Todd Litman @toddlitman.bsky.social

I am a transport and land use policy analyst. I love doing research about ways to make communities healthier, wealthier and wiser at the Victoria Transport Policy Institute (www.vtpi.org)

You probably work too hard!

Graph from "Live Long and Prosper" (www.vtpi.org/llp.pdf) shows a negative relationship between life satisfaction and work hours. Americans have low satisfaction relative to income; we work more than optimal.

We need new economics that maximizes happiness per dollar.
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HELP LAUNCH THE PUBLIC TRANSIT ALLIANCE of BC!
April 28, 6pm - online

The Public Transit Alliance of BC (transitalliancebc.ca) is a new coalition of advocacy groups working to build better public transportation for everyone in BC. Please help spread the word!

Register: tinyurl.com/2awwv2yt
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Walkable neighborhoods are the foundation of an efficient, equitable and healthy community.

Denver's Sidewalk Implementation Plan (lnkd.in/gbBaJGPs) treats sidewalks like other transport infrastructure. Also see "Completing Sidewalk Networks: Benefits and Costs" (www.vtpi.org/csn.pdf ).
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Montreal proves that North American cities can become affordable by encouraging middle-density infill.

This graph compares average asking rents for two-bedroom apartments in Canadian cities converted to U.S. dollars. Half of all apartments rent for less than US$1,200 per month.

C'est bon!
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Bicycling increases and crash rates decline in cities that invest in cycling infrastructure.

Ralph Buehler, J. Pucher, et al. (2026), "Cycling in New York, London, Paris, and Berlin" International Journal of Sustainable Transport (www.tandfonline.com/doi/epdf/10.1080/15568318.2026.2649315)
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This article describes problems traveling between Vancouver Island communities.
"Calls for Accessible Intercity Bus Service in the Alberni-Clayoquot Region Intensify," Ha-Shilth-Sa News
(www.hashilthsa.com/news/2026-04-01/calls-accessible-intercity-bus-service-alberni-clayoquot-region-intensify).

Also see "Public Transit Investment Talking Points" (vtpi.org/ptitp.pdf).
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TV news interviewed me about vehicle trends "More cars than people added to CRD between 2024-25" (lnkd.in/gxY-ft_z.). Overall, per capita driving declined as discussed in "Good News from CRD Travel Survey" (www.vtpi.org/CRDts.pdf ) and "Active Transport Talking Points" www.vtpi.org/CRD_AT_TP.pdf
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Fascinating draft article. Comments appreciated.
“Live Long and Prosper: Local Policies for Improving Children’s Health, Success and Happiness” (www.vtpi.org/llp.pdf).

Uses new research to help understand how community design affects children’s welfare and local policies to achieve related goals.
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Industry propaganda claims that energy conservation harms consumers and reduces productivity. My recent column shows these claims are false. Research indicates that resource efficiency is the key long life and prosperity.

The Future Belongs to the Efficient (usa.streetsblog.org/2026/03/04/dear-trump-the-future-belongs-to-the-efficient).
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This paper I co-wrote is now available free.
“Air Pollution and Transportation: Evaluating Different Factors from a COVID-19 Outbreak Perspective,” ASCE (lnkd.in/gQ3isRPA)
This study examines how the COVID-19 outbreak affected travel activity and air pollution emissions in Tehran.
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First Nations Call for Safe, Affordable Transportation: Lunch and Learn Workshop. Tomorrow, Friday, 27 March 2026
Register Now (westcoastclimateaction.ca/lunch-and-learn-first-nations-safe-affordable-transportation )
Sponsored by West Coast Environmental Action

Low Carbon Transportation Project for reliable low-carbon transportation
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The Rocky Mountain Institute's Smarter MODES Calculator quantifies benefits of vehicle travel reductions. It now includes parking cost savings based on my report, "Comprehensive Parking Supply, Cost and Price Analysis" (www.vtpi.org/pscp.pdf).

More multimodal planning benefits everybody!
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I support Friends of Rails to Trails - Vancouver Island (FORT-VI) which is working to establish a much-needed greenway.

Tomorrow FORT-VI will celebrate the 15-year anniversary of the last E&N train, March 21, 11 am - 1 pm beside Goldstream Bicycles, 694 Goldstream Ave.

fortvi.ca/unhappy-birthday
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Does wealth increase health, success and happiness? What about automobile travel? Only up to a point as discussed in my updated report, "Planning for Quality of Life: Considering Community Cohesion and Related Social Goals" (www.vtpi.org/cohesion.pdf)

Plan communities for health and happiness!
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Urban Truth Collective (urbantruthcollective.com); Straight Talk About the Joy of Cities in an Age of Disinformation (usa.streetsblog.org/2026/03/05/urban-truth-collective-straight-talk-about-the-joy-of-cities-in-an-age-of-disinformation). Timely new initiative by the Three Tenors of Urbanism, Brent Toderian, Tom Flood and Grant Ennis. Insightful critiques of urban misinformation.
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This article uses my costing research:
“Triple-Win Potential of Sustainable Mobility,” Cities (doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2026.106917).
Estimates a third of Montreal car commutes could shift to sustainable alternatives, providing $3.7 to $7.0 billion total annual savings and benefits. Less driving, more value!
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David Zipper's column describes the mis-measurement of traffic risk which ignores deaths caused by increased vehicle travel and vehicle travel reduction safety benefits. It cites my column about transit safety (tinyurl.com/3dz73j4x) and reflects "A New Traffic Safety Paradigm" (vtpi.org/safer.pdf)
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This article cites my research indicating "peak car" and increasing demand for non-auto travel. Local travellers want better sidewalks, crosswalks and bikeway. See my "Active Transportation Investment Talking Points" (www.vtpi.org/CRD_AT_TP.pdf )

www.timescolonist.com/local-news/work-to-begin-on-oak-bay-cycling-routes-esquimalt-adding-more-bike-lanes-11977312
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Next Tuesday evening I'll be speaking at a Streetlamp Salone panel, "Victoria in Transit." I'll share my research on changing travel demands (less driving) and benefits of multimodal planning, and current transit service gaps.

I hope to see friends there!

www.eventbrite.com/e/victoria-in-transit-the-streetlamp-salon-tickets-1983702732272
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This new blog cites my research on vehicle insurance pricing reforms.

‘Stupendous Potential’: Pay-Per-Mile Auto Insurance Would Cut Costs and Traffic Violence (nyc.streetsblog.org/2026/03/05/stupendous-potential-pay-per-mile-auto-insurance-would-cut-costs-and-traffic-violence). "Everybody is better off, you’ve got less crash risk, less pollution and less traffic congestion"
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Dear Trump: the Future Belongs to the Efficient - usa.streetsblog.org/2026/03/04/dear-trump-the-future-belongs-to-the-efficient

Trump abandoned climate protection goals claiming that cheap fossil fuel helps consumers and the economy. This analysis shows he is wrong: resource efficiency is the key to health, economic success and happiness.
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"Active Transportation Investment Talking Points" (www.vtpi.org/CRD_AT_TP.pdf)
These slides provide information to support public investments in walking and bicycling. Although based on British Columbia data, this analysis can be replicated in any communities.

Please let me know what you think.
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Next Tuesday Saanich Council will consider Active Transport program funding cuts. My new slideshow, "Active Transportation Investment Talking Points" (www.vtpi.org/CRD_AT_TP.pdf), supports sidewalk and bikeway investments, particularly in Saanich.

Lobby for better walking & biking travel!
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New Institute of Transportation Engineers information:

"Estimating the Health Benefits from Active Transportation Projects" (www.ite.org/pub/?id=044D04F4-CF70-16E8-29EB-A36A672B00D7). This Quick Bite describes methods for quantifying the connections between active travel improvements, physical activity, and public health.
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My latest Planetizen column.

The Future Belongs to the Efficient (www.planetizen.com/blogs/136966-dear-trump-future-belongs-efficient). Trump abandoned climate protection goals claiming that cheap fossil fuel helps consumers and the economy. He is wrong: resource efficiency is the key to health, economic success and happiness.
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Next Wednesday, February 25th I'll present my latest transportation planning research at the "Changing Lanes" conference in Winnipeg. My key recommendation: priortize affordability, efficiency and fairness, not just traffic speed.

greenactioncentre.ca/all-content/changing-lanes-better-value-from-winnipeg-transportation-investments
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Public transit must feel safe. Unfortunately, transit crime gets excessive media attention. This article, which quotes me, corrects statistics.

"Key Things to Know about Crime Risks on CATS Transit in Charlotte" (www.charlotteobserver.com/article314637497.html).

Also see www.vtpi.org/safer.pdf
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Our latest publication:
“Air Pollution and Transportation: Evaluating Different
Factors from a COVID-19 Outbreak Perspective,” ASCE (doi.org/10.1061/JUPDDM.UPENG-5385).

It indicates that more mixed development, green space, green transport and limiting car travel can reduce transport emissions.
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Aloha!

Latest blog.
"Paradise Lost, Paradise Found: Planning for People Rather Than Cars in Hawai'i" (www.planetizen.com/blogs/136757-paradise-lost-paradise-found-planning-people-rather-cars-hawaii) With better planning Honolulu can become an active travel paradise. It is simple: prioritize people over cars, housing over parking and greenspace over pavement.
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Here is a smart new video by Kara Perez of "Kara Explores Money" (karaexploresmoney.substack.com)

"How Car Culture Stole America’s Freedom" (www.youtube.com/watch?v=DskqYH26mvU)

It emphasizes the high costs of automobile dependency and cites my research on public transit safety. Well done, Kara!
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