Even Niall Horan could not escape from Toronto traffic!
The Irish singer and former One Direction member was making a stop in Toronto for his The Show tour on June 28 and 29 when he did something he has never done before.
Just a few kilometers away from Scotiabank Arena, Horan decided to ditch the gridlock under the Gardiner Expressway that was causing him a long wait probably and walk the remainder of the way.
“Traffic’s too crazy in Toronto, so I’m walking to the venue,” he said in the video, setting off to the tune of his parody version of The Proclaimers’ classic I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles).
Horan later shared a series of pictures and videos from the event, including a clip of his impromptu stroll to his concert venue.
“In all of the years playing shows, I don’t think I’ve ever walked into a venue,” the singer said on the unusual entrance while making his way through one of the parking entrances at the Arena.
The post garnered reactions from Canadians, with one fan humorously commenting, “Niall recognizing our awful traffic omg.”
“This is the most Toronto thing ever. Traffic’s too terrible so you walk,” said another Instagram user.
According to a recent study by Geotab ITS, Travel times on the Gardiner have increased up to 250 per cent in the morning rush hour and 230 per cent in the afternoon rush hour.
The City of Toronto told Now Toronto on Monday that they have received one complaint from a film production related to a specific traffic incident that impacted timely access to their location. However, the City worked “successfully alongside its partners and the production to develop a successful management plan.”
“The City is continually enhancing traffic management, including through its Congestion Management Plan, to ensure all road users can reach their destination safely and efficiently,” a spokesperson added.
Currently, ongoing construction on Spadina and the Gardiner, part of the Gardiner Expressway Strategic Rehabilitation Plan slated to last three years until the FIFA World Cup in 2026, is just one of the factors contributing to Toronto’s traffic nightmare.
While commuters are frustrated with unreliable TTC services on Spadina, drivers coming and leaving the city are growing tired of the lengthy delays on the Gardiner Expressway.
And it seems even visiting artists are feeling the impact of these prolonged waits in Toronto’s notorious traffic.
