It is so very nice to be in a city that values and invests in a high quality public realm, and one that encourages people to be out in the streets and parks. Sit, sleep, play; stay a while. Montreal’s commitment to excellence in public realm design is really quite incredible. Everywhere you look, a new street or sidewalk or leftover nook that has been reclaimed — often from spaces previously designed primarily for cars — and reinvigorated.

I came upon this scene yesterday, a tragically perfect illustration of why Vision Zero is failing in Toronto (and of the fact that unprotected bike lanes are horrible and dangerous). 1/x The person on the ground was thrown off his bike when a driver opened his door into him while he was cycling in the Harbord bike lane which, as far too many in Toronto are, is unprotected and in the “dooring zone.” He was conscious while awaiting an ambulance. 2/x