On December 7, 1896, the Globe heralded “the dawn of the horseless era” in Toronto, following the test of a motor vehicle at Dixon’s Carriage Works at Bay and Temperance streets. Dixon’s had hitherto dealt exclusively in horse-drawn vehicles, and this “motor carriage” was the first of its kind in Toronto, the personal property of [...]

Photo by designwallah, from the Torontoist Flickr Pool. You may not have known that this snowy February day in Toronto is in fact a very special one: it’s Free Parking Day Eve, everybody! Yes: starting tomorrow at 7:00 a.m., a website that writes about cars is springing for your parking in “Green P” lots and [...]

Every Saturday at noon, Historicist looks back at the events, places, and characters—good and bad—that have shaped Toronto into the city we know today. The Queen Elizabeth Highway, looking west, ca. 1950. From the Archives of Ontario (RG 65-35-3 ,11764-X2149). Automobile ownership in Ontario exploded in the early decades of the twentieth century. From 4,320 [...]

The northern road blockade at this year’s instance of Car Free Day. Today was Toronto’s tenth annual iteration of World Car Free Day. This year, for the first time, the event was held in Queen’s Park North, where roads were blockaded to car traffic from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Few people turned out for [...]

Photo by Mr. Kevino from the Torontoist Flickr Pool. We all know that columns in the National Post will, by virtue of the publication they’re in, have a tendency to be contrary for the sake of contrariness. There’s nothing wrong with contrariness: playing devil’s advocate for an unpopular idea can stimulate public debate and give [...]

Image of pilot redevelopments in New York City courtesy of the New York City Department of Transportation and supplied by Gehl Architects. The next time somebody tells us that Toronto is in the midst of a war on cars we are going to buy them a plane ticket to Copenhagen. Or possibly Bogotá. New York [...]

Photo by Metrix X from the Torontoist Flickr Pool. City Council is wrapping up its monthly meeting (extended to a third day to accommodate a full agenda and some election-laced rhetoric), one which has been particularly action packed. In addition to banning new bars and restaurants on Ossington for a one year “cooling off” period, [...]

Every Saturday morning Historicist looks back at the events, places, and characters—good and bad—that have shaped Toronto into the city we know today. Noon Hour Traffic, Queen Street West Looking East From James Street, 1924. City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1244, Item 1115. Following her usual route home from work, Della Hazelton made her way [...]

Imagine what the Caddy would think of this month’s snowfall. The car wouldn’t bother waiting for a driver to take in the greyhounds before the next storm strikes. Cars were sold at the northwest corner of Bay and Grenville for over 80 years, starting in 1925 with a dealership owned by General Motors of Canada [...]

Every weekday morning, bright and early, we feature a photo (or two) from a photographer in the Torontoist Flickr Pool. It’s our way of giving the many excellent photographers in our pool the attention that they deserve. The Cars That Built Toronto & What Little Remains Is Of No Use BY SPOTMATICFANATIC

Sales of hybrid cars like the Prius are booming not only because drivers wish to spend less on gas and reduce their emissions, but because they want everyone to know they’re driving a hybrid. Today the Ontario government proposed a plan that might add an additional layer of smugness to your vehicle: a conspicuous green [...]

As 2006 ends and 2007 begins, the -ists look back not at the past week, but at the past year. So here it is, your Best of 2006 Spectacular. And from all of us at the -ists, happy New Year! Austinist was all about controversy as new construction to increase urban density ran rampant in [...]