Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Matt Armstrong

School of Cities @uoftcities.bsky.social · 1h

Holly Whyte’s 1980 film The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces summarizes his seminal street life study of NYC’s plazas & is profoundly influential in the worlds of placemaking and livable cities. Join us on Nov 4 for a screening and panel discussion: https://ow.ly/zhR250XcJCm

1 2 4

Matt Armstrong @matta7.bsky.social · 2d

My old neighbourhood!
Great to see these improvements.
The Waterway or The Bridgehouse (both nearby) are watering holes where you are bound to come upon fellow urbanists (or was the case back when I lived there). Lovely settings for both.

1

Reposted by Matt Armstrong

Marta O'Brien @archhistory.bsky.social · 3d

AI uses obscene amounts of energy & water. Another reason why I don't use it. Wish people would consider this when they're "playing with" or otherwise using AI. From CBC:
www.cbc.ca/news/ai-data...

Thirsty AI data centres are coming to Canada, with little scrutiny or oversight | CBC News

Canada is poised to join the data centre boom. But as such projects face greater scrutiny around the world, there is little debate here about what this will mean for the country’s water.

www.cbc.ca

1 4 3

Matt Armstrong @matta7.bsky.social · 5d

Good.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

Cardiff becomes first UK council to impose higher parking charges on larger vehicles

Premium charge aims to combat steep rise in SUVs and other larger vehicles which are ‘a danger to other road users’

www.theguardian.com

1

Reposted by Matt Armstrong

Jason Thorne @jasonthorne.bsky.social · 11d

The iPhone … YouTube … and bike share! Montreal's bicycle-sharing system BIXI has been named among the top 25 inventions of the past 25 years by TIME magazine. cultmtl.com/2025/10/bixi...

BIXI named among top 25 inventions of the past 25 years by TIME magazine

TIME magazine has released a list of the top 25 inventions of the past 25 years, and Montreal's bicycle-sharing system BIXI is on it.

cultmtl.com

17 91

Matt Armstrong @matta7.bsky.social · 16d

I was the Planner for this file, working with a great team. Positive results after only 1 year of occupancy. Particularly pleased to see the reference to the vegetable garden as part of healing. One of the challenges was ensuring reasonable amenity space for residents.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Toronto ER costs, visits by frequent patients reduced with new housing model | CBC News

The Dunn House, a long-term housing project with easy access to healthcare, is helping 48 of Toronto's most-frequent visitors to the ER. The program has greatly reduced the number of hospital visits a...

www.cbc.ca

5

Reposted by Matt Armstrong

Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 17d

OF COURSE SPEED CAMERAS WORK! There’s clear evidence of that. They save lives, and removing them will costs lives, including KIDS’ LIVES. The narrative of “cash grab” is a political tactic. Every dollar raised by such cameras is evidence of too much deadly speeding and the need for such cameras.

Parents, children rally against Ford's planned speed cam ban | CBC News

Concerned parents gathered with their children by a speed camera near Bloor and Dundas streets Saturday afternoon to protest a plan from Premier Doug Ford’s government to end automated speed enforceme...

www.cbc.ca

7 51 210

Reposted by Matt Armstrong

Diane Therrien-Hale @dianetherrien.bsky.social · 17d

Ugh I ❤️ Bike Share Toronto it’s come so far since I lived here (back when it was Bixi and there were like 20 stations 😂). And the protected bike lanes along Adelaide/Richmond are awesome. #biketo #bikingisbest

2 19

Matt Armstrong @matta7.bsky.social · 17d

I wanted to attend, but all 3 time slots were sold out! Frankly nice to see the interest, & I’ll join another time. Enjoy!!

2

Reposted by Matt Armstrong

David Zipper @davidzipper.bsky.social · 19d

You might think that the mayor of Yellowknife, the capital of Canada's vast Northwest Territories, would be a fan of giant pickups.

Nope. He's disgusted by car bloat.

www.linkedin.com/posts/benjam...

46 440 1.7K

Matt Armstrong @matta7.bsky.social · 22d

I know there’s a longer term vision for HSR (meaning Hamilton Street Railway aka Hamilton local transit, not high speed rail) in the works. But any word if HSR will make service adjustments to support the new trains in the short term?

1

Reposted by Matt Armstrong

More Transit Southern Ontario @moretransitso.bsky.social · 22d

Good News! The long awaited Confederation GO station is now complete, and service will start on October 27th. There will be 13 weekday trips and 15 weekend trips serving the station once open. All existing Niagara trains will stop at the station, and some trips will be extended from West Harbour

3 2 18

Reposted by Matt Armstrong

Matt Armstrong @matta7.bsky.social · 24d

Fringe? On a building?!
Yes! And it sways calmingly in the wind.
.
Designed to evoke a dancer’s shawl, in part by Indigenous Architecture firm Two Row, this is the new Indigenous Health Centre operated by Anishnawbe Health Toronto.

1 1 10

Reposted by Matt Armstrong

Jason Thorne @jasonthorne.bsky.social · 23d

A former expressway. Now a place for an evening stroll. Nighttime on the Cheonggyecheon River in Seoul.

4 20 170

Matt Armstrong @matta7.bsky.social · 23d

To recap:
- community action;
- a plan made;
- industrial lands remediated;
- a river moved;
- an island made;
- lands made green & nature returns;
- Indigenous people named the island;
- a bridge built & floated into place;
- art & culture floats down the river.
.
✨Some dream level stuff! ✨

Matt Armstrong @matta7.bsky.social · 24d

Felt moved, joy & pride.
All at the same time.
The beautiful.. flotilla(?) of canoes travels along newly moved Don River.
Part of A Lake Story by Melissa
McGill put on by @thebentway.bsky.social. In the background is Ookwemin Minising, & the (morning misty) Toronto skyline behind it.

Many cones, each with a large single-colour flag, travel along the Don River, with the Toronto skyline in behind

2 5

Reposted by Matt Armstrong

Eric Duncan Parker @allears52.bsky.social · 24d

I was there yesterday. There is also a'clicking noise component to it also, when there is a gentle breeze blowing as there was then. A building with a fringe on it! How wonderful!

Matt Armstrong @matta7.bsky.social · 24d

Fringe? On a building?!
Yes! And it sways calmingly in the wind.
.
Designed to evoke a dancer’s shawl, in part by Indigenous Architecture firm Two Row, this is the new Indigenous Health Centre operated by Anishnawbe Health Toronto.

1 3

Matt Armstrong @matta7.bsky.social · 24d

Felt moved, joy & pride.
All at the same time.
The beautiful.. flotilla(?) of canoes travels along newly moved Don River.
Part of A Lake Story by Melissa
McGill put on by @thebentway.bsky.social. In the background is Ookwemin Minising, & the (morning misty) Toronto skyline behind it.

16 52

Matt Armstrong @matta7.bsky.social · 24d

Winner of a Toronto Urban Design Award, you can read more about it here:
www.azuremagazine.com/article/toro...

Toronto’s Indigenous Hub Has Healing Powers

The Indigenous Hub fills an entire city block in downtown Toronto, anchored by a wellness centre that moves with the wind.

www.azuremagazine.com

2

Matt Armstrong @matta7.bsky.social · 24d

Fringe? On a building?!
Yes! And it sways calmingly in the wind.
.
Designed to evoke a dancer’s shawl, in part by Indigenous Architecture firm Two Row, this is the new Indigenous Health Centre operated by Anishnawbe Health Toronto.

1 1 10

Matt Armstrong @matta7.bsky.social · 25d

Genuine question: if the issue with speed cameras is a perception that they are (an easy to avoid) tax grab, then perhaps the solution is license suspensions instead of fines?
Idk. A thought.

5

Reposted by Matt Armstrong

Jay Cockburn @jaycockburn.bsky.social · 26d

I have been driving for 20 years and never once got a speeding ticket.

Speed cameras work, they save lives, you can very easily avoid fines by driving like a normal person. Most people know this, too. That's why they're popular.

Shawn Micallef @shawnmicallef.bsky.social · 26d

I promised myself I'm not going to lose my mind on this.....but stop this nonsense. It was a mild program. There were warning signs for the cameras. Make it a moral fight. Stop this nonsense capitulation compromise stuff that will get people killed.

Toronto Star @thestar.com · 26d

Mayor Olivia Chow is asking for changes to Toronto’s speed cameras as a part of a last-minute effort to get Premier Doug Ford to reconsider scrapping them altogether.

4 12 150

Reposted by Matt Armstrong

City of Toronto @toronto.ca · 27d

#DYK that if a person cycling is struck by a driver travelling 50 km/h, their chance of survival is only 10%? Whether you’re a new or experienced driver, always drive carefully around vulnerable road users. 🚴

Find #RoadSafety tips at toronto.ca/WatchforBikes.

A “best friend” figure on a bike against a pink background. Text reads: There’s a life on every bike. Always look around before opening your car door to ensure everyone gets home safely. City of Toronto, 311 Toronto at your Service and Vision Zero logos in the corners of the image.

2 4 21

Matt Armstrong @matta7.bsky.social · 27d

They’re also fun to driveI
And the hatch makes them useful & practical.
I also like trucks & other types of vehicles. I just don’t like vehicles that will result in unnecessary injury or worse.

3

Matt Armstrong @matta7.bsky.social · 27d

I’m 6’4”, 190lbs (193cm, 80kg). I’m big.
.
I comfortably drove the hatchback on the left. I wish the vehicle on the right didn’t exist.

Photo of me between two vehicles. The vehicle on the right has a hood that is above my chest.

1 19 99

Reposted by Matt Armstrong

City of Toronto @toronto.ca · 28d

Toronto is one of the most diverse cities – for bees! 🐝 Did you know more than 360 species of bees call Toronto home?

These mighty pollinators need our help.

Apply for a PollinateTO grant today:
www.toronto.ca/services-pay...

A Common Eastern bumblebee on a yellow flower (Shrubby St. John’s-wort).

1 11 36