What Makes a “Livable” City (And Why We Moved Back to One)
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- čas přidán 10. 09. 2024
- In this video we give some news about our channel and talk about what makes a "livable" city.
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“Urbanists spend a lot of time focusing on superstar cities…” love your response to this. Content that is relevant to a skeptical North American audience has to include nearby cities they enjoy and relate to- not just Tokyo, Copenhagen, and Amsterdam. Congrats on the move!
-Mike
I saw an argument once saying "BuT mOnTrEaL sPeAks FrEnCh!", then proceed to dismiss all the arguments based on language.
And not just expensive cities. There's a myth in North America that urbanism makes a city expensive but it's more like urbanism is the only way to make the city work for all the people who want to live there.
Oh wow, we had very similar comments. Interesting :)
@@Max_ZK I suppose what one could really mean is that Montreal/Quebec is more European than the rest of Canada/USA so it's still too different. Still hogwash though. Quebec is just as old as the rest of the country so the age argument gets thrown out the window. Culture wise? Quebec is still very much in NA, it's not like Quebec is just another European country lol
@@machtmann2881 We may have had a cutural difference in housing policy in the past, as well as having Old Québec being straight outta Europe, but we still wrecked our cities with urban freeways and suburban sprawl.
Look at the Henry IV and Félix-Leclerc highways in Québec City slicing up the city apart, Montreal's urban freeway network, or A-40 going up to downtown Trois-Rivières. Our highway building wasn't that much different from the rest of NA.
And as with shifting our thinking into 21st century and the controversial "3ème Lien" that aims to build an 8 km long tunnel under the St-Lawrence to link both downtown QC and Lévis being just another freewway link, suburban sprawl is heavily talked about.
I really like your point that the quality of urbanism in a city is irrelevant if that city’s rent is unlivable.
IMHO almost every CITY has an awesome urban area BUT often is FAR OUT OF REACH
This is a bad argument. We can't control prices without incurring some other externalities. Id love to live in Manhattan but I can't afford to. Its still the greatest city in America tho. The notion that we should be able to live anywhere we want is goofy.
@@thomasmcroy1756 Overall it's a good argument. Most cities in America are not building enough dense housing to keep up with the demand for people wanting to move in and for population growth. Cities like Boston, Brooklyn, Queens, Atlanta, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Austin, etc. Places like Manhattan are already pretty dense and have a really high demand for people to live there, so it's not the best example.
For even more extreme examples, look at what's happening in Toronto and Vancouver, where there has been a drastic shortage of dense housing for decades (due to restrictive zoning, which I'd argue is anti-free market and anti-capitalistic), and rents are incredibly out of control. Building more housing also puts less pressure are lower income people, as housing will become less of an expense.
@@marvellous9652 Agreed👍🏻
@@thomasmcroy1756 yes in this world we live in that isn't possible. Most people can't live in Monaco, Italy but ok, so what. Visit and go on to somewhere else that is similar and cheaper. And sometimes it is ok if folks have their own community, and above all of this as long as the world revolves around money they'll get their way
I really do love this channel. Urbanism without the cynicism. I really love how you guys talk about such complex issues within cities, without being too negative. In an age where cynicism & negativity gets more clicks, it's channels like yours that give people hope, and a passion for change. Thank you for this video :)
I think this is really important! Most people are not urbanists, and the majority of them never will be. Those people aren't idiots - they have their own reasons for objecting to common urbanist principles or feeling that they are incompatible with their own lifestyles. An urbanist vision which doesn't work for them isn't going to persuade them, so it's important to actually talk about the trade-offs honestly, and make it clear it's not some ideological crusade.
(Of course, there's also a lot of reflective/selfish attritudes against urbanism as well, but they were never going to be persuaded anyway.)
There’s a lot to be cynical about as urbanists in North America though.
Big Urbanism channels that are cynical and 100% off putting to the average person? No way! I can't think of anything like that!...
It also doesn’t help that Ottawa, at every opportunity, finds a way to double down on its mediocrity (e.g. voting to reopen Wellington instead of even trying something more pedestrian friendly because a few small businesses not even on that street complained). The urban core of the city has good bones but the suburban stranglehold really limits its potential.
Yup. Almost no leadership. I've lived in Ottawa for over 50 years and the local politicians as a whole tend to have no vision beyond decent services and low taxes. There have been a few small improvements here and there, bike lane projects, complete streets makeovers, an art budget included in the LRT project. But those are the exception, not the rule.
I admire the civic attitude in Montreal, where expectations are much higher for politicians to lead and improve things.
@@PeterDrake I'd question "decent services". Ottawa is killing itself through austerity to avoid raising taxes on suburban developments. The result is an LRT that will fail in all weather, multi-use paths that don't quite line up, and services cut to the marrow to appease suburban sprawl.
Yeah, I feel that, not just for Ottawa, as I don't live there, but have visited, but for most Canadian cities, including my own. The potential is there to build great smart, livable cities with walkable/bikable neighbourhoods and supporting infrastructure - but the city council along with big business interests tend to go in the disturbing car-dependent, spread out, suburban route!
At some point we got to get a People's Council together in our cities to push for and contribute to a better built community. (Like One Small Town idea from Michael Tellinger)
There are no small businesses on wellington street and the NCC already tried a pedestrian walkway 'filled with small businesses.' It's called Sparks Street and it failed horribly.
@@77Redwood Spark street is not the rule.... and Sparks has its own problems, not serving any local intrests, having no real access to to or from surrounding destinations, tourist or otherwise and not anything to see or do there in general doesnt help... that street is in line for a full redsesign as well which will help potentially, addisnd more green and visual intrest, but without routes of access for peopel on foot )Withouit crossing a busy wellington or elgin multi lane crossing) or points of intrest internally, it was doomed to fail from the start.
Glad you guys named Pittsburgh. I'm from there and probably won't ever leave for the reasons you all mentioned. There's little other options for historic, walkable/bikeable cities in the US that aren't exorbitantly expensive. Every time you guys do a video on Montreal I think, "That looks like a bigger, fancier Pittsburgh" haha
Recently went to Pittsburgh and you’re so right. I’m from Baltimore and we are very affordable and lots of walkability and urban charm! We have a bad rap due to crime and we do have issues but…really it is great here
@@peanutnozone love the row homes
Yeah, Pittsburgh is number one for best city in all of America. $600-$900 dollar apartments while working for New York city pay in Pittsburgh transit is just absolute cocaine territory. Meanwhile here in Rural Florida, I just kinda want to hang myself everyday.
As someone who lives in Pittsburgh, Montréal is the only other city in North America I want to live in. I absolutely love it there and visit often. I wouldn't necessarily say they're similar but they're both incredibly unique on a continent where so many of the cities seem the same. Love both of these cities very much.
The first time I visited Pittsburgh, I was totally blown away with how quickly I fell in love with it! The food, the people, the architecture…it’s such a hidden gem!
This really hits home- people who aren't urbanism fans mostly really don't care about Amsterdam or Tokyo. In my experience, they see it as elitist to bring up case studies from abroad. I think it's much more compelling to the average person to use examples of good urbanism that are closer to home.
Congrats on the move!
It's really hard when domestic case studies aren't allowed to be built though >.<
In my American education, I was always taught that America took the best ideas from the world in one place (lots of foreign nationals come to do research at our universities for example). But as I grew up, turns out that wasn't true. We make our own mistakes, they just cost more money hahaha.
That's the thing, it isn't just international cities that get dismissed. Here in the US, cities like New York and Philly get dismissed all the time by US citizens. It's as if people think that, because their neighborhood has been a certain way their entire life, it has to remain that way. Even when they do apply experiments from other areas, they do it in a different way or different order, and when it fails they blame the concept rather than the way they applied it.
@@karikling6751 This so much. This should be a top comment. Even when presented with North American examples of urbanism, the examples are brushed off as being too foreign for someone raised in car dependent suburbia 🤦
Perhaps it might be better to focus on smaller towns with good urbanism? Sure a lot of those examples would be from Europe, but then they could at least see that walkable spaces don't have to mean big cities like "New York" or "London". Of course I could see people using age as an excuse for any European examples...but there are at least some small towns in the US that haven't been (completely) bulldozed for the car.
I'm excited for the REM to become operational 🤗 It sucks living in the western part of Montreal and being relegated to using a car to get around. At least the REM will reduce the amount of driving I will need to do!
The western of Montréal is not even Montréal. It is the 'ghetto anglais ' where people refused and voted to be out of Montréal
I've lived in Montreal my whole life and in the Plateau for more than 8 years now. Still, just a few days ago I was walking back home after an afternoon of cross-country skiing on Mount-Royal and I saw some beautiful row of plex that I've never seen before. The fact I can still be in awe simply by walking on a random residential street just a few minutes from where I've been living for the last 8 years, is quite powerful and one of the many reasons why I love this place and can't see myself living anywhere else. Glad you're back!
You are right. My wife and I moved from an urban to a suburban neighborhood two years ago and while there is much more beauty here, I used to want to go for walks just to explore and see new and various streetscapes. I don't know how, but now since the sidewalk is divided from the homes by front lawns it feels very isolated and conspicuous to walk on the sidewalks. The truth is that I don't miss the graffiti and I don't miss the trash or the rare gunshot but I miss very much the ability to enjoy walking to go where I needed or wanted to go.
also I assume the suburban walk got you nowhere and just passed a lot of "dead" properties with "properly manicured" lawns and "abandoned" cars in driveways
My wife and I moved to Hamilton in 2016 after buying a house in a 1950s suburb. I couldn't stand the monotony, sameness and odd silence of the area. Everyone had the exact same routines every weekend, the same polite conversations, everything was just...blah. It was like being in Pleasantville before the color.
To make a long story short after five years of that nonsense we sold in the middle of the pandemic, took the profits and moved to a condo in downtown Hamilton in a walkable neighborhood with restaurants and coffee shops less then a 5min walk. We also put a down payment on a Toronto condo to move back into the city.
Never again will I live in the burbs.
"there is more beauty [in suburbia]"
"the truth is that I don't miss the graffiti"
this is the targeted fan-base of this channel? How disappointing
@@Boozer42069 Some folks just don't find beauty in the scribblings of bums and junkies. Weird.
@@jasonriddell You can also assume that he didn't get mugged or panhandled while he was out walking.
Congratulations on the move back to Montréal.
My family lived there for 2 years in the early 70s (I was 10 when we left). For the longest time I always wanted to move back. It never happened. Life’s journey just never led me there. But, the city does hold a special place in my heart, just like for the other folks you mentioned.
Très heureux de vous savoir de retour ici et de votre perspective unique en ce qu'elle montre Montréal comme l'exception du « missing middle» en typomorphologie d'urbanisme.
I've been weighting a move from Ottawa to either Toronto or Montreal, for the livability reasons outlined here. I also am francophone and so Montreal is becoming more and more the obvious choicer when you consider that it'd be closer to my family in Ottawa and the better affordability...
As a thought experiment, I've always wondered what it would be like if you went into a small city with perhaps a struggling but potentially nice main square or downtown area...one that might have vacant buildings and work from the ground up to make it a nice walkable livable city...sort of what they do on the HGTV show Home Town in Laurel MS...except I would try to make it something attractive to creative types and artists with very cheap rent and not as strict building codes (as long as the store fronts are preserved) to really increase occupancy. There are so many places like this within a 2 hour drive of Atlanta that you could really make into a destination. If I was insanely wealthy, I would try to do it.
@@colors6692maybe not necessarily?
@@colors6692 No it isn't. If no one is living there and buildings are abandoned, it's called saving a town...no wonder people struggle in small towns. I'm talking about places in the 3-5 thousand person range...and get over yourself...bro
@@colors6692 it’s not gentrification if it’s literally a half abandoned old town
I'm interested in this as well!!! Across Indiana there are so many small town in decline with awesome urban "bones". They sprung up along Indiana's extensive rail networks at the time, but have been slowly dieing without the rail networks. It really feels like it would be such an opportunity for one of these places to say "hey, let's try something different" and then really market their transformation to draw people in. It's not even a high risk opportunity... you'd be building in ways that have been proven successful over millennia!
I work remote so I have more mobility than usual; but I would move to a place in a heartbeat if they started to exclude cars and create rich pedestrian environments. But really do it... not this foolishness where cities create "bike and pedestrian plans" but then continue pretty much business as usual.
@@een_schildpad a ton of them in East Central Indiana. I’m from Muncie which is a good choice but places like Marion, Anderson, and Richmond would be great as well.
Rebienvenue chez nous!
I had a lot of fun chatting with y'all at your event with Paige and Uytae, hopefully your being here will make things like that more frequent!
I'm glad you're back, your positive tone and data driven approach make you probably my favorite urbanist CZcams channel.
I am SOOOO happy you moved back !! I was sad when I saw your video when you went in Ottawa.
Montréal est définitivement chanceuse de vous avoir et j'ai bien hâte de voir vos prochaines vidéos ainsi que de voir vos explorations de l'ile et de la région (c'est vraiment cool que vous cherchez à explorer et aller plus loin, de ne pas seulement rester dans les endroits centraux de Montréal). Rebienvenue chez vous !!
Me too!
I was worried about them more than for my personal life:)
Did a road trip that centered on Quebec, Prince Edward Island, and Niagara Falls and only stopped in Montreal for a few hours but really enjoyed the little bit we saw. This channel has made me realize that I really need to go back.
Welcome back to Montreal! I'm glad that my city despite its many flaws, charmed you enough to come back! Please continue your videos on urbanism and livable cities.
I live next to the botanical garden. As someone from the regions north of Montreal, I feel really happy here. Cross country skiing in the Parc Maisonneuve, multiple big parc next to me and the botanical garden offer an escape in nature. Living here with the benefits of the city really opened my mind to why people live in cities.
That being said, the extreme presence of socio-economic struggles in our "quartier" and the landlord problem is growing in this city and its regions and it is drainning my energy and love for this place.
You two are quickly becoming my favorite urbanism channel due to the constructive commentary and optimistic outlook that you exhibit. Your content always makes my day better and Im happy youre back somewhere you love being. Keep being great!
Could you guys do a video on South American urbanism? I feel like each time a Latin American city is mentioned, poverty always dominates the discourse. I feel like many Chilean, Brazilian or Argentine cities are a lot more pleasant to live in than some North American ones, despite their social-economic issues. I say this as someone who's lived in both continents.
It's so great to hear about Montreal. Having grown up in Ottawa, the big city to me was Montreal, and loved just going for a day and coming back. Now, I live in Toronto, which is great, but lacks the 'plex' housing among other things you mentioned about MTL. It is definitely top of my list if I decide to move.
This video put a smile on my face. Welcome back guys!
Thank you!
when you were describing all the features of Montreal that drew you there, I kept thinking of my own beloved San Francisco ... and then you mentioned it!
I was lucky enough to move here in the '90s. First thing I did was join the Tenants Union, and still doing what I can to advocate for more _affordable_ housing.
I also moved to Ottawa for a job opportunity after finishing university and I've been fantasizing about leaving frequently. This city is clearly designed for cars and that is apparent to me every day as a pedestrian and cyclist.
I grew up in Vancouver with very functional public transit and good cycling/pedestrian infrastructure, so that's one option for us, but I will consider Montreal as well after this video!
there is a BIG "failure" with Vancouver and MOST North American cities and that is AFFORDABILITY the affordable areas DO NOT have the urban density OR the car-free transit levels and is VERY car centric in the outer ring towns LIKE SURREY and down town quickly becomes HOURS AWAY
@@jasonriddell💯
The number one things I love about Montreal: The metric system and 24h clock usage. LOL
The 2023 nationals for squash were held in Montreal in May. Since I am an avid squash player it was a great reason for my wife and I to visit Montreal. We stayed for two weeks and had a wonderful time. I especially enjoyed the Metro. We were staying near the Radisson station, which is about 12 km from the Atwater Club where I played my matches. It was an effortless 20 minute ride on the metro.
Congrats on your move back to Montreal. My wife and I just moved to Chicago and our reasons are very similar. I think most North Americans really don’t realize there are some cities here that have so much going for them. Are they perfect? No, but it’s a good start and they have so much potential.
I really appreciate the positive vibes from this channel - other channels that I won't name come across as very condescending, negative, and mean-spirited. Keep it up
100%
They are VERY nasty, rude, talking of their opinion as if it should be gold. Can't stand them. Hostile.
This channel is nice so far and I hope they stay this way.
This is exactly why my wife and I moved to Philadelphia from the Midwest! Great video.
In Vancouver, it's sadly rare to find people who have been to Montreal. It's far! But I certainly wish more people would
As an Ottawan this hurts but I understand.
Thanks! Some of the best, lived, sensible, love of life urbanism I've seen on CZcams.
Appreciated, thank you!
I highly recommend taking the Amtrak through to Brattleboro, VT, and/or the Portland - Boston line in New England. Lebanon, NH has a great town center along the way (right over the border from White River Junction, VT) and Brattleboro has a very similar mindset to Montreal (from what it sounds like to me).
Bienvenus à la maison!
I'm always amazed how people often forget Montreal as a good example of want can be done right in terms of urbanism in North America. Montreal is far from perfect, but have done many things right or at least on the good enough range.
As a former Montrealer, I have to agree. So happy for you moving back! Congratulations.
Welcome back! This is the only channel that ever showed people on the bike path near my house in Vaudreuil-Dorion. I'm looking forward to the REM even though it won't make it out this far, it will still help a lot.
If it's the one I'm thinking of (near Avenue Saint-Charles and Bourget), that was on our bike trip from Montreal to Ottawa around when we moved!
I've traveled to all the major cities in Canada and not one of them is better than Montreal. I'll be moving there in two years and can't wait!!
Rebienvenue à Montréal guys ! Glad you came back. I love watching your videos, they make me appreciate my hometown even more.
I love the way you guys narrate the videos without lame jokes and random distractions. It's informative, clear, and very interesting. Please don't change your style.
We definitely do lame jokes sometimes too
Love this channel and all your content!! Happy to hear you're both back in Montreal as it is an amazing city.
I live in it's biggest surburb (my whole life) and I have got to say that Montreal's advancements and shifts in urban planning, cycling, snow management and other things are resonating with surrounding cities. Changes for the better are popping up more and more, and I am noticing more ever since I follow your channel! It's cool to see the data and analysis on a larger scale from you guys and the actual changes being implemented in cities. Keep up the great work and rebienvenue à la belle province :)
It was nice having you based in my home town of Ottawa, but I sure am looking forward to more shots of Montreal streets! Love the videos!
That hug at 2:10 spoke volumes, and made my day. Thank you for what you do.
Visited Montreal recently for the first time in a few years. I was shocked by the availability of bike share stations, the frequency of the metro, and the cautious attitude of drivers. People were about everywhere in the rainy, cool spring weather. Neighborhoods and downtown alike teeming with energy, not just the Old Port. It was delightful.
I visit Montreal often. I live in Massachusetts and I love Boston, but I love Montreal the most. I immediately fell in love with Montreal the first time. I wish I could more easily immigrate to Montreal.
Just remember next time to wear your bruins jersey & bring an umbrella also.
I am so happy you have moved back. Since you left my son has started urbanist studies at McGill and I now have even more excuses to head back to my favourite urban space. I bought a folding bike and my next adventure is to attempt a ride to the nearest via station, about 40km away from my house north of Cobourg so I can do my visit all by bike. Would love to cross paths with you some time in MTL. Really happy for you.
Bienvenue à la maison!
I am Dutch and live in the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area. I think it's a good plan to show local initiatives from North America. I also follow John Zimmerman from Active Towns and he also brings a lot of news about good developments there. John regularly comes to Europe (including the Netherlands) and always finds inspiration there that he can use "at home". Fine anyway. But also show the developments there. Active Towns does that very well I think.
Moi, je peux voir Montréal de mon balcon! J'habite Saint-Lambert, sur la rive-sud! Merci pour la vidéo! Bonne continuation!
Welcome back to Montréal! We’re so happy to have you 😊
You hit the nail on the head I didn't care about urbanism until I visited Chicago and Philadelphia. cites that aren't 100% out of the possibility of me living in while doing a lot of the things the CZcams urban crowed preaches about so much. It just made these things feel more attainable knowing that the US has built cites like this and can make more cities like this.
Very happy to have you guys back fellow neighbours. I'm happy that you guys are rectifying the urban design trope that every city in north america has shit urban design *except montreal* and a few others. Amsterdam is nice and all but there's progress right here too
Great that you’re back and I’m glad your thumbnail shows why Montreal is so awesome: we have our own Stargate 😛
Yeah!! I hope Montreal will treat you right and that you’ll find plenty of opportunities here!
Really glad to see you guys moved back to Montréal. Your channel along with Paige's has scratched my Montréal itch, but I also look forward to seeing you visit other cities (I loved the SF video). Visit Chicago next!
Hope you guys succeed. Big thank you for your videos.
Ex-Montrealer here now in Toronto. I love watching your videos and seeing the nice changes in bike infrastructure. I don't miss the winters with too much city snow and sub zero temperatures Now able to bike the twelve months of the year on dry streets.
Montreal heartily welcomes you back!
welcome back to montreal!!!! I'm selfishly very excited to see more of your local content
That's great news! Congrats! Hope your channel will grow tremendously too!
Hey, I was born & raised in MTL and moved to Vancouver 27 years ago in '96. The city of Montreal has a vibe to itself and the people stand out as warmer in general.
thank you for the great videos. Welcome back!
Much appreciated, thank you!
This was a perfect video. I visited both Ottawa and Montreal numerous times. From a single point of view I would have chosen Ottawa to move to. However as a parent I would choose Montreal as well.
Montreal is awesome. Love your sing song tag team narrations - very unique!
My husband and I absolutely adore Montréal and would have moved there a while ago if not for his good work pension here in Halifax. We hope to retire there. We love Lasalle, Angrignon, and Verdun areas. My mother lived in Lachine for a few years in the late 60s/early 70s. She only moved back home to Cape Breton because it was the most practical thing to do at the time.
Thanks for calling out the mindset of some viewers who don't like comparisons to foreign cities. It really is important for Americans to understand what good urban planning can be from a CZcamsr on another continent.
Je pense je suis remercié dans le vidéo pour avoir aidé à porter une table à l'étage dans un blizzard?
Turtle power!
🐢
Congrats on the move! Hope you enjoy your new (old) town
Montreal FTW! I'm so happy for you that you guys could move back to such a great city :-)
Happy to hear you're back!
Hope to see you guys at the REM launch this Spring! ✌️
I lived in NDG got about 8 years, in the late 50’d and early 60’s. I have fond memories of my time there. My parents moved us to Fort William, now Thunder Bay, and the shock of the vast differences of the two cities caused us to think we’d died, and gone to hell.
Glad you moved back! And you're right, cities should be for everyone not just the rich or the old or the tech workers. Most importantly, cities should be for people who want to be there.
I love montreal so much! I just moved away with my wife because she has an amazing opportunity studying abroad but our true dream is to come back and have a family! seeing your videos really pulls at my heart strings can't wait for the day i come back.
Welcome back! :)
I’m from Montreal and I have now been living in Dublin, Ireland for the last 3 years and I miss MTL a loooot! Such a great city. Long winters though!
Heureux que vous soyez de retour.
Ewww, I'm so glad I caught this video early hopefully you will see my comment.
THANK YOU.
For years I felt like a freak, never comfortable with american car culture. Stroads (a word I didn't even know existed)and cars and giant suburban houses.
But now that I have come across your content (as well as others, City Beautiful, N.J.B. etc) I am so much more comfortable with my feelings.
I may never get the opportunity to buck the carmania trend, but just knowing that there are places like Montreal and people like you gives me comfort.
Thank you again and please keep up the good work.
I'm glad our videos have resonated with you! One of the nicest intangible parts about Montreal is that walking, cycling, and transit are such a part of the culture (particularly in central neighbourhoods) that you're not considered "weird" for not having a car. Ottawa has some pretty good urbanist features (like the great multi-use pathway system) but it feels like more of an uphill battle culturally.
Yes you are so correct. I lived in Pittsburgh and fell in love with urban hiking. Now I live in a small suburban town and try to do the same and I get so many dirty looks from the residents, like I'm casing the place. If you aren't behind a wheel there must be something wrong with you.
Glad to see you figured out your job situation! Welcome back.
This is why I specifically live in South Beach (Miami). There isn't anywhere else in Miami that gives me a balance.
Great news! Would love to see a future video/trip to Savannah and discussion around the city's existing urban form and efforts to maintain it!
Congrats on moving back to Montreal! I’d love to see you guys visit Victoria and do a dive into our corner of the country. I think you’d really love the bike culture here that’s constantly expanding. They’re also really doing a lot to bring medium density housing to the city, with the new council approving a new missing middle housing initiative for the entire city. Come check it out!
We wanted to get to Victoria on our trip to Vancouver last year but unfortunately couldn't make the timing work!
@@OhTheUrbanity hopefully you can make the timing work for a StL trip because I am so upset you forgot to put us on your list of good urbanist cities in this video. Please shout us out in one of your great videos soon so we stop getting overlooked :/
Yaaassss welcome back to MTL guys!
Hey! Welcome back to town! I just moved back in the fall in no small part because of your videos.
Hearing that our videos contributed to people deciding to visit or move to Montreal is one of the best parts of running this channel!
Sad to see you go! I wish Ottawa could be more urbanist friendly, but it's hard when they are all moving to Montreal ;-)
It's complicated! We actually think the urbanism of Ottawa is underrated in a lot of ways. The MUPs provide one of the best urban cycling experiences out there (for those whose trips are served by them), and Ottawa's transit ridership is surprisingly high compared to most other cities its size, especially in the U.S. But it feels like every urbanist improvement is up against a much bigger car-centric suburban status quo (in the basic design of the city and the mindset of the citizens/politicians). Maybe the abnormally large city borders contribute to this, but Montreal stands out for feeling like there's just a lot of urbanist momentum.
I am from Ottawa and moving to Montreal soon lol
You guys make the best videos. And I share your love for Montreal
Congrats!! I've loved Montreal ever since I was a kid. I fell in love with the city when I first visited as a high schooler. I came close to choosing McGill for college though I ended up going to school in the states. In recent years I've been thinking of getting a small apartment up there but it seems Canada has put a moratorium on foreign buyers. Montreal has a wonderful urban fabric and amazing people. In terms of cycling infrastructure, it passes the mom and grandma test - I see young moms with kids and elderly folks cycling in and around the city, which is a great sign that cycling feels safe.
Welcome back to my home base of Montreal! Enjoy your stay (again).
Thank you for mentioning Minneapolis. The city is often dismissed by the majority of people who don't live in the Upper Midwest.
Awesome Montreal video; look forward to more Montreal videos!! Keep up the great work 👍🙏
Thanks for all the Philly love on this video too! I’m originally from Philly (in Seattle now) and you’re so right that it’s a great US example of human scale urbanism. I’ve also visited Montreal before and I love it! I would love to visit again or even live there someday, who knows! If I go again I want to try biking, I walked everywhere on my last trip
Just curious to hear your take - How do Seattle and Philly compare? which of the two is more vibrant lively and pedestrian orianted? Thanks
Minneapolitan here, thanks for the shout out! Yes, Minneapolis also hits that sweet spot between a truly urban lifestyle and affordability that relatively few Americans are aware of. Your videos make me want to revisit Montréal! Think I'll plan a trip❤
So excited that you were able to move back to your happy place! Super excited to see the channel grow and you cover more and more cities! This was a really well though out and written episode
Hi from Auckland, NZ. Would love to see a video about Auckland or elsewhere in NZ to get your perspective. Thanks so much for your wonderful videos, I’ve really enjoyed them!
Yes, as an Aussie, this would be very helpful -- NZ seems to have bit the bullet before us
Although you’ll also look at other places, I’m excited to see more from your base in Montréal. It’s a place I’d really love to visit and explore!
You're in Calgary, right? We highly recommend a visit to Montreal!
@@OhTheUrbanity I am! A friend of mine just moved to Montreal! So it’ll definitely be sooner than later!
It’s quite interesting that the one city that is getting urbanism right in North America is the one city that also happens to speak French. Also, the other city in NA that is French (sort of) also has the one of the most walkable areas in its region (not counting Disney World because most Americans don’t consider Orlando the South).
I grew up in Montreal but moved to Ottawa 50 years ago. Montreal is an interesting city but I like Ottawa because it is close to nature, has great ski and bike trails. Ottawa is still however a young city without much historic culture and is still dominated by the suburban car culture. Give it another 100 years to grow up.
As a life time resident of Ottawa and frequent visitor to Montreal, you have summed everything up very accurately.
I moved to Tokyo from Toronto in 1988. The best decision I've ever made.
Welcome back!
Great job. Looking forward to checking out more of your videos! We loved living in Montreal (when I was at McGill). We now live in a city that offers areas of great walkability - Savannah, Georgia.