Gigi On Earth

This month, I went to my first-ever public consultation in Toronto. It was all about the proposed dedicated bus lanes on Dufferin Street in preparation for the upcoming FIFA games—and wow, what an eye-opener! I had no idea how much planning, knowledge, and coordination goes into these events. The folks running the consultation were incredibly helpful, patiently answering our questions and walking us through the proposal. Honestly, it was such a great experience.

As someone who takes the Dufferin bus regularly, I can tell you: dedicated bus lanes would be a game changer. Right now, buses have to share lanes with cars that are constantly turning left or right at almost every major intersection, slowing everything down. Plus, there’s on-street parking, which means buses are always weaving in and out of the lane—it’s far from efficient. And as a cyclist, I’ll add that Dufferin doesn’t feel particularly safe either. The proposed changes would address all of that by removing parking and turn lanes, placing the bus lane right up against the curb. Simple, clear, and so needed.

What I didn’t expect, though, was to experience firsthand just how amazing dedicated bus lanes can be—on a trip to New York City of all places!

We were staying near 1st Avenue, and while the subway was a 10–15 minute walk (totally reasonable), one day we opted to try the bus instead. Turns out it was a Select Bus, which only stops every 10 blocks or so—and I’m not exaggerating when I say it was the best bus ride I’ve ever had. After that one ride, we chose the bus over the subway every chance we got.

Here’s why I loved it:

First, riding above ground gave us a whole new view of the city. We could spot cafes to visit later, explore different neighbourhoods with our eyes, and really feel like we were moving through New York, not just trying to get from A to B.

Second, those dedicated bus lanes? Absolute magic. Even on a jam-packed Friday evening, when cars were at a complete standstill, our bus zipped right past them. No stress, no delay—just smooth sailing. From a marketing perspective, it was brilliant. Every car driver had to sit there watching bus after bus cruise by, which made me think: maybe this is how we convince more people to give transit a try.

Compare that to the ride back into Toronto on the UP Express. It’s a great train, but it’s hidden away. At one point, I caught a glimpse of the 401—completely clogged—but no one stuck in traffic could see us breezing by. It felt like a missed opportunity to show off a better alternative.

All this to say: I’m really excited about what dedicated bus lanes on Dufferin could mean for Toronto. A faster, more reliable ride could convince a lot of people to leave their cars at home. And that’s better for all of us—less traffic, better air, and a city that moves just a little more smoothly.