Sign in

kaplansky.bsky.social

@kaplansky.bsky.social
84 followers 81 following 225 posts
PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by @kaplansky.bsky.social
Luc Turgeon @lturgeon.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
People in Ottawa keep electing mayors that make the same promise every election and they keep getting the same results: crumbling infrastructures, declining services, increasing fees that hit low-income residents the most. There is a cost to tax phobia.
cbc.ca
Mark Sutcliffe promises 2.5% tax hike ceiling for 2 years, mayoral rivals hold off on firm numbers | CBC News
As Ottawa's incumbent mayor promises to set an upper limit on property tax hikes for 2027 and 2028, challenger Neil Saravanamuttoo says voters shouldn't believe him.
56924
Reposted by @kaplansky.bsky.social
Ellie Saurus @elliesaur.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Reasons to ride a bike: - Bikes are fast and get you places on time - Gives you a nice butt - Most energy efficient way to travel - Get to go whee the whole time - Virtually immune to traffic - The going whee thing, but again
39590111
Reposted by @kaplansky.bsky.social
City of Ottawa @en.ottawa.ca · 27/08/2026
School is back #OttCity and so is the morning rush. As kids head back to class, it's important to keep road safety top of mind in school zones. For safety tips and ideas to help kids build safe habits, visit: bit.ly/4glWkGi Children deserve a safe trip to school.
A female crossing guard stands at a crosswalk holding up a STOP paddle as two kids cross the street.
173
kaplansky.bsky.social @kaplansky.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
#ottbike biked 3km with my daughter to her friends place this am. She rode on the sidewalk because there’s no safe infra @riverwardriley.bsky.social (despite Uplands having curb and sidewalk work). 2 #autowa drivers blew stops, one right on red, the other through a construction zone. Sigh.
040
Reposted by @kaplansky.bsky.social
Tom Flood @tomflood.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
you could say absolutely anything and somehow someone will chime in with "yeah but cyclists need to obey the rules of the road"
2473
Reposted by @kaplansky.bsky.social
Denis Agar (he/him) @denisagar.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
Get yourself a mayor that won't stop until your transit line beats runners
1287
Reposted by @kaplansky.bsky.social
Miranda Gray @mirgray.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
I love the Food Basics at Lyon station. It is literally just steps away from the train. We need more integrated stations.
0142
Reposted by @kaplansky.bsky.social
Tom Flood @tomflood.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
People get hella mad when you suggest adult drivers should be more responsible than children walking/biking
14520108
Reposted by @kaplansky.bsky.social
Warm Up The Guillotine @fiverdrive.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
I'm not sure if #ottbike is aware, but the Costco on Blair now has a bunch of bike racks on the west side of the store.
283
Reposted by @kaplansky.bsky.social
Tom Flood @tomflood.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
please
Many people try to misrepresent
"We should make it better and safer for people to bike"
with
"Every person must ride a bike for every situation, everywhere, every single time"
Could we please stop this childish game?
621950
Reposted by @kaplansky.bsky.social
Laskinator @laskinator.bsky.social · 13/06/2026
Figures the only thing that's done with any urgency benefits only drivers. #Autowa #balance
2131
kaplansky.bsky.social @kaplansky.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
Good morning Ottawa!
A pedestrian crossover, physically completed in fall 2025, sits unopened, signs covered in garbage bags, almost 7 months later.
010
kaplansky.bsky.social @kaplansky.bsky.social · 24/05/2026
The balanced approach of @mayormarksutcliffe.bsky.social cycling: here’s some paint, we’re not going to enforce it. Pedestrians: no right turn on red will inconvenience drivers. Transit: poor frequency and reliability. Personal cars: I will move heaven and earth if your trip 30 seconds longer.
000
Reposted by @kaplansky.bsky.social
Strong Towns Ottawa @strongtownsottawa.ca · 22/05/2026
It is wonderful to see the Glebe BIA acknowledge that buses, cycling, and walking are the best way to get a lot of people around in our city. Even though they fought hard against bus lanes to improve public transit very recently, it is wonderful to see them recognize the errors in their ways.
E-mail from the Glebe BIA about the Great Glebe Garage Sale, recommending people to take the bus, walk, or bike to the Garage SaleE-mail from the Glebe BIA about the Great Glebe Garage Sale which talks about the street closures as well as removal of parking during the garage sale.E-mail from the Glebe BIA regarding the Great Glebe Garage Sale, where they recommend using alternative transportation, such as cycling or public transit.
2279
kaplansky.bsky.social @kaplansky.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
Power out in the south end, multiple traffic lights out @ottawapolice.bsky.social directing traffic at bigger intersections but #Autowa out in full force blowing through other lights out. Had to stop traffic at one intersection on my bike to let pedestrians cross. #bikeottawa
010
Reposted by @kaplansky.bsky.social
Toon Dreessen @toondreessen.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
Shot and chaser. Reminder that 51% of ppl live inside the greenbelt, pay +50% of tax revenues of city budget and have the poorest infrastructure. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
2196
kaplansky.bsky.social @kaplansky.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
Good morning Ottawa!
A rented port-a-potty sits outside a fully functional (has toilets and running water) park field house that is “too expensive” to open regularly thanks to our Mayor’s low taxes priority.
021
kaplansky.bsky.social @kaplansky.bsky.social · 01/05/2026
It would be great to see a hardware/homeware store like @prestonhardware.bsky.social or the like as part of this. All these people still need plungers, random screws, toasters etc. To have that close by would be great, and right on transit too.
000
Reposted by @kaplansky.bsky.social
Toon Dreessen @toondreessen.bsky.social · 20/04/2026
To quote the talented @tomflood.bsky.social “courage should come from our councillors not our children.” Grief at the death of a Peter Clark could manifest in lower speed limits, road safety funding, reevaluation of road safety design approaches, a push to reinstate cameras at prov level 1/
13110
Reposted by @kaplansky.bsky.social
Laskinator @laskinator.bsky.social · 18/04/2026
Fairness?? Transit fare evaders pay a bigger fine than drivers who don't pay for parking. A one way transit fare is twice the price as weekend parking at City Hall. Roads get widened while transit gets cut. Autowa is not interested in making anything more fair for people outside of cars.
161
Reposted by @kaplansky.bsky.social
Autowa @autowa.app · 15/04/2026
On top of a $15 million loss, their own data has shown that, removal of the speed cameras made everyone immediately unsafe. Speed compliance is now under 41%. Meaning 5.9 out of 10 cars basically are saying fu to the posted speed. Thanks Drug Ford!
172
Reposted by @kaplansky.bsky.social
Christopher Solar 🇨🇦 @christophersolar.bsky.social · 12/04/2026
Glebe parking garage vs. Nepean Costco & parking lot, for all the "my customers won't walk all the way from the garage" BIA doomers.
3318
Reposted by @kaplansky.bsky.social
Laskinator @laskinator.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
I spent less today on a full bike tune-up and chain replacement than the average driver will spend to fill their vehicle's gas tank next. Just food for thought. If most of your trips are less than 10km one way, you could probably ride a bike for some of those trips. Gwan, give it a try!
292
kaplansky.bsky.social @kaplansky.bsky.social · 02/04/2026
Good morning Ottawa. Airport parkway at rush hour, in desperate need of widening.
031
Reposted by @kaplansky.bsky.social
Sean Devine @seandevine9.bsky.social · 31/03/2026
I get angry in this issue of the Ward 9 Newsletter, but many residents agree that there's lots to be angry about on one particular topic. Please enjoy my Councillor's Message: A "balanced" approach #Autowa." www.seandevine.ca/march_31_202...
113912
Reposted by @kaplansky.bsky.social
Strong Towns Ottawa @strongtownsottawa.ca · 23/03/2026
Excellent point and what we've been saying the whole time. The Glebe businesses will NEVER compete with Costco, Walmart, or any other strip malls in the suburbs that have a plethora of parking available. Areas like Glebe win by being interesting to be in, and by being efficient with their space.
2449
Reposted by @kaplansky.bsky.social
Glen Gower @glengower.ca · 22/03/2026
I've had nine (!) people reach out to me so far who are interested in running for Stittsville. (I'm stepping down at the end of this term.) Here's some advice for aspiring municipal candidates: open.substack.com/pub/glengowe...
1168
kaplansky.bsky.social @kaplansky.bsky.social · 17/03/2026
#ottawa drivers: if you are not 100% certain that light is green, the default is you stop and proceed when you know you know you have the right of way. Just because the light is covered in snow, doesn’t mean you get to blow through.
011
Reposted by @kaplansky.bsky.social
David Reevely @davidreevely.bsky.social · 15/03/2026
Glebe businesses’ collective inability to understand their customer base is harder than diamond.
5345
Reposted by @kaplansky.bsky.social
Derrick Simpson @derricksimpson.bsky.social · 16/01/2026
We 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!
Document 1 - Bank Street (Rideau Canal to Highway 417) Active Transportation and Transit Operations Feasibility Study - Scoping Document
1.0 Introduction
This scoping document is in response the following motion approved by Transportation Committee on December 1, 2021, and Council on December 8, 2021:
*THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that staff be directed to scope a study to improve active transportation facilities and enhance transit operations, including considerations for a potential pilot project on Bank Street (from the Canal to the Queensway), and as part of that scoping, identify a consultation program, a study cost estimate and options for funding source to undertake the study, and report back to Transportation Committee on this scoping effort by mid 2022.
The Bank Street Corridor (Figure 1) is approximately 1.5 kilometres in length between the Rideau Canal and Highway 417. Bank Street is used by OC Transpo bus routes (6 and 7), and currently operates in mixed traffic. In addition, special service routes (450, 451, 452, 454, 455, 456) as well as STO use this section of Bank Street for Lansdowne/TD Place events.
4204
kaplansky.bsky.social @kaplansky.bsky.social · 28/12/2025
Tolls are allowed in Ontario, so could municipal speed cameras be reactivated as automated toll collection devices for use of express lanes?
110
Reposted by @kaplansky.bsky.social
Chris Taggart 🏡 ⚡️ 🔌 @christaggart.com · 06/12/2025
How is it we can add private security guards to the market without a big staff report or even council debate on their impact but not “just do” other things like banning right on red in downtown intersections? We can just try more things if we wanted to.
2223
Reposted by @kaplansky.bsky.social
Tom Flood @tomflood.bsky.social · 02/12/2025
If only the pros outweighed the cons.
pros and cons list of Putting in protected mobility lanesPros reduce fatalities, reduce injuries, more people biking, less pollution, economic boost, less congestion, healthier population, kids biking/rolling to school, safer sidewalks, helps address the climate emergency, increase active transportation, more inclusive spaces. Cons: A driver might get mad.
3339118
Reposted by @kaplansky.bsky.social
Pyke @pykey.bsky.social · 28/11/2025
We could cross out "snow removal" and the headline would be just as true ...
052
Reposted by @kaplansky.bsky.social
Ottawa Citizen @ottawacitizen.com · 28/11/2025
Ottawa's snow removal standards are bad, with no plans on getting better | Opinion ottawacitizen.com/news/local-n...
101
Reposted by @kaplansky.bsky.social
Redeye @redeyeradio.bsky.social · 21/11/2025
Saturday | 10:05 PT We bring you excerpts from an evening with Doug Gordon and Sarah Goodyear of The War on Cars podcast, joined by city councillor Lucy Maloney and designer Tom Flood. @visionzerovancouver.ca @tomflood.bsky.social @lucymaloney.bsky.social @thewaroncars.bsky.social
Vision Zero volunteers in front of a billboard designed by Tom Flood. Billboard pictures a child riding on a road with painted dotted lines delineating a bicycle lane. text: There will never be a bell loud enough, a helmet strong enough, or clothing bright enough to make up for poor infrastructure. Join us in fighting for safe streets Vision Zero Vancouver | Rovelo Creative.
17118
kaplansky.bsky.social @kaplansky.bsky.social · 14/11/2025
Happy Doug Ford Endorses Speeding Day
010
Reposted by @kaplansky.bsky.social
Occasionally Spooky Transpo @occtranspo.bsky.social · 30/10/2025
"When risks exceed benefits, half a billion dollars is not a partnership or investment. It's a bailout"
142
kaplansky.bsky.social @kaplansky.bsky.social · 29/10/2025
I walked my daughter (10) to school today, ~2km after a dentist appointment. OC could have been an option but the route is now so infrequent I was a good way home when the bus there passed by. Walked on and by some dilapidated city assets. But @mayormarksutcliffe.bsky.social priority is Lansdowne.
021
kaplansky.bsky.social @kaplansky.bsky.social · 23/10/2025
The world is full of terrible things right now, but then you see the construction worker helping an elderly lady through a construction zone holding her arm, and it brings a little smile
000
Reposted by @kaplansky.bsky.social
Canadian History Ehx @cdnhistoryehx.bsky.social · 22/10/2025
On this day in 2014, Corporal Nathan Cirillo, a member of the Ceremonial Guard, was fatally shot at the National War Memorial. The shooter ran inside the Parliament Buildings and was shot by RCMP officers and died on scene. Three others were injured in the attack.
A sepia-toned photograph of a male soldier standing at attention outdoors, viewed from a three-quarter angle. He has short dark hair, a trimmed beard, and a serious expression, wearing a dark military uniform jacket with epaulets, a white collared shirt and dark tie, sleeve stripes, a triangular shoulder patch, name tag, small pins, and a crown-shaped insignia on his chest. A dark Glengarry-style cap with a small pom-pom top and checkered band sits atop his head. His belt is light-colored with a polished buckle, and the blurred background includes architectural structures and faint figures.
311233
Reposted by @kaplansky.bsky.social
Pyke @pykey.bsky.social · 14/10/2025
Centretown residents generate significantly greater tax revenues than the residents outside the Greenbelt. Those revenues are used across the city, not specifically to our benefit. That's fine I guess, but can we at least stop prioritizing suburban commuters speed over local communities.
091
Reposted by @kaplansky.bsky.social
Oh The Urbanity! @ohtheurbanity.bsky.social · 09/10/2025
Canadians: “We the north! I love hockey, skiing, and taking my kids sledding. Did you hear about a light dusting of snow shutting down some southern US city?” Canadians, when you suggest it’s possible to bike past September: “but what if I get… cold?”
1719722
Reposted by @kaplansky.bsky.social
Isaac Callan @isaaccallan.bsky.social · 06/10/2025
NEW: Vehicles registered to Doug Ford's cabinet ministers have been caught by automated speed cameras more than 20 times. In one case, they were driving 70 in a 40 zone. On average, they were 17 over the limit. #OnPoli globalnews.ca/news/1146373...
globalnews.ca
Vehicles registered to Ford cabinet ministers caught by speed cameras more than 20 times | Globalnews.ca
Documents obtained by Global News reveal that, over three years, vehicles registered to Ford’s cabinet minister received more than $3,300 in fines for speeding.
17248129
Reposted by @kaplansky.bsky.social
Toon Dreessen @toondreessen.bsky.social · 06/10/2025
Agreed. Unfortunately some poli use this as a divisive election tactic claiming “no one will bike from carp to Navan in Feb for hockey practice” when the reality is few would ever do this; what we need is better cycling w/in communities and urban areas tk give options, local mobility
4195
Reposted by @kaplansky.bsky.social
Melissa Bowman @dtkmelissa.bsky.social · 01/10/2025
"Commuters don’t like to hear this, but the more roads you build in a congested area, the more cars will quickly converge on those highways to fill them up. It’s called the “theory of induced demand,” but it’s just a fancy way of saying that free roadways lead to free-for-alls."
buff.ly
Doug Ford’s drive for highways simply speeds past accountability
The premier is acting as if he can build as he pleases in his own time on his own dime, Martin Regg Cohn writes.
0199
Reposted by @kaplansky.bsky.social
Glen Gower @glengower.ca · 25/09/2025
Yes, speed cameras work.
Speed studies from before and after installation of Automated Speed Enforcement cameras show continued improvement in speed limit compliance as time goes on. It also shows a significant reduction in high-end speeding at these locations.
43715