Sign in

Hans on the Bike

@hansonthebike.bsky.social
877 followers 110 following 917 posts

Writes about casual cycling. Canadian Governor General’s Award, Mayor’s Office Award for cycling advocacy, Bruce Timmermans award for cycling advocacy twice. Most likely the only Dutch cycling advocate mentioned in the Ontario and Saskatchewan Hansards.

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by Hans on the Bike
Nora Loreto @nolore.bsky.social · 19h
In Quebec City, an 11 year old boy was killed while he was on his bike earlier this year. A ceremony set for this weekend to install a ghost bike was cancelled because the boy's family has been inundated with hateful messages because ... speed bumps have been installed.
921164
Reposted by Hans on the Bike
Vision Zero Ottawa @visionzeroottawa.bsky.social · 14/10/2026
Today a person lost their life on Ottawa’s roads. We will never know the details. This person has a family and community grieving a life cut short. We know that our city has a road safety policy of accepting tragedy as inevitable. This is an outcome. Not an accident. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Pictured is a Google street view of Strandherd and Cresthaven. While we don’t know details, this intersection is 7-8 lanes across, pedestrians would be challenged to cross safely with this road design.
21911
Hans on the Bike @hansonthebike.bsky.social · 15/10/2026
The gloves are off. Mark is really not honest here, starting to use #ottbike as a wedge issue. Does he feel threatened? That plan was Catherine’s plan in their platform four years ago, and it could’ve been funded by low interest Green Bonds. I know, I shouldn’t even respond.
191
Reposted by Hans on the Bike
Adam Hunt 🇨🇦 @gander22h.bsky.social · 14/10/2026
Due to zero enforcement we already have this in Ottawa. I have talked to people with 450 lb electric motorcycles that can do 80 km/h and have no pedals which were being operated on an NCC bike path with an "ebike" plate on them. I saw a gasoline-powered Harley with an "ebike" plate on it ....
021
Reposted by Hans on the Bike
Julie S. Lalonde @julieslalonde.bsky.social · 14/10/2026
Being GenX/Millennial is such a trip. In our lifetimes, we saw people our age getting wild criminal penalties for pirating music and now have to sit and watch as companies gobble up our work with impunity.
98128513784
Reposted by Hans on the Bike
Denny Carter @dennycarter.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
I think a shocking number of our major societal problems would vanish overnight if you could magically pull the plug on the X platform and Meta, both of which are carefully designed to turn people into the worst version of themselves.
904782847
Reposted by Hans on the Bike
KGE hockey fan 🇨🇦🍁 @kbyrd.bsky.social · 14/10/2026
Is it so addictive? I had no trouble switching to another platform.
011
Reposted by Hans on the Bike
KGE hockey fan 🇨🇦🍁 @kbyrd.bsky.social · 14/10/2026
Staying on X at this point is unpatriotic and bad for your critical thinking skills. I am furious that govt depts remain on the misinformation app and disappointed that smart people like @naomiaklein.bsky.social can’t walk away. www.nationalobserver.com/2026/10/14/o...
nationalobserver.com
Quitting X is the easy bit, but Canada's leaders can't even do that
For many of the country's most high-profile individuals, Elon Musk's social platform is a test. They're currently failing it.
122
Reposted by Hans on the Bike
andrew.ottawa 🇨🇦 @ottawandrew.bsky.social · 14/10/2026
8 pedestrians killed by drivers so far in 2026. Pedestrian struck, killed in Barrhaven | CBC News www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
cbc.ca
Pedestrian struck, killed in Barrhaven | CBC News
A pedestrian was struck and killed by a vehicle Wednesday morning in south Ottawa's Barrhaven neighbourhood, according to paramedics.
285
Reposted by Hans on the Bike
Doug van den Ham @dvdham.bsky.social · 13/10/2026
I always tell people to go mid-drive: Bosch, Shimano, or Giant. You get a bike that is safe, will last, is repairable at local shops, and is compliant with the law.
011
Hans on the Bike @hansonthebike.bsky.social · 13/10/2026
Sadly, I may have to toss this #Dutch national railways 90% functional #umbrella out bc of one of the arms that broke in two. Unless someone knows how to replace it. Also missing a yellow cap at the far end. @ns.nl
000
Hans on the Bike @hansonthebike.bsky.social · 13/10/2026
There is a good chance that Ontario goes this way too with pedal less motorbikes concealed as 1000W, throttle only “e-bikes”, which really are light motorcycles. #ottbike #ottcity #cycling
irishcycle.com
With pedals or not: Gardaí deliver warning on bicycle-shaped objects counted as mopeds
A takeaway not delivered, or at least delayed, might have been the hook, but Gardaí in Kilkenny used their Facebook page to deliver a more serious message which applies nationwide: Using souped-up …
372
Hans on the Bike @hansonthebike.bsky.social · 13/10/2026
Glad I don’t work outdoors today in #ottcity
140
Hans on the Bike @hansonthebike.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
This bottom AI burger 🍔 and fries 🍟 with tax comes to $30 now.
110
Reposted by Hans on the Bike
alexcullen.bsky.social @alexcullen.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
Yup. And who campaigned last election on making transit work? Sutcliffe. And who voted for #OCTranspo service cuts and fare increases? Sutcliffe. Just saying ...
11912
Hans on the Bike @hansonthebike.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
I wonder if there are enough contractors who can even take that much work on in #Ottcity
232
Reposted by Hans on the Bike
Pat Bickerton @pbickerton.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
The city replaces something like 20 km of pipe a year. Assuming an average age of replacement of 80-100 yrs were soon approaching a needed rate of replacement that is ~8x the rate we are currently doing. Just imagine 8x the amount of road construction. That's what we're looking at.
173
Reposted by Hans on the Bike
Jordan Moffatt @jordanmoffatt.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
These homes on Sherwood Drive look normal, sure. But did you know they’re the site of the only residential zoning appeal in Ottawa to reach the Supreme Court of Canada? It’s a wild story of secret council meetings, expropriations, fake highways—and a side of mustard. 🧵Thread…
Two houses on a residential street
23215
Hans on the Bike @hansonthebike.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
Nobody bikes to a mall on Merivale and definitely not in October in #Ottcity (unf. the mall owners here removed two of the four #ottbike racks this spring)
A bike rack with 6 parked bikesA bike rack with 2 parked bikes A bike tied to a tree but lying on the ground
0131
Reposted by Hans on the Bike
Laine Johnson @lainejohnson.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
Adorbs. #collegeward
0214
Reposted by Hans on the Bike
Gio Petti @giopetti.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Four Candidates. One Big Problem. Happy to announce 'WHO'S GOING TO FIX TRANSIT?' a new special where I sit down with Ottawa's Mayoral Candidates on how they plan to fix the transit system. Premiering October 16th on Rogers TV and YouTube 🚏🚍 #ottawa #cndpoli #publictransit
3128
Hans on the Bike @hansonthebike.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
#Dutch bike brands rescued. But what are you really buying? A Taiwan made frame ordered by a Singapore group, assembled in Hungary and sold in Canada? #ottbike #cycling #bike
040
Hans on the Bike @hansonthebike.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Just some pics from my #ottbike ride to Nepean in #Ottcity
070
Hans on the Bike @hansonthebike.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
#ottbike
070
Reposted by Hans on the Bike
Vélo Canada Bikes @velocanadabikes.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Two Senators and 16 MPs (including 2 Ministers and 1 party leader) gathered with international dignitaries, industry champions, representatives from national organizations, bike advocates and local cyclists to celebrate #BikeDayOnTheHill 2026. Thank you to everyone who supported!
0127
Hans on the Bike @hansonthebike.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
As I predicted in my blog post last week, dire warnings with burned out “e-bike” (the small bikes with the 20” tires) pics are out this week in the main stream media bc it is National Fire Prevention week. Yet in #ottcity only 2 of the 1500+ fires were fires caused by a faulty bike battery. 🤷‍♂️
cbc.ca
What to know about lithium battery fire risk | CBC News
Firefighters have raised alarms about hot, fast, hard-to-extinguish fires in lithium batteries from e-bikes in people's homes and huge storage batteries at a P.E.I. solar farm. Here's why lithium batt...
020
Hans on the Bike @hansonthebike.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Another new Ward 9 candidate in #ottcity believes: “the City has prioritized cycling out of proportion to how most residents actually travel. Every dollar spent on it should be justified by actual use and actual safety outcomes”. Who’se going to tell him? #ottbike #DougFordVibes
140
Hans on the Bike @hansonthebike.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
A new candidate in Ward9 in #ottcity does not seem to understand people actually #ottbike to work. “Where a cycling link is warranted — to a school, a park, or an existing pathway — build it so it *does not remove the capacity* residents use to get to work” #DougFordVibes (no capacity is removed)
2162
Hans on the Bike @hansonthebike.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Iirc, the city of The Hague closed some streets for most traffic because residents went to court for the high level of toxic particles in the air. They removed traffic instead of the patios. @bicycledutch.bsky.social
020
Reposted by Hans on the Bike
It's Jamie @sjamieit.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
My mother-in-law, who hadn't been on a bicycle since the 1980s, visited us last year and we biked to toddler swimming class together. She's now biking 40 minutes to work everyday in Montreal because she has a separated bike lane the whole way there.
2169580
Reposted by Hans on the Bike
Maxime Combes @maximecombes.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Des glaciers ont littéralement disparu pendant l'été. Ici un glacier emblématique du Parc national des Ecrins et du massif de la Meije, à plus de 3600 mètres d'altitude, le galcier carré. #Canicule #Eté2026 Photo via le Parc national des Ecrins F. de Montety & @MeteoGrenoble38
3 photos du glacier carré dans le massif de la Meije, dans le Parc national des Ecrins.
25398260
Reposted by Hans on the Bike
Sean Marshall @seanyyz.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Hamilton continues to do a thing that Toronto gave up on in 2022: Open Streets. I went out last Sunday to check it out, and it’s wonderful. seanmarshall.ca/2026/10/03/o...
seanmarshall.ca
Open Streets in Hamilton
Hamilton hosts a popular and successful Open Streets event every year along King Street East. In 2027, Toronto should strive to be at least as ambitious.
44413
Hans on the Bike @hansonthebike.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
“The entire urban landscape—from neighbourhood design and highway planning to mall layouts and building setbacks—has been whittled down to […]: How do we accommodate the maximum number of cars moving at the maximum speed from point A to point B 1/2
263
Reposted by Hans on the Bike
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.
188
Reposted by Hans on the Bike
Jamey Evenstar @jameyevenstar.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
It’s Week Without Driving, ya’ll. Hear the story about how I went car free nine years ago as a mom of five kids. I hope it inspires someone to give it a try for just one week. It’s actually an amazing way to connect with our city and much easier and safer than you think! #weekwithoutdriving
27117
Reposted by Hans on the Bike
Sean Devine @seandevine9.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
If you want to see more of Sean and Shawn, then I could use you as a volunteer on my campaign. There's still 3 weeks left to go, and we're going to keep knocking on doors and making phone calls right up until the end. Sign up to help today! www.seandevine2026.ca/volunteer
seandevine2026.ca
Sign up to Volunteer
012
Reposted by Hans on the Bike
Jim Mike @whatfuntimes.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Maybe the NCC and Ottawa can do the pedestrianization thing now that they can file it under copying something England is doing. #ottawa
2104
Reposted by Hans on the Bike
Edward Xie @edwardxie.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
In ERs, we see the impact of unsafe roads regularly. Cities with good bike infrastructure have fewer deaths and greater safety for all, regardless of whether they’re walking, cycling or driving. Ontario gov should reconsider how to spend $48 mil Improve lives - not put them at risk #bikeTO #onpoli
youtube.com
Why hundreds of doctors are fighting Ford’s removal of Toronto bike lanes
YouTube video by CBC News Toronto
119296
Reposted by Hans on the Bike
Community Bikeways - TCBC @bikewaysto.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Guess which bike lanes had biggest % increase over past 4 months in Toronto, based on data from permanent counters? BIKE LANES ON BLOOR in ETOBICOKE, of course! From 79,000 in 2025 to 97,000 in 2026. An upward trajectory that will continue w surging local popn in res towers+BikeShare #biketo #onpoli
03319
Reposted by Hans on the Bike
Doug van den Ham @dvdham.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
I remember when, only four years ago, Sutcliffe relentlessly attacked an opponent for proposing to take on debt to build just $250m of critical transportation infrastructure.
34813
Hans on the Bike @hansonthebike.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
I looked at battery fires in #ottcity bc I found the information coming out from main stream media confusing. Here’s the story. #ottbike #cycling
hansonthebike.com
The Story Behind Lithium-ion Fires in Ottawa - Hans on the Bike - Cycling in Ottawa and beyond
Are there really that many e-bike fires or does the media sensationalise it? We looked at the data in Ottawa, Canada
084
Hans on the Bike @hansonthebike.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
#Apple sauce of my first foraged apples (they were in bad shape, last of the season) in #ottcity.
060
Reposted by Hans on the Bike
Strong Towns Ottawa @strongtownsottawa.ca · 28/09/2026
Not sure what to do tonight? Come join us to discuss Walkable Cities by Jeff Speck! You don't have to have read the book to participate, all are welcome to join us! More info can be found on our event page here : luma.com/67fnnpuw
A poster depicting the Ottawa Urbanism Book Club meeting for September 28th, from 6:15-7:45pm at Sunnyside Public Library, to discuss the book "Walkable City" by Jeff Speck
041
Reposted by Hans on the Bike
Alex Wenzel @alexwenzel.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
I see 25 cars in the entire oncoming lane for that whole frame and 25 cyclists in the first 50 feet of the other lane.
113827
Reposted by Hans on the Bike
The Beaverton @thebeaverton.com · 19/03/2025
Canada places 200% tariff on little Canadian flags Americans wear while travelling
thebeaverton.com
Canada places 200% tariff on little Canadian flags Americans wear while travelling
OTTAWA – As US President Trump’s unilaterally-launched trade war continues, Canadians have struck back with counter-tariffs on a valued American item: the little Canadian flag patches Americans put on...
271073287
Reposted by Hans on the Bike
Tom Flood @tomflood.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
You take our bike lanes, we take the road. Toronto showed up Friday night. 📸 @geoffreybercarich via Instagram
Cyclists taking the lane stretching kms of a city street
231346254
Reposted by Hans on the Bike
Ariel Troster @arieltroster.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
What a stunning morning for the Step Thruu community bike ride, highlighting some of the best (and worst) cycling infrastructure in the urban core. Great to ride alongside @glengower.ca and @jchianello.bsky.social.
Ariel, Joanne and Glen with their bikes at Bayview StationCyclists lined up, a stunning background of trees with red and yellow leaves behind them Ariel and Isabel with a big group of cyclists behind them A cyclist wearing an orange vest, standing with his cargo bike with two adorable spaniels in the basket, wearing goggles
1288
Hans on the Bike @hansonthebike.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Laine is so well spoken. I hope she will be running for mayor one day. #ottcity #ottbike
240