Years ago, in an area of Toronto called The Beaches, lived an elegant couple in their late eighties. I rented an apartment with a balcony across the street. Friday was date night when husband and wife would emerge from home, beautifully coifed and arms linked. Arriving at curbside, where their Mercedes was parked, HE would open the passenger door and settle HER safely inside. He would then circle around to the driver’s side. Moments later their sedan would glide softly into the night. You could catch this romantic scene if you were lucky to be on the deck.
| It made me nostalgic for being driven, for childhood and family road trips, when our dad did all the driving (our mother would get her license after his untimely death, out of necessity). Occasionally Dad would light up his pipe, in retrospect igniting my carsickness. Despite nausea, it was a thrill to gaze at new scenery and be transported both literally and metaphorically.
| Today, it’s me behind the wheel in Canada’s most challenging traffic city, sharing the road with thousands of commuters, including skateboarders, couriers, regular cyclists, pedestrians, all-weather construction crews. Crazy things happen. Recently, on a major cross street, a miscalculating man backed his motorized scooter across the road in front of me as a courier whizzed by, nearly wiping us all out. We lived, but driving in Toronto can be a test of nerves.
|  | | | | Did you know? - We also have a Technology, Telecom and Media newsletter to help you stay on top of these fast-moving industries. Sign up today. | | | | | | More stories below advertisement | | | | |
/arc-anglerfish-tgam-prod-tgam.s3.amazonaws.com/public/IXADEHHCZ5BUPJJSGUNKBZKHPM.jpg "I like to be driven. Does that make me a crummy feminist?")
/arc-anglerfish-tgam-prod-tgam.s3.amazonaws.com/public/YQSV4G7DQZEXHNEJ2LID2ZGKLM.jpg "Do the math: Plug-in hybrids make sense")
/arc-anglerfish-tgam-prod-tgam.s3.amazonaws.com/public/TBDPTYI7B5G55N5PSDCE7QW4CA.jpg "Out in the cold with a Hyundai Kona Electric")
/arc-anglerfish-tgam-prod-tgam.s3.amazonaws.com/public/7WJERBMXMFG2BKHYJJGATFMGNQ.jpg "The best offers for financed vehicles under $600 a month")
/arc-anglerfish-tgam-prod-tgam.s3.amazonaws.com/public/E45A54DD7VHJXENYZISHYASQYY.JPG "Cadillac introduces first-of-its-kind digital car-shopping experience")
/arc-anglerfish-tgam-prod-tgam.s3.amazonaws.com/public/XAARSN5SVVAV7EGAHTYNJJVYLI.JPG "Volvo plans to add in-car sensors to prevent drunk, distracted driving")
/arc-anglerfish-tgam-prod-tgam.s3.amazonaws.com/public/66NVZWMLOJCL3JVGDWVTLU56WU.jpg "New Hyundai safety feature prevents rear-seat passengers from stepping out into traffic")
/arc-anglerfish-tgam-prod-tgam.s3.amazonaws.com/public/BXUE3FM6SFGPJKD6VKDSXJQVDM.jpg "Drivers blocking crosswalks can be subject to fines – not to mention pedestrians’ dirty looks")
/arc-anglerfish-tgam-prod-tgam.s3.amazonaws.com/public/KSDZRB73OZG2TJFEIABKMW7WG4.JPG "To protect pedestrians, cities are going back to the future")
/arc-anglerfish-tgam-prod-tgam.s3.amazonaws.com/public/Q7QXN7XTEVDRRCPCS7YZMQ2VTE.jpg "My friend put some diesel in her gasoline powered minivan and now it won’t start. What should she do?")
