Bike lanes, property taxes, Taylor Swift among Toronto's biggest concerns in 2024

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A lot happened in Toronto this past year but for the city’s residents, the hottest topics ranged from municipal issues to pop culture.

Online neighbourhood network Nextdoor Canada released its year-end review and Torontonians were more than happy to discuss what they loved and loathed in the city.

There were three topics that were the biggest bones of contention — or points of praise — that had tongues wagging: Bike lanes, property tax and Taylor Swift.

Whether you are for or against the proposed changes to bike lanes in the city, the debate dominated discussions as community members were more than happy to express their points of view.

Property tax was also a big issue, as were general concerns over the economy and cost of living — for those in Toronto and throughout the country.

When asked in a poll what they are doing to cut costs, more than 40% of Canadian neighbours shared that they are “growing their own vegetables,” while others shared they were “couponing.”

Housing and real estate were also top of mind, including one controversy in Etobicoke that centred on replacing local businesses with condos.

And just like she did with entertainment headlines, the Swift phenomenon reigned supreme over conversations, particularly in Toronto and Vancouver – the only two Canadian cities where the Eras Tour touched down.

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While most of the neighbours’ posts focused on searching for tickets, there were some others offering rides to the venues.

Of course, it wasn’t a total love story when it came to Swift’s shows; many in Toronto needed to calm down when discussing their frustrations with traffic or couldn’t shake off how much the City of Toronto spent on the singer.

Wild animal sightings, specifically coyotes, were major conversation starters, as was the total solar eclipse that moved across parts of Canada in April, with people sharing where to find the best deals on glasses or those looking for fun watch parties.

One massive issue that was top of mind for many across Canada was safety, with car theft being the most commonly shared concern, as neighbours shared their personal experiences as well as suggestions on how to improve community safety.