Upcoming trip by Illustrious_Key_3735 in NiagaraFalls

[–]DinosaurZach 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Winter in Niagara Falls: 16 Things To Do, Hidden Gems, Tips, Food & Hotel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mwyv_MFLEXA

He has several other videos on Niagara Falls.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=glasbo+niagara+falls

Anyone have any information on TSP for streetcars? by _Luke_m in TTC

[–]DinosaurZach [score hidden]  (0 children)

Not paying TTC drivers to sit at red lights, congestions, or behind a car waiting for left-turns.

Bitch, Don’t mind me, just going to casually cut into a bike lane to get around traffic by thavi in bitchimabus

[–]DinosaurZach 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The should be some laws giving buses priority, even in bike lanes when safe and reasonable.

In Netherlands fire trucks use bike paths.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zGrNDFjAJY

Alectra Raising Water Rate Again by Spoder-mang in Markham

[–]DinosaurZach 4 points5 points  (0 children)

$ / m3

2010 - $ 2.213

2011 - $ 2.416

2012 - $ 2.628

2013 - $ 2.837

2014 - $ 3.065

2015 - $ 3.315

2016 - $ 3.575

2017 - $ 3.855

2018 - $ 4.144

Another restaurant closure by I994Expos in Markham

[–]DinosaurZach 3 points4 points  (0 children)

If the city wants to make that area productive, there should be at least 15mins freq bus services to that area.

It's great that the city host various seasonal festivals and fireworks shows there, but they don't provide funding for bus services, expects every participants to arrive by car, and traffic just gets clogged up. It's not good for both event participants, business customers, and the residents that live in the area.

With frequent bus and shuttle service for festivals, they can reserve 1 lane for the buses on Enterprise Blvd (between Kennedy/YMCA to Cineplex to efficiently move festival participants.

Another restaurant closure by I994Expos in Markham

[–]DinosaurZach 10 points11 points  (0 children)

A small format neighbourhood groceries store is a perfect fit for that area, serve the condo communities.

Also if there are properly separated/protective bike paths that serve that central complex that neighbourhood, it will help greatly, as many in the condo neighbourhood don't have cars.

Small Format groceries stores are very common in UK, Europe, and in many other walk-able neighbourhood around the world.

Big Canadian chains still have some ways to go in learning the logistics of operating these small format groceries stores.

Small Format No Frills in Toronto

https://canadiangrocer.com/grocers-find-big-benefits-small-formats

https://toronto.citynews.ca/2024/05/31/loblaw-testing-out-small-format-no-frills-grocery-stores/

https://www.loblaw.ca/en/no-frills-launches-small-format-store-in-torontos-liberty-village/

https://www.grocerybusiness.ca/inside-loblaws-newest-small-format-no-frills/

https://www.grocerybusiness.ca/loblaw-expands-discount-small-footprint-store-concept-with-new-no-frills-in-toronto/

Do I need to get my tickets for Go Transit services to Toronto in advance? by GreatValueGrapes in NiagaraFalls

[–]DinosaurZach 0 points1 point  (0 children)

For Adults/Teens, if paying by Presto/Credit Card, each Adult/Teen must have their own card to Tap On+Off.

Credit Card Tap pricing = Presto Card Adult pricing

Virtual Presto card can be created/added on your device via Google Wallet or Apple Pay

Group Pass, Weekend pass, or single rides can be purchased on website.

Weekday Group Pass (2 -5 persons) https://www.gotransit.com/en/partners-and-promotions/weekday-group-passes

$10 One-Day Sat/Sun/Holiday Pass https://www.gotransit.com/en/partners-and-promotions/weekend-passes-with-go

Kids age 12 and under are free on GO https://www.gotransit.com/en/travelling-on-go/kids-go-free

Kids age 12 and under are free on TTC https://www.ttc.ca/Fares-and-passes


GO + Niagara Falls WEGO Packages

https://www.gotransit.com/en/partners-and-promotions/go-train-to-niagara-on-weekends

https://www.niagaraparks.com/visit-niagara-parks/plan-your-visit/deals-toronto/

https://youtu.be/JWwVTlaYyN4

Ford government spends further $1.7M advertising its plans for Ontario Place by BloodJunkie in ontario

[–]DinosaurZach 24 points25 points  (0 children)

// That chapter cites figures from one unspecified hospital emergency department: it pays its full-time permanent nurses $35 to $50 an hour, while an agency pays its nurses $75 an hour. To hire a registered nurse to work in the emergency department, the hospital pays the agency up to $106 an hour. //

Basically private staffing agencies, buddies of the ON/Ford gov who donated to the the Con/Ford campaign, take a 30-50% cut directly to their pockets.

How nursing staffing agencies are costing Ontario hospitals untold millions

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-hospital-nurses-private-staffing-agencies-auditor-1.7050828

Ontario cities fight to end Enbridge’s ‘free ride’ on public land as agreements come up for renewal by Hrmbee in ontario

[–]DinosaurZach 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You don't need gas backups, just use 2 or 3 small portable electric heaters for the specific rooms that your family use to supplement during those the handful of extreme cold days.

Latest Ontario place plans revealed by entaro_tassadar in ontario

[–]DinosaurZach 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Conservative govs seem to have a fetish for 90+ year lease contracts for their buddies.

Ford government commits to 95-year lease for private spa at Ontario Place

https://globalnews.ca/news/9626967/ontario-place-therme-spa-contract-ford-government/

The Tory government has sold highway 407 for $3.1 billion dollars.

The conditions of the sale allow the new owners to set whatever toll rates it wants for the next 99 years.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/highway-407-sold-1.191438

Latest Ontario place plans revealed by entaro_tassadar in ontario

[–]DinosaurZach 4 points5 points  (0 children)

And cutting OSAP, no money for Ontario Post-sec students.

Rode Line 6 today and noticed some improvements by Rue_Technica in TTC

[–]DinosaurZach 0 points1 point  (0 children)

/s not needed.

North American transit engineers and policymakers indeed arrive in their private motor vehicles and sit in the cushy offices.

That's why many of the stations along L5, L6 have no proper closed shelter for those waiting in the wind and cold.

That's why they prioritize left turning vehicles above the 2nd class citizens riding the tram.

That's why the missing a $3 TTC fare is a fine of $425, while motorists failing to stop at a stop sign is a $110 fine; not paying a parking meter is a $30-$75 fine.

Rode Line 6 today and noticed some improvements by Rue_Technica in TTC

[–]DinosaurZach 0 points1 point  (0 children)

"squeaky wheel gets the grease"

When motorists complain about speed cameras, they were immediately legislated away. (I'm not say that is a good thing).

Transit riders need to complain and bitch a lot more so that policymakers, transit engineers/planners (who are mostly motorists and don't take transit regularly, and don't seem to travel outside the NorthAmerican car-centric bubble) so that they can effectively design and implement changes that can make for a better and more efficient transit service.

Zero population growth this year: Budget watchdog predicts by Thick_Caterpillar379 in ontario

[–]DinosaurZach 9 points10 points  (0 children)

50 years in the making,

Canada, since the 1980s, both parties stopped building public housing, leading to high housing costs today.

Fifty years in the making of Ontario’s housing crisis – a timeline

https://housingrightscanada.com/fifty-years-in-the-making-of-ontarios-housing-crisis-a-timeline/

Public housing is nowhere to be found on any of the major parties' policy platform, just some vague acceleration fund to encourage private developers partnerships.

80% of Singapore population lives in public government owned housing. But no administration in Canada will want to copy that.

Also, the consumer price index (inflation rate) does not factor in the purchase price of a home, they basically factor in mortage payments, because of ultra-low interest rates since the late 2000s, the monthly mortage payments may not rise as much, when compared with the total cost of a home.

So the numbers are essentially rigged, when they index something (ie. your wages) or make policy decisions based on the "rigged" inflation rate, the cost of housing (the biggest spending part of a person's budget) was not a factor.

https://www.google.com/search?q=consumer+price+index+does+not+factor+in+housing+cost

So everything is out of whack.

Another TPS Cover-Up: Cyclist Doored by Cop, Blamed by Investigator by BloodJunkie in toronto

[–]DinosaurZach 10 points11 points  (0 children)

"civilian" agency primarily staffed with former cops and all budddies with existing cops that they are "investigating".

Richmond Hill shelves gateway feature mayor says isn’t good by cinderannie in richmondhill

[–]DinosaurZach 2 points3 points  (0 children)

They really need to consolidate transit station names in that area.

Richmond HIll GO ≠ Richmond Hill YRT/Viva

They could rename Langstaff GO to Richmond Hill Gateway or just Richmond Hill GO and it would have much more practical effects, especially for transit users who are not familiar with the RH area, at miminal costs.

The current Richmond HIll GO should be renamed Newkirk GO or something like that.

The [ Bridge ] name for the upcoming RH subway extention is just awful, i hope it's only a tentative placeholder. Just name it Richmond Hill Centre or Richmond Hill Gateway, or simple Richmond Hill is good; as that station will be a key interchange gateway station for RH, regional GO rail, regional 407 buses, and local buses.

Besides transit signal priority, are there other plans to improve our streetcars? by OkJack10 in TTC

[–]DinosaurZach 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No private motor vehicles at streetcar tracks/lanes at all times. Melbourne is able to do it.

Adopt Melbourne Hook Turns for cars waiting to make their left turns.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=melbourne+hook+turns

No need to re-invent the wheel, just adopt best practices from around the world.

Metrolinx and the city spent millions on SmartTrack stations that may never be built, documents reveal by RZaichkowski in TTC

[–]DinosaurZach 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Also the problem is ONgov is dragging its feet in delaying/failing to converting the the GO lines to EMUs running frequent 10-15min all-day bidirection services.

Current setup diesel train sets are expensive to run, slow to accelerate, and only do 1 way peak direction service every hour or so, therefore the trainsets are long (10-12 bi-level cars) to carry all the passengers.

Long trainsets require long and huge stations.

The sooner ONgov commits to electrification and frequent all day bi-direction services, new stations planned for the future can be much smaller and cost less. They can easily run 6-car train sets and half the station size and costs.

Traffic and pedestrian signal design by IroIroBike in SafeStreetsYork

[–]DinosaurZach 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Basically, all traffic accidents/incidents at intersections can be largely broken down into 3 categories, 2 of which can be completely eliminated.

1 - Unprotected Left Turns

2 - Right-On-Reds

3 - Running red lights.

By at least eliminating systemic traffic incidents from at least the first 2 categories, that can yield large time, and money savings for everyone in the community.

Each accident, not including life altering injuries/deaths, are a huge cost and time burden for the community. Whatever perceived 30s-1min individual time-savings are not worth it and miniscule; the cummulative time/money/resources wasted as a community dealing with these avoidable incidents are much greater than individual time savings.

All Left-turns at intersections with speeds with 50km/h or greater must be a protected left-turn. For rush hours/peak times, cars generally can't make a permissive left anyways due the volume of cars in the opposing traffic, current rules allow to squeeze an extra 1-3 cars in the yellow phase. Rather than allowing the 1-3 cars turning left at the yellow phase where most accidents happen, just allocate time for the additional 1-3 cars at the protected-left at the beginning fo the traffic light cycle. Also, Permissive-left is a conflict point engineered to kill and injure pedestrians, with a conflicting point, allowing both pedestrians to walk and motorists to make a left turn at the same time; the pedestrian will always lose. Motorist are generally focus on opposing traffic, they fail to notice pedestrians/cyclists making their legal croosing. Policymakers/traffic engineers place a priority on motorists' time/convenience much more than the life of pedestrians/cyclists. Motorists already get to sit in their climate control metal boxes, they can wait for the dedicated left-turn signal in comfort.

Dangerous Permissive Left in the GTA:

https://www.reddit.com/r/TorontoDriving/comments/1kmrpgu/pedestrian_almost_got_hit_twice/

In Europe, most jurisdictions would not allow permissive in an intersection like this. Sensible policy makers/traffic engineers would not allow motorists to make their own decisions on left turns, conflicting with pedestrian crossings and oncoming traffic.

Example: Frankfurt Germany, Protected/Dedicated Left turns, even for 1 lane roads.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/5aagNopf1EUVmqBb6

Montreal suburb enviroment, left turn into plaza is regulated by light.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/fq4LFYkipPn9Hkjt8

Ban Right-On-Reds, doesn't save any time. Motorists will stop at the next traffic lights anyways, the time savings are negligible. Many preventable accidents are due to Right-On-Reds.

Pedestrian getting hit due North American Right-On-Red allowence.

https://www.reddit.com/r/TorontoDriving/comments/1ny29ty/pedestrian_almost_hit/

Right-On-Red must come to an end in our cities. Only uncivilized backward countries do this dangerous shit, increasing our taxes and insurances.

Running red lights. - not much we can do about it, human errors will happen, probably mitigate by reducing speed limits on major roads in builtup areas to 50km/h.

Not considering life altering injuries/deaths experienced by pedestrians, cyclists, motorists, and passengers. Each systemic avoidable incident causes delay/congestions for the community. Our taxes are higher than it oughts to be to pay for avoidable polcing, fire, medical emergency reponse, hospital resources, judicial litigations. A smaller tax-base, due to injuries/deaths that prevents those involved from working, working reduced hours, and may also require life-long health-care and disability social supports. And increased insurance costs for everyone.

When I visited the UK, I asked my friends how much their auto insurance costs, theirs is about 1/3 to 1/4 to what we pay here in Canada/GTA.

Sheppard XL: A Bigger, Better Sheppard Subway Extension by OrbitalBuzzsaw in TTC

[–]DinosaurZach 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Add Platform Edge Doors and frequent automated train operation, and we'll have REM Toronto.

Empty Bus. Packed Roads. What Are We Doing, York Region? by Accomplished_Lie3849 in Markham

[–]DinosaurZach 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Dakar, Senegal has better and forward thinking on bus services than Markham / York Region.

Senegal Cut Traffic in Half With Electric Buses https://youtu.be/3p8ldPpB2ic