Nothing says “low aspirations” more than this tiny, temporary pedestrian project.
Pedestrianized streets and public realm investments have become defining features elsewhere.
Rapidly over the past five years:
Paris has removed more than 70,000 on-street parking spaces and created lush pedestrian streets with community gardens, everywhere.
Barcelona is aggressively scaling its superblocks with pedestrian spaces and no-drive zones. Where cars once idled, children now play.
London has accelerated low-traffic neighbourhoods and is even pedestrianizing Oxford St.
Montreal is now defined by pedestrian streets, that have become a tourism magnet.
Every one of these cities has thrived as it has tamed cars and focused on a pedestrian realm for urban life.
Toronto remains provincial. We must do better.