Daniel Firth
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danielfirth.bsky.social
Daniel Firth
@danielfirth.bsky.social
Policy nerd - urban planner - map fan 🏳️‍🌈. Director of City Climate Research at C40 Cities. Ex Transport for London, City of Stockholm and Metro Vancouver TransLink. Opinions are my own or borrowed from someone smarter.
Having a clearout and found my old chequebook*

GBP900 was my monthly rent in 2005 for a one room flat in South Ealing, a 45 minute tube ride from work

It’s more than I now pay for a three room apartment a ten minute metro ride from central Stockholm 🤯
January 25, 2026 at 10:40 AM
I just installed a new home printer and had it work first time.

(Yes I am aware that having printer and Goldeneye references expose me as a total GenX-er)
a man says i am invincible while standing in front of a computer
ALT: a man says i am invincible while standing in front of a computer
media.tenor.com
January 23, 2026 at 3:35 PM
Reposted by Daniel Firth
“We’ve invented a magic computer. It uses all of the earth’s resources, we’ve spent trillions on it and it’s the sole growth area of the US economy.”

“What does it do?”

“We were hoping you could tell us.”
Delicious to me
January 22, 2026 at 7:36 AM
Reposted by Daniel Firth
Rabbit, Sweden, 15th century
January 19, 2026 at 12:05 PM
Reposted by Daniel Firth
Jag har inte heller fått fredspriset så som min kompis sa på nyår:

Det här är året som jag börjar gaffla i kommentarsfält
January 19, 2026 at 7:51 AM
It’s been a grey miserable weekend in Stockholm, matching the dire situation in the world beyond.

But right now, the park outside my living room window is filled with young furries in colourful fur suits, and it is bringing me some unexpected joy and hope ❤️🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️
January 18, 2026 at 1:14 PM
Congratulations Salvador - not just one of the sixty C40 cities that have passed their peak emissions, but one of the eleven that have reduced their post-peak emissions by more than 30%
January 15, 2026 at 5:40 PM
🚨 Snow plow tram klaxon 🚨

In any sane world we would call this a Tramboni. (It's possible this joke only works in hockey-playing countries en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_res...)
January 14, 2026 at 8:07 AM
This may well come as a shock to many Stockholmers but the scale and coverage of our transit system compares well to some of the world’s most dense. It’s less of a surprise to those of us who have worked hard to make it happen!

(Could it be cheaper and more reliable? Absolutely!)
What urban areas in the world have the longest existing/under construction metro networks per capita?

In a quick analysis using Transit Explorer & EU GHS-UCDB 2024 data, the top urban areas are:
1—Chengdu
2—Hangzhou
3—Ningbo
4—Xuzhou
5—Stockholm
6—Zhengzhou
7—Singapore
8—Xi'an
9—Hamburg
10—Changsha
January 13, 2026 at 4:30 PM
Reposted by Daniel Firth
What urban areas in the world have the longest existing/under construction metro networks per capita?

In a quick analysis using Transit Explorer & EU GHS-UCDB 2024 data, the top urban areas are:
1—Chengdu
2—Hangzhou
3—Ningbo
4—Xuzhou
5—Stockholm
6—Zhengzhou
7—Singapore
8—Xi'an
9—Hamburg
10—Changsha
January 12, 2026 at 10:04 PM
I am also reminded by these graphs that the Norwegian word for a non-electric car is "fossil car". Perhaps we should all adopt that term, now that the short form acronym for Internal Combustion Engine is so strongly associated with something far more sinister.
As a Stockholmer this is not easy to admit but visiting Oslo feels - at least from a transport perspective - a bit like visiting the future:
- car traffic is barely increasing despite population growth
- transit, walking & cycling is handling all of the growth
- 95% of new cars are electric
January 13, 2026 at 2:55 PM
As a Stockholmer this is not easy to admit but visiting Oslo feels - at least from a transport perspective - a bit like visiting the future:
- car traffic is barely increasing despite population growth
- transit, walking & cycling is handling all of the growth
- 95% of new cars are electric
January 13, 2026 at 2:43 PM
Reposted by Daniel Firth
Great graphic from the folks at @cleanenergycanada.org that shows Canada falling dangerously behind in the global race on EVs.

Just saying: 2026 would be a great year for the feds to get serious about climate change again.

@cape-acme.bsky.social
January 12, 2026 at 3:47 PM
Reposted by Daniel Firth
When a cycling city has a walkability problem, there’s probably too much curb parking for cars.
January 10, 2026 at 1:25 PM
Reposted by Daniel Firth
Probably one of the best road safety adverts from TfL.

If you've never seen it before - I can guarantee you will watch it twice.
January 8, 2026 at 11:58 AM
EV sales in Sweden were tracking those in Denmark and Norway - until the government weakened purchase subsidies and reduced the cost of ICE fuels. Policy makes a difference.
Andelen elbilar av nybilsförsäljningen rusar i både 🇳🇴 och 🇩🇰. 96% i 🇳🇴 och 69% 🇩🇰. Även 🇸🇪 gick samma väg fram till 2023 då ökningen avstannade tvärt runt 35%. Politik spelar roll
January 7, 2026 at 6:30 PM
Reposted by Daniel Firth
Andelen elbilar av nybilsförsäljningen rusar i både 🇳🇴 och 🇩🇰. 96% i 🇳🇴 och 69% 🇩🇰. Även 🇸🇪 gick samma väg fram till 2023 då ökningen avstannade tvärt runt 35%. Politik spelar roll
January 7, 2026 at 8:04 AM
…and a happy 20th birthday to congestion pricing in Stockholm. We can assure our younger sibling that the benefits will keep piling up and that people will quickly wonder why we ever thought it was fair to being your car into the congested downtown for free
January 5, 2026 at 6:51 PM
Reposted by Daniel Firth
Congestion pricing is working. The cameras are staying on.
January 5, 2026 at 3:28 PM
Reposted by Daniel Firth
Want to make a positive difference in the world right now? Join city government. Run for office. Join the staff. Cities are eager for change and can best lead on climate, equity, safety and prosperity work. Mamdani inauguration speech for inspiration:
www.youtube.com/live/iazY_UD...
2026 New York City Inauguration Ceremony
YouTube video by NYC Mayor's Office
www.youtube.com
January 2, 2026 at 12:20 AM
The snowstorm came in fast on northern Öland ⛄️
December 31, 2025 at 11:38 AM
Reposted by Daniel Firth
"City doing one more study - hopeful this one will conclude that doing nothing about the car-centric status quo is the best way forward."

@tomflood.bsky.social nails it again.
December 29, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Reposted by Daniel Firth
Just watched the new Knives Out and I think it's really important you know that the scene in the Seminary's Gym is filmed in the same place Rick Astley filmed the music video for Never Gonna Give You Up.

I saw the window tracery and immediately made my friends pause the film so I could tell them.
December 29, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Reposted by Daniel Firth
Excited for year two!

The Mamdani administration should study expanding the Congestion Relief Zone to bring these benefits to more areas of our city.
December 27, 2025 at 5:13 PM
It’s one of my favourite stories so I read, listen to, or watch a version A Christmas Carol every year

It’s not an original observation that there are more people than ever who needed a visit from some ghosts last night

I reflect on what my ghosts would show me - it’s never too late for salvation
December 25, 2025 at 9:56 AM