iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

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

That's awesome! And it seems like a perfect example of how important it is to have people you know and trust using cycling to get around - it's not just build it and they will come. Some research looked at exactly this earlier this year: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

sciencedirect.com

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Vélo Canada Bikes @velocanadabikes.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

That's why we're thrilled to have EnviroCentre as the titanium event sponsor for Bike Day on the Hill 2026. Through programs that make cycling more accessible, EnviroCentre is helping more people choose active transportation in their daily lives.

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Vélo Canada Bikes @velocanadabikes.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Join us on Tuesday evening for Bike Day on the Hill—a gathering on Parliament Hill to celebrate everyday cycling in Canada. Cycling is a practical climate solution because it helps reduce emissions, improves air quality, and gives people an affordable way to get around.

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

Yes, we put studded tires on, definitely helpful for slippery days! If you're sliding I think it would be worth a try (I've heard even just switching the front tire to studded makes a big difference)

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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

Could have been the same vehicle but I didn't pick it up until afternoon. They are really popular so nearly always booked up on weekends.

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

Being unable to see and care for a baby in the backseat was something I struggled with so much with my first and was what attracted us to cargo bikes. Baby 2 and I were SO much happier with the nearly immediate ability to provide care and feedback on a bike.

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

3. We own one small car so for rare trips like this with more passengers we use carshare. Way better than everyone needing their own big vehicle and more affordable than car ownership.

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

2. So, we provided transportation for all the kids: no one left out if they couldn't get a ride + only one car adding traffic and pollution

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

1. My kid really wanted to go to a trampoline park that is in a very industrial suburban location for his birthday. There's nothing comparable that was easy to transit or bike to and there could be. Making kid-centred activities car dependent is a choice.

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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

More on the Lego city here: bsky.app/profile/cass...

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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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ebikes-international @ebikesinternatl.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Don't Miss Bike Day on the Hill a Non-Partisan Cycling Celebration on Oct. 6 at Parliament Hill #cycling #ebikes #cargobikes #smartmobility tinyurl.com/4ejmykr8

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

Or manufacturers! Why oh why does the speedometer on my car show up to 200km/hr. Speed limit cars AND e-bikes.

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Mike Schreiner @mikeschreiner.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Put another way, Ford wants to spend more on removing bike lanes in Toronto ($48M) than he's spent protecting all of Ontario's businesses from an international trade war. Ontario deserves serious leadership, that follows through on promises, and actually puts people before profits.

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Cassie Smith (she/her) @cassiesmith.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

I'm pretty sure I'm one of the 124 - a pretty elite group 🤣🍁

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School of Cities @uoftcities.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Revisiting this report today, which concludes that ending Indigenous homelessness demands a transformation of how Indigenous-led housing interventions are understood & funded. Indigenous orgs. are leading the way, yet the report exposes systemic barriers ow.ly/UHXs50ZSUsJ

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A. Zivarts @nondriver.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

What would your life be like if you couldn't drive? This week is #WeekWithoutDriving which is all about understanding what it's like to be a nondriver. @devinsilvernail.bsky.social & I launched @nondriverpodcast.bsky.social to share these stories. Search for 'nondriver' wherever you watch/listen

youtube.com

nondriver

30% of people in the US & Canada can't or don't drive. nondriver is a podcast about the lives and stories of those people, hosted by Anna Zivarts and Devin Silvernail. Every episode, we talk to peopl...

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Cassie Smith (she/her) @cassiesmith.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

This year's #WeekWithoutDriving snuck up on me, but I'm happy to see this post from last year is still resonating with people. Follow the hashtag, @nondriver.bsky.social & @nondriverpodcast.bsky.social to learn about the campaign and how you can examine your transportation options & decisions.

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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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Kea Wilson @keawilson.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Wrote about why transportation reformers kind of suck at helping the public imagine getting around any another way, why it's essential that we learn, and how to be ambitious when we do it.

usa.streetsblog.org

Transportation Reform Has an Imagination Problem — Streetsblog USA

How can we make our cities less dependent on cars if our neighbors can't even imagine themselves getting on the bus?

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Cassie Smith (she/her) @cassiesmith.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Thank you! I have some spare time for exploring and looking forward to bike/ferrying about.

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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 · 27/09/2026

I'm heading to Vancouver next week (North Van specifically). Seeking recommendations for the best gluten-free vegan eats!

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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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Mike Eliason @holz-bau.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

chat is this good?

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Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

What if every city that declared a #ClimateEmergency actually acted like it’s an emergency? What if every city that committed to #VisionZero actually acted like they meant it, prioritizing human lives in decision-making? What if every city’s budget actually reflect their approved plans & visions?

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Richard Larouche @drrichardlarouche.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

✅Increased traffic ✅Decreasing local business revenue ✅Higher healthcare costs ✅Worst mental health ✅Less productive workforce ✅Lower physical activity ✅Higher risk of collisions ✅Increased carbon emissions These are some of the negative consequences to be expected from removal of #bikelanes

momentummag.com

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

It's pretty hard for 7-11 year olds to run wearing backpacks that are nearly half their size. They usually bike with them, but running is a different story.

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

That's so kind! I'm pretty sure we have a bungee net (I had to zoom in on the photo, surprised it wasn't on!). I don't think we're near our cargo capacity just yet, but if we get close I'll let you know ☺️

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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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Elections Ottawa @vote.ottawa.ca · 24/09/2026

Are you planning to vote during Special Advance Voting Days? Bring your little ones with you! The Voters in Training event for the 2026 Municipal Elections will take place at all voting places from October 1-4, during which time Ottawa’s future voters can cast their own ballot. #ItStartsHere

Photo of a child standing behind an “Électeurs en herbe” sign from Élections Ottawa. The sign reads “Voters in Training / Électeurs en herbe” and “I voted / J'ai voté.”

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Cassie Smith (she/her) @cassiesmith.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

I watched Cool Hand Luke a few weeks ago. Luke went to prison and the chain gang for chopping down parking meters!

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Broadbent Institute @broadbent.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Read more on 'Breaking Free of Neoliberalism in Trump Times' by Broadbent Research Fellow Alex Himelfarb (@alexhim.bsky.social), reviewed by @clementnocos.bsky.social. 📖 perspectivesjournal.ca/neoliberal-capture

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Kevin M. Kruse @kevinmkruse.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

My entire life I've heard centrists scolding leftist candidates with "oh, but how will we pay for all that? isn't your agenda unreasonable? shouldn't we run on a modest proposal for means-tested tax rebates?" Then Mamdani gets elected and makes it all look pretty easy. No wonder they hate him.

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Spokane Rising @spokanerising.com · 23/09/2026

A fatal crash killed a motorcyclist over the weekend on N Ash. So today, Spokane’s traffic crews deployed its first “Emergency Streets” installation—rapid traffic calming to slow drivers, close a lane, and evaluate whether street design played a role. More info: my.spokanecity.org/news/release...

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Cassie Smith (she/her) @cassiesmith.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Also my mother-in-law broke her femur many years ago and recovery was long and convoluted and she still has some trouble walking. But she was telling us about her 60km e-bike ride last week!

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Cassie Smith (she/her) @cassiesmith.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Get people e-bikes and it opens up their eyes to how easy biking for transportation is - example 738: My in-laws (who bought e-bikes last year) are visiting and now they are the ones suggesting we bike to get places not me!

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Ariel Troster @arieltroster.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

I had the best time at the Kidical Mass ride to the Climate March rally this morning. Safe cycling facilities give kids independence, reduce emissions, prevent accidents and improve health outcomes.

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Cassie Smith (she/her) @cassiesmith.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

And I am grateful to have supporters like Cllr Troster who champion safe and active spaces for kids around the council table and in the community.

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Lib Dem Friends of Cycling 🔶🚲 @libdemcycling.org.uk · 20/09/2026

We are delighted that motion F16 at #LibDemConference passed. This policy recognises that promoting walking, wheeling and cycling is not just transport policy - it's also preventive healthcare, environmental action, and economic common sense. @ollyglover.bsky.social

libdems.org.uk

Getting the Nation Walking, Wheeling and Cycling

Liberal Democrats believe active travel is not just transport policy - it is preventive healthcare, environmental action, and economic common sense.

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Kidical Mass Ottawa @kidicalmassottawa.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

It's Kidical Mass to the Climate March today! 🚲🌎🚲 We're getting ready to see you soon. Reuse a cereal box to make a sign, or pick up one of these extras our team has put together! #SafeStreetsForKids #ThisMachineFightsClimateChange

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Harvey J. Miller @mobileharv.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Private flights, used by an estimated 256,000 people (just 0.003% of the world’s population), are the most polluting form of transport, producing direct carbon emissions 10 to 14 times greater per passenger than commercial aviation travel.

theguardian.com

Private jets pollute up to 14 times as much as commercial planes and are undertaxed in US, report says

Number of private jets has surged in recent years, but they do not pay commensurate portion of fees to FAA operations

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Melissa & Chris Bruntlett @modacitylife.com · 19/09/2026

Urban planning debates are often dominated by a small but highly motivated minority. Public meetings, consultation processes, and media coverage can create the false impression that a noisy group of opponents represents the majority view, even when the broader public quietly feels very differently.🧵

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Rebecca Bligh @rebeccaleebligh.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

We’ve invested in cycling infrastructure. Now let’s make biking downtown easier. Vote Vancouver proposes free, secure seasonal bike valets using underused EasyPark lots and other City-owned spaces. Use space we already own. Measure what works. Make everyday life easier.

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Cassie Smith (she/her) @cassiesmith.bsky.social · 21/06/2025

One of my favourite things about bike bus is it takes the mundane and says this can be fun, this can be a way to build community, this can help make positive change. Thanks to everyone inspiring and supporting these efforts in my little corner and all around the world. 💗

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