gor[b] Paul Gorbould: Words and Pictures

Commuting by Numbers: Transportation Edition

More on the "mass observation" theme... here's a tally of the modes of transport seen on my trip in to work.

I've had a thing for cars ever since I was a kid, so this one came easily. (Sidebar: Last night someone offered to let me drive their BMW 850, and I couldn't think of a way to say yes without feeling like a total loser.) Fortunately, as you'll see below, in this town my own Honda Civic carries the same level of exclusivity as BMWs (all models combined, but still.) I suspect other parts of the country are less reliant on Bavaria, and more accepting of rust.

It's also interesting to note that if you really want to stand out, you should either buy an Aston Martin, or a Lada.

Commuting by Numbers: Transportation Edition

Commuter: Paul Gorbould
Location: Downtown Toronto
Commuting time: 45 minutes
Route: Queen/King Streets, via streetcar

Taxis: 154
Honda Civics: 49
BMWs: 48
Mercedes-Benz: 14
Cars with any visible rust: 9
Porsches: 4
Beer delivery trucks: 4
City TV "everywhere" vehicles: 2
Ferraris: 1
Gears used by said Ferrari: 1
Aston Martins: 1
Ladas: 1

People on bikes: 79
Approximate percentage wearing helmets: 60%
People on bikes with no helmet, listening to an iPod and carrying a small dog: 1
People on motorcycles: 10
Parked Ducati motorcycles (oh yes, one day you will be mine...):4
Babies in strollers: 5

Vespa scooters: 4
Electric mobility scooters: 4
Old ladies on a child's aluminum scooter: 1
People looking cool on a scooter: 0

Next up: Animals!