In an unusual form of urban activism, a Toronto runner is beating the city's own streetcars in head-to-head races, laying bare the chronic sluggishness of a public transit network used by hundreds of thousands daily.
The Undefeated Champion of Commuter Frustration
Mac Bauer, a 32-year-old resident, began filming his impromptu races against Toronto's iconic red and white streetcars roughly a year ago. His videos, shared on Instagram, quickly garnered a significant following. As of late December, Bauer remains undefeated in these contests, despite the trams weighing over 100,000lbs and having a top speed of nearly 45mph.
"I don't like winning. I really don't," Bauer admitted. "I really, really wish these streetcars were faster than me. But they're not. And this is the problem." His actions have transformed him into a minor celebrity and a sharp-tongued critic of a system plagued by delays.
Racing Against a Beleaguered System
On a recent race along the notoriously slow 511 route towards Lake Ontario, the theoretical advantages of the streetcar vanished almost immediately. Frequent stops and traffic congestion, often caused by turning cars, brought the vehicle to a halt, allowing Bauer to zip past.
Bauer argues the core issues are a lack of dedicated lanes and insufficient "signal priority"—technology that extends green lights for approaching trams. "Streetcars just shouldn't be stuck in traffic," he stated. His activism has made these technical terms a major talking point in the Canadian city.
The runner's disciplined training regimen for road races gives him an edge, but he insists the problem is systemic. "Even if I slowed down dramatically, I'd still be ahead of a lot of these streetcars," he noted.
From Social Media to City Hall
Bauer's influence has moved beyond social media, directly impacting policy discussions. His most notable victory came in early December against the new, C$3.5bn (£1.9bn) Line 6 light rail, the city's first new line since 2002. Despite being built to carry over 14 million people annually, Bauer beat the plagued, delay-ridden service by a staggering 18 minutes.
This feat was cited by city councillors, including Josh Matlow, who declared, "We can't allow that to ever happen again." The council subsequently passed a motion to implement more aggressive signal priority measures.
There are, however, faint signs of progress. In preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, some roads have been painted red to grant streetcars priority. In Bauer's most recent race, these new dedicated lanes allowed the streetcar to close the gap significantly, resulting in his closest contest yet. "There's hope: for the streetcars and for the city," Bauer concluded, surprised by the improvement on what was once the slowest route.
