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I've visited both Toronto & Montreal before. I'm most familiar with Toronto, but Montreal seems like it has a better quality of life. Since I can speak English & French, linguistic issues don't play into the decision.
I haven't been to any of the western cities, although Vancouver sounds interesting. I probably wouldn't choose Calgary or Edmonton, simply because they don't sound public transit friendly, in spite of their LRT systems.
If I wanted someplace where I could feel truly welcome, I would choose Toronto.
If I wanted someplace where I could live in complete comfort, I would choose Montreal.
I've visited both Toronto & Montreal before. I'm most familiar with Toronto, but Montreal seems like it has a better quality of life. Since I can speak English & French, linguistic issues don't play into the decision.
I haven't been to any of the western cities, although Vancouver sounds interesting. I probably wouldn't choose Calgary or Edmonton, simply because they don't sound public transit friendly, in spite of their LRT systems.
If I wanted someplace where I could feel truly welcome, I would choose Toronto.
If I wanted someplace where I could live in complete comfort, I would choose Montreal.
Just to clarify, Calgary has an amazing transit system.
Just to clarify, Calgary has an amazing transit system.
I'm not denying that Calgary has an amazing public transit system. I'm just saying that it tends to leave many areas underserved or not served at all outside of rush hour.
Check this document: http://www.calgary.ca/docgallery/bu/engineering_services/emaps/transit_map.pdf (broken link)
Off to the left side of it, you will find a table that shows the frequencies of bus routes. It says that only 18 out of the 162 bus routes in Calgary (including LRT and BRT) provide mid-day service with frequencies that are better than 30 minutes; it also says that 49 routes out of those 162 do not operate during mid-day. Also, there are only 3 routes out of 94 that provide service on Sundays with frequencies that are better than 30 minutes, one of which is a shuttle between the LRT and a shopping center. Some other routes provide service on Sundays with a frequency of every 75 minutes.
It seems to me that a city with a population having passed 1 million should be able to provide service that is better than this. It is clear that their network is great during rush hour. However, this lack of service at other times makes it much more tempting to own a car, where a truly great public transit system, like those seen in other cities like Toronto and Montreal, should be able to convince people not to own a car.
On that same document, it also states, above that table, that only 9 LRT stations outside of downtown do not have parking facilities, clearly showing that they know a large number of commuters come in their cars to the stations. Unfortunately, such problems are not their fault, but the fault of those who develop sprawling subdivisions at the edge of the city. It is extremely unfriendly to public transit; Calgary Transit even published a guide on transit-friendly design. Almost any of the sprawling subdivisions in Toronto or Montreal are located outside of the city, so their public transit system is not obligated to provide service there; they are left to suburban transit providers.
In closing, if you don't own a car in Calgary, be prepared to pay a lot in taxi fares when public transit has left you stranded.
By the way, if you want white bread in BC, I suggest Vancouver island in the Victoria area.
I guess to someone from Seattle Vancouver has fantastic weather. I would hardly call raining half the year as fantastic but whatever floats your boat, literally...
TO. However if I make over 200k/yr & my wife makes another 150k/yr I'll probably choose Van.
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