How-Sen Chong
@how-sen.com
Toronto urban environmentalist. 20+ years in climate activism. From Etobicoke. ADHDer. Fancy degrees from McGill and Yale. Posts my own.
Energy and transit should be free. Cars should be an option, not a necessity.
https://how-sen.com/link
Energy and transit should be free. Cars should be an option, not a necessity.
https://how-sen.com/link
If you want to see the data for yourself, here’s a link. It will initially show you ten years of records: nearly 800,000 collisions in Toronto.
data.torontopolice.on.ca/datasets/bc4...
data.torontopolice.on.ca/datasets/bc4...
November 10, 2025 at 6:00 PM
If you want to see the data for yourself, here’s a link. It will initially show you ten years of records: nearly 800,000 collisions in Toronto.
data.torontopolice.on.ca/datasets/bc4...
data.torontopolice.on.ca/datasets/bc4...
Three hundred collisions across the GTA on a major snow day seems like a lot!
… Then why doesn’t the news report that statistically there are over 130 collisions EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR, just within the City of Toronto?
(Source: TPS Public Safety Data Portal)
… Then why doesn’t the news report that statistically there are over 130 collisions EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR, just within the City of Toronto?
(Source: TPS Public Safety Data Portal)
November 10, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Three hundred collisions across the GTA on a major snow day seems like a lot!
… Then why doesn’t the news report that statistically there are over 130 collisions EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR, just within the City of Toronto?
(Source: TPS Public Safety Data Portal)
… Then why doesn’t the news report that statistically there are over 130 collisions EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR, just within the City of Toronto?
(Source: TPS Public Safety Data Portal)
We get about as much sunshine as the most populated parts of China, and we get more than they do in Germany. And both those countries have way more solar than we do here in Southern Ontario.
November 7, 2025 at 11:15 AM
We get about as much sunshine as the most populated parts of China, and we get more than they do in Germany. And both those countries have way more solar than we do here in Southern Ontario.
Many Ontarians don't know that our electricity rates are very significantly subsidized to the tune of billions of dollars.
But instead of building our grid using renewables — the cheapest source of electricity known to humankind — Doug Ford is doubling down on nuclear — the most expensive.
But instead of building our grid using renewables — the cheapest source of electricity known to humankind — Doug Ford is doubling down on nuclear — the most expensive.
November 6, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Many Ontarians don't know that our electricity rates are very significantly subsidized to the tune of billions of dollars.
But instead of building our grid using renewables — the cheapest source of electricity known to humankind — Doug Ford is doubling down on nuclear — the most expensive.
But instead of building our grid using renewables — the cheapest source of electricity known to humankind — Doug Ford is doubling down on nuclear — the most expensive.
Streetcars are supposed to come every ten minutes or better. But arrival is highly erratic.
How do we change this? By getting private cars out of the way.
The average car has just one person in it. And is almost never full.
The average streetcar will hold over 100 people several times a day.
How do we change this? By getting private cars out of the way.
The average car has just one person in it. And is almost never full.
The average streetcar will hold over 100 people several times a day.
October 30, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Streetcars are supposed to come every ten minutes or better. But arrival is highly erratic.
How do we change this? By getting private cars out of the way.
The average car has just one person in it. And is almost never full.
The average streetcar will hold over 100 people several times a day.
How do we change this? By getting private cars out of the way.
The average car has just one person in it. And is almost never full.
The average streetcar will hold over 100 people several times a day.
Where you put the line break matters.
October 29, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Where you put the line break matters.
New polling by fielded by Abacus Data for @toenviro.bsky.social shows that Torontonians, including those in the suburbs, overwhelming support for green building requirements.
Actions to protect our climate are very popular. But there’s a very loud and angry minority saying the opposite.
Actions to protect our climate are very popular. But there’s a very loud and angry minority saying the opposite.
October 23, 2025 at 3:06 PM
New polling by fielded by Abacus Data for @toenviro.bsky.social shows that Torontonians, including those in the suburbs, overwhelming support for green building requirements.
Actions to protect our climate are very popular. But there’s a very loud and angry minority saying the opposite.
Actions to protect our climate are very popular. But there’s a very loud and angry minority saying the opposite.
A reminder that social media likes is not the same thing as the real world.
October 19, 2025 at 5:14 PM
A reminder that social media likes is not the same thing as the real world.
There are more people on bikes than there are people in cars in this photo.
We could move more people if we gave cyclists more space.
Most of the energy spent moving a bike is moving the weight of the rider.
Most of the energy expended by a car is moving the weight of the car.
We could move more people if we gave cyclists more space.
Most of the energy spent moving a bike is moving the weight of the rider.
Most of the energy expended by a car is moving the weight of the car.
October 17, 2025 at 12:28 PM
There are more people on bikes than there are people in cars in this photo.
We could move more people if we gave cyclists more space.
Most of the energy spent moving a bike is moving the weight of the rider.
Most of the energy expended by a car is moving the weight of the car.
We could move more people if we gave cyclists more space.
Most of the energy spent moving a bike is moving the weight of the rider.
Most of the energy expended by a car is moving the weight of the car.
Sometimes being an activist can feel defeating.
But then I remember that humpback whales were considered so endangered that an entire Star Trek movie was made about them in the 80s.
Now, because of the work of thousands, humpbacks are now a classified as a ‘species of least concern’.
But then I remember that humpback whales were considered so endangered that an entire Star Trek movie was made about them in the 80s.
Now, because of the work of thousands, humpbacks are now a classified as a ‘species of least concern’.
October 15, 2025 at 2:39 AM
Sometimes being an activist can feel defeating.
But then I remember that humpback whales were considered so endangered that an entire Star Trek movie was made about them in the 80s.
Now, because of the work of thousands, humpbacks are now a classified as a ‘species of least concern’.
But then I remember that humpback whales were considered so endangered that an entire Star Trek movie was made about them in the 80s.
Now, because of the work of thousands, humpbacks are now a classified as a ‘species of least concern’.
One of the most jaw dropping transformations for me, since I used to live in the area, has been Terrasses Roy, which used to be an underused space for cars and is now a oasis of green space and urban agriculture.
25% of Toronto’s land mass is roads but only 10% is park space.
25% of Toronto’s land mass is roads but only 10% is park space.
October 14, 2025 at 1:44 PM
One of the most jaw dropping transformations for me, since I used to live in the area, has been Terrasses Roy, which used to be an underused space for cars and is now a oasis of green space and urban agriculture.
25% of Toronto’s land mass is roads but only 10% is park space.
25% of Toronto’s land mass is roads but only 10% is park space.
At the north entrance of Parc Lafontaine which used to be dedicated to cars they’ve placed a bike share superstation, which includes an information booth where someone from Bixi *fixes bikes on site*.
The guy said Montreal has *four* of these in popular spots across the city.
The guy said Montreal has *four* of these in popular spots across the city.
October 14, 2025 at 1:27 PM
At the north entrance of Parc Lafontaine which used to be dedicated to cars they’ve placed a bike share superstation, which includes an information booth where someone from Bixi *fixes bikes on site*.
The guy said Montreal has *four* of these in popular spots across the city.
The guy said Montreal has *four* of these in popular spots across the city.
Montreal road signs don’t tell cars where they can’t turn. Instead, they tell cars where they are allowed to turn.
That means that, unlike Toronto, the *default assumption* in Montreal is that cars do *not*
have the right to do whatever they want at an intersection.
In Toronto, it’s the opposite.
That means that, unlike Toronto, the *default assumption* in Montreal is that cars do *not*
have the right to do whatever they want at an intersection.
In Toronto, it’s the opposite.
October 13, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Montreal road signs don’t tell cars where they can’t turn. Instead, they tell cars where they are allowed to turn.
That means that, unlike Toronto, the *default assumption* in Montreal is that cars do *not*
have the right to do whatever they want at an intersection.
In Toronto, it’s the opposite.
That means that, unlike Toronto, the *default assumption* in Montreal is that cars do *not*
have the right to do whatever they want at an intersection.
In Toronto, it’s the opposite.
This is a much better design for a left turn light signal and I do not understand why we don’t have these in Toronto.
October 13, 2025 at 9:35 PM
This is a much better design for a left turn light signal and I do not understand why we don’t have these in Toronto.
McTavish used to be a shortcut for drivers going from downtown heading northeast onto Dr. Penfield Avenue. Now it’s a pedestrian space.
October 13, 2025 at 9:33 PM
McTavish used to be a shortcut for drivers going from downtown heading northeast onto Dr. Penfield Avenue. Now it’s a pedestrian space.
St. Catherine street right downtown by the Montreal Eaton Centre has been narrowed from four lanes for cars to one lane for cars and two bike lanes.
This leaves far more space for pedestrians, which was the dominant form of transportation here even 20 years ago.
This leaves far more space for pedestrians, which was the dominant form of transportation here even 20 years ago.
October 13, 2025 at 9:22 PM
St. Catherine street right downtown by the Montreal Eaton Centre has been narrowed from four lanes for cars to one lane for cars and two bike lanes.
This leaves far more space for pedestrians, which was the dominant form of transportation here even 20 years ago.
This leaves far more space for pedestrians, which was the dominant form of transportation here even 20 years ago.
Prince Arthur east of St. Laurent was already a pedestrian street when I was a student here.
What’s changed is the city has put a lot more green space and street furniture. Full trees have been planted that now provide shade, help cool the city during hot summer days, and reduces floodwater.
What’s changed is the city has put a lot more green space and street furniture. Full trees have been planted that now provide shade, help cool the city during hot summer days, and reduces floodwater.
October 13, 2025 at 9:13 PM
Prince Arthur east of St. Laurent was already a pedestrian street when I was a student here.
What’s changed is the city has put a lot more green space and street furniture. Full trees have been planted that now provide shade, help cool the city during hot summer days, and reduces floodwater.
What’s changed is the city has put a lot more green space and street furniture. Full trees have been planted that now provide shade, help cool the city during hot summer days, and reduces floodwater.
Unlike Toronto, which just puts up ‘Road Closed’ signs originally created for road construction projects, Montreal has pedestrian-specific road signs that still does the job without assuming every road user is in a car (which in a city center, most are not)
October 13, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Unlike Toronto, which just puts up ‘Road Closed’ signs originally created for road construction projects, Montreal has pedestrian-specific road signs that still does the job without assuming every road user is in a car (which in a city center, most are not)
Montreal is shockingly efficient to drive through because much of the city is a series of one-way streets, including major commercial streets like av. St. Laurent.
In Toronto, it’s major one-way streets like Richmond and Adelaide that are always the most efficient to drive through.
In Toronto, it’s major one-way streets like Richmond and Adelaide that are always the most efficient to drive through.
October 13, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Montreal is shockingly efficient to drive through because much of the city is a series of one-way streets, including major commercial streets like av. St. Laurent.
In Toronto, it’s major one-way streets like Richmond and Adelaide that are always the most efficient to drive through.
In Toronto, it’s major one-way streets like Richmond and Adelaide that are always the most efficient to drive through.
This is the main campus at McGill.
When I did my undergraduate degree, all this road space was designed to prioritize cars, with vehicles parked on the side of the road. Now it’s a space primarily for pedestrians.
When I did my undergraduate degree, all this road space was designed to prioritize cars, with vehicles parked on the side of the road. Now it’s a space primarily for pedestrians.
October 13, 2025 at 6:50 PM
This is the main campus at McGill.
When I did my undergraduate degree, all this road space was designed to prioritize cars, with vehicles parked on the side of the road. Now it’s a space primarily for pedestrians.
When I did my undergraduate degree, all this road space was designed to prioritize cars, with vehicles parked on the side of the road. Now it’s a space primarily for pedestrians.
I’ve always loved Carré St. Louis but could never figure out why this beautiful little building was never used.
Now it’s a little café.
Now it’s a little café.
October 13, 2025 at 6:35 PM
I’ve always loved Carré St. Louis but could never figure out why this beautiful little building was never used.
Now it’s a little café.
Now it’s a little café.
The building on the left used to house a Second Cup where I wrote a lot of late night papers.
October 13, 2025 at 6:32 PM
The building on the left used to house a Second Cup where I wrote a lot of late night papers.
As a student, I often avoided Metro Champ-de-Mars because of all the traffic coming on and off the highway. Now it’s become a park and pedestrian area, while also routing car traffic flow more efficiently from the highway underneath.
October 13, 2025 at 6:24 PM
As a student, I often avoided Metro Champ-de-Mars because of all the traffic coming on and off the highway. Now it’s become a park and pedestrian area, while also routing car traffic flow more efficiently from the highway underneath.
Montreal Urbanism Superthread.
About 25 years ago, I lived in Montreal as a student. I’ve always found Montreal to be more walkable and bikeable than Toronto. But over the past 25 years, the city’s urbanism has only gotten better.
Here’s just a few places where I’ve noticed impressive changes. 🧵
About 25 years ago, I lived in Montreal as a student. I’ve always found Montreal to be more walkable and bikeable than Toronto. But over the past 25 years, the city’s urbanism has only gotten better.
Here’s just a few places where I’ve noticed impressive changes. 🧵
October 13, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Montreal Urbanism Superthread.
About 25 years ago, I lived in Montreal as a student. I’ve always found Montreal to be more walkable and bikeable than Toronto. But over the past 25 years, the city’s urbanism has only gotten better.
Here’s just a few places where I’ve noticed impressive changes. 🧵
About 25 years ago, I lived in Montreal as a student. I’ve always found Montreal to be more walkable and bikeable than Toronto. But over the past 25 years, the city’s urbanism has only gotten better.
Here’s just a few places where I’ve noticed impressive changes. 🧵
In New York City, ridership now reaches over 5 million rides during warm months. And *winter ridership* is higher than some of Toronto’s warmer months (though population and warmer ocean climate have a lot to do with that!). In 2024, there were over 40 million Citi Bike rides.
October 13, 2025 at 4:43 PM
In New York City, ridership now reaches over 5 million rides during warm months. And *winter ridership* is higher than some of Toronto’s warmer months (though population and warmer ocean climate have a lot to do with that!). In 2024, there were over 40 million Citi Bike rides.