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It's so beautiful it doesn't even look like Toronto. Not that Toronto can't be beautiful, but there's a certain otherworldliness to these images. This is something we see in other cities, not here.
Presuming that the pedestrian priority crossing is made permanent and expanded to other intersections in a meaningful way, this is one of the most concrete examples of Toronto turning into something else. What that something else is isn't clear, but it's been lurking around the corner for several years, if not decades.
"I want to be part of chaos," said one person as he prepared to cross.
More photos after the jump.
All photos by Jonathan Goldsbie
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Scrambles are nice and everything, but they're still just intersections; I recommend a nice, tall glass of perspective.
Can I get an order of exuberance to go with my glass of perspective?
I wouldn't say it is just an intersection. By making that simplification, you ignore that there is a possible signal of change here as well. It is an intersection, but it is probably a lot more too. It could represent a move toward more pedestrian friendly street design on a wider scale, hopefully affecting the city as a whole.
I agree. Transportation downtown is way out of wack, it feels like each form is doing poorly and at the same time as struggling for control. I don't drive in the downtown core anymore, it's just too unnecessarily distressing dealing with all the agressive drivers, reckless cyclists and careless pedestrians.
sometimes there's order in disorder.
Wake me up when we get a car-free pedestrian street.
Indeed, "order in disorder" .... see the Fisher King dance scene by Terrie Gilliam with Robin Williams:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=cn9ifIhCIhg
The fact is, the human body is incredible. A pedestrian can stop in a nano-second, turn on a dime, reach out to help someone who has stumbled. Remember that we are all pedestrians most of the day, and for the youth, the elderly, the disabled, the working poor ... most of them are always pedestrians.
Let's hope this is a signal of a changing Toronto.