first step: eliminate streetcars
how did they invent a city where everything is minimum 45 minute drive from everything else
May 30, 2026 at 5:43 AM
first step: eliminate streetcars
January 15, 2026 at 1:37 PM
On top of that, the new, shiny buses often had A/C, and the streetcars only had fans.
The first air-conditioned bus was introduced in 1946. The first air-conditioned streetcars weren't introduced until 1976.
8/
The first air-conditioned bus was introduced in 1946. The first air-conditioned streetcars weren't introduced until 1976.
8/
August 3, 2026 at 5:40 AM
On top of that, the new, shiny buses often had A/C, and the streetcars only had fans.
The first air-conditioned bus was introduced in 1946. The first air-conditioned streetcars weren't introduced until 1976.
8/
The first air-conditioned bus was introduced in 1946. The first air-conditioned streetcars weren't introduced until 1976.
8/
January 29, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Missed tram.
Toronto, Nov 2025
Sometimes a lost transit connection in an opportunity for creativity.
#EastCoastKin #AlphabetChallenge #WeekAforAbstract #longexposure #TTC #streetcars #gunzel #lightpainting #vintagelenses
Toronto, Nov 2025
Sometimes a lost transit connection in an opportunity for creativity.
#EastCoastKin #AlphabetChallenge #WeekAforAbstract #longexposure #TTC #streetcars #gunzel #lightpainting #vintagelenses
December 29, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Missed tram.
Toronto, Nov 2025
Sometimes a lost transit connection in an opportunity for creativity.
#EastCoastKin #AlphabetChallenge #WeekAforAbstract #longexposure #TTC #streetcars #gunzel #lightpainting #vintagelenses
Toronto, Nov 2025
Sometimes a lost transit connection in an opportunity for creativity.
#EastCoastKin #AlphabetChallenge #WeekAforAbstract #longexposure #TTC #streetcars #gunzel #lightpainting #vintagelenses
The final closure of LA's streetcars was actually carried out by the predecessors of the LA Metro. /11
August 3, 2026 at 5:40 AM
The final closure of LA's streetcars was actually carried out by the predecessors of the LA Metro. /11
Toronto has hit a hard limit on how many cars we can funnel into downtown. The only way we can move more people around is by allocating more road space to transit.
Until then it's, streetcars stuck behind cars stuck behind streetcars stuck behind cars stuck behind streetcars stuck behind cars.
Until then it's, streetcars stuck behind cars stuck behind streetcars stuck behind cars stuck behind streetcars stuck behind cars.
April 27, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Toronto has hit a hard limit on how many cars we can funnel into downtown. The only way we can move more people around is by allocating more road space to transit.
Until then it's, streetcars stuck behind cars stuck behind streetcars stuck behind cars stuck behind streetcars stuck behind cars.
Until then it's, streetcars stuck behind cars stuck behind streetcars stuck behind cars stuck behind streetcars stuck behind cars.
Where the streetcars go to sleep, New Orleans
April 5, 2026 at 12:57 AM
Where the streetcars go to sleep, New Orleans
February 14, 2026 at 1:47 AM
July 15, 2024 at 10:05 PM
July 11, 2024 at 8:10 PM
I think one of the biggest mistakes urbanists in North America make is that they lament the loss of really bad streetcars and often praise the return of really bad streetcars.
The idea that the streetcars were killed by external forces is mostly dubious, they did most of the work themselves.
The idea that the streetcars were killed by external forces is mostly dubious, they did most of the work themselves.
May 28, 2025 at 4:57 PM
I think one of the biggest mistakes urbanists in North America make is that they lament the loss of really bad streetcars and often praise the return of really bad streetcars.
The idea that the streetcars were killed by external forces is mostly dubious, they did most of the work themselves.
The idea that the streetcars were killed by external forces is mostly dubious, they did most of the work themselves.
Red streetcars were never a mistake
April 15, 2026 at 2:52 PM
Red streetcars were never a mistake
Streetcars cost less than stroads.
November 13, 2024 at 3:57 PM
Streetcars cost less than stroads.
Every US city would be better off if we kept all the infrastructure for streetcars, buses, and trains.
All this traffic talk shows how poorly a lot of cities were designed.
August 31, 2026 at 7:31 PM
Every US city would be better off if we kept all the infrastructure for streetcars, buses, and trains.
February 25, 2024 at 4:37 PM
(Watched a doc about how we had ELECTRIC STREETCARS that WENT EVERYWHERE until Big Car bought them all and replaced them with gas-powered buses. Fully 88 percent of the public wanted to keep the streetcars, but Big Car was like no no trust us, it’ll be great. Was it great, WAS IT)
May 1, 2025 at 1:12 AM
(Watched a doc about how we had ELECTRIC STREETCARS that WENT EVERYWHERE until Big Car bought them all and replaced them with gas-powered buses. Fully 88 percent of the public wanted to keep the streetcars, but Big Car was like no no trust us, it’ll be great. Was it great, WAS IT)
August 26, 2025 at 2:00 PM
this is not true. there was no conspiracy. it didn't matter whether the streetcars were publicly owned (seattle, detroit) or private (los angeles, atlanta).
a thread (because i wrote a whole-ass book on this):
1/?
a thread (because i wrote a whole-ass book on this):
1/?
Is everyone aware of the General Motors streetcar conspiracy?
In the mid-20th century, auto and oil interests bought up electric streetcar systems across the US and systematically replaced them with bus routes and paved roads, funneling commuters toward private cars.
In the mid-20th century, auto and oil interests bought up electric streetcar systems across the US and systematically replaced them with bus routes and paved roads, funneling commuters toward private cars.
General Motors streetcar conspiracy - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
August 3, 2026 at 5:40 AM
this is not true. there was no conspiracy. it didn't matter whether the streetcars were publicly owned (seattle, detroit) or private (los angeles, atlanta).
a thread (because i wrote a whole-ass book on this):
1/?
a thread (because i wrote a whole-ass book on this):
1/?
San Francisco streetcars
December 10, 2025 at 2:29 PM
San Francisco streetcars
When will Toronto fix its streetcars?
Daily 503 bus appreciation post. Here is our bus whizzing past a 504 King streetcar that is crawling across the Queen Viaduct due to a slow zone only for streetcar. It will then have to stop and inspect the points at King before proceeding. Meanwhile the bus has long left the streetcar in the dust.
October 11, 2026 at 10:34 PM
When will Toronto fix its streetcars?
People don't understand this excellent point. Toronto kept it's streetcars because of it's cultural tendency to resist change. The hot progressive thing was to replace streetcars with buses, Toronto didn't do that. Now the hot progressive thing is to improve streetcars, Toronto also didn't do that.
To understand the streetcars in Toronto you must understand that they were kept for *conservative* (literally) reasons, and that the same attitude keeps the whole TTC operating like its 30 years in the past and absolutely unwilling to accept itnl. best practice in many areas.
December 26, 2024 at 1:43 AM
People don't understand this excellent point. Toronto kept it's streetcars because of it's cultural tendency to resist change. The hot progressive thing was to replace streetcars with buses, Toronto didn't do that. Now the hot progressive thing is to improve streetcars, Toronto also didn't do that.
Scrapped streetcars for Buses
In honor of spooky month, share a 4 word horror story that only someone in your profession would understand
I'll go first: Six page commercial lease.
I'll go first: Six page commercial lease.
October 12, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Scrapped streetcars for Buses
why does "we must go back" always mean racism and not streetcars
why does "we must go back" always mean racism and not teaching kids about art and music in schools
why does "we must go back" always mean racism and not pillows made of goose down and hand woven silks
July 17, 2025 at 12:55 PM
why does "we must go back" always mean racism and not streetcars
Streetcars need priority.
January 23, 2026 at 2:01 PM
Streetcars need priority.