The pyschogeography of subways (and other forms of transit)

Over the weekend, Shawn Miccalef tweeted, “Hello I wrote a column about the psychogeography of the new subway line + Downsview park in the @TorontoStar but never once used the word psychogeography. Thank you.”

As a fan of the word pyschogeography since 2014 I was ready to read, and am I glad I did.

“Subways have political power and persuasion,” Miccalef wrote. “People who live in cities that have them often use the system map as a basis for their own mental map and understanding of their city. Subway lines define its shape and limits, and stations become local and regional landmarks. If a place is off the map, it’s, well, off the map.”

“When I was teaching at OCAD, I had students go on mapping walks around the Grange neighbourhood and beyond. One was surprised at how close Chinatown was to campus: she thought it was far away, rather than just a few blocks, but since she arrived at OCAD via the University subway line, and went to Chinatown via the Spadina streetcar from Bloor, the neighbourhoods were disconnected from each other. It was only when she ‘corrected’ her perception by walking between the two places did geographic reality snap into view.”

As a visitor, I’ve explored not just Toronto but Vancouver, Montreal, London, Istanbul and Hong Kong primarily by where transit lines will take me. Though biking helps fill in some gaps, I very much relate to Miccalef’s students and I very much enjoyed this piece.