Messy Urbanisms
@messyurbanisms.bsky.social
Images and articles relating to messy urbanism. Posts by @dylanreid
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"Messy Cities: Why We Can't Plan Everything" has been published by Coach House Books. Forty-three essays by a range of writers from around the world make the case that a degree of messiness is an essential element in all thriving cities. chbooks.com/Books/M/Mess...
“Urban Acupuncture” — How Pocket Forests Heal Our Cities with Adrian Wong of SUGi internetofnature.substack.com/p/s6e7-urban...
S6E7: “Urban Acupuncture” — How Pocket Forests Heal Our Cities with Adrian Wong of SUGi
Why dense, “untidy” forests grow fastest, why soil is the real engine, and how pocket forests rewild cities from the inside out — with Adrian Wong of SUGi.
internetofnature.substack.com
November 29, 2025 at 12:45 AM
“Urban Acupuncture” — How Pocket Forests Heal Our Cities with Adrian Wong of SUGi internetofnature.substack.com/p/s6e7-urban...
Reposted by Messy Urbanisms
It’s Black Creek
November 22, 2025 at 9:24 PM
It’s Black Creek
Reposted by Messy Urbanisms
The Premier is taking away speed cameras near schools.
In unrelated news, BRING BACK THIRD SPACES! Even if we have to reclaim them ourselves! ✊
#BikeTO #WalkTO #LoiterTO #VisionZero #TOpoli #ONpoli
In unrelated news, BRING BACK THIRD SPACES! Even if we have to reclaim them ourselves! ✊
#BikeTO #WalkTO #LoiterTO #VisionZero #TOpoli #ONpoli
when our kids were younger we used to block off the road for some space and now I see younger families doing the same and it's the best
November 28, 2025 at 1:09 AM
Reposted by Messy Urbanisms
October 27, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Reposted by Messy Urbanisms
Ask for more bikeshare glam shots and you shall receive
November 20, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Ask for more bikeshare glam shots and you shall receive
Children and snails wandering the world
Finding agency in digital and real worlds
open.substack.com/pub/colinell...
Finding agency in digital and real worlds
open.substack.com/pub/colinell...
Children and snails wandering the world
Finding agency in digital and real worlds
open.substack.com
November 20, 2025 at 10:34 PM
Children and snails wandering the world
Finding agency in digital and real worlds
open.substack.com/pub/colinell...
Finding agency in digital and real worlds
open.substack.com/pub/colinell...
He grew up in a time before Toronto banned neighbourhood stores. Here's what he says we're missing www.thestar.com/real-estate/... via @torontostar
He grew up in a time before Toronto banned neighbourhood stores. Here’s what he says we’re missing
Steve Polak took the Star on a stroll down his west Toronto street to show what the city has lost, and what it could gain.
www.thestar.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:54 PM
He grew up in a time before Toronto banned neighbourhood stores. Here's what he says we're missing www.thestar.com/real-estate/... via @torontostar
Great review of "Messy Cities" in the Literary Review of Canada, by @fabulavancouver.bsky.social . With shout-outs to @smkasman.bsky.social and @theurbangeog.bsky.social, among others . And in very distinguished company with Richard Harris's latest book. reviewcanada.ca/magazine/202...
Building Blocks | Literary Review of Canada
Frances Bula reviews “The Rise of the Neighbourhoodin Canada, 1880s–2020s” by Richard Harris and “Messy Cities,” edited by Dylan Reid, et al.
reviewcanada.ca
November 17, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Great review of "Messy Cities" in the Literary Review of Canada, by @fabulavancouver.bsky.social . With shout-outs to @smkasman.bsky.social and @theurbangeog.bsky.social, among others . And in very distinguished company with Richard Harris's latest book. reviewcanada.ca/magazine/202...
Reposted by Messy Urbanisms
As someone who has written a lot about crosswalks - I think these types of crossings are fine, and a USDOT that is dismantling funding programs for bike and pedestrian infrastructure is in no position to argue this is about safety:
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/17/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/17/u...
Lubbock Will Remove Buddy Holly-Themed Crosswalk After Federal Crackdown
www.nytimes.com
November 17, 2025 at 4:35 PM
As someone who has written a lot about crosswalks - I think these types of crossings are fine, and a USDOT that is dismantling funding programs for bike and pedestrian infrastructure is in no position to argue this is about safety:
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/17/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/17/u...
Reposted by Messy Urbanisms
Private rooms for your phone calls - from a more civilized age.
November 12, 2025 at 12:53 AM
Private rooms for your phone calls - from a more civilized age.
Reposted by Messy Urbanisms
Impressive use of pooch puns. And I’m glad I read this news or I may have called Toronto Animal Services. My fav park. It’s impressive, whimsical work by Claude Cormier.
November 12, 2025 at 12:11 AM
Impressive use of pooch puns. And I’m glad I read this news or I may have called Toronto Animal Services. My fav park. It’s impressive, whimsical work by Claude Cormier.
Reposted by Messy Urbanisms
Not an urbanist, a 10 year old.
November 6, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Not an urbanist, a 10 year old.
A little tree aspiring to add to the canopy along the Danforth
November 8, 2025 at 2:58 AM
A little tree aspiring to add to the canopy along the Danforth
A couple of the hidden art deco friezes in a basement off the Queen Street subway station
November 8, 2025 at 2:56 AM
A couple of the hidden art deco friezes in a basement off the Queen Street subway station
Reposted by Messy Urbanisms
This year, I had an essay published in this anthology. I'm biased but I love all the essays. The book was on the non-fiction bestseller list in recent months, so I suppose I'm technically a bestselling author?
cc @messyurbanisms.bsky.social
chbooks.com/Books/M/Mess...
cc @messyurbanisms.bsky.social
chbooks.com/Books/M/Mess...
Messy Cities
Can messiness make our cities more liveable, lively, and inclusive?Crowded streets, sidewalk vendors, jumbled architecture, constant clamour, graffitied walls, parks gone wild: are these signs of a po...
chbooks.com
November 6, 2025 at 6:36 PM
This year, I had an essay published in this anthology. I'm biased but I love all the essays. The book was on the non-fiction bestseller list in recent months, so I suppose I'm technically a bestselling author?
cc @messyurbanisms.bsky.social
chbooks.com/Books/M/Mess...
cc @messyurbanisms.bsky.social
chbooks.com/Books/M/Mess...
The Bain Co-op showing its pride on the sidewalk
October 31, 2025 at 10:36 PM
The Bain Co-op showing its pride on the sidewalk
The introduction to "Messy Cities" opens by describing a desire line - specifically, this one in Withrow Park!
October 24, 2025 at 2:58 PM
The introduction to "Messy Cities" opens by describing a desire line - specifically, this one in Withrow Park!
Columnist @graphicmatt.com on finding the balance between messy fun and messy disturbance. www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
Matt Elliott: Now, Toronto has noisy pickleball games in its crosshairs. Are we becoming the City That Fun Forgot?
Tending to the whims of grumblers might make for good politics in election season, but it often makes for lousy governance.
www.thestar.com
October 23, 2025 at 11:10 PM
Columnist @graphicmatt.com on finding the balance between messy fun and messy disturbance. www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
"Messy Cities" is featured on the @spacing.bsky.social podcast, as co-editors @shebuildscities.bsky.social , @zahraeb.bsky.social and @dylanreid.bsky.social discuss genesis of the book and the ideas behind it with host @glynbowerman.bsky.social spacing.ca/toronto/2025...
PODCAST: Spacing Radio 90, Bless this urban mess - Spacing Toronto
Change in cities is often slow, when using official channels. There is a desire to achieve the perfect plan, one that balances everyone’s needs an preferences. But sometimes you need to get down and d...
spacing.ca
October 17, 2025 at 6:07 PM
"Messy Cities" is featured on the @spacing.bsky.social podcast, as co-editors @shebuildscities.bsky.social , @zahraeb.bsky.social and @dylanreid.bsky.social discuss genesis of the book and the ideas behind it with host @glynbowerman.bsky.social spacing.ca/toronto/2025...
Reposted by Messy Urbanisms
The world’s longest rainbow path. The 600 metre “Long Walk to Equality” by artist Travis Myers at Hanlan’s Point on Toronto Island … the location of Canada’s first Pride in 1971.
October 10, 2025 at 10:44 AM
The world’s longest rainbow path. The 600 metre “Long Walk to Equality” by artist Travis Myers at Hanlan’s Point on Toronto Island … the location of Canada’s first Pride in 1971.
Reposted by Messy Urbanisms
My friend Geoff wouldn’t stop complaining about this abandoned motorcycle, so this morning I decided it should become a garden and this afternoon me and his girlfriend Eva created this Motorcycle Garden Pocket! Thanks to the bike’s neighbour for the broken bike basket—it made for a nice planter.
September 15, 2025 at 10:40 PM
My friend Geoff wouldn’t stop complaining about this abandoned motorcycle, so this morning I decided it should become a garden and this afternoon me and his girlfriend Eva created this Motorcycle Garden Pocket! Thanks to the bike’s neighbour for the broken bike basket—it made for a nice planter.
Reposted by Messy Urbanisms
Kloveniersburgwal, Amsterdam in 1980 and today. Canal side car parking replaced by canal side dining
October 7, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Kloveniersburgwal, Amsterdam in 1980 and today. Canal side car parking replaced by canal side dining