iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Cassie Smith (she/her) @cassiesmith.bsky.social · 13h

My Thanksgiving weekend reading material c/o @carterlavin.bsky.social. Pairs perfectly with 16+ hours on the train to visit fake London, a place renowned for creating transportation advocates 😉. 🍂🍁🍎

The book "If you want to win, you've got to fight: a guide to transportation advocacy" by Carter Lavin on some deep green cushions

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Cassie Smith (she/her) @cassiesmith.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Is it still a bike bus when it's only two people? I think so, especially if both of those people are bike bus leaders! What a delight to bike around Stanley Park with Maya Goldstein this morning. Maya and I both started bike buses in spring 2023 - her in Vancouver and me in Ottawa.

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Cassie Smith (she/her) @cassiesmith.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

The coffee had good reviews, but the atmosphere and land use is top notch. Bean on 5th in North Van.

A unique corner 2-3 storey building with coffee shop on ground floor

Across the sidewalk is a shipping container parklet that is a public extension of the coffee shop with tables, chairs and plants

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Cassie Smith (she/her) @cassiesmith.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

I had a wonderful time in North Vancouver exploring & talking a lot about cars... The best kind of cars - shared ones! I was here at the Carsharing Association Conference presenting work we did to support EV carsharing in community housing. More homes, & mobility with less parking & emissions.

A pedestrian area called the Shipyards with large arches across the top

People walking on a suspension bridge in the forest

Colourful little houses with portholes on a dock in water with mountain in the background

Cassie wearing sunnies, a purple helmet, and black turtleneck bikes on a bike path with sidewalks and path on either side and lots of trees.

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Cassie Smith (she/her) @cassiesmith.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Permanently re-making public space for people in Vancouver. (Also, Lemonade bakery was great, thanks @kristenwomack.io!)

Heart bike racks, a bidirectional bike lane, and a permanent neighbourhood plaza

The bike lanes and plaza from the other direction

People sitting at benches, tables with umbrellas on the plaza

A yellow sign on a post reads:

Welcome!

VANCOUVER

Cambie & 18th Neighbourhood Plaza

We are located on the unceded, traditional territories of the xmalkayam (Musqueam, Skwx wi7mesh Uxwumiw (Squamish), and saliliwatal (Tsleil-Waututh) First Nations.

Public seating, no purchase necessary

Alcohol allowed 11am to sunset

Be a good neighbour, keep noise low

Put waste in its place

Fresh air space

Thank you to our partners who help care for this plaza!

Scan the QR code to:

Report issues, nose or litter

Find a nearby washroom

Host a community event here

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Cassie Smith (she/her) @cassiesmith.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

People think winter cycling is tough, when really it's just a workaround for the real tough stuff of endlessly putting on and taking snowsuits off of toddlers and young kids.

A kid in a red snowsuit and purple helmet sits in an Urban Arrow cargo bike with pogies on the handlebars

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Cassie Smith (she/her) @cassiesmith.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

So far my #WeekWithoutDriving has been my usual mix of walking and biking (made possible by being able to live in a supportive neighbourhood). Today I am driving. Here's why and how this experience still contributes to my thinking about nondrivers:

A carshare van parked in a lot. A building with Canada flag and flying flag behind it

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Cassie Smith (she/her) @cassiesmith.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

The first sign that my kid might become an urban planner was his Lego city. The second is that in today's PD Day pretend school he started a class called "city plan out". Sister and cat are the students.

A bunch of duotangs and notebooks spread on the ground. They have titles including city plan out, poetry, songs, important words, words

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Cassie Smith (she/her) @cassiesmith.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

#Ottawa, were looking for #SchoolStreets volunteers in Old Ottawa East. You can help @envirocentre.bsky.social make school drop off hugs like this possible. Volunteers welcome families, share info & help monitor barricades during school drop-off and pick-up times.

People walking on the street including an adult hugging a child

On a bright yellow background pink text reads: Volunteer opportunity, help create safer, healthier routes to school at Hopewell Avenue Public School. Join our School Streets volunteer team!

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Cassie Smith (she/her) @cassiesmith.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Morning: advocacy ride (h/t Step Thru for organizing, what a route!) Lunchtime: grocery shop by bike Afternoon: @velocanadabikes.bsky.social AGM (& well-deserved celebration of @sflkirk.bsky.social!) There are many ways to get involved & many people doing the work to make places bike-friendly.

People on bikes wait at a red light in a bike lane on Elgin Street

A long line of people biking trying to safely cross Colonel By Drive near Bank St

People on bikes on Rideau St bike lane with lots of people walking in both directions because there is no sidewalk here in the heart of Ottawa (and the underpass alternative is closed)

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Cassie Smith (she/her) @cassiesmith.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

I took 5yo and her friend on a cargo bike ride today. It was his first time and he was so full of joy and enthusiasm. We took the long way home just to get more time feeling like a bird flying.

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Cassie Smith (she/her) @cassiesmith.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Our school doesn't just have a #bikebus, there's also a run club that meets, trains and runs to school together (another weekday). The parent organizer asked for a volunteer to drive all the kids backpacks to school. My husband said why drive when you could cargo bike?! 25 bags delivered this week.

A term GSD longtail with backpacks in a front basket, storm box, and trailer pulled behind.

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Cassie Smith (she/her) @cassiesmith.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Streets are for people - including rave-style DJ kindergartens staying up past their bedtime. Bike Night was the coolest. Thanks @ncc-ccn.gc.ca!

A kid wearing dino pajamas sita in the back of a longtail bike holding glow sticks and spinning on a toy dj booth. They are wearing a helmet with a glow headband sticking high out of it.

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Cassie Smith (she/her) @cassiesmith.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

I took a linguistics class in my first year of undergrad and in the first class the prof guessed (pretty accurately) where students were from. Impressive because it was mostly variations of SW Ontario! mydialect.us/quiz-standar...

A map of the us with red to blue shading showing dialects. Mostly red along the northern border with some blue in the south/east

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Cassie Smith (she/her) @cassiesmith.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Reminder! @bikeottawa.bsky.social is hosting a picnic tomorrow. I'll be there - mostly likely with kids and sports balls/toys! Join us!

Reminder: Bike Ottawa Picnic
05 Sept, 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Vincent Massey Park

Join Ottawa's bike community for a casual picnic on Saturday, September 5 at 12:00 p.m. Meet and chat with Bike Ottawa board members and fellow cyclists about getting around by bike, advocacy, and maybe the upcoming municipal election. We'll have some drinks and snacks while they last!

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Cassie Smith (she/her) @cassiesmith.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Back to school and back to Bike Bus! We've added a bunch of new friends and an extra 1km to our route for this school year. Thanks for the great photo @centretowner.bsky.social. #OttBike

Dozens of kids and adults on bikes including Cassie wearing a reflective vest with rainbows in her front basket and waving at the camera

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Cassie Smith (she/her) @cassiesmith.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

Birmingham you say? My partner is a big Villa fan and my kids adore their jerseys and are often both wearing them while being toted around (or biking on their own)! (Apologies City fans 😉)

View frok the handlebars of two kids in a bucket bike. One has a pink lollipop helmet the other a blue helmet and a Mings jersey

Kid riding a bike on a pathway wearing a full Villa kit: Mings jersey, shorts, and socks

Kids on a longtail bike wearing helmets and AVFC jerseys

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Cassie Smith (she/her) @cassiesmith.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Only one parking rack and it was full. I saw e-bikes for sale inside but didn't check if it was this brand. My guess - employees bought e-bikes and now (shocking!) ride them to work. There is plenty of room for more racks, request on its way.

A teal GSD next to a rack full of bikes.

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Cassie Smith (she/her) @cassiesmith.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Completed the trifecta of #CostcoByBike options from central Ottawa today with a trip to Gatineau's. And my first time with the GSD longtail. A bit more time to load up, but I still fit a ton. Route: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Parking: ⭐ Roundtrip Time/distance: 40 mins, 24km

Teal GSD with a loaded storm box and box on front against the wall by bike rack at Costco

Two large grocery boxes full of food plus stacks and bags of other assorted purchases.

View of handlebars full from Costco heading on to an active transportation bridge

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Cassie Smith (she/her) @cassiesmith.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

I'm pretty sure this book (Shade by Sam Bloch) was a @ladybugspicnic.bsky.social recommendation based on the fact that it makes me want to rage scream on just about every page.

The book "Shade" by Sam Bloch on a shady bench in the foreground with a bike and the peace tower in the background

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Cassie Smith (she/her) @cassiesmith.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

Yikes. We were just there a few weeks ago. Our family lives nearby in Penticton 😭

The view of Okanagan Lake from the middle of Summerland

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Cassie Smith (she/her) @cassiesmith.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

Popped over to Kìwekì Point and the Museum Docks for a dip this afternoon. Great spaces, but my gosh it would be so much better without the noise pollution from Alexandria Bridge.

A tree and lots of black-eyed Susan on one side of a path and the Kìwekì Point lookout on the other. Bridge visible just behind it.

The Ottawa River with a swim dock - Alexandria bridge, National Gallery, Chateau Laurier and Parliament Hill visible on the other side of the river.

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Cassie Smith (she/her) @cassiesmith.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

This is probably our biggest haul: 2 kids in the bucket, one on a rear seat and kids bikes strapped on each side. Ran into a friend at the park who was too tired to bike home - cargo bike to the rescue!

A man rides an urban arrow e-cargo bike with a kid on a rear seat and two kids barely visible under the cover. A small red bike is visible on the side of the bucket.

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Cassie Smith (she/her) @cassiesmith.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

😭 I was shocked to find this beloved modal filter was removed today. Despite endless (endless!) consultation on most things (especially anything to make cycling safer) I didn't even get a notice that this (making streets less safe) was going to happen. @arieltroster.com I've emailed your office.

A street with cones in the middle marking raised pavement where the cement blocks used to be.

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Cassie Smith (she/her) @cassiesmith.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

I was really fascinated with how she uses such beautiful painting to capture scenes that were often pretty mundane or about work. My favourite was this one capturing fellow artists working (likely painting more traditional beach scenes).

An impressionist painting in a large gilded frame. It shows two women at the beach with a sheet laid out and art supplies.

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Cassie Smith (she/her) @cassiesmith.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

The NCC's slogan this summer is "cottage vibes without the drive" and I am here for it! Biked to Bates Island Bistro, River House, and the new East Wharf swim dock in the past 24 hours! 🚲🥂🚲🏊‍♂️🍦🚲🏊‍♂️. Everything but the food and drink is free. Incredible places for people 💞 @ncc-ccn.gc.ca

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Cassie Smith (she/her) @cassiesmith.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

Ottawa has been a leader in protected intersections. They went from rare pilot to commonplace across the city in the past decade. And not the city, but the NCC has been incredible at improving access to water, placemaking, and adding biodiversity to the city!

A protected intersection in winter with someone biking, people walking, cars and buses by a light rail train station

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Cassie Smith (she/her) @cassiesmith.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

Yes, a low but long one just outside of Okanagan Falls. I hope when the kids are bigger we can do more of the KVR!

A kid wearing a Messi jersey bikes on a gravel path towards a bridge with a wooden entry gate.

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Cassie Smith (she/her) @cassiesmith.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

Reminds me of one of my favourite vacation photos of all time. I was trying to take the second photo (a Monreal bioswale), but my kid swung around a pole right into it and has the funniest confused look on his face.

A bioswale blocked by a swinging kid with a 🤨 over their face

A lush green plant, rocks, and a sewer daylighting an intersection and providing stormwater management.

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Cassie Smith (she/her) @cassiesmith.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

I'm back home after 3 weeks travelling, mostly in the Okanagan. We spent a lot of time visiting family so my pictures aren't all about bikes—but a lot of them are 😉. Great safe and inviting stuff happening in the Interior!

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Cassie Smith (she/her) @cassiesmith.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

"I don’t know how we got to the point where the thought of providing publicly accessible and clean bathrooms to residents and visitors to Ottawa became a radical idea but it’s about time we stopped." 💯 My family was *just* admiring the hours of public bathroom at a playground in small town BC.

A sign on a door says Washrooms OPEN 7:30am - 9:00pm

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Cassie Smith (she/her) @cassiesmith.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

My @letsbikeottawa.bsky.social numbers are down a lot this year (no more daycare commute), but I did two new bike activities this month. 1) I had my first ride as a passenger on a longtail cargo bike! 2) I used the OC Transpo Rack and Roll on a live bus for the first time!

Screenshot of a bright green app. Text says; let's bike OTTAWA

by envirocentre

I've Biked:

156.2km

21 Days Biked!

2 Car Trips Saved!

-19.99kg GHG Averted!

$148.39 Money Saved!

During Let's Bike Month only rides made in the month are shown

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Cassie Smith (she/her) @cassiesmith.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

Kindergarten teachers are amazing people and I hope they appreciate these thank you cards as much as I do 💗. No notes 🤣

A card with barely decipherable artistic(?) 5 yo writing that starts THANK and then has a lot of random letters and then WHAT5YTOBA WHAYlT and a picture of rocket ships (maybe?!?)

A card that in 5yo writing says THANKSUo DEVONSHIRE HVOZ1i5w🦄u

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Cassie Smith (she/her) @cassiesmith.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

I was just saying the other day that I was surprised that I hadn't seen many platforms given all the other 90s fashion. I guess I just don't know enough cool 8th graders! I had a beloved pair kind of like these for my high school years

Screenshot of chunky blue jean platform sandals

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Cassie Smith (she/her) @cassiesmith.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

I'm at the @yowtoollibrary.bsky.social Repair Café this morning. It's the first time I've ever made it out and it's got such an amazing community vibe.

An old warehouse space with string lights and lots of people at tables and standing around.

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Cassie Smith (she/her) @cassiesmith.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

Our fourth annual End of Year bike bus celebration was a smashing success. My friend riding with me said it was the best morning she's had in years 💗. I love the support from my family, friends, school community, city councillors, staff, advocacy groups. Wow wow wow!

Cassie with an adult passenger riding in the cargo bike backseat and kids and adults biking behind.

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Cassie Smith (she/her) @cassiesmith.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

Tonight the family bike did double duty: dropped me off to pickup dinner (then walk to a picnic) then went on to get the kids from afterschool and bring them there too.

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Cassie Smith (she/her) @cassiesmith.bsky.social · 07/06/2026

4. There is so much untapped potential for e-bikes in Ottawa!!!

Screenshot from Pedal Poll:

Trillium Pathway, Ottawa 0 Ontario, Canada

Carling Ave

Madan

Map data ©2026 Google

I observed 436 bikes on June 7, 2026 between 12:01 PM and 2:00 PM at Trillium Pathway, Ottawa.

Bikes

E-bikes

Cargo

396

37

3

E-scooters

3

Pedestrians

117

E-moto

Total counted: 558

Pedal Poll / Sondo Vélo 2026

velocanadabikes.org/pedalpoll

VELO CANADA BIKES mitacs

CHATR

CapaCITY/É

Brock

Faculty of Applied Health Sciences

eco counter

2

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Cassie Smith (she/her) @cassiesmith.bsky.social · 07/06/2026

3. This intersection is terrible. I use it often so not a surprise, but yikes after watching for two hours... Only two cyclists have dismounted and one of them was intimidated by a driver for walking their bike (in case you wonder why people don't dismount). We need BXOs in Ontario stat!

A multiuse path crosses a street. People on bikes on both sides. They see a stop sign and dismount. Drivers see a yield to pedestrians.

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Cassie Smith (she/her) @cassiesmith.bsky.social · 06/06/2026

I logged this morning's fun recreational ride with my eldest on @letsbikeottawa.bsky.social and saw that participants have already surpassed 100,000 km in just over 5 days. Amazing! #Ottawa #OttBike

A screenshot from letsbike.ca it says:

ONGOING

June 2026

1,980

Logged a ride!

195 Teams!

102.9K

Kms logged!

13,168 kg

GHG averted!

3,291

Car trips saved!

About Us

Our Sponsors

17 YEARS OF CELEBRATING BIKES PEDAL TO WIN!

INSPIRATION |

EVENTS |

INFORMATION

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Cassie Smith (she/her) @cassiesmith.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

🙌🏼 It's officially Let's Bike Month Ottawa @letsbikeottawa.bsky.social 💚! We had a lot of fun cheering on the people who biked (and walked, scooted, roller bladed, and took the train or bus) by Bayview Station this morning. Almost 5,000km already logged today. Add yours at letsbike.ca

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Cassie Smith (she/her) @cassiesmith.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

I started my grocery list (blue). 5 yo finished it while I was doing something else 🤣

A whiteboard of notes:
The first line in half blue and half green says coriander D.
Then there are 18 more lines of green that say coriander D in (pretty neat) 5 yo writing.

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Cassie Smith (she/her) @cassiesmith.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

This impulsive post a while back led to a big development. Our big bike is going to spend the summer with another family so they can enjoy biking with an infant & toddler. I hope they will have as many special memories as we do. More longtail and individual bike rides ahead for these big kids.

An urban Arrow with rain cover and two kids with emoji over their faces.

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Cassie Smith (she/her) @cassiesmith.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

Thanks for the reminder! I'm signed up now. 5 years running and I still find it so interesting. My helpers are no longer so easily contained or entertained though 😉

An abacus, a folding chair and a stroller in a patch of grass. A sign on the stroller says #PedalPoll

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Cassie Smith (she/her) @cassiesmith.bsky.social · 15/05/2026

Today our #DevonshireBikeBus celebrated its third birthday 🥳. And I got to participate with a special ride in the cargo bike box (was sedated yesterday for day surgery and not allowed to drive).

A group of adults and kids biking to school

Cassie sits in the front of an urban Arrow cargo bike. A man wearing a blue jacket is riding

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Cassie Smith (she/her) @cassiesmith.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

And in a further presentation by UoT prof Baher Abdulhai: Congestion pricing is inevitable.

A conference room with people at tables and a speaker at podium. The presentation slide says Congestion Pricing Inevitable with several points.

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Cassie Smith (she/her) @cassiesmith.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

At the OTC Summit this morning, we're hearing from Toronto's Chief Congestion Officer on how to solve gridlock in Toronto. One of the key pillars of their plan is shifting how people move (including working with employers, adding bike lanes and bike share!!).

A conference room with people at tables and a man speaking at podium. The slide behind the speakers has icons and text that says Pillar 5

Shift How People Travel

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Cassie Smith (she/her) @cassiesmith.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

Appropriate book to launch into today as I head to Kingston for the Ontario Traffic Summit. Looking forward to learning from and building on the bold action women are leading on around the world. Thanks @modacitylife.com for sharing your expertise and these stories with all of us!

The cover of a book called Women Changing Cities: Global stories of urban transformation held up with the Ottawa VIA station in the background

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Cassie Smith (she/her) @cassiesmith.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

This was a great event - thanks to Brigil & partners for hosting and sorry I missed you Toon! My biggest takeaway: we need to point out the absurdity of cities & residents being scared of nature (for example water) but totally fine with the status quo of road violence and poor air quality.

A man stands under a screen with a picture of a rendering of a wading pool

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Cassie Smith (she/her) @cassiesmith.bsky.social · 26/04/2026

Also disappointing that such a bikable neighbourhood has no infrastructure to get to the local library.

Google maps on cycling layer with the library on the middle and only a couple of dotted lines (terrible!) or playground bike lanes.

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