@brianch.bsky.social
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Your daily reminder that the most effective transit priority strategy at intersection is... not having an intersection at all.
December 8, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Your daily reminder that the most effective transit priority strategy at intersection is... not having an intersection at all.
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I dont think we've been challenged to think about signals from a transit perspective. You have to find the handful of engineers who work on signals, have a stake in transit operations, and are willing to try new things.
December 7, 2025 at 10:25 PM
I dont think we've been challenged to think about signals from a transit perspective. You have to find the handful of engineers who work on signals, have a stake in transit operations, and are willing to try new things.
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See, I think so many of our problems in North America re transit come down to ignoring that speed is REALLY important. I *don't* think its hard to believe that *getting places quickly* is peoples top priority!
This is especially true because most people have access to a car!
This is especially true because most people have access to a car!
It seems hard to believe but speed is probably the number 1 thing users want.
December 6, 2025 at 5:25 PM
See, I think so many of our problems in North America re transit come down to ignoring that speed is REALLY important. I *don't* think its hard to believe that *getting places quickly* is peoples top priority!
This is especially true because most people have access to a car!
This is especially true because most people have access to a car!
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I wrote a thing.
Build trams, but build them well.
Understanding what tramways are, what they do best and how to employ them.
open.substack.com/pub/marcochi...
Build trams, but build them well.
Understanding what tramways are, what they do best and how to employ them.
open.substack.com/pub/marcochi...
Build trams. But build them well.
Understanding what tramways are, what they do best and how to employ them.
open.substack.com
December 5, 2025 at 2:07 AM
I wrote a thing.
Build trams, but build them well.
Understanding what tramways are, what they do best and how to employ them.
open.substack.com/pub/marcochi...
Build trams, but build them well.
Understanding what tramways are, what they do best and how to employ them.
open.substack.com/pub/marcochi...
Reposted
“[En France] un tramway 10 fois moins cher qu’à Québec ou à Montréal”
« Durant toute la réalisation de ce projet, à chaque choix, on se demandait si on en avait besoin ou si on savait faire avec moins »
...alors qu'ici j'ai l'impression q'avec chaque choix on se demande comment on pourrait gonfler davantage la facture...
www.lapresse.ca/internationa...
...alors qu'ici j'ai l'impression q'avec chaque choix on se demande comment on pourrait gonfler davantage la facture...
www.lapresse.ca/internationa...
La Presse en France | Un tramway 10 fois moins cher qu’à Québec ou à Montréal
Il ressemble à n’importe quel autre tramway, roule comme n’importe quel autre tramway et transporte des passagers comme n’importe quel autre tramway. Seule différence : son coût.
www.lapresse.ca
December 2, 2025 at 11:36 PM
“[En France] un tramway 10 fois moins cher qu’à Québec ou à Montréal”
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The Transit Death Spiral is something that desperately needs to be avoided, but can be easily kickstarted during budget crunches.
Stagnant budgets are actively damaging to transit service. As an extension to this video, my thoughts on "schedule maintenance": bettercolumbia.ca/2025/12/02/f...
Stagnant budgets are actively damaging to transit service. As an extension to this video, my thoughts on "schedule maintenance": bettercolumbia.ca/2025/12/02/f...
December 3, 2025 at 1:47 AM
The Transit Death Spiral is something that desperately needs to be avoided, but can be easily kickstarted during budget crunches.
Stagnant budgets are actively damaging to transit service. As an extension to this video, my thoughts on "schedule maintenance": bettercolumbia.ca/2025/12/02/f...
Stagnant budgets are actively damaging to transit service. As an extension to this video, my thoughts on "schedule maintenance": bettercolumbia.ca/2025/12/02/f...
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Oak Bay has voted down yet another housing proposal 😞
As the applicant put it, “Uplands is not a museum… it is an early 20th century idea conceived in a cooler, much less crowded world.”
It’s time for choices that reflect today’s reality, not 1920’s nostalgia.
As the applicant put it, “Uplands is not a museum… it is an early 20th century idea conceived in a cooler, much less crowded world.”
It’s time for choices that reflect today’s reality, not 1920’s nostalgia.
November 28, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Oak Bay has voted down yet another housing proposal 😞
As the applicant put it, “Uplands is not a museum… it is an early 20th century idea conceived in a cooler, much less crowded world.”
It’s time for choices that reflect today’s reality, not 1920’s nostalgia.
As the applicant put it, “Uplands is not a museum… it is an early 20th century idea conceived in a cooler, much less crowded world.”
It’s time for choices that reflect today’s reality, not 1920’s nostalgia.
Reposted
Blasting past rush hour traffic on the completed portion of Dufferin RapidTO (up to Dundas)
November 27, 2025 at 1:03 AM
Blasting past rush hour traffic on the completed portion of Dufferin RapidTO (up to Dundas)
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Could Dawson Creek, BC eliminate their transit network?
If you know anyone up there, please tell them to reach out to city council.
www.cjdctv.com/news/article...
If you know anyone up there, please tell them to reach out to city council.
www.cjdctv.com/news/article...
Comments during city council meeting raise concerns about future of BC Transit in Dawson Creek
The contract between the city and BC Transit expires in Spring 2026.
www.cjdctv.com
November 23, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Could Dawson Creek, BC eliminate their transit network?
If you know anyone up there, please tell them to reach out to city council.
www.cjdctv.com/news/article...
If you know anyone up there, please tell them to reach out to city council.
www.cjdctv.com/news/article...
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“Homes for All” is the theme of this year’s Gingerbread Showcase
Lots of great housing messages and examples of homes that should be legal everything
Support our friends at Habitat for Humanity www.habitatvictoria....
Lots of great housing messages and examples of homes that should be legal everything
Support our friends at Habitat for Humanity www.habitatvictoria....
November 23, 2025 at 9:35 PM
“Homes for All” is the theme of this year’s Gingerbread Showcase
Lots of great housing messages and examples of homes that should be legal everything
Support our friends at Habitat for Humanity www.habitatvictoria....
Lots of great housing messages and examples of homes that should be legal everything
Support our friends at Habitat for Humanity www.habitatvictoria....
While Reece is right that articulated trolleybuses could work for a number of routes in Victoria, the most pressing corridor for higher-order transit (Downtown to Westshore) is unfortunately not a great candidate. Why? See bettercolumbia.ca/2025/11/13/n... or 🧵⤵️
November 21, 2025 at 1:27 AM
While Reece is right that articulated trolleybuses could work for a number of routes in Victoria, the most pressing corridor for higher-order transit (Downtown to Westshore) is unfortunately not a great candidate. Why? See bettercolumbia.ca/2025/11/13/n... or 🧵⤵️
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www.bctransit.com/wp-content/u...
TransLink had 11% weekday bus overcrowding in 2024, and they rolled out the biggest bus expansion since 2018.
Victoria had 8% weekday bus overcrowding in 2024, and our expansion funding was cut to the point where it doesn't even pay for schedule maintenance. 🙃
TransLink had 11% weekday bus overcrowding in 2024, and they rolled out the biggest bus expansion since 2018.
Victoria had 8% weekday bus overcrowding in 2024, and our expansion funding was cut to the point where it doesn't even pay for schedule maintenance. 🙃
www.bctransit.com
November 18, 2025 at 4:28 AM
www.bctransit.com/wp-content/u...
TransLink had 11% weekday bus overcrowding in 2024, and they rolled out the biggest bus expansion since 2018.
Victoria had 8% weekday bus overcrowding in 2024, and our expansion funding was cut to the point where it doesn't even pay for schedule maintenance. 🙃
TransLink had 11% weekday bus overcrowding in 2024, and they rolled out the biggest bus expansion since 2018.
Victoria had 8% weekday bus overcrowding in 2024, and our expansion funding was cut to the point where it doesn't even pay for schedule maintenance. 🙃
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Grateful to receive support for Bill M216 from Homes for Living YYJ. A community housing advocacy group.
“To meet affordability goals, we must ensure that it is faster and easier to build dense infill housing rather than suburban sprawl.”
#bcpoli #Nanaimo #Lantzville #Victoriabc
“To meet affordability goals, we must ensure that it is faster and easier to build dense infill housing rather than suburban sprawl.”
#bcpoli #Nanaimo #Lantzville #Victoriabc
November 16, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Grateful to receive support for Bill M216 from Homes for Living YYJ. A community housing advocacy group.
“To meet affordability goals, we must ensure that it is faster and easier to build dense infill housing rather than suburban sprawl.”
#bcpoli #Nanaimo #Lantzville #Victoriabc
“To meet affordability goals, we must ensure that it is faster and easier to build dense infill housing rather than suburban sprawl.”
#bcpoli #Nanaimo #Lantzville #Victoriabc
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Our letter to BC MLAs in support of @georgeandersonbc.bsky.social's private members' bill to streamline housing approvals.
November 17, 2025 at 4:21 AM
Our letter to BC MLAs in support of @georgeandersonbc.bsky.social's private members' bill to streamline housing approvals.
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We need your help to tell transit commissioners that airport service should come alongside all-day 71 service, which would give Sidney residents and ferry riders an all-day direct downtown connection. Transit doesn't have to be zero-sum.
See the proposal:
www.bctransit.com/wp-content/u...
See the proposal:
www.bctransit.com/wp-content/u...
www.bctransit.com
November 17, 2025 at 2:22 AM
We need your help to tell transit commissioners that airport service should come alongside all-day 71 service, which would give Sidney residents and ferry riders an all-day direct downtown connection. Transit doesn't have to be zero-sum.
See the proposal:
www.bctransit.com/wp-content/u...
See the proposal:
www.bctransit.com/wp-content/u...
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We're happy to announce that we're looking for a volunteer to lead our advocacy efforts for the TTC Streetcar network. Our streetcars are some of the slowest in the world, and on time performance was just 61% last month. As our streetcar lead, you will have the responsibility of:
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1/3
November 14, 2025 at 11:57 AM
We're happy to announce that we're looking for a volunteer to lead our advocacy efforts for the TTC Streetcar network. Our streetcars are some of the slowest in the world, and on time performance was just 61% last month. As our streetcar lead, you will have the responsibility of:
1/3
1/3
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Without fanfare, the BC Ministry of Transportation released a report that makes a strong case for a Westshore to Victoria rail line, writes Sam Holland
New Study Makes Strong Case for Getting Westshore Rail on Track - Better Columbia
The province quietly updated the 2011 Westshore Rapid Transit Study. They determined that we need transit investment, now more than ever.
bettercolumbia.ca
November 14, 2025 at 4:12 AM
Without fanfare, the BC Ministry of Transportation released a report that makes a strong case for a Westshore to Victoria rail line, writes Sam Holland
Reposted
Transit rider @nottaylorx.bsky.social shared this video of a side-by-side comparison of a tram in Amsterdam and a streetcar in Toronto departing a stop.
Guess which one has fully active signal priority? A phase before left-turning cars?
Guess which one has fully active signal priority? A phase before left-turning cars?
November 13, 2025 at 12:05 AM
Transit rider @nottaylorx.bsky.social shared this video of a side-by-side comparison of a tram in Amsterdam and a streetcar in Toronto departing a stop.
Guess which one has fully active signal priority? A phase before left-turning cars?
Guess which one has fully active signal priority? A phase before left-turning cars?
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"[T]here have been 33 studies on Ambleside in the past 79 years. There has been such great engagement that I think it's disrespectful to those that gave their input to not push this forward.”
Good pushback to West Van mayor from both province & a local BIA voice. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Good pushback to West Van mayor from both province & a local BIA voice. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
West Vancouver mayor says he won’t back down from standoff on provincially mandated housing targets | CBC News
The B.C. government says West Vancouver has shirked its responsibility to build housing and meet set targets. But the district mayor says he fundamentally disagrees with the province's approach. As th...
www.cbc.ca
November 13, 2025 at 5:11 PM
"[T]here have been 33 studies on Ambleside in the past 79 years. There has been such great engagement that I think it's disrespectful to those that gave their input to not push this forward.”
Good pushback to West Van mayor from both province & a local BIA voice. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Good pushback to West Van mayor from both province & a local BIA voice. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
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Speeding up buses along Kingsway will have an outsized benefit for the network—but Vancouver and TransLink can do better than two minutes of time savings per trip, argues Ben Chang
The Kingsway transit priority proposals are good, but we can do better - Better Columbia
TransLink and the City of Vancouver are proposing transit priority measures and bus stop balancing along Kingsway, focusing on Route 19. And it’s a great place to start! The 19 is the 9th most used bus route in the entire region1, while also being the 4th slowest1, which means improvements that are made here will […]
bettercolumbia.ca
November 12, 2025 at 6:29 AM
Speeding up buses along Kingsway will have an outsized benefit for the network—but Vancouver and TransLink can do better than two minutes of time savings per trip, argues Ben Chang
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Did you know that when Mount Dennis GO opens this Sunday. It'll be 3x faster to get to Union Station than it currently takes. The fastest trips today take around 45 minutes, on Sunday it'll take just 13 minutes. This is the power of regional rail.
November 11, 2025 at 7:47 AM
Did you know that when Mount Dennis GO opens this Sunday. It'll be 3x faster to get to Union Station than it currently takes. The fastest trips today take around 45 minutes, on Sunday it'll take just 13 minutes. This is the power of regional rail.
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Municipal election year is coming up. Stay tuned for a lot of things coming from HFL.
Did you know Homes for Living has a newsletter? 🏡✨
✔️ Check out our November issue here: https://bit.ly/47VZUBC
✔️ Sign up to get future issues: https://bit.ly/4qUd2zN
✔️ Explore past editions on our website: homesforliving.ca
✔️ Check out our November issue here: https://bit.ly/47VZUBC
✔️ Sign up to get future issues: https://bit.ly/4qUd2zN
✔️ Explore past editions on our website: homesforliving.ca
November 11, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Municipal election year is coming up. Stay tuned for a lot of things coming from HFL.
@ohtheurbanity.bsky.social's experience here shows a gap not many think about: so many folks in the CRD have the same problem taking transit from home or to work. That includes people who work at the airport and its business park!
The Montreal comparison is apt because it does have night service.
The Montreal comparison is apt because it does have night service.
Oops, I didn’t explain this clearly! Lack of sleep.
The bus from Victoria drops you off at a bus exchange here. In the day there’s another bus to the airport.
But the last bus at 9:06pm does not work for a flight arriving at 9pm.
Same with our morning flight.
The bus from Victoria drops you off at a bus exchange here. In the day there’s another bus to the airport.
But the last bus at 9:06pm does not work for a flight arriving at 9pm.
Same with our morning flight.
Victoria’s transit does not go all the way to the airport for either of our scheduled flights. You have to take a 30 minute walk, partly along roads without sidewalks.
October 20, 2025 at 8:53 PM
@ohtheurbanity.bsky.social's experience here shows a gap not many think about: so many folks in the CRD have the same problem taking transit from home or to work. That includes people who work at the airport and its business park!
The Montreal comparison is apt because it does have night service.
The Montreal comparison is apt because it does have night service.
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In February 1972, Bologna conducted a cordon survey of cars entering the area inside the ring boulevard.
It's challenging to compare data across all entry points, but here's how the numbers for six selected access points look: 1972 vs 2022.
That's quite the reduction 📉
It's challenging to compare data across all entry points, but here's how the numbers for six selected access points look: 1972 vs 2022.
That's quite the reduction 📉
October 15, 2025 at 9:34 PM
In February 1972, Bologna conducted a cordon survey of cars entering the area inside the ring boulevard.
It's challenging to compare data across all entry points, but here's how the numbers for six selected access points look: 1972 vs 2022.
That's quite the reduction 📉
It's challenging to compare data across all entry points, but here's how the numbers for six selected access points look: 1972 vs 2022.
That's quite the reduction 📉