#Toronto also has a huge train station so people can commute from out of town without clogging the streets with traffic

[garset-grocery]

I don’t usually make vent posts like this but I need to scream into the void about this right now and my friends don’t want to hear it anymore.

Tomorrow I have a doctor’s appointment about an hour’s drive away. Unfortunately, I don’t have a car because I just paid for school and insurance would tear me apart.

Outside my building is a train track that goes right up to the edge of the property. It’s hidden by a fence, but every time a train goes past it’s like a continuous rolling clap of thunder that you feel in your inner ear. Naturally, one would assume that there would be a train station in town. One would be dead wrong. There isn’t a train station for miles in any direction, and the only way in and out of town is through the highway.

Looking up bus routes on google maps shows me several with the same rough timing: SEVEN HOURS. Somehow, taking the bus is more time than it would take to bike all the way there (six hours). Even with all the stops a bus makes, you would assume that once it got on the highway there wouldn’t be much of a difference. But if it takes me FOURTEEN HOURS to see the only doctor that does HRT nearby, then that’s simply not viable. I have free time, but not that much. Not that much.

Of course, I could take an Uber. At this point it seems like the best option. Pay hundreds of dollars for a drive that would normally cost <$100 for gas, while stranding a complete stranger in an entirely different town. An Uber driver once told me that if they drove out of a certain area, they would have to drive all the way back to it before they could pick up more riders, which wastes their time and their money. If I order an Uber, I’m asking two separate strangers to make a two hour round trip drive in which they’re only allowed one rider at a time. Just an absolute dogshit thing to do to another person.

I live in Ontario, which is supposed to be Canada’s number one industrial powerhouse. We have the highest population of any province in the country, mostly in one dense area along the US border. Every year the government spends millions of dollars to maintain the roads and highways connecting all these places. And not one, NOT ONE train station in my whole fucking town? You’re telling me there’s enough money for the roads and highways and all the streetlights and fuel for transport trucks and construction. But it’s just not in the budget to lay down some fucking tracks and make commuting without a car fast and affordable? Really?

I guess if everyone just buys a car then that’s good for oil companies and insurance companies and car companies and… you know, all the people that get rich off covering everything in pavement and waiting for people to die. But for people like me who don’t have a car and need to get somewhere an hour away? Well, I guess we can just go fuck ourselves. It’s our fault for not having enough money to buy our own personal 3000 pound death machine.

Look. I get it. People like driving their little metal boxes around. It’s fun. Whatever. But human beings have been laying railroads (not like that) for literally hundreds of years. The industry my country loves so much was built on railroads. We KNOW that trains work, we KNOW that they’re fast and easy and they get people places on time, and we KNOW that they can transport WAY more people than a highway while taking up way less space. SO WHY THE FUCK IS THERE NO TRAIN STATION IN MY TOWN. WHY IS THE ROAD THE ONLY OPTION. WHY AM I STUCK USING BUSES AND RIDESHARING AND SHITTY HALF-MEASURES TO GET AROUND THIS OBVIOUS GAPING HOLE IN OUR PROVINCE’S AWFUL INFRASTRUCTURE. STOP ADDING MORE LANES TO THE GOD DAMN HIGHWAYS AND GIVE US A WORKING TRANSIT SYSTEM. JESUS FUCKING CHRIST.

[thebestintoronto]

15 Things Nobody Tells You About Visiting Toronto

Visiting Toronto is an easy decision. Just book your flight, arrive in the city, and start exploring. You may read other articles and guidebooks on famous sites worth visiting and interesting activities, and you cannot be more excited about your trip. However, there are things that these travel guides may not tell you before you get here.

As someone who lived in Toronto for three years, I wish that these insider travel tips can help you avoid some of the mistakes and make the most out of your Toronto trip.

The popular attractions like the CN Tower, Aquarium, Zoos, Dundas Square, and St Lawrence Market are not the end of all

Most people come to Toronto only to visit these popular places, but Toronto has so much to offer, including ethnic neighborhoods, and other areas including North and East York, Annex, Scarborough, and Etobicoke.

I cannot count that how many times people have told me that they have been to Toronto and that they have hit the local spots and only been to places like St Lawrence, CN Tower, Kensington Market, and Casa Loma, but in reality, CN Tower is too expensive for locals to visit.

TTC in Toronto has extensive coverage but is not always efficient

TTC, also known as the Toronto Transit Commission, is an extensive public transit network taking you everywhere in Toronto, and the route is surprisingly easy to figure out. The subway runs daily from 6 am (except 8 am on Sundays) to midnight, as well as the bus, while the streetcar operates 24 hours daily.

If you decide to take the TTC for a few days, getting a Pesto Card is always worth it. You can use it for the Greater Toronto Area and keep it for the return trip as well.

However, the TTC, especially Line 1, is crowded during rush hours and the wait is long. Constructions and upgrades are a weekly occurrence. Once they take place, part of the subway stops running and you have to take the bus instead, which is a nightmare.

You cannot hail a taxi from the street

In some cities like New York, you can just flag down a taxi from the street. You get a taxi if you do it this way in Toronto.

Generally, you need to call a taxi company and ask them to dispatch you a cab. For this, you need to give them your address, your name, and the major intersection you are at. As cabs are expensive and the wait takes a while, it would be better to just take public transport or Uber.

Should you drive around Toronto? The answer is no.

Unless you do not mind the traffic and the expensive cost of parking, I do not recommend that you drive around Toronto and park in the city center.

If you plan to drive into Toronto, your best option is to find a parking lot near your hotel, the subway or the train station and take public transport from there. My friends in Toronto always do this. They live on the east end. They usually park their cars in Kennedy and Ellesmere station and take the subway to downtown.

Do not walk everywhere

I have seen lots of my travel friends do this, and I do not recommend it. Toronto is huge and it takes a while to get around, so I strongly suggest that you take advantage of the public transport.

Although you may think that walking can save you money and you can see lots of interesting neighborhoods, your feet will protest after your first day. In addition, we only have a short few months of acceptable weather, and you do not want to walk for hours under -20 degrees Celsius in the winter or 30 degrees in the summer.

You can plan out your travel by walking to nearby attractions and taking the TTC from there to the next point of interest. You can always get a transfer on the bus.  If you use a Pesto Card, you will not get charged extra within two hours of hopping on another public transit.

There is lots of delicious food and bars in Toronto, and you do not always have to go to chain restaurants and Kensington market for them

Toronto has lots of excellent eateries; the bars, cafes, and pubs are endless, and you can find them on every corner. If you want to eat ethnic food, there are several China towns, a Greek town, Japanese town, Korean towns, little India, little Italy, and Portuguese town. Local eateries usually feature typical Western food like pizza, meat dishes, seafood and sandwiches, burgers, and poutine. Vegan restaurants are also endless.

If you want to eat specific food, you can always find a restaurant that suits your appetite, so just take your time to research and ask around.

And Tim Hortons are not listed here because it is too popular and everyone visiting Canada should visit it at least once. Simply go to the counter and order a double-double coffee and tea, and try their Timbits.

Do not waste money on the CN Tower for a view

There are so many better places in Toronto offering panoramic views of the skyline and they are free, so do not feel the need to go all the way up to the CN Tower in order to complete your Toronto trip.

For views, I recommend Riverdale Park and Chester Hill Lookout. These two are lesser-known ones where you can go for free and stay there as long as you want. Planet Traveler Hostel also has a patio offering the gorgeous view of Toronto city center.

Be sure to know the difference between Toronto and the GTA (Greater Toronto Area)

Planning a visit Toronto and ending up flying into Hamilton Airport is something I have seen happen. Toronto can be defined in two terms; the city of Toronto and the GTA. The latter consists of the city of Toronto and its 25 surrounding municipalities.

If you plan to stay in the city of Toronto, meet your friends or visit a specific place, make sure that the hotel address and the meeting point is in the city of Toronto, not just the GTA. Otherwise, you may spend hours on commuting, changing public transit, and wonder why it takes so long to get there.

Accommodations in Toronto is expensive but that does not mean you cannot travel on a budget

A trip to Toronto does not have to be expensive, but you need to research ahead and find budget-friendly places to stay, know which places you can visit for free, and learn to navigate public transit. Hostels are usually above $35 per night, and there are options of Airbnb. Couchsurfing can be a hit or miss; there are people have great experiences and others have negative reviews.

If you do not mind staying at hostels and sharing a room with others, you can stay at Planet Travelers Hostel for $47 per night, The hostel offers a central location and breakfast until 1 pm (yes you can have both breakfast and lunch there). You can also save lots of money visiting budget-friendly restaurants and purchasing at supermarkets and cooking your own meals.

The best part of Toronto is that there are always free activities you can join, like walking around High Park, free walking tours, taking a peek at graffiti alley, pillow fights, and visiting free museums.

Toronto is tough for expats and new immigrants

Toronto is not a heaven for expats and immigrants. I love Toronto, but I have also experienced struggles in the job market and turbulence in settling down during my first few years here.

Even after living in the USA for four years and having a Canadian university degree, I am still shocked at how tough it is and how long it takes to find a decent job. The most common advice you will hear is that to be able to survive on the job market, Canadian work experience is crucial, so employers will dismiss decades of your valuable overseas work experience and offer you shitty pay because you have not worked in Canada.

I am not alone here. Most of my friends are either freelancing, struggling to get a job, or changing jobs and moving places every two to three years. Living in the city is pretty rough because of high rent.

Canada is open to immigration and welcomes people from all nationalities, but it does not mean that you can just arrive in Toronto and have guaranteed financial stability.

Not all people in Toronto are rude

A lot of people I met in outer provinces told me that people in Toronto can be rude and cold, but like anywhere, you will meet nice people and some nasty ones.

After living in Toronto for a few years, I can say that people here will not go overboard to talk to strangers, but they will help you and talk to you about the city when they have a chance. If you are asking for directions, make sure to avoid people that look busy or on their phones. Ask someone working at a store, at the bus or subway station, and be gentle and you will find that they are always happy to help.

If you plan a short trip out of Toronto, Niagara Falls is not the only place to be

As heavily as Niagara Falls is marketed in the guidebooks, there are still lots of great places outside Toronto worth a day trip. If you are into natural landscapes, you can visit Algonquin National Park, the Blue Mountains, and Thousand Islands. If you are into culture and festivities, Kitchener and Stratford are good places to go for Oktoberfest, the Christmas celebration, and the Shakespeare festival.  There are wineries and lavender farms in Prince Edward County that await your visit also.

Give yourself enough time at Union Station

I think of Union Station as a labyrinth as it has countless platforms with Go Train, VIA Rail, buses, and subways that are all crowded into one place. If this is not a problem, then the station itself always being under construction will make first-timers confused as to where to go.

Getting lost at Union Station is not usual. Even if you live in Toronto and GTA, you will constantly find that navigating Union Station is tricky.

If you plan to take the train from Union Station, make sure to arrive there early to navigate the place. If you are not sure where your train platform is, follow the signs and ask around if you need assistance with directions.

You need to clear US immigration at the Toronto Pearson Airport

If you plan on flying onwards to the USA from Pearson Airport, be sure to arrive there early so you have ample time to pass through USA immigration.  When you arrive in the USA, it will be as if you just arrived from a domestic flight.

Alcohol sale is government regulated.

This rule does not only apply to Toronto but to all of Ontario. You can only purchase alcohol legally through government-licenced stores like LCBO, the Beer Store, and licensed grocery stores. If it is your first time in the city, take note of the hours of LCBO, which is 9 am to 11 pm from Monday to Saturday and 9 am to 6 pm on Sundays. Expect a line, as there are hardly other places where you can find liquor and wine.

The post “15 Things Nobody Tells You About Visiting Toronto” was seen first on Always On Thea Way

Toronto Naturopathic Doctor - Dr. Amauri Caversan

[kellyp72]

Eco-Friendly Cities of the Future

Guest Post by Powertools2U

Pneumatic waste systems, pollution sensors, robots, drones, and self-driving cars…it’s what we expect for the far future. But these features could be coming to a town near you. In 2050 the world population is estimated to be 9.7 billion; currently, it stands at 7.53 billion. To tackle this overpopulation crisis, new cities and towns are being built across the world. With cool tech and eco-friendliness high on the agenda, we look at these futuristic cities that are not far from the present:

1) New Clark City - Most Disaster Resilient City

Location: Capas, Tarlac, Philippines

Start Date: December 2016

Completion Date: December 2050

Developer: BCDA Group

Key Features: Disaster-Proof, Green-Friendly

Population: 1.12 Million Residents and 800 thousand workers

Area Total: 94.50 km2

Cost: $14 Billion

Minimum Elevation:184 feet Above Sea Level

Green Spaces: Two-Thirds of the City will be Green Areas, Farmlands, and Parks

Green Tech: Buildings will be equipped with technology that will reduce energy and water consumption

New Philippines City Could Save $101.09 Billion In Damages

We have to say, one of the coolest parts of this new city is its ability to overcome threats from Mother Nature. The Philippines is renowned for its earthquakes: this past year the country has experienced 157 of them (Data accurate as of 14th August 2018). What doesn’t help the country’s situation is the capital being on a major fault line. This makes Manila the world’s 4th most at risk of disasters. On the other hand, the location of New Clark City could be the country’s saving grace as it will not be near any fault lines, mountains will surround it, and it will be highly elevated, and thus protected from floods and typhoons. Because of this, the new city could save the Philippines $101.09 billion in damages.

Fighting Natural Disasters – Make Lava Not War  

The city plans to overcome natural disasters with a disaster-produced material – Lahar. This unique locally sourced material is a type of mudflow formed by volcanoes. Using Lahar and concrete makes even the creation of this new city eco-friendly. It lessens the need for concrete, which requires a lot of source materials for its production.

Manila: Third Worst Traffic in Southeast Asia

The capital of Philippines, Manila, is well known for its traffic jams; it’s one of the reasons why the city has an alarming air-pollution problem that affects 98% of the residents. To tackle this growing problem, the Philippines wants to build a city that doesn’t rely on cars. That’s where New Clark City comes in. This futuristic city will be largely pedestrianised with effective public transportation, cutting down the need for cars.

 2) Jing-Jin-Ji - Largest City of the Near Future

Location: China

Area Size: 200,000 km2

Population: Around 100 Million – larger than a third of the United States

Start Date: 2013

Completion Date: 2050

Key Features: Economic Powerhouse, Megacity

Cost: $36 Billion

New Transport Routes: By 2050, 24 intercity railways are planned for completion.

Beijing is well known as China’s capital. But what lies in Beijing’s shadows? Tianjin and Hebei surround the areas of Beijing, but not as much are known about these provinces. Soon, this is about to change: the provinces are about to become a bigger part of the capital’s future. A mega project, which started in 2013, aims to create an economic powerhouse by linking the three regions together. The government wishes to develop roads and railways to provide citizens with a one-hour commute circle around the entire area. This will allow for multiple cities to function as one, meaning better administration, development and economy.

One significant route that will be immensely cut down is Beijing to Tianjin’s Binhai New Area (105 miles). This new commute will link the capital of China to not only one of the busiest ports in the world, but also China’s most important economic development area. A similar route in the U.K – London to Felixstowe (92.6 miles) -- would take two and a half hours by train. One route in Jing Jin Ji (Beijing to Tianjin) will be cut down from three hours to just 37 minutes.

Size of 10 Wales

Creating a megacity the same size as Scotland and England stuck together will hopefully improve Beijing’s congestion by redistributing industries and talent. In doing so, Beijing intends to limit its population to 23 million by 2020.

 3) Quayside, Toronto - The Techiest City

Location: Sidewalk of Toronto

Start Date: TBA

Cost: $1.02 Billion

Area: 12 acres

Key Features: Weather Tech, Robots

Green Qualities: Half of the city’s roofs will be solar panels

10% Of Power Will be Quayside-Made

Google’s sister company, Sidewalk Labs, plans to transform Toronto’s Quayside into a futuristic mini city. Toronto’s lack of affordable housing, which is an ongoing problem for people in Toronto, should be conquered with this new vision. Sidewalk Labs intends to use new construction methods to create buildings that are quicker, more eco-friendly, and cheaper to build. The community also plans to be self-sufficient, generating 10% of its own power. Half of the roof space will be covered in solar panels, fuelling the technology and electric cars in the city.

Robots Controlling the Underground

One of the more unique and ambitious parts of this neighbourhood is the use of new technology. The city will employ weather tech to heat pathways for snow conditions as well as use retractable canopies for other climates. High tech won’t just stop at the surface; exciting mechanics will run underneath the town too. Robots will serve underground corridors, carrying utilities and waste.

The City That Watches While You Sleep

However, the smart city has amassed huge privacy concerns. With all the sensors and algorithms planned for the city, critics fear the mounting data that will be collected. Even if there are excellent privacy policies, these can always be changed - for better or worse.

 4) Sino-Singapore Tianjin - The Greenest City

Start Date: 28 September 2008

Completion Date: 2020

Area: 30 km2

Population: 350,000

Cost: $6.5 Billion

Jobs: At least 50% of the residents will have jobs within the city

Key Features: Green-Friendly, Green-Spaces, Pneumatic Waste Tunnels

 From Toxic Waste to Eco Creation

What was once a dumping ground for toxic waste is soon to become the world’s largest eco-city. Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-city, located in China, is purposely being built on wasteland according to the head of the city’s development and investment. Ho Tong Yen said, "In the past, so-called ecocities have been built in ecologically important areas or on useful arable land. We wanted to show that it's possible to clean up a polluted area and make it useful and liveable."

No More Bin Men

Renewable energy will account for at least 20 per cent of the energy used here, including solar, wind and geothermal energy – the latter of which is the use of the earth’s core temperature. There is a focus on eliminating the need for cars too, so nearly all of the traffic in the area will be public transport, with pathways making it easy to cycle or walk. There will also be pneumatic waste collection tunnels that will remove the need for rubbish trucks and the bin men.

One thing that makes this city different is its green spaces throughout the city and reed beds in lakes. Its main emphasis is on liveability for humans and animals - which Ho Tong Yen says has been ignored in the past.

 5) Pena Station Next - The City with The Smartest Roads

Location: Denver, Colorado

Area Size: 1.6 km2

Start Date: 2016

Completion Date: 2026

Cost: $500 million

Key Features: Health Tech, Smart Roads

After Panasonic’s success with their smart city project in Fujisawa, Japan, they’re now setting their sights on Colorado. However, according to the president of Panasonic Enterprise Solutions, Jim Doyle, they won’t be building a copycat town of Fujisawa. Panasonic is looking to create a town that is unique to Denver. The developers are aware there are massive cultural differences, and what works in Japan may not work in the U.S. One thing they will take from Fujisawa, though, is a wellness centre. These facilities will encourage inhabitants to live a healthier life. Panasonic wants to use smart scales and smart blood pressure monitors, so if you can’t make it to the doctor’s office they can remotely check on you.

 Will Road Accidents Be a Thing of the Past?

Another great use of technology in this futuristic city is their system, called Road X. This amazing tech will allow vehicles and the town’s roads to communicate, meaning fewer accidents and less traffic. The system can suggest to drivers the best route to take based on real-time traffic.

Self-Sufficient Buildings

Clean energy and sustainability are on the cards too. With Colorado’s sun working to its advantage, there will be an abundance of rooftop solar panels, as well as the city’s own microgrid, which will store excess solar energy for backup. Panasonic, which is looking to move its headquarters to the new town, plans on forming a 112,000-square-foot building. The headquarters will be decked out in solar panels – providing power for more than 300 employees. The building will be a four-minute walk from the train station, cutting down on the need for cars. This, Doyle says, is a key part of the whole town - “We really, really want this to be a true transit-oriented development. And if everyone is getting in a car and driving, that’s a huge failure.”

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