Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Robert Zaichkowski

@rzaichkowski.bsky.social

7K followers 4.6K following 2.3K posts

Accountant, Road Safety Advocate, Bike Blogger & Founder of the Toronto Open Streets Campaign. #BikeTO #BikeSky #TOpoli #VisionZero 🚲 Blog = www.twowheeledpolitics.ca Open Streets Petition = tinyurl.com/OpenStreetsPetitionTO

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Robert Zaichkowski @rzaichkowski.bsky.social · May 9

Happy Friday, Toronto! I just launched a petition calling on Mayor Olivia Chow & Toronto City Council to bring back open streets programs such as #ActiveTO and #OpenStreetsTO by 2026. You can read the call to action on my blog. #BikeTO #WalkTO #TOpoli www.twowheeledpolitics.ca/2025/05/acti... (1/3)

ACTION ALERT – Sign & Share Toronto’s Open Streets Petition!

A blog about cycling and political advocacy based in Toronto, Canada. (#BikeTO)

www.twowheeledpolitics.ca

3 23 45

Reposted by Robert Zaichkowski

Albert Koehl @albertkoehl.bsky.social · 2h

"Speed cameras are not about increasing government revenue, they’re about changing behaviour and saving lives." #onpoli

www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...

Speed cameras save lives. Do we really need more reason to keep them?

Speed cameras are not about increasing government revenue, they’re about changing behaviour and saving lives.

www.thestar.com

2 10 15

Robert Zaichkowski @rzaichkowski.bsky.social · 1h

Sadly, it does seem that way with the way he's been going. 😞

Robert Zaichkowski @rzaichkowski.bsky.social · 2h

What a loss for Toronto! After nine years, Barbara Gray will retire from her position as the City's Transportation Services general manager. Toronto must ensure Barbara's permanent successor prioritizes #BikeTO, #WalkTO & #TTC over driving. #TOpoli www.thestar.com/news/gta/its...

‘It’s been a good ride’: Toronto’s transportation manager to retire after nine years

Deputy City Manager Will Johnston announced Barbara Gray’s decision in a letter sent to council members and municipal staff on Friday

www.thestar.com

3 2 5

Robert Zaichkowski @rzaichkowski.bsky.social · 3h

ABC Toronto stands for the exact opposite of what everyday Torontonians stand for! They were basically formed in response to Progress Toronto's successful organizing over the past few years.

Robert Zaichkowski @rzaichkowski.bsky.social · 3h

That works too for cities outside of Ontario. 😉

Robert Zaichkowski @rzaichkowski.bsky.social · 11h

Doug Ford! 😉

2 20

Robert Zaichkowski @rzaichkowski.bsky.social · 12h

On my way home from the #BudgetTO town hall, I checked out the new Esplanade #BikeTO lanes from Market to Scott. While it's great people are using them already, the pavement quality is poor and there is a potential conflict area just east of Scott which needs some sorting out to do. #TOpoli

Robert Zaichkowski @rzaichkowski.bsky.social · 12h

Before the small table discussions, the #BudgetTO presentation showed what Toronto did since Chow took office, as well as dropped a Taylor Swift reference. While her six Eras Tour shows generated almost $300M, the City only got back about $300K of it! This is why Toronto needs revenue tools! #TOpoli

1 2

Robert Zaichkowski @rzaichkowski.bsky.social · 12h

At my small group table, a university student & his mom made some excellent points of city staff needing to go to where the people are such as universities and high schools to get youth involved, as well as parent teacher councils. While we're at it, why not also farmer's markets? #TOpoli #BudgerTO

Robert Zaichkowski @rzaichkowski.bsky.social · 12h

It was a full house at tonight's Toronto budget town hall at St Lawrence Market North Building! While affordable housing & transit were obviously among the top priorities, a couple of newer ones emerged including "doing unsexy work" of repairing buildings and climate action. #TOpoli #BudgetTO

1 1 6

Robert Zaichkowski @rzaichkowski.bsky.social · 23h

Per @graphicmatt.com's latest column, "While driving around Toronto is only going to get worse, that doesn’t mean getting around Toronto can’t get better. Walking can get better. Cycling can get better. Transit can certainly get better." #BikeTO #WalkTO #TTC #TOpoli www.thestar.com/opinion/star...

Matt Elliott: Without acknowledging hard truths, Toronto’s traffic czar isn’t likely to get very far

It’s probably good that this new position will come with a handsome salary because this traffic czar will be given an impossible task. There’s no solving Toronto traffic, writes Matt Elliott.

www.thestar.com

2 21

Robert Zaichkowski @rzaichkowski.bsky.social · 1d

Thanks for the heads up, Kanchan! 🫡

Robert Zaichkowski @rzaichkowski.bsky.social · 1d

West of Grace is still under construction from what I heard.

1 2

Robert Zaichkowski @rzaichkowski.bsky.social · 1d

Ouch! That was good! 😉

Reposted by Robert Zaichkowski

Jason Thorne @jasonthorne.bsky.social · 1d

Toronto’s Cycling and Pedestrian Projects Team continues to hit it out of the park. Out for a ride today and here’s just some of the new cycling facilities that I came across. New concrete planters and permanent curbs on Harbord Street. /1

10 37 320

Robert Zaichkowski @rzaichkowski.bsky.social · 1d

Don Valley North Trail? Are you sure you aren't referring to the East Don Trail? I know that one saw the temp bridge removed recently without completing the permanent one.

1 1

Robert Zaichkowski @rzaichkowski.bsky.social · 2d

One gem I found when reading @lisastokes.bsky.social blog this morning is how Eastman QC has a public e-bike charging station. Something which Toronto and the rest of Ontario need to get on board with ASAP! #BikeTO #BikeSky #ottbike #HamOnt #TOpoli #ONpoli

Lisa Stokes @lisastokes.bsky.social · 2d

A latte and breakfast burrito fueled our 66 km ride to Magog-the hilliest day yet with over 600m of climbing. We enjoyed Quebec’s stellar cycling infrastructure, autumn colours, & public art. A wrong turn added adventure, and we finished the day with friends on a patio

lisastokes.ca/2025/10/mont...

Montreal and Véloroute Gourmande – Day 5

A latte and breakfast burrito fueled our 66 km ride to Magog—the hilliest day yet with over 600 m of climbing. We enjoyed Quebec’s stellar cycling infrastructure, autumn colours, and plenty of publ…

lisastokes.ca

4 9

Robert Zaichkowski @rzaichkowski.bsky.social · 2d

One of the few things Toronto got right is Bike Share Toronto. It has grown from 80 stations in 2011 to almost 1000, while this July, August, and September each saw more than one million rides! Now if only infrastructure could keep up ... #BikeTO #TOpoli #VisionZero www.thestar.com/news/gta/how...

How Bike Share went from death’s door to one of Toronto’s fastest-growing ways to travel

How self-cleaning toilets, the pandemic and bike lanes made Toronto Bike Share a staple of the city, and how Doug Ford’s battle against bike lanes will shape its future.

www.thestar.com

1 20 66

Robert Zaichkowski @rzaichkowski.bsky.social · 2d

Hamilton still has an active bike share today, though I did remember it was at risk of shutting down not too long ago.

1 1

Reposted by Robert Zaichkowski

Brian F. Kelcey @stateofthecity.bsky.social · 2d

Praise for Montreal's bike-share system, from TIME. Worth a holiday thread on a couple of operational + political aspects of Bixi's history that are intriguingly left unsaid.

Cult MTL @cultmtl.com · 3d

“Montreal revolutionized the bicycle-sharing trend. The tech behind BIXI became the backbone for bike-sharing programs in London, New York, Chicago and dozens of other places, turning two wheels into a genuine option for navigating cities.”

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

2 28 50

Robert Zaichkowski @rzaichkowski.bsky.social · 2d

Happy Thanksgiving! Given several #BikeTO public consultations are happening for Kingston Road, Sloane Avenue & Keele Street - along with those for the 2026 budget - my latest blog post rounds them up for your viewing pleasure. #BudgetTO #TOpoli #VisionZero www.twowheeledpolitics.ca/2025/10/octo...

October 2025 Consultation Roundup

A blog about cycling and political advocacy based in Toronto, Canada. (#BikeTO)

www.twowheeledpolitics.ca

Reposted by Robert Zaichkowski

Community Bikeways - TCBC @bikewaysto.bsky.social · 3d

"the infrastructure that would work on Parkside Dr, that the city has been trying to build so as to end the alleged “cash grab” of speed cameras, has essentially been outlawed by Ford himself." - @thekeenanwire.bsky.social

www.thestar.com/opinion/star...

Edward Keenan: How do you solve Toronto’s speeding problem? By doing pretty much the complete opposite of what Doug Ford is doing

Separated bike lanes are key to making Parkside Drive safer. Too bad Ontario's premier is not a fan.

www.thestar.com

3 9 20

Robert Zaichkowski @rzaichkowski.bsky.social · 3d

Did a 20 km ride this afternoon to get some churros at Churros 92 near Eglinton and Dufferin. While the churros were hot, the repaved Eglinton without bike lanes was not. #BikeTO #TOpoli strava.app.link/nzPdHACkoXb

1 2 22

Robert Zaichkowski @rzaichkowski.bsky.social · 3d

Any of them expected to have counter displays like the one near High Park?

Robert Zaichkowski @rzaichkowski.bsky.social · 3d

CC @albertkoehl.bsky.social @bikewaysto.bsky.social @bilaalkhan.bsky.social @jsquaredink.bsky.social