Author | Lightnews

Torr Swanson

Torr Swanson

@torrinswanson.com

35 followers 7 following 1.4K posts

359.13ppm. #11. Building stories w/ 👉 collectivetech.ca @counterpointapp.bsky.social @winterbiketoworkday @plainbicycle

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Torr Swanson @torrinswanson.com · Jun 26

How are you going to ensure it's not ppl "wanting" to drive their motor vehicles into town?

It sounds like you're in favour of congestion pricing, & reducing ur personal vehicle lane kms in support of other modes.

It has to cost something.

@andyfillmorehfx.bsky.social

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Halifax mayor defends motion to temporarily pause new bike lane infrastructure | CBC News

Andy Fillmore said the move is in response to frustration among residents and business owners over 'worsening traffic congestion' and the escalating project costs associated with the bicycle network.

Torr Swanson @torrinswanson.com · Jun 16

Found the costs. In our Capital Projects Explorer Open Data portal.

390m of Dugald road maintenance in Winnipeg is ~$6,500,000 million dollars. #wild

Broadway ave renewal ~$16 million and we probably won't get bike lanes.

Jubilee - $13 million.

projectexplorer.winnipeg.ca/projects/180...

Capital Projects Explorer

projectexplorer.winnipeg.ca

Torr Swanson @torrinswanson.com · Jun 16

Like this nugget, but with historical figures for every road segment within the city. Right now, it's very hard to even find the cost of each current projects let alone past projects. It's detailed when you find it.

legacy.winnipeg.ca/publicworks/...

Road construction map - Public Works - City of WinnipegCapital Projects - Public Works - City of Winnipeg

City of Winnipeg Roadway Construction Map

legacy.winnipeg.ca

Torr Swanson @torrinswanson.com · Jun 16

I'd also like to click on any road segment and see what projects have happened, planned, construction disruption timing & costs + maintenance.

I've asked @cityofwinnipeg.bsky.social multiple times, but someone higher up seems to not approve this request. I know we have the data.

Does your city?

Torr Swanson @torrinswanson.com · Jun 16

This reminds me. I have always wanted to see a simple GIS map of road building and maintenance costs. Sort of like these examples. If possible, it would be great to have it categorized by mode.

Torr Swanson @torrinswanson.com · Jun 1

In Canada this week? Sign up and do count! Share your count instantly from your fingertips.

If not, find a local spot, do a detailed/condensed count, and compare & contrast your city with a significant amount of Canada's cities.

Madeleine Bonsma-Fisher, PhD @mbonsma.bsky.social · May 2

Pedal Poll / Sondo Vélo 2025 sign-up is live!! Count slots are available across Canada the week of June 3-8. Get yours before they're gone and contribute to a huge citizen science cycling dataset! (Plus it's really fun to watch traffic!)

#PedalPoll #BikeTO #OttBike

signup.com/go/JagtTom

My lawn chair, cargo bike, and baby bucket seat on a small strip of grass set up for Pedal Poll 2024

A selfie of me with my baby sleeping in a wrap during my Pedal Poll shift in 2024

The Counterpoint app screen on my phone during my Pedal Poll count

Torr Swanson @torrinswanson.com · Mar 28

This was from 2017. I'm just importing my old tweets. On the post's detail page, there's a timestamp these were originally posted on twitter. This sliver still seems to exist with a "single file" sign in front. From afar, I thought it was the startings of a protected Dutch rotary. One day 🤞

Torr Swanson @torrinswanson.com · Mar 28

Does the same exist for Canada? I can't find design specs related to the safety of ppl outside of motor vehicles. Like, ppl w/ no protections. Let's actually have the "safest roads in the world". So let's reform. @OmarAlghabra @Transport_gc @LeahGazan https://t.co/OBP59hYrSe https://t.co/oQ0Fyth6ep

Torr Swanson @torrinswanson.com · Mar 28

and then 100ft down the path, it’s completely different and perfect. Why the consistency issues? @cityofwinnipeg

Torr Swanson @torrinswanson.com · Mar 28

People get paid to do this horrible job? @cityofwinnipeg

Torr Swanson @torrinswanson.com · Mar 28

Wow. @cityofwinnipeg you just purposefully left the sidewalk full of snow but cleared all of City Hall grounds and the roads. Thanks for being an amazing neighbour. This city needs to be forced to care or nothing will change from inside. Even right outside it’s front doors.

Torr Swanson @torrinswanson.com · Mar 28

A couple negatives. 1. The taxi area slip lane. Needs a bump before the crossing. Ppl need to be forced to pay attention. 2. The final approach. Narrow sidewalk w/ harsh square corners & no safe descent onto road. 3. Narrow crossings and snow mounds 4. Long-term bike parking

Torr Swanson @torrinswanson.com · Mar 28

Absolute pleasure this morning. A Proper path w/ proper maintenance. A+ @YWGairport
.
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Your move @cityofwinnipeg. A safe, intuitive, and maintained connection to downtown w/ wayfinding signs please. https://x.com/torrinswanson/status/1532790561454886912

Torr Swanson @torrinswanson.com · Mar 28

Par for the course is "the Dutch currently spends ~7 percent of its transport budget on cycling (~€30/capita/year)" "A smart city has nothing to do with artificial intelligence or sensors. A city is smart when children can walk & cycle freely & safely."
https://t.co/AFo4RE7S6L

Torr Swanson @torrinswanson.com · Mar 28

In Edmonton, that’s $42.5 per person per year. Right on par.

In Winnipeg we spend $2 per person per year. https://x.com/ctvedmonton/status/1574906516624351233

Torr Swanson @torrinswanson.com · Mar 28

#2 comes w/ dangerous human-made humanholes. Kids won’t ride on #2. Parents won’t let them be that close to careless motor couches. Who’s making these decisions? Someone is going to get hurt no matter how much paint or pylons you lay down. #1 is infrastructure for everyone.

Torr Swanson @torrinswanson.com · Mar 28

#1 or settle for #2?

Torr Swanson @torrinswanson.com · Mar 28

Great, now can we remove the rocks from under both sides of the bridge? You know, spend money to remove the things we purposefully spent money on to deter our houseless community. https://x.com/cityofwinnipeg/status/1553040878574309380

Torr Swanson @torrinswanson.com · Mar 28

Here’s 6 minutes south on the same street on the portion closed to pedestrians. ~230 peds and 38 personal vehicles. Fyi, The last count was ~657 peds and 0 personal vehicles.

Torr Swanson @torrinswanson.com · Mar 28

Here’s 6 minutes of counting on Duval St in @City_of_KeyWest, using @counterpointapp. Not shown here is the Regular count breakdown of bikes and the amount of kids walking on this open street. This is how streets should be. P.s App crashed but saved my progress on next app load

Torr Swanson @torrinswanson.com · Mar 28

Ahhh, a few blocks north they opened the road to people. Why not the whole downtown? Motor couches have no unrestricted place to roam in our cities amongst people.

Torr Swanson @torrinswanson.com · Mar 28

Why is this one (in the video) instant but not the one on Provencher above?
#ConsistencyMatters Cc:
@cityofwinnipeg @mathieuallard @Palmquist88

Torr Swanson @torrinswanson.com · Mar 28

still muddy? seriously when?

Torr Swanson @torrinswanson.com · Mar 28

For the record here’s my councillor actively saying the way to keep “squatters” from taking shelter in the elements is to use jagged rocks so it hurts to sleep or sit. A terrible way to think. And for the record the way to avoid “squatters” is to #HousePeopleNow. https://t.co/bwail6TT74

Torr Swanson @torrinswanson.com · Mar 28

Meanwhile in Vancouver they have basketball courts, table tennis, and birthday parties under their bridges. In Winnipeg, we have councillors actively keeping jagged rocks so no one can take shelter in the elements. @jbrowaty we can do much better.