We are in Toronto for a brief visit, and it is hard not to compare it to Tel Aviv from time to time. It is a given that there is no shortage of differences between the two. It probably seems unlikely that I would be struck by similarities, but actually there are some.
Both cities are financial centres, both have abundant art and culture, and both have out of control housing markets; Tel Aviv arguably more so than Toronto when quality and price are weighed together. And I would also say that the expression, “it’s a nice place to visit but I wouldn’t want to live there”, does not apply to either city! If anything, it is nicer to live in Tel Aviv and Toronto (if you can afford it) than to to be a tourist there. It seems to me that it can take a bit of time to get to know and love both of these cities.
As a tourist destination in Canada, Toronto is usually eclipsed by Vancouver, Montreal, and all the “great outdoors” destinations. In Israel, Tel Aviv is often outdone by Jerusalem, and a host of other dramatic religious or historical sites. However when you live in either city, especially if you walk a lot, you come to know the many varied and interesting neighbourhoods, as well as the quality and pace of life, that a casual visitor cannot appreciate. When I first visited Tel Aviv, I did not think much of it. Now I love it. I often hear the same about Toronto.
Another random point in common…both cities have a major street named in honour of a King George: (George III for Toronto, and George V for Tel Aviv). In Toronto, it is not such a surprise that we would have a street named after a king, since the British ran the place for a long time. In fact, the city fathers wisely just called it King Street to cover off any future kings that might have different names. In Tel Aviv it is a bit less obvious. They have streets named after King David , King Saul, King Solomon…and King George? Well, originally it was called Carmel Street, but was re-named during the Mandate period, (the 30 years of British administration), in honour of George V’s jubilee year. After independence, there was talk of changing the name back to something more Jewish, but President Ben Zvi was adamant that it remain named King George Street, since George V was on the throne when the Balfour declaration was made.
And by coincidence, both Tel Aviv and Toronto limit (or eliminate) private cars on their respective King streets,( and on no others as far as I know), to allow for quicker transit. And how is that working…?
Although Tel Aviv’s King George street is the newer of the two, (built in the 1920s) it is narrower, with only two lanes. And while it is a vital artery connecting Rabin Square in the north, with Allenby and the Carmel market in the south, it is fairly short, only about 1.5 kilometres. It is packed with stores, restaurants, and people, and well over a dozen different (and busy) bus lines pass through it. Unlike the central stretch of Toronto’s King Street, cars are sometimes permitted, but even when they are not, buses, taxis and private mini-buses can easily fill the street. Since there are only two lanes to move all the traffic, limiting private cars makes quite a lot of sense, and indeed the buses move pretty well until they inevitably meet up with regular streets and encounter the usual traffic madness that characterizes the city.
So intent is the city on keeping the bus lanes clear, they tolerate parking of delivery vehicles (and even cars) on the sidewalk! And although you might think that limiting car traffic would encourage cyclists, scooter drivers etc. to use the road, you would be wrong…they also prefer the sidewalk! No one really wants to dodge Israeli bus drivers. The poor pedestrian has a lot of competition, and it can be quite unnerving to walk in Tel Aviv, as I can attest.
Toronto’s King Street is older, its first stretch built initially around 1797, and even then it was wide, two lanes each way, notwithstanding the fact that at the time, travel was by horse and buggy. It is a much longer road, 8 kilometres, and at both ends it meets up with Queen… (which I think is kind of charming). The “pilot” project, that now prohibits car through-traffic, covers a long stretch from Jarvis to Bathurst, applies to all hours, and includes taxis (!), except late at night.
One streetcar line runs the whole length of it, and there are one or two shorter offshoots that cover the central stretch. It is apparently the most heavily used streetcar route in the city, although I have to say as I walked the 3 kilometres from the easternmost end to Yonge, at rush hour, I found the street to be strangely empty. Without the usual car traffic, I expected to see more streetcars, possibly even some buses to take advantage of the newly liberated space, but that was not the case. I found out subsequently that the TTC did not add more streetcars to the line, since they don’t have any extras! (This does seem to defeat at least part of the purpose).
But as nature abhors a vacuum, there were a few skateboarders having a great time on the road…all that open space being an irresistible temptation! I imagine the average Tel Aviv resident would be astounded to see such a wide street so lightly used, and it does seem suboptimal, notwithstanding the laudable goal of moving streetcars faster. On the other hand, the city has raised over $500,000 in ticket revenues from drivers who accidentally (or otherwise) flout the new rules.
So while these two King streets share a name, a pedigree, and a similar approach to cars, I feel that Tel Aviv has the better rationale, and the better outcome, in terms of maximizing use of available road space. They simply have way more surface transit, using a much smaller space.
When it comes to the pedestrian experience however, Toronto rules…(so to speak). For the first time in four months, I have felt at ease walking. No bikes or skateboards, (well maybe a few), and definitely no motor-scooters, unicycles, segways, or other electrified contraptions swerving around me from behind or in front…as I walk… on the sidewalk. (Sorry Tel Aviv.) This is very calming. Really. And no cars or other vehicles parked on the sidewalk…in fact, not all that many people on the sidewalk either. Not to mention that Torontonians are also much better at picking up after their dogs. This is one spacious and orderly city. Even more so in the winter, (all eight months of it), when there is no construction.
But don’t get me started on the snowstorms in April.