I think the noise and crowds are subjective. What works for some might not work for others; some people thrive on the chaos of city life, others can't stand it.
Agreed.
I agree that downtown Toronto is unlivable, but because of specific circumstances that make it so, not because of the nature of big ciies. Subway lines like Yonge are completely unusable in the morning rush hour
I would agree if you're talking SB on Yonge, in the AM, but I would also tend to think if you're already living downtown, there's a good chance you work downtown, or alternatively, that you'd be headed NB on the subway if you did not, which would make it less of an issue.
We'll soon see w/the complete rollout of ATC this fall whether or not there's a bit of breathing room to be had for SB on Yonge in the AM rush.
; the fact that streetcars have to share lanes with mixed traffic makes using them a punishment;
There's lots to improve about streetcars in Toronto, including those that operate in their own ROW; that said, Harbourfront and Spadina do just that.
Also I'm down on King a lot as a pedestrian and I find the road desserted at most hours in most spots (of cars) and the streetcars can move reasonably quickly.
I'd certainly like to see enhanced priority on other routes, and better transit-priority lighting (and fewer stops) on Habourfront and Spadina; but for the most part, low-floor, air conditioned streetcars are pretty frequent downtown and I don't consider it as unlivable as you make it out to be.
the decay of the public realm (anything between Yonge and the DVP between Carlton and Richmond),
Toronto has rarely been a big investor in the public realm; it does need to do more and better; that said, I disagree with term decay here as it implies that its worsening. In fact, I would argue Toronto is already putting more into streetscape downtown than it has in generations and its markedly improved from 20 years ago. More, and healthier trees, more pedestrian lights, more interlocking pavers........
I very much look forward (I hope) to them finally re-doing John Street next year, and of course the big Yonge Street re-do is coming by over the next 3 years.
and the crime levels, while perhaps not as bad as other cities of the same class, nevertheless would turn me off from living downtown.
Toronto's homicide rate is comparable to Amsterdam or Stockholm; and its Major Crime Index (Violent Crime/Robbery) is lower than Paris, France.
Downtown is relatively safe within the context of the City's overall numbers I'm not sure I get the perception that it is not.
Yes, there are panhandlers and others who may cause some measure of discomfort by their presence (tragedy for them more than anyone else); but I don't see a broad-based safety issue.
As a European I also don't like how much of the public realm is devoted to cars
I agree, though this is changing. Toronto has cut lane capacity in downtown drastically over the last decade.
Car lanes were removed on Bloor, Wellesley, Shuter, University, Wellington (partial, more to come), Queen's Quay, Sherbourne, Adelaide and Richmond and more.
Over the next 3-5 years, I expect you will see 2 lanes shaved off most of Yonge, and the same for Queen's Park Crescent and Avenue Road, and a couple of more as well, based on discussions w/City staff.
; as I mentioned in the thread, one of my favourite things about Europe is how basically every city and town of consequence has appreciable quantities of narrow roads or pedestrian only walkways, which make the place extremely welcoming to be in.
I agree.
I adore Vienna for this in particular.