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John

@johnhiemstra.bsky.social
273 followers 320 following 61 posts

ottawa urbanism enjoyer.

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Reposted by John
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.
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It's Jamie @sjamieit.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
On the Tewin development, @mark-sutcliffe.bsky.social says he doesn't want to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars fighting the development. "We shouldn't waste taxpayers money on a lost cause." Meanwhile in Kanata Lakes, he's spending millions to block 1,480 homes from being constructed there.
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Brigitte Pellerin @brigittepellerin.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
We sold the old library. We can't open the new one so we're renting the old one back. And the final lease extension has just been used up. randomactsofurbanism.substack.com/p/ottawas-in...
randomactsofurbanism.substack.com
Ottawa’s incredibly shrinking library deal
Sold the old one. Can't open the new one. Renting the old one back. And the final lease extension has just been used up.
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Rail Fans Canada @railfans.ca · 14/08/2026
Update: O-Train Line 1 Operations Rideau Transit Maintenance (RTM) has started repairs to components of the overhead catenary system (OCS) between St-Laurent and Cyrville Stations. However, additional components were found to be damaged, and more time is required to safely complete this work.
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SEAN ORR @seanorr.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
Politicians celebrating the defeat of life-saving healthcare during an overdose crisis is nothing to be proud of. An overdose prevention site IS helping vulnerable people “properly.” The evidence is clear: OPS save lives, reduce public drug use, and connect users to care.
Screencap from Twitter from Sitka Media with a photo of Ken Sim and ABC councillors at a press conference. it reads "Mayor 
@KenSimCity
 says he’s “incredibly proud” of the community for successfully opposing a new overdose prevention site at 900 Helmcken:

“None of us are against helping vulnerable individuals in the city we love. All we want to do is see that it’s done properly.”
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It's Jamie @sjamieit.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
The City of Ottawa posted the raw speed data from before and after Doug Ford banned speed cameras and the effect is so obvious it's not even necessary put a line marking when that happened. This chart shows the percentage of drivers going 15km/h or more over the posted limit.
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Jason Thorne @jasonthorne.bsky.social · 25/04/2026
A park taking over the street! This street in Toronto has been permanently closed and transformed into an extension and pedestrian connection to Joel Weeks Park.
Before image. A residential street scene featuring green trees along the sidewalks, parked cars on both sides, and a clear blue sky with white clouds. Traffic signs and a bus stop are visible.
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Laine Johnson @lainejohnson.bsky.social · 09/03/2026
Some excerpts from my piece about the state of Ottawa's public transit. Read it in the images or at www.college-ward.ca/out_of_servi... Since 2022, I’ve been wrestling with myself over a feeling of powerlessness about OC Transpo, in conflict with my ability as a decision maker to affect change.
Image of the text of an essay outlining problems and solutions to Ottawa's transit issues, page 1. The full text can be found on the CollegeWard website.Image of the text of an essay outlining problems and solutions to Ottawa's transit issues, page 2. The full text can be found on the CollegeWard website.
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Urban Truth Collective @urbantruth.bsky.social · 27/02/2026
If we don’t build housing to solve homelessness, we don’t really want to solve homelessness. #UrbanTruth
Picture of a social/supportive housing project in the Yaletown community in downtown Vancouver. Text says “if we don’t build housing to solve homelessness, we don’t really want to solve homelessness.” Logo of the urban truth collective in the corner.
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Derrick Simpson @derricksimpson.bsky.social · 08/02/2026
This is bad, but then you realize that most cancellations likely happened at peak times and it starts to look really really bad. Peak time cancellations on the busiest routes means more unhappy riders, more traffic, and less fare revenue for an already broke system. www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/artic...
ctvnews.ca
These were the most cancelled OC Transpo bus routes in January
Two bus routes that serve downtown Ottawa and a route that runs between Blair Station and Tunney’s Pasture had the highest percentage of bus trip cancellations in January, as OC Transpo dealt with a b...
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bikeview.ca @bikeviewca.bsky.social · 29/01/2026
Lansdowne disaster will result in injury or death for a pedestrian or cyclist. A thread of traffic of heavy equipment. A driver almost rear ending someone, then honking at them, then not looking for pedestrians to the right @shawnmenard.bsky.social @mayormarksutcliffe.bsky.social
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John @johnhiemstra.bsky.social · 29/01/2026
Attending the Alliance to End Homelessness event about Lessons in Emergency Shelter Transformation with Sandra Clarkson, Micheal Lethby, and Jennifer McKelvie tonight. Will share quotes and takeaways in this thread.
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John @johnhiemstra.bsky.social · 28/01/2026
In an Acquisition Update provided to council we learn the total cost of the Boundary Road waste management site was $95 million with an additional $1 million for taxes and land transfer costs.
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John @johnhiemstra.bsky.social · 28/01/2026
Sutcliffe on taxes: “Our tax increases have averaged about 3% per year, the lowest of any major city in the country”
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John @johnhiemstra.bsky.social · 28/01/2026
Sutcliffe on homelessness: “We have dramatically increased capacity so this winter fortunately we’re not running out of space to support vulnerable residents”
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John @johnhiemstra.bsky.social · 28/01/2026
Sutcliffe: “In a few months we’ll be considering a new bylaw to protect religious and cultural spaces, hospitals, schools, retirement centres. From protests that harass residents.”
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John @johnhiemstra.bsky.social · 28/01/2026
Sutcliffe: “We’re continuing to work towards uploading the LRT to the provincial government”
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John @johnhiemstra.bsky.social · 28/01/2026
Sutcliffe on transit: “I know it’s been very difficult … but the system will get better and better in the weeks and months ahead, it will get more reliable” #ottpoli
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John @johnhiemstra.bsky.social · 28/01/2026
Mayor Sutcliffe’s opening remarks to council about residents’ priorities in 2022: Building Affordable Housing Fixing Public Transit Improving Transportation Throughout the City
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John @johnhiemstra.bsky.social · 17/01/2026
This would be an incredible step towards making Ottawa feel like a real city and not four suburbs in a trench coat
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Better Transit Ottawa @bettertransitottawa.ca · 16/01/2026
Last week, there were days where 41% of scheduled trips were missing from the roads OC Transpo is now cutting some trips to be more honest, but we're still seeing a significant number of delays and cancellations — and there aren’t enough buses on order to fill the gap. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Even with the reduced schedule, at 8:45 AM today:

90 scheduled trips weren't running
40 trips were cancelled entirely

OC Transpo desperately needs more
buses and the current order schedule
will not be enoughWe are asking OC Transpo to:
- Order more high-capacity buses to properly expand and replace our aging fleet
- Increase funding for transit priority measures on corridors such as Bank St, Carling Ave, and Baseline Rd to use our limited buses as efficiently as possible
- Hire and retain additional mechanics with improved pay and working conditions in order to keep our existing buses in service
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John @johnhiemstra.bsky.social · 07/12/2024
As the weather continues to get colder the people who have to sleep outside are on my mind. At the start of this year I had the chance to speak with CFRA about the demand at shelters in Ottawa and the unfortunate reality that some people are sleeping outside. But what can we do about it? (Thread)
omny.fm
OAW: 'Demand is really high' -- cold snap sees surge in need at Ottawa shelters - 580 CFRA
Significantly lower temperatures than we've seen most of this winter will persist through the rest of this week, with local shelters seeing a spike in already high demand amid some residents sleeping ...
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Pekka Tahkola @pekkatahkola.bsky.social · 10/01/2026
Just a reminder that on the bike & footh paths here in Oulu 🇫🇮, 2 cm of new snowfall must always be gone within 3 hours, on entire 166 km main 🚲🚶 network, 24/7. Maintenance needs to be fast, reliable & efficient 👌 Join our Urbanism Masterclasses to learn more! 🤗 #MeanwhileInOulu #CityMasterclass
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John @johnhiemstra.bsky.social · 29/12/2025
Very frustrating to take Line 1 and sit at each station for a couple minutes with the doors open. “Rapid” transit in action.
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Oh The Urbanity! @ohtheurbanity.bsky.social · 10/11/2025
Cars might work fine in California or Florida, but they’re not practical here in Canada. We have winter.
youtube.com
More than 300 collisions reported as early season snow slams parts of Ontario
YouTube video by CTV News
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Shawn Menard @shawnmenard.bsky.social · 03/11/2025
The Auditor General recently released her second sprint audit for Lansdowne 2.0. The risks are very concerning and if realized will lead to tens of millions more in costs for the city of #Ottawa.
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Oh The Urbanity! @ohtheurbanity.bsky.social · 23/07/2025
Another awesome urban transformation in Montreal! This was originally a parking lot. It was transformed into a pedestrian plaza with a temporary design (quick-build seating, greenery, art, etc.). Then it was upgraded to a really nice permanent design that was completed recently. (Place Boyer)
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Oh The Urbanity! @ohtheurbanity.bsky.social · 01/07/2025
Want to beat traffic? Build automated elevated metros.
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Fietser @americanfietser.bsky.social · 07/05/2025
How it should be: Continuous paths that stay elevated over car entrances are safer and signal driver awareness. They slow cars, reduce conflict, and simplify maintenance. Prioritizing people, not cars, with smoother, uninterrupted design.
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Clarence Eckerson Jr./Streetfilms @streetfilms.bsky.social · 23/04/2025
Super simple. Want to see #Daylighting working as advertised? Watch how well you see pedestrians/road users when you can see the curb. @openplans.org
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Charles Montgomery @charlesincities.bsky.social · 14/04/2025
This Canadian city drew people to public transit by ... making it more comfortable, fast and dependable. Not magic, just an investment in human experience: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
bloomberg.com
How Did This Suburb Figure Out Mass Transit?
Transit ridership is off the charts in Brampton, Ontario, despite its typical low-density suburban layout. Here’s how the city got residents to get on the bus.
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Parking Reform Network @parkingreform.org · 11/04/2025
A parking lot transforms into a flexible parklet hosting a weekly farmers market in Ottawa, Canada 2015 ➡️ 2021 ➡️ 2024
Three pictures showcasing the progression of an intersection over time. The first picture shows a parking lot, the 2nd picture shows that the intersection was resurfaced with new raised sidewalks that also include bollards and picnic tables. The last picture shows a lively scene where people are attending a farmers market.
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Marco Chitti @chittimarco.bsky.social · 11/04/2025
"Down with the BRT, long live the bus." I've just published an unusually polemical, argumentative post on my Substack explaining why I think Bus Rapid Transit is a failed planning concept. open.substack.com/pub/marcochi...
open.substack.com
Down with the BRT, long live the Bus
Why Bus Rapid Transit is a failed planning concept
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Yonah Freemark @yonahfreemark.com · 17/03/2025
New NBER paper shows dramatic effects of NYC's congestion pricing in contrast with a set of control cities: A large reduction in travel times on roadways—average speeds increased by 15%—combined with a substantial reduction in vehicular emissions. www.nber.org/system/files...
After the creation of New York City's congestion relief zone, average trip speeds increased significantly on trips within and to the central business district in Manhattan.After the introduction of the congestion relief zone, vehicular emissions in New York City's central business district declined substantially.
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Jean Beaudoin @jeanbeaudoin.bsky.social · 02/03/2025
Another study that advocates for pedestrian Mainstreets. “Fewer traffic incidents, increases in physical activity, and better neighborhood social health outcomes are just a few of the results of designing walkable neighborhoods that can enrich our lives.” 🚶🚶🏽‍♀️🚶‍♂️🚶🏼‍♀️🚶🏾🚶🏿‍♀️🚶‍♂️
today.ucsd.edu
Walkable Neighborhoods Help Adults Socialize, Increase Community
Adults who live in walkable neighborhoods are more likely to socialize and have a stronger sense of community, report researchers at the UC San Diego Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human...
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Bryan Culbertson 🥄 @bryanculbertson.com · 12/01/2025
One simple trick to permanently protect your community from speeders for only $5,000
Photo of concrete diverters on going diagonal across the street
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Alliance to End Homelessness Ottawa @ottawaalliance.bsky.social · 09/01/2025
⚠ In 2024, 80,000 Ontarians were homeless. 📈 That number that has grown by over 25% since 2022, just two years ago. A report out today from the Association of Municipalities Ontario shows the depths of Ontario’s homelessness crisis and how we can solve it: www.amo.on.ca/policy/healt...
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EmmanuelSPV @emmanuelspv.bsky.social · 31/12/2024
Here’s the Before (2016) / After (2024) photo of Rue du Docteur Paquelin in the 20th arrondissement of Paris. The transformation took place in 2024, and there’s zero hint of it on Street View - hence some comments suggesting the "garden street" photo was AI ;) 2/2
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Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 21/12/2024
The “E-Bike Effect:” Those who bought e-bikes increased their average daily bicycle use from 2.1km (1.3 miles) to 9.2km (5.7 miles), a 340% increase. The e-bike share of all their transportation increased dramatically too; from 17% to 49%. E-bikes support fewer car trips. V/@lloydalter.bsky.social
treehugger.com
E-Bikers Ride Much Farther and More Frequently Than Regular Bikers
They are not 'cheating,' but are serious transportation.
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Carolyn Whitzman @cwhitzman.bsky.social · 11/12/2024
In order to solve homelessness, we need to have low cost housing with services. The evidence is decades old. The political will is missing. www.thestar.com/opinion/star...
thestar.com
Edward Keenan: There’s a simpler, cheaper way to solve homelessness in Toronto — but there’s one catch
A “housing first” approach has been shown to be dramatically better at keeping people housed than the traditional approach.
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Vélo d’hiver - Montréal @velodhiver.bsky.social · 09/12/2024
-7°C / Lundi tranquille à #Montréal #vélodhiver
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An-Jes Oudshoorn @annejessicalise.bsky.social · 09/12/2024
Friendly reminder that new neighbourhoods can be charming, pleasant and joyful.
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John @johnhiemstra.bsky.social · 07/12/2024
As the weather continues to get colder the people who have to sleep outside are on my mind. At the start of this year I had the chance to speak with CFRA about the demand at shelters in Ottawa and the unfortunate reality that some people are sleeping outside. But what can we do about it? (Thread)
omny.fm
OAW: 'Demand is really high' -- cold snap sees surge in need at Ottawa shelters - 580 CFRA
Significantly lower temperatures than we've seen most of this winter will persist through the rest of this week, with local shelters seeing a spike in already high demand amid some residents sleeping ...
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Kea Wilson @keawilson.bsky.social · 05/12/2024
Sometimes I give myself a little treat by writing an article about a niche urban planning concept that I just think is neat. Today: a modern take on the mews, and the Texas development that's experimenting with giving residents linear parks instead of front yards.
usa.streetsblog.org
How the 17th-Century 'Mews' Could Make 21st-Century Suburbs More Walkable — Streetsblog USA
A new development in Texas is repurposing an old idea to make constant driving optional.
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Madeleine Bonsma-Fisher, PhD @mbonsma.bsky.social · 05/12/2024
I love this blog series about Ottawa's sidewalks that maybe answers that question: centretown.blogspot.com/2014/01/peds...
centretown.blogspot.com
Peds on Weds: Toronto-style sidewalks part 1
For quite some time now, I've wanted to do a thorough writeup on what in Ottawa traffic-geek circles is referred to a "Toronto-style" sidewa...
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Qagggy! @qagggy.bsky.social · 30/11/2024
Once you see how cars have radically changed our landscape, you cannot unsee it (but you can undo it).
Boulevard Anspach in Brussels via Google, before it was fixed. Same street in Brussels photographed by me in 2022. Trees and bikes in place of cars.
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John @johnhiemstra.bsky.social · 29/11/2024
This week the city held its public information session for the protected intersection at Donald St. and the Vanier Parkway. The proposed plans are a step in the right direction; however, there’s still work to be done to improve the cycling corridor to make it usable for all. (Thread)
City of Ottawa’s plans for a protected intersection at Donald St. and the Vanier Parkway
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Oh The Urbanity! @ohtheurbanity.bsky.social · 25/11/2024
On the bottom: a raised crosswalk with daylighting, where the intersection narrows for better visibility and shorter crossing distance. On the top: a traditional crosswalk where the sidewalk essentially disappears into the road for crossing. Rue Louis-Hémon at Bélanger
Aerial view of two crosswalks. On the bottom, a new design where the crosswalk is elevated and has a much shorter crossing distance. On the top, the old design where the sidewalk disappears into the road and has a longer crossing distance.
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