Look at this. Somebody has mapped the average speed of TTC buses and streetcars. Blue is fast, red is slow.
When looking at this map, people should keep in mind that most of the “slower” routes usually travel through older parts of the city that are denser and have a greater mix of uses (read: more locally sustainable), and therefore don’t require people to travel as far to get from point A to B. Those areas are also more walkable and bicycle friendly. In the inner suburbs, on the other hand, the time saved due to “faster” bus speeds is offset by the fact that everything is so spread out and the distance in which you must travel is greater.
Yes! Accessibility > mobility.
But even the glacial Queen streetcar is not redeemed by the diversity and density of downtown.
