Derrick Simpson @derricksimpson.bsky.social · 05/09/2026The Ottawa Urbanism Book Club will be meeting at Sunnyside Public Library at 6:15pm on September 28 to discuss Walkable City by Jeff Speck. One of the best and most accessible urbanism books I've ever read. No RSVP required, and reading is optional. 0104
Derrick Simpson @derricksimpson.bsky.social · 02/09/2026The Centretown Community Association is disappointed by the lack of consultation and true solutions included in Ottawa’s return to office traffic plan. Ottawa’s RTO traffic plan will lead to more traffic congestion, more road safety concerns, and more unreliable public transit in Centretown. 0194
Derrick Simpson @derricksimpson.bsky.social · 18/08/2026The Ottawa Urbanism Book Club’s social meet up and book swap is happening tonight at the Bank and Waverley Street Seats. Starts at 6:30, and there will be a lot of free books being given away. Bringing a book or RSVPing is not required! 021
Derrick Simpson @derricksimpson.bsky.social · 13/08/2026The Ottawa Urbanism Book Club is hosting a social meet up and book swap this Tuesday, August 18 at 6:30 pm at the Bank and Waverley Street Seats. Already had people let me know they’re bringing a big selection of architecture and urbanism books to give away. Bringing a book is not required! 092
Derrick Simpson @derricksimpson.bsky.social · 31/07/2026Ottawa is so cooked on return to office. We spent an hour and 10 minutes in traffic for what’s a 12 minute drive outside of rush hour. Makes me sad that OC Transpo has gotten so much worse, and people are not being allowed to work from home more often. God help all of us in September. 56113
Derrick Simpson @derricksimpson.bsky.social · 22/07/2026Among a lot of issues I think my biggest issue is #27, restricting road closures downtown for events. Whether they are going to do it or not is one thing, but to do it with no consultation, not even discussing at a committee meeting first is unacceptable. 030
Derrick Simpson @derricksimpson.bsky.social · 13/07/2026Went to the beach in a very car dependent area in Southern Ontario and a person that joined us spent 30 minutes looking for parking. All the parking was free. If parking was priced based on demand, finding parking would be easy! 081
Derrick Simpson @derricksimpson.bsky.social · 07/07/2026I can’t recommend The Years of Lyndon Johnson book series by Robert Caro highly enough. Just finished the 2nd book and so far it’s shaping up to be even better than The Power Broker. The best piece of media I’ve ever read on the extent some people will go to acquire power. 140
Derrick Simpson @derricksimpson.bsky.social · 02/07/2026The next Ottawa Urbanism Book Club will be July 27 at 6:15pm at Sunnyside Public Library. We’ll be discussing Emergent Tokyo: Designing the Spontaneous City by Jorge Almazán. Reading is optional and RSVP is not required. 190
Derrick Simpson @derricksimpson.bsky.social · 29/06/2026I mostly like Ottawa’s E-Scooter system, but I can’t stop thinking about how much better bike share would be. Makes me sad that Ottawa is showing no real urgency in setting up a bike share program. Most major Canadian cities have bike share, we should too! 1202
Derrick Simpson @derricksimpson.bsky.social · 28/06/2026Finally visited the Chinatown Street Seats early this morning and man it’s nice. Best part is definitely the ping pong table, the shade is a nice touch too. 0161
Derrick Simpson @derricksimpson.bsky.social · 19/03/2026The Centretown Community Association has sent a letter suggesting changes and improvements to the Bank Street Transit Study. As the busiest bus corridor in Ottawa, Bank street needs to prioritize moving people over cars. 44511
Derrick Simpson @derricksimpson.bsky.social · 04/02/2026Shoutout to @stephanieplante.bsky.social for speaking out on unfair transit reliability issues downtown. Thank you for stating your commitment to bus-only lanes and transit priority signals. Let’s speed up the 6, 7 and more urban routes! cc: @arieltroster.com @shawnmenard.bsky.social 2165
Derrick Simpson @derricksimpson.bsky.social · 16/01/2026We don’t talk enough about how slowly the City of Ottawa moves to help residents. The Bank Street Transit Study was first proposed in 2021, and its implementation has been delayed again. The worst part? The study’s proposal includes just 2 hours of combined bus lanes a day! 4204
Derrick Simpson @derricksimpson.bsky.social · 10/01/2026Part of the issue is the cancellations are generally at peak times, and generally comes from high freq routes, so it's very noticeable people and severely hurts ridership (and fare revenue). These screenshots are from Monday and Wednesday this week. @arieltroster.com @shawnmenard.bsky.social 140
Derrick Simpson @derricksimpson.bsky.social · 09/01/2026Next Ottawa Urbanism Book Club on January 26 will discuss Ottawology by @tonyadavidson.bsky.social We meet at 6:15pm at Sunnyside Public Library. All are welcome and reading is optional! 050
Derrick Simpson @derricksimpson.bsky.social · 01/01/2026I didn’t write this and only came across it recently, but it sums up well why I stopped posting on social media so much. It’s nice being able to walk around Ottawa and other cities and just enjoy them for what they are. 170
Derrick Simpson @derricksimpson.bsky.social · 31/12/2025Former Nepean Mayor D. Aubrey Moodie claims to be the first in Ontario to levy development charges 020
Derrick Simpson @derricksimpson.bsky.social · 13/12/2025Great news: The Dalhousie Community Association has set a letter supporting improving bus mobility on Bank Street, including requesting to extend the study into Centretown. Love to see it! cc @bearswim.bsky.social @arieltroster.com @shawnmenard.bsky.social 091
Derrick Simpson @derricksimpson.bsky.social · 18/10/2025The musical acrobatics event in the Byward market last night was a great example of the potential of our neighbourhoods when we pedestrianize streets and prioritize people. More space for people, more business, more fun. 2123
Derrick Simpson @derricksimpson.bsky.social · 05/10/2025The LRT being closed for maintenance on Panda Game weekend is such a confusing and poor decision. Ottawa consistently forgets to think of the needs of students and transit riders when making decisions. 6368
Derrick Simpson @derricksimpson.bsky.social · 30/09/2025Thanks to everyone who came to yesterday’s Ottawa Urbanism Book Club. Amazes me that after 2 years we’re still sharing ideas and listening to each other on how we can improve our city. 091
Derrick Simpson @derricksimpson.bsky.social · 29/09/2025Ahead of tonight’s Ottawa Urbanism Book Club, here’s my favourite quote from Strong Towns. Meeting at 6:15 pm tonight at Sunnyside Public Library. All welcome, reading not required. @strongtowns.org @strongtownsottawa.ca 063
Derrick Simpson @derricksimpson.bsky.social · 22/09/2025The Centretown Community Association has sent a letter to @arieltroster.com supporting a ban on right turns on red in Centretown. “The lives of pedestrians, cyclists, and other drivers are more important than a few seconds saved at a stop light.” 1445
Derrick Simpson @derricksimpson.bsky.social · 21/09/2025The Berczy Park Dog Fountain in Toronto is a great example of a small improvement leading to big benefits. For the small price of a fountain we get a more interesting walk and increased foot traffic, a tourist attraction, and an all around more liveable and enjoyable space. 1183
Derrick Simpson @derricksimpson.bsky.social · 29/08/2025Reliability is the biggest issue, but we don’t talk enough about how unenjoyable OC Transpo can be sometimes. Yesterday riders waited outside in the rain because the bus shelter was filthy. If you want people to take transit, it needs to be clean and enjoyable. 2132
Derrick Simpson @derricksimpson.bsky.social · 27/08/2025An underrated place in Toronto that impressed me was the North York Central Library. Easy to get to by subway, connected to a mall and a beautiful outdoor square. Almost the entire outside ring was bookable rooms. Seems amazing for studying or meeting. Every new library should do this. 180
Derrick Simpson @derricksimpson.bsky.social · 18/08/2025Thanks to everyone who came out to the @strongtownsottawa.ca meetup this weekend at one of the the Uncommon Event Spaces. Who would have thought that when you make space for people, people enjoy the space. Thanks to @markomiljusevic.bsky.social for organizing. 1114
Derrick Simpson @derricksimpson.bsky.social · 17/08/2025Finally visited the nicest looking library in Canada, the Toronto Reference Library. My photos don’t do it justice. 3293
Derrick Simpson @derricksimpson.bsky.social · 14/08/2025I will never understand why Via Rail makes you arrive so early and line up to take the train. In Europe there’s often no super early arrival or huge lineup for rides between different countries. Anything we can do to make taking the train more convenient than flying, we should be doing! 4263
Derrick Simpson @derricksimpson.bsky.social · 13/08/2025Took the 4AM train from Ottawa to Toronto earlier this week. It was 90% full and basically on time. Good on Via Rail for trying something new and providing more options to riders. 1201
Derrick Simpson @derricksimpson.bsky.social · 12/08/2025What’s your urbanism take that the general public would absolutely hate? Mine is that making driving or parking less convenient can be incredibly helpful to public transit and active transportation. 11381
Derrick Simpson @derricksimpson.bsky.social · 06/08/2025I try to mostly post positive things about Ottawa, but these garbage cans at Minto Park, and elsewhere across the city, are embarrassing. If we can’t even fund proper garbage cans, how can we be trusted to fund and operate bigger things, like a functioning transit system? 4211
Derrick Simpson @derricksimpson.bsky.social · 02/08/2025Next Ottawa Urbanism Book Club will be August 25 at Sunnyside Public Library. We’ll be reading “Do Androids Dream of Electric Cars”. DM me if interested in attending. Reading optional 020
Derrick Simpson @derricksimpson.bsky.social · 25/07/2025Thought I’d try something new and learn how to solve a Rubik’s Cube through a book instead of a video. How are there 18 people waiting for a book about solving Rubik’s Cubes from the Ottawa Public Library!?!? I’m honestly not mad, I’m impressed. 350
Derrick Simpson @derricksimpson.bsky.social · 19/07/2025Two new picks ups from Perfect Books yesterday. First one is the August book for the Ottawa Urbanism Book Club, second is all about municipal finances and how we can afford them long term. Interestingly, both authors are from Winnipeg @greatplainspress.bsky.social 3111
Derrick Simpson @derricksimpson.bsky.social · 13/07/2025Finally went for a swim at Dow’s Lake yesterday and man was I impressed. Nice dock, lots of seating, and the place was packed. Consistently impressed by how much the NCC is making Ottawa more fun and enjoyable. 3293
Derrick Simpson @derricksimpson.bsky.social · 11/07/2025Had to wait months to check out the Truman Show from the Library. Ottawa is clearly a city with great taste in movies 1110
Derrick Simpson @derricksimpson.bsky.social · 09/07/2025The Street Seats Pilot Program in Centretown is looking very promising so far. Amazing what happens when you give space back to people. Photo taken last night by @jaxijin.bsky.social 0264
Derrick Simpson @derricksimpson.bsky.social · 09/07/2025Well said. And a huge number of low income and urban residents that don’t even drive have to live with the poor air quality, noise, and safety issues that come with car dependency. 050
Derrick Simpson @derricksimpson.bsky.social · 05/07/2025Instead of my normal pre-trip social media post asking for suggestions, I’m using @alexbozikovic.bsky.social’s book for ideas. Hoping to visit and write about some more suburban neighbourhoods when I visit Toronto next month. Definitely some good suggestions in here. 131
Derrick Simpson @derricksimpson.bsky.social · 27/06/2025Listening to some hot tunes on the bus this morning 🔥 1356
Derrick Simpson @derricksimpson.bsky.social · 25/06/2025I've got two articles drafted on Vancouver and what Ottawa can learn. However, the nearby city/suburb of Surrey surprised me the most. I've never seen such a strange mix of extreme density and huge parking lots and stroads. Something for Ottawa to avoid as we push to densify! 463
Derrick Simpson @derricksimpson.bsky.social · 21/06/2025Findlay Creek on the left: -big houses - higher income - relatively low density and property tax revenues - buried power lines Kent Street on the right: - many apartments - lower income - high density and huge property tax revenues - above ground power lines in some places 3185
Derrick Simpson @derricksimpson.bsky.social · 21/06/2025Part of Kent Street is up for renewal, and the City of Ottawa is refusing to bury the power lines, saying it’s too expensive. Just Kent Street brings in as much property taxes as the entire West Carleton-March Ward. Our city needs to do a better job of rewarding financially productive communities. 107724
Derrick Simpson @derricksimpson.bsky.social · 19/06/2025I am once again posting to inform you that density and nature CAN co-exist. 3191
Derrick Simpson @derricksimpson.bsky.social · 06/06/20257 months later, I have finally finished the Power Broker. Easily the great book I’ve ever read. Going to think on it for a bit, but will have an article or two about it in the coming months. 2250
Derrick Simpson @derricksimpson.bsky.social · 05/06/2025Next Ottawa Urbanism Book Club will be July 29! We’ll be discussing Messy Cities: why we can’t plan everything. Copies are available at Perfect Books on Elgin. @coachhousebooks.bsky.social DM me if interested in attending 1182
Derrick Simpson @derricksimpson.bsky.social · 04/06/2025Shoutout to @seandevine9.bsky.social for including @strongtownsottawa.bsky.social’s push for bus lanes on Bank Street in his councillor newsletter. 0274
Derrick Simpson @derricksimpson.bsky.social · 02/06/2025PRESS RELEASE: Community Groups Sponsor Mayfair Marquee to Promote Better Transit “Bus lanes on Bank street will reduce traffic, improve reliability, and have strong community support. We’re overwhelmed by the community support for better buses on Bank Street.” 0153