Author Archives: Greg Burrell

About Greg Burrell

Greg is an accountant, cyclist and political observer living in Toronto, Canada with too many cats.

Thinking #Crackstarter? Why not donate to a deserving charity instead?

Posted on 21 May 2013 by Greg Burrell

Crackstarter has raised over $100,000 for crack dealers and public humiliation. I’m no fan of Toronto Mayor Rob Ford, and there’s lots of reasons I’d like to see him removed from office, but we can put our money to better uses than this.

Posted in Finance, Politics, Toronto | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Dear Toronto City Council: Support Bixi

Posted on 21 April 2013 by Greg Burrell

Rather than extending or guaranteeing more loans that will make Bixi less viable, Toronto should invest in the valuable public service by purchasing it outright. The purchase of Bixi’s outstanding debt would be no more than a footnote in the city’s budget.

Posted in Cycling, Toronto | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Talking about the Big Move

Posted on 18 March 2013 by Greg Burrell

Today the region’s business leaders agreed that we’re on the right track. Our region’s economy won’t shrivel up and die because we agreed to pay for transit expansion. What it won’t survive is continuing to do nothing.

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On the economics of commuting

Posted on 16 March 2013 by Greg Burrell

In basic economics, the demand for a commodity is a function of the supply of that commodity and the price paid to acquire it. We can use the supply-demand model to compare commuting choices.

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2013 Metropass update

Posted on 1 January 2013 by Greg Burrell

Last year, when I did this, I made myself a handy template so that I could just punch in the new numbers when the TTC inevitably hikes fares every year. Most years, anyway. If you want to read about the …

Posted in Finance, Living, Toronto | 1 Comment

Let’s jump into the helmet debate, shall we?

Posted on 21 June 2012 by Greg Burrell

Nothing seems to inspire more heated debate among cycling advocates and enthusiasts than helmets. Whether they should be worn by law, by suggestion or at all is a hot discussion topic these days. Everyone has an opinion. This week the …

Posted in Cycling | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Queen East replacement bus: tips from a daily commuter

Posted on 8 May 2012 by Greg Burrell

This summer the City of Toronto is rebuilding Queen Street between Coxwell and Connaught Avenues, doing badly-needed reconstruction of the road, sidewalks and streetcar tracks. Since streetcars won’t be able to get through with the tracks torn up, the iconic …

Posted in Living, Toronto | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Cyclists Union is dead. Long live the cyclists union.

Posted on 2 May 2012 by Greg Burrell

Tonight, the Toronto Cyclists Union voted to do away with the organization’s name. By a very slim margin, the members decided to scrap the old name and move forward with a new name, Cycle Toronto. I voted against the change, …

Posted in Cycling, Toronto | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

What’s in a name?

Posted on 19 April 2012 by Greg Burrell

Last month, members of the Toronto Cyclists Union received an email from the organization’s Board of Directors, introducing the new name they had chosen for the organization. At the upcoming Annual General Meeting, members will vote on accepting the Board’s …

Posted in Cycling, Toronto | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Open letter to Toronto Council’s “left wing”, re: rapid transit

Posted on 27 January 2012 by Greg Burrell

Dear esteemed councillors, In today’s Globe and Mail, I have read that some of you are being asked to vote against Councillor Stintz’s revised proposal for the Eglinton Light Rail. As you likely know, this plan restores the surface light …

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