Everything I expected of a city I learned from Sesame Street

Sage and I both really love Toronto. I can’t speak for her, but I definitely feel more at home in this city than I have in any other place I’ve lived including the town in Vermont that I grew up in and spent over 15 years of my life in. I’ve often wondered why and usually dismissed my own questions with “Of course you love it, it’s a great place to live!” but really, I’ve met more than enough folks who can’t stand this city so I’m guessing there are a few things at play. The first, I know, is selective viewing. Partly because of where I live, how I travel, and where I travel in the city, I see a different city than any other person – we all do, really. Riding a bike or taking transit downtown gives one a *very* different view of a city than driving in from Scarborough (or trying to bike, say, on Ellesmere or Kennedy). And of course I tend to notice things that support my positive impressions and gloss over those things that don’t. But an even deeper reason may have come from the fact that as a kid I spent many hours of my life watching early 1970’s Sesame Street. I notice, for example that many of the things I love about Toronto are the same things portrayed positively in Sesame Street. A few examples:

Transit
Toronto loves its transit:

And of course Sesame Street did as well:

Diversity
Toronto’s one of the most diverse cities in the world. Sesame Street always promoted multiculturalism:

Cycling
Cycling is very popular in Toronto:

Sesame Street also promoted cycling:

Street Life
And finally, Sesame Street knew that streets are not just for cars, but for people too:

Toronto knows that as well:

No wonder I feel at home. Kind of funny, really, to think that in a strange way Jim Henson and the producers of shows like Sesame Street, The Electric Company, and Vegetable Soup (am I the only one who remembers that one?) had a noticeable effect on where and how I want to spend my life.

Taking the Gardiner for a good cause

I waffle back and forth on whether or not I think Critical Mass’ taking the Gardiner Expressway was a good idea or not. Regardless of how I feel about it, I am a little disappointed that I missed the experience.

Fortunately I have another chance at it this coming Sunday. I’ll be riding in the Ride for Heart. They will be closing two major expressways: the Gardiner expressway, and the Don Valley Parkway and opening them up to cyclists and rollerbladers. I’ll be taking the middle-sized route: 50 KM.

Anyway, for those interested in supporting a very good cause, please consider sponsoring me. And thanks to several of you who have already sponsored me based on announcements over at twitter.

Also, for those of you actually in Toronto, you might want to consider joining me. Registration is only $40 and this will likely be your only chance to bike on the Gardiner this year.

Unless Critical Mass gets some crazy ideas again…