transit-Construction-Costs-in-Canada-A-Comparative-Study_2024-12-05-144410_bjnj.pdf
Let’s Talk About This “51st State” & Tariff Insanity Oh The Urbanity! 2025-02-19 | Normally this channel focuses on housing and transportation policy, but over the past month or two, something very disturbing has been happening that’s hard to ignore. Canada has had our biggest ally, neighbour, and friend — the United States — become increasingly hostile, threatening economic warfare with punishing tariffs that would kneecap our economy. To rub salt in the wound, the US President has made suggestions (really threats) of Canada becoming the “51st state”, saying we’re not a viable country, taunting the Prime Minister by calling him “governor”.
Bike Lanes Cleared Before Roads & Sidewalks? #cycling #winter #wintercycling Oh The Urbanity! 2025-02-10 | Do bike lanes get cleared before roads and sidewalks in Montreal? Some people think so, but they're wrong.
Does Biking in the Suburbs Have to Suck? Oh The Urbanity! 2024-12-14 | Biking in the suburbs tends to suck. Sure, they sometimes have some nice recreational pathways, and many residential streets are fine for short trips. But most suburbs are not set up to support cycling for transportation, especially on the enormous arterials with the most destinations. But what if cycling in the suburbs sucked less? And what if, eventually, it didn’t suck at all?Keep Urbanity rolling:Join our Patreon for early releases, credit at the end of each video, and bonus content: patreon.com/ohtheurbanity Contact form: docs.google.com/forms/d/1NeALCmO6ELwJAGPyV46BVbl5JXzjlWl6emH3ZRNiCiw/editSubscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCN5CBM1NkqDYAHgS-AbgGHA?sub_confirmation=1Instagram: instagram.com/ohurbanityTwitter: twitter.com/OhUrbanityFor professional inquiries, please fill out the following contact form: docs.google.com/forms/d/1NeALCmO6ELwJAGPyV46BVbl5JXzjlWl6emH3ZRNiCiw/edit
Does Paris Really Debunk High-Rises? (The Secret To Paris Density) Oh The Urbanity! 2024-12-11 | NIMBYs from all over point to Paris as an argument against allowing tall buildings in their cities. Paris is a city everyone loves that achieves very high population densities mostly with mid-rise buildings. Actually, mid-rise Paris is denser than high-rise New York. Checkmate, tall-building-ists! Is there anything to this argument? Well, kind of, but they’re also missing some big details.Keep Urbanity rolling:Join our Patreon for early releases, credit at the end of each video, and bonus content: patreon.com/ohtheurbanity Contact form: docs.google.com/forms/d/1NeALCmO6ELwJAGPyV46BVbl5JXzjlWl6emH3ZRNiCiw/editSubscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCN5CBM1NkqDYAHgS-AbgGHA?sub_confirmation=1Instagram: instagram.com/ohurbanityTwitter: twitter.com/OhUrbanityFor professional inquiries, please fill out the following contact form: docs.google.com/forms/d/1NeALCmO6ELwJAGPyV46BVbl5JXzjlWl6emH3ZRNiCiw/edit
Cul-de-Sacs, But Smarter: How Montreal is Rethinking Residential Streets Oh The Urbanity! 2024-12-07 | The simple cul-de-sac is one of the greatest innovations of North American suburbia. By blocking through traffic, you create a residential street that’s safer and calmer for kids and that’s quieter and more community-oriented for adults. The suburbs have the advantage of being built like this from the start, but can we retrofit older cities with some of these principles?Keep Urbanity rolling:Join our Patreon for early releases, credit at the end of each video, and bonus content: patreon.com/ohtheurbanity Contact form: docs.google.com/forms/d/1NeALCmO6ELwJAGPyV46BVbl5JXzjlWl6emH3ZRNiCiw/editSubscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCN5CBM1NkqDYAHgS-AbgGHA?sub_confirmation=1Instagram: instagram.com/ohurbanityTwitter: twitter.com/OhUrbanityFor professional inquiries, please fill out the following contact form: docs.google.com/forms/d/1NeALCmO6ELwJAGPyV46BVbl5JXzjlWl6emH3ZRNiCiw/editReferences:Montreal tramway map: numerique.banq.qc.ca/patrimoine/details/52327/2244450
Yes, You Can Bike In The Winter (Condensed Guide) Oh The Urbanity! 2024-12-06 | Contrary to what a lot of people assume, biking in the winter in a cold, snowy climate like Montreal or Minneapolis is entirely possible and not that difficult if you follow these six steps.Keep Urbanity rolling:Join our Patreon for early releases, credit at the end of each video, and bonus content: patreon.com/ohtheurbanity Contact form: docs.google.com/forms/d/1NeALCmO6ELwJAGPyV46BVbl5JXzjlWl6emH3ZRNiCiw/editSubscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCN5CBM1NkqDYAHgS-AbgGHA?sub_confirmation=1Instagram: instagram.com/ohurbanityTwitter: twitter.com/OhUrbanityFor professional inquiries, please fill out the following contact form: docs.google.com/forms/d/1NeALCmO6ELwJAGPyV46BVbl5JXzjlWl6emH3ZRNiCiw/edit
Stop Applying Induced Demand to Housing! Oh The Urbanity! 2024-11-30 | As Canada’s most populous province considers tunneling a new highway underneath the existing Highway 401, one of the busiest in the world reaching up to 18 lanes wide, we want to tackle a related argument against housing: “The same [urbanists] who say ‘just build more lanes’ is doomed to fail never see that ‘just build more units’ is doomed for the same reason.” This is a reference to induced demand or induced traffic, a concept that describes how new roads or lanes tend to fill up and not help congestion as much as promised or at all. In the short term, people take more trips by car and are less careful about avoiding rush hour. In the medium term, people and businesses see the new road capacity and move to the area to use it. The question critics are asking then is that if building more roads is futile, doesn’t the same apply to housing?Keep Urbanity rolling:Join our Patreon for early releases, credit at the end of each video, and bonus content: patreon.com/ohtheurbanity Contact form: docs.google.com/forms/d/1NeALCmO6ELwJAGPyV46BVbl5JXzjlWl6emH3ZRNiCiw/editSubscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCN5CBM1NkqDYAHgS-AbgGHA?sub_confirmation=1Instagram: instagram.com/ohurbanityTwitter: twitter.com/OhUrbanityFor professional inquiries, please fill out the following contact form: docs.google.com/forms/d/1NeALCmO6ELwJAGPyV46BVbl5JXzjlWl6emH3ZRNiCiw/editReferences:Tom Tom Traffic Index: tomtom.com/traffic-index/rankingHistory of bikes: labouringallourlives.ca/i-want-to-ride-my-bicycle-the-history-of-bicycles-in-19th-and-early-20th-century-guelphLED light bulbs: researchgate.net/figure/Annual-change-of-LED-cost-per-kilolumen-blue-line-left-axis-and-installations-of_fig1_319970854
Here’s What Happens When You Prioritize Kids Over Cars Oh The Urbanity! 2024-11-23 | In 2019, this wide open intersection in a residential neighbourhood in Montreal was transformed into l’île aux volcans — the island of volcanoes — a public space for children intended to encourage non-programmed free play, something that’s become less and less common in the modern world of attention-grabbing technology like tablets and YouTube.Keep Urbanity rolling:Join our Patreon for early releases, credit at the end of each video, and bonus content: patreon.com/ohtheurbanity Contact form: docs.google.com/forms/d/1NeALCmO6ELwJAGPyV46BVbl5JXzjlWl6emH3ZRNiCiw/editSubscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCN5CBM1NkqDYAHgS-AbgGHA?sub_confirmation=1Instagram: instagram.com/ohurbanityTwitter: twitter.com/OhUrbanityFor professional inquiries, please fill out the following contact form: docs.google.com/forms/d/1NeALCmO6ELwJAGPyV46BVbl5JXzjlWl6emH3ZRNiCiw/edit
Why Can’t Cyclists Just Use The Damn Sidewalk? Oh The Urbanity! 2024-11-17 | Can we just tell cyclists to ride on the sidewalk (or footpath) and avoid all this stupid bike-specific infrastructure? We covered this briefly before in an old “bad arguments against bike lanes” video early in the channel but seeing it come up dozens of times recently tells us that it needs to be covered in more detail.Keep Urbanity rolling:Join our Patreon for early releases, credit at the end of each video, and bonus content: patreon.com/ohtheurbanity Contact form: docs.google.com/forms/d/1NeALCmO6ELwJAGPyV46BVbl5JXzjlWl6emH3ZRNiCiw/editSubscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCN5CBM1NkqDYAHgS-AbgGHA?sub_confirmation=1Instagram: instagram.com/ohurbanityTwitter: twitter.com/OhUrbanityFor professional inquiries, please fill out the following contact form: docs.google.com/forms/d/1NeALCmO6ELwJAGPyV46BVbl5JXzjlWl6emH3ZRNiCiw/edit
Is Urbanism Just For Childless Cat People? Oh The Urbanity! 2024-11-10 | One criticism of urbanism and the movement for walkable cities is that it’s just a fad among young people who have no responsibilities and want to be close to trendy bars, restaurants, and concerts. They’ll grow out of it and move to the suburbs when they want to settle down and start families. We actually have our first child on the way so in this video we want to talk about what this gets wrong, whether it gets anything right, and what urbanism means for families.Keep Urbanity rolling:Join our Patreon for early releases, credit at the end of each video, and bonus content: patreon.com/ohtheurbanity Contact form: docs.google.com/forms/d/1NeALCmO6ELwJAGPyV46BVbl5JXzjlWl6emH3ZRNiCiw/editSubscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCN5CBM1NkqDYAHgS-AbgGHA?sub_confirmation=1Instagram: instagram.com/ohurbanityTwitter: twitter.com/OhUrbanityFor professional inquiries, please fill out the following contact form: docs.google.com/forms/d/1NeALCmO6ELwJAGPyV46BVbl5JXzjlWl6emH3ZRNiCiw/edit
I Can’t Believe I Have to Make This Video Oh The Urbanity! 2024-11-02 | The premier of Canada’s most populous province has doubled down on his anti-cycling rhetoric, promising to remove existing bike lanes on primary roads. He singled out three important routes that had been major wins for cycling in Toronto: Bloor Street, Yonge Street, and University Avenue.Keep Urbanity rolling:Join our Patreon for early releases, credit at the end of each video, and bonus content: patreon.com/ohtheurbanity Contact form: docs.google.com/forms/d/1NeALCmO6ELwJAGPyV46BVbl5JXzjlWl6emH3ZRNiCiw/editSubscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCN5CBM1NkqDYAHgS-AbgGHA?sub_confirmation=1Instagram: instagram.com/ohurbanityTwitter: twitter.com/OhUrbanityFor professional inquiries, please fill out the following contact form: docs.google.com/forms/d/1NeALCmO6ELwJAGPyV46BVbl5JXzjlWl6emH3ZRNiCiw/editReferences:Protected intersection at Bloor & St. George: youtube.com/watch?v=ki2zGMmSrAUToronto cycling map: toronto.ca/services-payments/streets-parking-transportation/cycling-in-toronto/cycling-network-map/#location=&lat=43.639633&lng=-79.399100&zoom=15Bike commuting in Toronto by census tract in the 2021 census: censusmapper.ca/maps/3725#12/43.6640/-79.4300Globe & Mail letter to the editor: https://archive.is/jZLjS#selection-2831.0-2839.88Eglinton bike lane upgrades: toronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/985e-eglintontoday-installation-avenue-chaplin.pdfCity of Toronto cycling survey: toronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/8f76-2019-Cycling-Public-Option-Survey-City-of-Toronto-Cycling.pdfNational Post anti-cycling: nationalpost.com/opinion/michael-taube-the-left-is-losing-the-battle-for-the-bike-as-it-shouldDoug Ford’s $200 cheques: cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/rebate-cheques-ontario-election-fall-economic-statement-1.7366559Bill 212 (submit a comment if you live in Ontario): ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-9266
There’s More to Quebec City Than You Think Oh The Urbanity! 2024-10-26 | Most people know Old Quebec, the most historic and picturesque part of Quebec City that competes with the Rocky Mountains and Niagara Falls for the most iconic tourist destination in Canada. But there’s a lot more to this city than just the Old Town.Keep Urbanity rolling:Join our Patreon for early releases, credit at the end of each video, and bonus content: patreon.com/ohtheurbanity Contact form: docs.google.com/forms/d/1NeALCmO6ELwJAGPyV46BVbl5JXzjlWl6emH3ZRNiCiw/editSubscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCN5CBM1NkqDYAHgS-AbgGHA?sub_confirmation=1Instagram: instagram.com/ohurbanityTwitter: twitter.com/OhUrbanityFor professional inquiries, please fill out the following contact form: docs.google.com/forms/d/1NeALCmO6ELwJAGPyV46BVbl5JXzjlWl6emH3ZRNiCiw/editReferences:Saint-Olivier Street: ville.quebec.qc.ca/citoyens/participation-citoyenne/activites/fiche.aspx?IdProjet=535Pedestrian scrambles in Toronto: toronto.ca/services-payments/streets-parking-transportation/traffic-management/traffic-signals-street-signs/types-of-traffic-signals/all-way-signal-crossingEarlier Tramway proposal: tramwaydequebec.info/carte/img/carte_tramway.jpgIncreased construction costs on the Tramway: google.com/url?q=ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2023011/bruno-marchand-annonce-tramway&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1729958868607100&usg=AOvVaw2G2smz_DsZstqXhZzbCiVxCDPQ on Tramway: newswire.ca/news-releases/cdpq-infra-launches-planning-for-the-first-phase-of-the-cite-plan-to-improve-mobility-in-the-communaute-metropolitaine-de-quebec-880041306.htmlHousing developments cancelled because of transit delays: journaldequebec.com/2024/10/16/projet-immobilier-abandonne-le-long-du-tramway---lidu-pointe--les-tergiversations--du-gouvernement-legaultTransit-only third link tunnel: cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/quebec-third-link-public-transit-1.6814960Newspaper clip on urban renewal: numerique.banq.qc.ca/patrimoine/details/52327/3493762Aerial view of urban renewal: ville.quebec.qc.ca/citoyens/patrimoine/archives/recherche/archive.aspx?aid=947738Construction sites in Quebec City: ville.quebec.qc.ca/citoyens/travaux_entretien_rues/grands-chantiers
Just Put Bike Lanes on Side Streets? Oh The Urbanity! 2024-09-28 | With the goal of speeding up Toronto’s congested roads, the government of Ontario has been considering banning the installation of bike lanes that take space from cars.Keep Urbanity rolling:Join our Patreon for early releases, credit at the end of each video, and bonus content: patreon.com/ohtheurbanity Contact form: docs.google.com/forms/d/1NeALCmO6ELwJAGPyV46BVbl5JXzjlWl6emH3ZRNiCiw/editSubscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCN5CBM1NkqDYAHgS-AbgGHA?sub_confirmation=1Instagram: instagram.com/ohurbanityTwitter: twitter.com/OhUrbanityFor professional inquiries, please fill out the following contact form: docs.google.com/forms/d/1NeALCmO6ELwJAGPyV46BVbl5JXzjlWl6emH3ZRNiCiw/editReferences:Considering banning bike lanes: youtube.com/watch?v=X7nkQVQ98cUBuilding a tunnel: youtube.com/watch?v=MSXZoY1o2r8Limit to side streets: youtube.com/watch?v=2RZfL33Q13cToronto street hierarchy: toronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/9072-TS_RCS_2019-City-Wide.pdfToronto's imperfect grid: spacing.ca/toronto/2013/07/23/toronto-is-not-a-gridVancouver cycling map: vancouver.ca/files/cov/map-cycling-vancouver.pdfVancouver declined to put bike lanes on Broadway: cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/separated-bike-lane-along-broadway-rejected-by-vancouver-city-council-1.6797007Toronto's early fights over side street bike lanes: tvo.org/article/no-place-on-busy-main-streets-looking-back-at-torontos-original-bike-lane-warsWest Parkdale cycling connections public consultation report: toronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/962b-2024-05-22-WestParkdaleConsultationReportAODA.pdf
Does Density Solve Affordability? Explaining New York and San Francisco Oh The Urbanity! 2024-09-22 | If density is the key to housing affordability, how is it that New York and San Francisco — two of the densest cities in the United States — are also the most expensive? We’ve also seen this question asked in Canada about Vancouver but we’re going to focus on the US in this video.Keep Urbanity rolling:Join our Patreon for early releases, credit at the end of each video, and bonus content: patreon.com/ohtheurbanity Contact form: docs.google.com/forms/d/1NeALCmO6ELwJAGPyV46BVbl5JXzjlWl6emH3ZRNiCiw/editSubscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCN5CBM1NkqDYAHgS-AbgGHA?sub_confirmation=1Instagram: instagram.com/ohurbanityTwitter: twitter.com/OhUrbanityFor professional inquiries, please fill out the following contact form: docs.google.com/forms/d/1NeALCmO6ELwJAGPyV46BVbl5JXzjlWl6emH3ZRNiCiw/editReferences:Median build date of homes in NYC and SF: censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B25035&geo_ids=16000US3651000,16000US0667000&primary_geo_id=16000US365100040% of Manhattan buildings would be illegal today: nytimes.com/interactive/2016/05/19/upshot/forty-percent-of-manhattans-buildings-could-not-be-built-today.htmlSan Francisco buildings that would be illegal to build today: sfzoning.deapthoughts.com/illegal_homes.htmlSF 1978 downzoning: https://x.com/enf/status/999030803609899013Why is Manhattan so expensive? https://manhattan.institute/article/why-is-manhattan-so-expensiveWharton Land Use Regulation Index: nber.org/system/files/working_papers/w26573/w26573.pdfZillow rent data: zillow.com/research/dataBuilding permits data: census.gov/construction/bps/current.htmlRental vacancy data: census.gov/housing/hvs/data/prevann.htmlWharton Survey: https://real-faculty.wharton.upenn.edu/wp-content/uploads/~gyourko/WRLURI/GyourkoHartleyKrimmel_NBERw26573appendix.pdfHousing supply elasticity: localinannarbor.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/the-quarterly-journal-of-economics-2010-saiz-1253-96.pdf
Proof That Cycling Works... Even in North America (30 Minutes of Montreal Rush Hour) Oh The Urbanity! 2024-09-14 | What does rush hour on a popular bike route in Montreal look like? Here's Saint-Denis Street from 5:30 pm to 6:00 pm on a Friday in September. We counted more bikes than vehicles, although despite the protected bike lane (installed just a few years ago), the route continues to move plenty of cars as well.Keep Urbanity rolling:Join our Patreon for early releases, credit at the end of each video, and bonus content: patreon.com/ohtheurbanity Contact form: docs.google.com/forms/d/1NeALCmO6ELwJAGPyV46BVbl5JXzjlWl6emH3ZRNiCiw/editSubscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCN5CBM1NkqDYAHgS-AbgGHA?sub_confirmation=1Instagram: instagram.com/ohurbanityTwitter: twitter.com/OhUrbanityFor professional inquiries, please fill out the following contact form: docs.google.com/forms/d/1NeALCmO6ELwJAGPyV46BVbl5JXzjlWl6emH3ZRNiCiw/editReferences:Our cameras
Why Don’t Cyclists Use Bike Lanes? Oh The Urbanity! 2024-09-08 | “Cyclists are ***holes, they’ll see a bike lane and ride in the road because they can.” That’s an actual comment we got on this channel, and it’s one of the most puzzling arguments we’ve ever seen against urban cycling and bike infrastructure. It’s just so counterintuitive, like hearing someone claim that drivers are parking their cars in farmers’ fields instead of parking lots. If it’s happening, it’s a little odd, something we should investigate instead of saying “well, I guess there’s no point in bike lanes”. So one day I saw it happening and decided to figure out what was going on. Keep Urbanity rolling:Join our Patreon for early releases, credit at the end of each video, and bonus content: patreon.com/ohtheurbanity Contact form: docs.google.com/forms/d/1NeALCmO6ELwJAGPyV46BVbl5JXzjlWl6emH3ZRNiCiw/editSubscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCN5CBM1NkqDYAHgS-AbgGHA?sub_confirmation=1Instagram: instagram.com/ohurbanityTwitter: twitter.com/OhUrbanityFor professional inquiries, please fill out the following contact form: docs.google.com/forms/d/1NeALCmO6ELwJAGPyV46BVbl5JXzjlWl6emH3ZRNiCiw/editReferences:
I Went to an Anti-Bike-Lane Revolt And Here’s What I Learned Oh The Urbanity! 2024-08-24 | Earlier this summer I was riding along a new bike lane under construction when I came across this poster: “Help save our neighbourhood. Big new bike path endangers schoolchildren, removes parking, and was imposed without neighbourhood consultation.” It advertised a meeting to take action and organize resistance at a local church, so I went to see what they had to say.Keep Urbanity rolling:Join our Patreon for early releases, credit at the end of each video, and bonus content: patreon.com/ohtheurbanity Contact form: docs.google.com/forms/d/1NeALCmO6ELwJAGPyV46BVbl5JXzjlWl6emH3ZRNiCiw/editSubscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCN5CBM1NkqDYAHgS-AbgGHA?sub_confirmation=1Instagram: instagram.com/ohurbanityTwitter: twitter.com/OhUrbanityFor professional inquiries, please fill out the following contact form: docs.google.com/forms/d/1NeALCmO6ELwJAGPyV46BVbl5JXzjlWl6emH3ZRNiCiw/editReferences:Cyclist tickets in Montreal: spvm.qc.ca/upload/02/SPVM_Rapport_annuel_2023_EN.pdfCyclist ticketing blitzes: reddit.com/r/montreal/comments/1djgyr5/cops_giving_tickets_to_cyclists_this_morning_onNetherlands bike licensing April Fool's joke: dutchreview.com/featured/bike-license-internationals-in-the-netherlandsBike share usage in Montreal: https://botsin.space/@mtlvelobotCity presentation on new Terrebonne bike path: portail-m4s.s3.montreal.ca/pdf/presentation_finale_piste_cyclable_terrebonne_30_novembre_2023.pdf
The Real Problem With 15-Minute Cities Oh The Urbanity! 2024-08-18 | We promised ourselves never to make another video about 15-minute cities. The conspiracy theories about people being locked inside their homes and unable to travel are just so far out of left field that it’s hard to engage with them like any normal disagreement. But this video is going to be different. Rather than tackling the conspiracy theories, we want to actually talk about the problems or at least the limitations of the 15-minute city concept itself.Keep Urbanity rolling:Join our Patreon for early releases, credit at the end of each video, and bonus content: patreon.com/ohtheurbanity Contact form: docs.google.com/forms/d/1NeALCmO6ELwJAGPyV46BVbl5JXzjlWl6emH3ZRNiCiw/editSubscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCN5CBM1NkqDYAHgS-AbgGHA?sub_confirmation=1Instagram: instagram.com/ohurbanityTwitter: twitter.com/OhUrbanityFor professional inquiries, please fill out the following contact form: docs.google.com/forms/d/1NeALCmO6ELwJAGPyV46BVbl5JXzjlWl6emH3ZRNiCiw/editReferences:Toronto schools: tdsb.on.ca/Portals/0/Find%20Your%20School/School/PDF%20Maps/Files/Wall%20Map%20Ward%20&%20LCentres.pdfAlan Bertaud on 15-minute cities: urbanreforminstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/15mincity-bertaud.pdf
Washington DC: Tourist Trap or Urbanist Powerhouse? Oh The Urbanity! 2024-08-04 | After visiting Chicago this spring, we continued on to Washington, DC—a fascinating city that surprisingly doesn’t receive as much attention in the online urbanist community as it deserves. We already made a video talking about the trade-offs and consequences of the height limit but there’s a lot more that’s interesting and unique about the urbanism of the US capital.Keep Urbanity rolling:Join our Patreon for early releases, credit at the end of each video, and bonus content: patreon.com/ohtheurbanity Contact form: docs.google.com/forms/d/1NeALCmO6ELwJAGPyV46BVbl5JXzjlWl6emH3ZRNiCiw/editSubscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCN5CBM1NkqDYAHgS-AbgGHA?sub_confirmation=1Instagram: instagram.com/ohurbanityTwitter: twitter.com/OhUrbanityFor professional inquiries, please fill out the following contact form: docs.google.com/forms/d/1NeALCmO6ELwJAGPyV46BVbl5JXzjlWl6emH3ZRNiCiw/editReferences:Housing permitting data in different metro areas: https://housing-data.vercel.app/DC building registry for dates: dcgis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=4892107c0c5d44789e6fb96908f88f60Fallout 3 clip from: youtube.com/watch?v=WWCVkrCHuLkTransit ridership data (look under "heavy rail" for subways): apta.com/wp-content/uploads/2024-Q1-Ridership-APTA.pdf
The Promise & Peril of Transit-Oriented Development Oh The Urbanity! 2024-07-27 | Montreal is not a city you associate with transit-oriented development. The typical metro station is surrounded by medium-density walk-ups, and where higher density does exist it’s not necessarily correlated with transit. But while it’s no Vancouver or Washington, DC, Montreal has been building more density near transit over the past two decades than you probably realize. In this video we’re going to check in on some TOD around the city to explain the promising potential and the fundamental problem with transit-oriented development.Keep Urbanity rolling:Join our Patreon for early releases, credit at the end of each video, and bonus content: patreon.com/ohtheurbanity Contact form: docs.google.com/forms/d/1NeALCmO6ELwJAGPyV46BVbl5JXzjlWl6emH3ZRNiCiw/editSubscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCN5CBM1NkqDYAHgS-AbgGHA?sub_confirmation=1Instagram: instagram.com/ohurbanityTwitter: twitter.com/OhUrbanityFor professional inquiries, please fill out the following contact form: docs.google.com/forms/d/1NeALCmO6ELwJAGPyV46BVbl5JXzjlWl6emH3ZRNiCiw/editReferences:Density data came from the Canadian census, using 2021 numbers when possible/relevant.
Canada’s Densest Boroughs: Is the Plateau Really on Top? Oh The Urbanity! 2024-07-21 | In talking up the density of low-rise walk-up apartments, many people claim that the Plateau in Montreal is the densest borough or neighbourhood in all of Canada. I’m not sure where this originally came from but the assertion even shows up on the Wikipedia page. At 13,000 people per square kilometre, the Plateau is pretty dense. But is it really the densest in the country?Keep Urbanity rolling:Join our Patreon for early releases, credit at the end of each video, and bonus content: patreon.com/ohtheurbanity Contact form: docs.google.com/forms/d/1NeALCmO6ELwJAGPyV46BVbl5JXzjlWl6emH3ZRNiCiw/editSubscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCN5CBM1NkqDYAHgS-AbgGHA?sub_confirmation=1Instagram: instagram.com/ohurbanityTwitter: twitter.com/OhUrbanityFor professional inquiries, please fill out the following contact form: docs.google.com/forms/d/1NeALCmO6ELwJAGPyV46BVbl5JXzjlWl6emH3ZRNiCiw/editReferences:Density data came from the Canadian census, using 2021 numbers when possible/relevant.
Urbanism Is Not Climate Masochism Oh The Urbanity! 2024-06-26 | We once heard a story from a driver in downtown Halifax, Nova Scotia who was annoyed that a cyclist was slowing him down. Do you know what he said? “You’re not saving the environment, buddy.” This was interesting. The assumption was that if you’re on a bike trying to get somewhere you must be doing it for environmental reasons, probably in an annoyingly self-righteous way. But what if it was just a convenient way to get to work without having to worry about parking? What if it was how he spends time with his kids? What if he just enjoys the fresh air and activity? What if he sold a car in order to save money for other priorities? What if he just finds driving unpleasant? None of this occurred to the driver. The assumption was that the cyclist was there on a bike slowing them down for environmental reasons, probably climate change in particular.Keep Urbanity rolling:Join our Patreon for early releases, credit at the end of each video, and bonus content: patreon.com/ohtheurbanity Contact form: docs.google.com/forms/d/1NeALCmO6ELwJAGPyV46BVbl5JXzjlWl6emH3ZRNiCiw/editSubscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCN5CBM1NkqDYAHgS-AbgGHA?sub_confirmation=1Instagram: instagram.com/ohurbanityTwitter: twitter.com/OhUrbanityFor professional inquiries, please fill out the following contact form: docs.google.com/forms/d/1NeALCmO6ELwJAGPyV46BVbl5JXzjlWl6emH3ZRNiCiw/editReferences:"Eat your vegetables" urbanism: thedeletedscenes.substack.com/p/how-convenient-are-supercentersBBC 15-minute cities: youtube.com/watch?v=g3nIXMA1j3E
The High Price of Keeping DC’s Skyline Low Oh The Urbanity! 2024-06-20 | This is Washington, DC, capital of the United States. If you look carefully, this city is unique in lacking something that most other American cities have. Can you tell what it is?Keep Urbanity rolling:Join our Patreon for early releases, credit at the end of each video, and bonus content: patreon.com/ohtheurbanity Contact form: docs.google.com/forms/d/1NeALCmO6ELwJAGPyV46BVbl5JXzjlWl6emH3ZRNiCiw/editSubscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCN5CBM1NkqDYAHgS-AbgGHA?sub_confirmation=1Instagram: instagram.com/ohurbanityTwitter: twitter.com/OhUrbanityFor professional inquiries, please fill out the following contact form: docs.google.com/forms/d/1NeALCmO6ELwJAGPyV46BVbl5JXzjlWl6emH3ZRNiCiw/editReferences:High-rises safer than single-family homes for fire: glengower.ca/notebook/notebook-fire-safety-and-high-rise-buildingsTysons is second biggest job centre: dw-rowlands.github.io/Job_Density_and_Commutes/Job_Density_and_Commutes.htmlJob/worker data: onthemap.ces.census.govPurple Line to Tysons: dcpolicycenter.org/publications/suburb-to-suburb-transit-part-three-purple-line-linkReece Martin on job sprawl: youtube.com/watch?v=hrifjkEXvnYAlon Levy on height limits: pedestrianobservations.com/2014/11/21/height-limits-still-a-bad-idea
Vancouver vs. San Francisco: A Tale of Two Transit Recoveries Oh The Urbanity! 2024-06-08 | We’ve all kind of blocked it out of our minds but the COVID pandemic was absolutely devastating for transit ridership and even now, four years since 2020, we haven’t fully recovered. But some cities and systems actually fared much worse, while others have rebounded almost to their pre-pandemic numbers. In this video we’re going to take a look at the fall and recovery of rapid transit systems in the US and Canada to see who made it through the best and the worst.Keep Urbanity rolling:Join our Patreon for early releases, credit at the end of each video, and bonus content: patreon.com/ohtheurbanity Contact form: docs.google.com/forms/d/1NeALCmO6ELwJAGPyV46BVbl5JXzjlWl6emH3ZRNiCiw/editSubscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCN5CBM1NkqDYAHgS-AbgGHA?sub_confirmation=1Instagram: instagram.com/ohurbanityTwitter: twitter.com/OhUrbanityFor professional inquiries, please fill out the following contact form: docs.google.com/forms/d/1NeALCmO6ELwJAGPyV46BVbl5JXzjlWl6emH3ZRNiCiw/editReferences:Ridership data from APTA: apta.com/wp-content/uploads/2019-Q4-Ridership-APTA.pdfBC had laxer COVID rules than the rest of Canada in the summer of 2020: bankofcanada.ca/2021/02/staff-analytical-note-2021-1Vancouver cut transit service less than most of North America: findingspress.org/article/13395-a-tale-of-40-cities-a-preliminary-analysis-of-equity-impacts-of-covid-19-service-adjustments-across-north-america?attachment_id=37160California stricter COVID measures: exploratory.io/viz/kanaugust/COVID-Lockdown-Stringency-Index-Data-for-US-States-Japan-QME1fIs9FSLA transit commuters tend to be lower income: governing.com/archive/gov-public-transportation-riders-demographic-divide-for-cities.htmlVancouver's strong downtown recovery: downtownrecovery.com/charts/rankingsPopulation growth contributing to Vancouver's transit recovery: translink.ca/news/2024/april/translink%20ridership%20rebounds%20to%20pre-pandemic%20overcrowding%20levelsBoston slow zones: wgbh.org/news/local/2023-03-13/mbta-interim-head-says-commutes-will-remain-slower-asks-for-patienceBoston maintenance problems: wgbh.org/news/local/2023-09-07/systemic-mbta-problems-led-to-poor-track-maintenance-and-slow-zones-new-reports-findCreative commons images of transit vehicles in different cities:en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MBTA_subway#/media/File:Alewife_MBTA_Red_Line_Station,_April_2024.jpgen.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Line_(MBTA)#/media/File:Northbound_Green_Line_train_at_Park_Street_station_(2),_July_2021.jpgen.wikipedia.org/wiki/PATH_(rail_system)#/media/File:PATH_Kawasaki_5602c.jpgen.wikipedia.org/wiki/MARTA_rail#/media/File:College_Park_MARTA_Station.jpgcommons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Purple_Line_(Los_Angeles_Metro).jpgen.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broad_Street_Line#/media/File:SEPTA_Broad_Street_Subway_car_at_Race-Vine.jpg
The Urbanist Travel Guide to Montreal Oh The Urbanity! 2024-06-02 | If you’re visiting Canada as a person who likes dense, lively cities, our #1 recommendation is Montreal. It’s the strongest city for bike culture and infrastructure and it’s miles ahead on car-free streets and other pedestrian improvements, especially in the warmer months. Toronto and Vancouver stack up pretty well on transit so we can’t say that Montreal is the best there, but it’s unique with the Paris-inspired metro that’s full of interesting architecture and art.Keep Urbanity rolling:Join our Patreon for early releases, credit at the end of each video, and bonus content: patreon.com/ohtheurbanity Contact form: docs.google.com/forms/d/1NeALCmO6ELwJAGPyV46BVbl5JXzjlWl6emH3ZRNiCiw/editSubscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCN5CBM1NkqDYAHgS-AbgGHA?sub_confirmation=1Instagram: instagram.com/ohurbanityTwitter: twitter.com/OhUrbanityFor professional inquiries, please fill out the following contact form: docs.google.com/forms/d/1NeALCmO6ELwJAGPyV46BVbl5JXzjlWl6emH3ZRNiCiw/edit
Sideways Chicago vs. Tilted Toronto: Great Lakes Urbanism Showdown Oh The Urbanity! 2024-05-25 | Chicago and Toronto are the two biggest cities of the Great Lakes megaregion of North America, and they share a lot of similarities. They have similar populations, climates, street grids, and positions on the lake. To Americans, Toronto is sideways Chicago; to Canadians it’s the opposite. But how do these two Great Lakes metropolises compare?Keep Urbanity rolling:Join our Patreon for early releases, credit at the end of each video, and bonus content: patreon.com/ohtheurbanity Contact form: docs.google.com/forms/d/1NeALCmO6ELwJAGPyV46BVbl5JXzjlWl6emH3ZRNiCiw/editSubscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCN5CBM1NkqDYAHgS-AbgGHA?sub_confirmation=1Instagram: instagram.com/ohurbanityTwitter: twitter.com/OhUrbanityFor professional inquiries, please fill out the following contact form: docs.google.com/forms/d/1NeALCmO6ELwJAGPyV46BVbl5JXzjlWl6emH3ZRNiCiw/editReferences:Building heights came from the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH):skyscrapercenter.com/city/torontoskyscrapercenter.com/city/chicagoPopulations came from the 2021 Canadian census and the 2020 US decennial census.Density maps came from: luminocity3d.org/WorldPopDen/#10/41.8102/-87.8000Transit ridership numbers (see legend on bottom for type of transit): apta.com/wp-content/uploads/2023-Q4-Ridership-APTA.pdfToronto subway frequencies: ttc.ca/routes-and-schedules/1/0Ghost trains in Chicago: chicago.suntimes.com/2022/10/16/23393276/cta-chicago-transit-authority-ghost-buses-trains-service-problemsReece's writings on transit in Toronto vs. Chicago: reecemartin.substack.com/p/table-of-contentsExtending the Bloomingdale Trail in Chicago: chicago.gov/city/en/depts/cdot/supp_info/bloomingdale_trail.html6.6 million trips on Divvy in 2023: chicago.suntimes.com/2024/1/10/24033443/bicycles-cycling-chicago-protected-bike-lanes-streets-divvy5.7 million trips on BikeShareTO in 2023: bikesharetoronto.com/news/looking-back-on-2023Greater Chicago has a higher median income: fraserinstitute.org/sites/default/files/comparing-median-employment-income-in-large-canadian-and-american-metropolitan-areas.pdfToronto is less economically segregated: http://www-2.rotman.utoronto.ca/mpi/content/insight-canada-segregated-cityToronto is less black-white racially segregated: torontomu.ca/content/dam/centre-for-immigration-and-settlement/tmcis/publications/featured/Segregation_Trends_in_Toronto_Hulchanski_at_Ryerson_14_Feb_2019_w_Appendix.pdfHealth inequalities in Chicago vs Toronto: works.bepress.com/fdemaio/36
If You Hate Density, Maybe Don’t Live in A City Oh The Urbanity! 2024-04-28 | When you argue for housing reform to legalize denser development in our cities, you quickly learn that some people hate density. Like, really hate density, with visceral disgust and contempt for any development pattern that involves buildings being tall or close together.Keep Urbanity rolling:Join our Patreon for early releases, credit at the end of each video, and bonus content: patreon.com/ohtheurbanity Contact form: docs.google.com/forms/d/1NeALCmO6ELwJAGPyV46BVbl5JXzjlWl6emH3ZRNiCiw/editSubscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCN5CBM1NkqDYAHgS-AbgGHA?sub_confirmation=1Instagram: instagram.com/ohurbanityTwitter: twitter.com/OhUrbanityFor professional inquiries, please fill out the following contact form: docs.google.com/forms/d/1NeALCmO6ELwJAGPyV46BVbl5JXzjlWl6emH3ZRNiCiw/edit
How Winter Cycling Finally Clicked for Us Oh The Urbanity! 2024-04-21 | We’ve had a complicated relationship with biking in the winter. Unlike some of our favourite channels on the topic, we’re not long-time winter cyclists ourselves. We only started getting into year-round cycling a few years ago. At first it was exciting, we were breaking a mental block that we didn’t realize we had. So you don’t need to stop biking when the weather gets cold and snow starts to fall? Why didn’t anyone tell us this before? Why is our culture so weird about this? But biking in the winter never really became something we did that often. We did it here and there, it was a fun novelty, but it never felt that natural and we still shifted to walking and transit for most of our winter transportation needs.Keep Urbanity rolling:Join our Patreon for early releases, credit at the end of each video, and bonus content: patreon.com/ohtheurbanity Contact form: docs.google.com/forms/d/1NeALCmO6ELwJAGPyV46BVbl5JXzjlWl6emH3ZRNiCiw/editSubscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCN5CBM1NkqDYAHgS-AbgGHA?sub_confirmation=1Instagram: instagram.com/ohurbanityTwitter: twitter.com/OhUrbanityFor professional inquiries, please fill out the following contact form: docs.google.com/forms/d/1NeALCmO6ELwJAGPyV46BVbl5JXzjlWl6emH3ZRNiCiw/editReferences:"I don't think this winter BIXI experiment is working": reddit.com/r/montreal/comments/18bfq8a/i_dont_think_this_winter_bixi_experiment_isWinterized BIXI: bixi.com/en/bixi-year-roundWinter Ride by Twin Musicom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0Source: http://www.twinmusicom.org/song/308/winter-rideArtist: http://www.twinmusicom.org
Solving The Biggest Housing Crisis in North America Oh The Urbanity! 2024-04-13 | Vancouver is maybe the biggest housing affordability disaster in North America. Fortunately, over the past year, the government of BC just decided to become the most ambitious province or state in North America on housing reform.Keep Urbanity rolling:Join our Patreon for early releases, credit at the end of each video, and bonus content: patreon.com/ohtheurbanity Contact form: docs.google.com/forms/d/1NeALCmO6ELwJAGPyV46BVbl5JXzjlWl6emH3ZRNiCiw/editSubscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCN5CBM1NkqDYAHgS-AbgGHA?sub_confirmation=1Instagram: instagram.com/ohurbanityTwitter: twitter.com/OhUrbanityFor professional inquiries, please fill out the following contact form: docs.google.com/forms/d/1NeALCmO6ELwJAGPyV46BVbl5JXzjlWl6emH3ZRNiCiw/editReferences:Housing affordability report: thoughtleadership.rbc.com/toughest-time-ever-to-afford-a-home-as-soaring-interest-costs-keep-raising-the-barLarch Lab point access block report: larchlab.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Eliason_CoV-Point-Access-Blocks-report_v1.2.pdfWhy North America Can't Build Nice Apartments: youtube.com/watch?v=iRdwXQb7CfM
Alberta Urbanism: Underrated Successes and Massive Challenges Oh The Urbanity! 2024-04-07 | Would you believe us if we said that the two big cities in Alberta — a province associated with cowboys and oil — are more “urbanist” than you thought? In this video we’re going to cover the underappreciated urbanism of Canada’s fifth and sixth biggest metro areas and talk about the fundamental challenge for urbanism in a place like this.Keep Urbanity rolling:Join our Patreon for early releases, credit at the end of each video, and bonus content: patreon.com/ohtheurbanity Contact form: docs.google.com/forms/d/1NeALCmO6ELwJAGPyV46BVbl5JXzjlWl6emH3ZRNiCiw/editSubscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCN5CBM1NkqDYAHgS-AbgGHA?sub_confirmation=1Instagram: instagram.com/ohurbanityTwitter: twitter.com/OhUrbanityFor professional inquiries, please fill out the following contact form: docs.google.com/forms/d/1NeALCmO6ELwJAGPyV46BVbl5JXzjlWl6emH3ZRNiCiw/editReferences:History of Edmonton and Calgary's LRT systems: onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1992/1361/1361-005.pdfTransit ridership (see bottom of page for legend): apta.com/wp-content/uploads/2023-Q4-Ridership-APTA.pdf132 Ave Overhaul: cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/here-s-why-edmonton-s-132nd-avenue-renewal-project-is-garnering-attention-1.6990066Fossil fuels in Alberta's economy: jobbank.gc.ca/trend-analysis/job-market-reports/alberta/sectoral-profile-mining-oil-gas15 minute city protests: theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-edmonton-15-minute-city-protestsWinnipeg referendum 2018: cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/portage-main-divide-urban-suburban-1.4878309Winnipeg 2024 update: cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/portage-main-winnipeg-crossing-pedestrians-1.7152085Calgary opposition to zoning reform: calgaryherald.com/opinion/columnists/opinion-blanket-zoning-will-ruin-character-of-neighbourhoods-like-rideau-roxboro
The Disturbing Death Disparity on North American Roads Oh The Urbanity! 2024-03-17 | In a video recently we talked about the bad pedestrian experience in Miami. In response to this video we got some comments telling us to stop complaining. We actually understand this instinctive and emotional reaction people have against strangers coming to their city and criticizing it. But whether or not we should stop complaining, what do the numbers actually say about danger on Miami’s streets?Keep Urbanity rolling:Join our Patreon for early releases, credit at the end of each video, and bonus content: patreon.com/ohtheurbanity Contact form: docs.google.com/forms/d/1NeALCmO6ELwJAGPyV46BVbl5JXzjlWl6emH3ZRNiCiw/editSubscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCN5CBM1NkqDYAHgS-AbgGHA?sub_confirmation=1Instagram: instagram.com/ohurbanityTwitter: twitter.com/OhUrbanityFor professional inquiries, please fill out the following contact form: docs.google.com/forms/d/1NeALCmO6ELwJAGPyV46BVbl5JXzjlWl6emH3ZRNiCiw/editReferences:Miami-Dade County traffic crash statistics: flhsmv.gov/traffic-crash-reports/crash-dashboardCity of Toronto traffic fatality statistics: toronto.ca/services-payments/streets-parking-transportation/road-safety/vision-zero/vision-zero-dashboard/fatalities-vision-zeroAnalysis of traffic fatality rates in US cities (2019) used data from NHTSA FARS (select "Download Raw Data From FTP Site"): nhtsa.gov/research-data/fatality-analysis-reporting-system-farsMiami-Dade murder rate: fdle.state.fl.us/CJAB/UCR/Annual-Reports/UCR-Annual-Archives/County-and-Municipal-Offense-Data/County_and_Municipal_Offense_Report_2019AMiami-Dade violent crime rate: http://edr.state.fl.us/content/area-profiles/criminal-justice-county/miamidade.pdfCanadian comparison, Montreal traffic fatalities: saaq.gouv.qc.ca/blob/saaq/documents/publications/bilan-routier-2019.pdfEdmonton: globalnews.ca/news/6948602/edmonton-traffic-vision-zero-2019Ottawa: files.ontario.ca/pdf-2_0/mto-orsar-final-2019-en-pdf-2022-08-09.pdfSurrey (was actually 2018, not 2019): surrey.ca/services-payments/parking-streets-transportation/vision-zero-surrey/what-the-data-tells-usInternational traffic fatality statistics: data.oecd.org/transport/road-accidents.htm (note that this says "Per 1 000 000 inhabitants", which appears to be an error; data is per 100,000 residents)
This is The City to Beat on Housing Reform Oh The Urbanity! 2024-03-04 | “Neighbours over NIMBYs” — that’s a sticker we saw on the back of a sign in Edmonton, Alberta, and it gives a hint as to some of the attitudes that make this maybe the most forward-thinking city for housing reform in North America.Keep Urbanity rolling:Join our Patreon for early releases, credit at the end of each video, and bonus content: patreon.com/ohtheurbanity Contact form: docs.google.com/forms/d/1NeALCmO6ELwJAGPyV46BVbl5JXzjlWl6emH3ZRNiCiw/editSubscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCN5CBM1NkqDYAHgS-AbgGHA?sub_confirmation=1Instagram: instagram.com/ohurbanityTwitter: twitter.com/OhUrbanityFor professional inquiries, please fill out the following contact form: docs.google.com/forms/d/1NeALCmO6ELwJAGPyV46BVbl5JXzjlWl6emH3ZRNiCiw/editReferences:Two homes to 16-unit townhouse complex: cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/neighbours-become-business-partners-in-north-glenora-infill-project-1.5754031 (also: engaged.edmonton.ca/t5mconnectdc2)Church development: rightathomehousing.com/turning-sod-affordable-housing-built-westmount-areaSkinny homes legalized in 2013: cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/edmonton-infill-skinny-homes-1.4689007Skinny homes approvals: edmonton.ca/public-files/assets/document?path=PDF/SkinnyHomes_InfillInEdmonton_2016.pdfEdmonton eliminated parking mandates: cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/edmonton-got-rid-of-parking-minimums-2-years-ago-what-has-happened-since-then-1.6680750Canadian Home Builders’ Association municipal rankings: chba.ca/municipal-benchmarkingReport on housing from Canada’s federal housing authority: assets.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/sf/project/cmhc/pdfs/content/en/69262.pdfEdmonton mayor on homelessness support: medium.com/mayorsohi/edmonton-city-council-requests-provincial-support-for-community-safety-and-well-being-22b5ed142efdCalifornia mountain lion city: theguardian.com/us-news/2022/feb/05/california-woodside-mountain-lions-developmentMayor of Windsor, Ontario: twitter.com/drewdilkens/status/1752843859661295872Mayor named to housing team: windsorstar.com/news/local-news/dilkens-named-chair-of-new-ontario-housing-team
What You Need to Know About Language in Montreal (Before Visiting or Moving) Oh The Urbanity! 2024-02-18 | Montreal is unique as a major North American city where the main language of everyday life isn’t English or even Spanish — it’s French. But how exactly language dynamics and etiquette work in the metropolis of French Canada isn’t remotely obvious if you’re new to the city. We hear a lot of questions: how French is Montreal, exactly? How much French do you need to move here? Do you need any French to visit? Is it rude to speak English to people? Let’s clear some things up.Keep Urbanity rolling:Join our Patreon for early releases, credit at the end of each video, and bonus content: patreon.com/ohtheurbanity Subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCN5CBM1NkqDYAHgS-AbgGHA?sub_confirmation=1Instagram: instagram.com/ohurbanityTwitter: twitter.com/OhUrbanityFor professional inquiries, please send us a message on Instagram or Twitter. Note that we may not be able to respond to all messages.References:Map of Quebec regions from: cartographyvectors.com/map/794-quebec-with-regions
What NIMBYs Get Wrong About Density (Intentionally?) Oh The Urbanity! 2024-02-12 | A few years ago, a concerned resident opposed a four-storey apartment on this site in their Edmonton neighbourhood by saying: “more apartments are economically unnecessary and actually unwanted by the community”. We know what it means when homeowners don’t want new housing nearby but what does it mean for an apartment building to be “economically unnecessary”?Keep Urbanity rolling:Join our Patreon for early releases, credit at the end of each video, and bonus content: patreon.com/ohtheurbanity Subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCN5CBM1NkqDYAHgS-AbgGHA?sub_confirmation=1Instagram: instagram.com/ohurbanityTwitter: twitter.com/OhUrbanityFor professional inquiries, please send us a message on Instagram or Twitter. Note that we may not be able to respond to all messages.References:Edmonton development: globalnews.ca/news/5404455/edmonton-west-jasper-place-apartment-proposal-rejectedNearby Edmonton proposal: edmonton.skyrisecities.com/news/2020/01/riocan-proposing-redevelopment-jasper-gates.409321926 court ruling: casetext.com/case/village-of-euclid-ohio-v-ambler-realty-coToronto council speaker around 35:00: youtube.com/watch?v=7b3-p-J3uowVancouver Sun article: vancouversun.com/opinion/op-ed/riley-donovan-ending-single-family-zoning-an-unprecedented-act-of-provincial-overreachGilbert, Arizona development: gilbertsunnews.com/news/council-to-vote-on-controversial-rivulon-apartment-project/article_b48ae112-614f-11ed-a18b-df47a5551ebf.htmlDallas city councillor: twitter.com/caraathome/status/1716931564033155324
Miami Surprised Us: The Crazy Urbanism of South Florida Oh The Urbanity! 2024-02-05 | We would say that Miami isn’t what we expected but we actually didn’t really know what to expect from this city. We knew we wanted a break from Canadian winter and that we wanted a city we could explore a bit instead of going to a beach resort in the Caribbean. On the positive side, Miami has a very unique aesthetic and vibe. Spanish architecture, art deco, palm trees, cool skyscrapers, elevated rail, tropical colours — it’s really nice. We were even pleasantly surprised by the transit, especially for a place not known for it. On the negative side, this might be the most pedestrian-unfriendly major city we’ve ever walked around, definitely in recent memory. It’s the design of the roads, which feel like highways and sometimes literally are highways. It’s the oversized cars with tinted windows and drivers acting like pedestrians don’t matter. Florida is the third worst state in the US for pedestrian fatalities and it shows.Keep Urbanity rolling:Join our Patreon for early releases, credit at the end of each video, and bonus content: patreon.com/ohtheurbanity Subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCN5CBM1NkqDYAHgS-AbgGHA?sub_confirmation=1Instagram: instagram.com/ohurbanityTwitter: twitter.com/OhUrbanityFor professional inquiries, please send us a message on Instagram or Twitter. Note that we may not be able to respond to all messages.References:Higher vehicles are more likely to kill pedestrians: sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212012224000017Passing a stopped school bus is illegal: fox13news.com/news/when-do-you-have-to-stop-for-a-school-bus-in-floridaMiami-Dade County versus Miami Beach: miamitodaynews.com/breaking/county-rejects-promenades-for-ocean-drive-and-espanola-wayUS bike commuting statistics: censusreporter.orgMiami-Dade County pedestrian and cyclist volumes: miamidadetpo.org/library/studies/miami-dade-bicycle-and-pedestrian-data-collection-2018-06.pdf
2,000 People Told Us Their Biggest Winter Cycling Challenges Oh The Urbanity! 2024-01-27 | What really stops people from biking in the winter? We can talk about our own winter cycling journey but we’re just two people, so we decided to ask the audience: you! We made a survey and posted it to our community page and social media platforms and we got almost 2,000 responses. Keep Urbanity rolling:Join our Patreon for early releases, credit at the end of each video, and bonus content: patreon.com/ohtheurbanity Subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCN5CBM1NkqDYAHgS-AbgGHA?sub_confirmation=1Instagram: instagram.com/ohurbanityTwitter: twitter.com/OhUrbanityFor professional inquiries, please send us a message on Instagram or Twitter. Note that we may not be able to respond to all messages.
The Urbanist Myth That Just Won’t Die Oh The Urbanity! 2024-01-14 | This is the urbanist myth that just won’t die: the one very mistaken idea about housing and density held by a lot of well-meaning urbanists who we agree with on most other topics. We’re talking about the belief that roughly five storeys maximum is a universal “optimal” or “ideal” building height. This idea comes in large part from Danish designer and architect Jan Gehl, voted the second most influential urbanist in modern history, after Jane Jacobs. In his book Cities for People, he argued that taller buildings are out of scale with the human experience. “Above the fifth floor, offices and housing should logically be the province of the air-traffic authorities [...] they no longer belong to the city”, he claims.Keep Urbanity rolling:Join our Patreon for early releases, credit at the end of each video, and bonus content: patreon.com/ohtheurbanity Subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCN5CBM1NkqDYAHgS-AbgGHA?sub_confirmation=1Instagram: instagram.com/ohurbanityTwitter: twitter.com/OhUrbanityFor professional inquiries, please send us a message on Instagram or Twitter. Note that we may not be able to respond to all messages.References:The 100 Most Influential Urbanists: planetizen.com/features/124594-100-most-influential-urbanists-past-and-presentHistory of Greenwich Village: villagepreservation.org/resources/neighborhood-historyGreenwich Village/Soho Statistics: furmancenter.org/neighborhoods/view/greenwich-village-sohoAverage Rent in Greenwich Village: zumper.com/rent-research/new-york-ny/greenwich-villageJan Gehl on Why Tall Buildings Aren’t Necessarily Bad for Street Life: commonedge.org/jan-gehl-on-why-tall-buildings-arent-necessarily-bad-for-street-lifeGIl Penalosa on tall buildings: twitter.com/Penalosa_G/status/1688342976081068036
How To Build a Bike Lane that Breaks Records Oh The Urbanity! 2024-01-07 | It sounds funny to say, but this bike lane was a big influence on this channel. When we first moved to Montreal in 2019 we lived nearby and saw the city take Saint-Denis Street, a six lane road that we would never consider biking on, and turn it into the busiest bike corridor in the city under the concept of an “express bike network” (REV in French) that includes a few other routes right now and will include many more routes in the future. The Saint Denis express bike corridor was a big lesson in “if you build it, they will come”, and the number of cyclists has only been climbing.Keep Urbanity rolling:Join our Patreon for early releases, credit at the end of each video, and bonus content: patreon.com/ohtheurbanity Subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCN5CBM1NkqDYAHgS-AbgGHA?sub_confirmation=1Instagram: instagram.com/ohurbanityTwitter: twitter.com/OhUrbanityFor professional inquiries, please send us a message on Instagram or Twitter. Note that we may not be able to respond to all messages.References:Montreal bike counter data: data.eco-counter.com/ParcPublic/?id=630Vision vélo 2023-27: portail-m4s.s3.montreal.ca/pdf/carte_et_liste_des_projets_annonces_-_vision_velo_2023-2027.pdf
Top 10 Most Urbanist Suburbs in Australia Oh The Urbanity! 2024-01-01 | What are the most urbanist neighbourhoods in Australia, the southern hemisphere version of Canada? Let’s take a look based on the 2021 Australian census. We’re going to measure urbanism based on three categories. First, population density — the denser the better. This isn’t to say that anyone into cities and urbanism must always prefer the highest density environments, but it’s the simplest way to compare. Number two: affordability. The cheaper the median rent, the better. And the third category is transportation, under which we’re including three separate measures: the percentage of people who commute by transit, the percentage of people who commute by walking or cycling, and the number of cars owned per household, with lower being better. Keep Urbanity rolling:Join our Patreon for early releases, credit at the end of each video, and bonus content: patreon.com/ohtheurbanity Subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCN5CBM1NkqDYAHgS-AbgGHA?sub_confirmation=1Instagram: instagram.com/ohurbanityTwitter: twitter.com/OhUrbanityFor professional inquiries, please send us a message on Instagram or Twitter. Note that we may not be able to respond to all messages.
What Biking in the Winter is Really Like Oh The Urbanity! 2023-12-13 | What’s it like to bike in the winter in Montreal, a big North American city that’s pretty bike-friendly but also has cold and snowy winters?Keep Urbanity rolling:Join our Patreon for early releases, credit at the end of each video, and bonus content: patreon.com/ohtheurbanity Subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCN5CBM1NkqDYAHgS-AbgGHA?sub_confirmation=1Instagram: instagram.com/ohurbanityTwitter: twitter.com/OhUrbanityFor professional inquiries, please send us a message on Instagram or Twitter. Note that we may not be able to respond to all messages.References:Weather comparison: weatherspark.com/compare/y/25077~51381~74001~10405/Comparison-of-the-Average-Weather-in-Montr%C3%A9al-Amsterdam-Copenhagen-and-Minneapolis#Figures-Snowfall
5 Difficult Questions for Urbanists to Answer Oh The Urbanity! 2023-11-18 | Five questions or topics for urbanists like us to think through.Keep Urbanity rolling:Join our Patreon for early releases, credit at the end of each video, and bonus content: patreon.com/ohtheurbanity Subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCN5CBM1NkqDYAHgS-AbgGHA?sub_confirmation=1Instagram: instagram.com/ohurbanityTwitter: twitter.com/OhUrbanityFor professional inquiries, please send us a message on Instagram or Twitter. Note that we may not be able to respond to all messages.References:Downsides of height limits: sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0166046204000213Upward mobility and commute times: urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/102992/access-to-opportunity-through-equitable-transportation_0.pdfOriginal source on upward mobility and commute times: academic.oup.com/qje/article/129/4/1553/1853754
We Need to Talk About the “Missing Middle” Oh The Urbanity! 2023-11-12 | The U.S. and Canada famously have a problem with the missing middle. Our cities have a lot of detached homes and in some cases a lot of high-rise towers but not a lot of housing in between. Or at least, so the argument goes. There’s just one problem: it’s not entirely true.Keep Urbanity rolling:Join our Patreon for early releases: patreon.com/ohtheurbanity Subscribe: youtube.com/channel/UCN5CBM1NkqDYAHgS-AbgGHA?sub_confirmation=1Join us on Twitter: twitter.com/OhUrbanityData & Analysis:The data on housing came from the 2021 Canadian Census, which can be accessed online here: www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/index.cfm?Lang=E.
These Suburbs Have Incredible Untapped Potential for Cycling Oh The Urbanity! 2023-11-01 | With its lower densities and longer distances, is suburbia inherently incompatible with cycling for transportation, or could high-quality protected bike infrastructure make this environment comfortable and practical to bike in? While not all suburbs are created equal, you might be surprised at how much potential there is.Keep Urbanity rolling:Join our Patreon for early releases: patreon.com/ohtheurbanity Subscribe: youtube.com/channel/UCN5CBM1NkqDYAHgS-AbgGHA?sub_confirmation=1Join us on Twitter: twitter.com/OhUrbanityData & Analysis:The data analysis was done in R, using the 'osmdata' package to pull data from OpenStreetMap and using 'cancensus' and 'tidycensus' to access Canadian and American population data.References:Median commute in different parts of the Los Angeles metro area: scag.ca.gov/sites/main/files/file-attachments/ej_jhfit_scag_2021trb.pdf?1612993870
