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 [...]

Last week, the City hosted its second open house to discuss plans for the revitalization of John Street. The goal was to get resident feedback on four street design options that are being considered, before the project team settles on the final recommendations it will make to city council.

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 [...]

Score one for the cycling community. After an intense and late-breaking campaign, and with a crucial assist from Councillor Kyle Rae, bicycle advocates have successfully introduced bike lanes into a major redevelopment plan for Jarvis Street. Yesterday afternoon the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee (PWIC) voted to remove the centre, reversible-direction lane of traffic, and [...]

The Gooderham (aka Flatiron) Building, decoded. Photo by Hamutal Dotan/Torontoist. As we reported on Friday, this weekend was the annual extravaganza of pedestrian urban love known as Jane’s Walk. With dozens of walks exploring every corner of Toronto (and many more in cities across the continent), there was a glorious medley of tours to choose [...]

Photo from one of last year’s Jane’s Walks by parke 神降 from the Torontoist Flickr Pool. “Streets in cities serve many purposes besides carrying vehicles, and city sidewalks—the pedestrian parts of the streets—serve many purposes besides carrying pedestrians… Streets and their sidewalks, the main public places of a city, are its most vital organs. Think [...]

Photo by Metrix X from the Torontoist Flickr Pool. If you’re ever having one of those blah days, the kind where your life seems decidedly lacking in excitement and you find yourself in need of an emotional jolt, might we suggest that you attend a community meeting as an antidote? Perhaps one devoted to an [...]

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 [...]