Anton Lodder
@antonlodder.bsky.social
city dweller, YIMBY with strong-towns tendencies. in my day job I solve optimal powerflows for distribution grids. extremely bike-pilled in Hamilton ON
translation: other cities raised taxes or cut programs.
this is not a defense of taxing home construction!
this is not a defense of taxing home construction!
Asked why other munis like Vaughan have been able to reduce dev charges more than T.O, the CFO says ~42% of Toronto DC rev goes to TTC — other cities don't have subways, etc. Also T.O. opted to use recent fed/prov funding to fund housing programs, instead of just using them to replace DC rev.
January 8, 2026 at 8:10 PM
translation: other cities raised taxes or cut programs.
this is not a defense of taxing home construction!
this is not a defense of taxing home construction!
my most neoliberal housing opinion is that unless we are eliminating 'institutional investors' from all real-estate (which implies scaling up public / non-profit alternatives), banning them from owning SFH is anti-renter
President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he intends to ban large institutional investors from buying additional single-family homes. https://cnn.it/49q2PmR
January 7, 2026 at 9:52 PM
my most neoliberal housing opinion is that unless we are eliminating 'institutional investors' from all real-estate (which implies scaling up public / non-profit alternatives), banning them from owning SFH is anti-renter
Reposted by Anton Lodder
Maybe Evan Soloman is cooking up an empathy chatbot.
January 7, 2026 at 3:20 PM
Maybe Evan Soloman is cooking up an empathy chatbot.
Reposted by Anton Lodder
Maybe it's smart that Mark Carney is keeping his cards close to his chest, but if he's going to keep talking like an unemotional banker in public about our neighbour's coups and invasion threats, he needs to appoint a Minister of Speaking from the Heart To Make Canadians Feel Safe and Secure.
January 7, 2026 at 3:08 PM
Maybe it's smart that Mark Carney is keeping his cards close to his chest, but if he's going to keep talking like an unemotional banker in public about our neighbour's coups and invasion threats, he needs to appoint a Minister of Speaking from the Heart To Make Canadians Feel Safe and Secure.
Reposted by Anton Lodder
It’s certainly possible that AVs could reduce future crashes. But it’s not a given, and they definitely don’t offer the only (or optimal) way to do so.
Consider: Several European cities have gone a full year without any traffic deaths. None relied on robotaxis to do it.
Consider: Several European cities have gone a full year without any traffic deaths. None relied on robotaxis to do it.
Helsinki went a full year without a traffic death. How did they do it?
Nordic capitals keep showing how we can eliminate traffic fatalities.
www.zmescience.com
January 6, 2026 at 3:12 PM
It’s certainly possible that AVs could reduce future crashes. But it’s not a given, and they definitely don’t offer the only (or optimal) way to do so.
Consider: Several European cities have gone a full year without any traffic deaths. None relied on robotaxis to do it.
Consider: Several European cities have gone a full year without any traffic deaths. None relied on robotaxis to do it.
Reposted by Anton Lodder
"Man who opposed bike lanes over ‘pedestrian safety’ now angry about No Right on Red law, faces serious identity crisis."
January 6, 2026 at 1:45 PM
"Man who opposed bike lanes over ‘pedestrian safety’ now angry about No Right on Red law, faces serious identity crisis."
Reposted by Anton Lodder
Missing in action - Canada.
Greenland: new statement from France, Germany, Spain, UK, Poland, Denmark.
January 6, 2026 at 2:04 PM
Missing in action - Canada.
Reposted by Anton Lodder
OK I really need this city to not drop 8 months’ worth of salt every time there’s snow in the forecast
January 5, 2026 at 4:30 PM
OK I really need this city to not drop 8 months’ worth of salt every time there’s snow in the forecast
Reposted by Anton Lodder
Which means you can make batteries from straw.
#strawbuilding.
#strawbuilding.
New "paper battery" deploys cellulose fibers to cut costs, improve performance.
cleantechnica.com/2026/01/02/o...
#evs #evbattery #batteries #energystorage #paperbattery #ecofriendly #plantbased #biobased #biodegradable #bioeconomy #circulareconomy #biomaterials #sustainable #sustainability
cleantechnica.com/2026/01/02/o...
#evs #evbattery #batteries #energystorage #paperbattery #ecofriendly #plantbased #biobased #biodegradable #bioeconomy #circulareconomy #biomaterials #sustainable #sustainability
One Step Closer To The Compostable EV Battery Of The Future
The maker of a new "paper battery" based on biodegradable cellulose fibers aims to level up the sustainability profile of EV batteries.
cleantechnica.com
January 4, 2026 at 5:44 PM
Which means you can make batteries from straw.
#strawbuilding.
#strawbuilding.
Reposted by Anton Lodder
“When I’m Prime Minister, if you decide you don’t like me, you can invade Canada and kidnap me.”
January 3, 2026 at 5:44 PM
“When I’m Prime Minister, if you decide you don’t like me, you can invade Canada and kidnap me.”
Reposted by Anton Lodder
An incredible quote from today.
they’re going to want to kill him for this but he’s so right, individualism as an ideology needs to end
January 3, 2026 at 4:13 AM
An incredible quote from today.
Reposted by Anton Lodder
geezus some night I will learn not to check the news right before bed, but tonight is not that night.
People cannot be angry about Russia and ok with what we are doing in Venezuela. The US government, our government, without following our own rules, is bombing the capital of another country.
People cannot be angry about Russia and ok with what we are doing in Venezuela. The US government, our government, without following our own rules, is bombing the capital of another country.
January 3, 2026 at 6:58 AM
geezus some night I will learn not to check the news right before bed, but tonight is not that night.
People cannot be angry about Russia and ok with what we are doing in Venezuela. The US government, our government, without following our own rules, is bombing the capital of another country.
People cannot be angry about Russia and ok with what we are doing in Venezuela. The US government, our government, without following our own rules, is bombing the capital of another country.
Reposted by Anton Lodder
Hard to believe a FIFA Peace Prize laureate would do this.
January 3, 2026 at 6:56 AM
Hard to believe a FIFA Peace Prize laureate would do this.
Reposted by Anton Lodder
Reposted by Anton Lodder
adam driver is a disgrace
as a public transit advocate, we should not have any adam drivers, but merely dozens of adam transitriders
as a public transit advocate, we should not have any adam drivers, but merely dozens of adam transitriders
January 3, 2026 at 2:28 AM
adam driver is a disgrace
as a public transit advocate, we should not have any adam drivers, but merely dozens of adam transitriders
as a public transit advocate, we should not have any adam drivers, but merely dozens of adam transitriders
Reposted by Anton Lodder
A nice illustration of why the way that most city planners measure density is irrelevant to transportation planning.
Transportation planners care about the density all along a corridor. That means averaging this area with the empty spaces that must be crossed to reach it.
@thetransitguy.com
Transportation planners care about the density all along a corridor. That means averaging this area with the empty spaces that must be crossed to reach it.
@thetransitguy.com
January 2, 2026 at 8:36 PM
A nice illustration of why the way that most city planners measure density is irrelevant to transportation planning.
Transportation planners care about the density all along a corridor. That means averaging this area with the empty spaces that must be crossed to reach it.
@thetransitguy.com
Transportation planners care about the density all along a corridor. That means averaging this area with the empty spaces that must be crossed to reach it.
@thetransitguy.com
Reposted by Anton Lodder
It is to Canada's shame we have not spoken out or supported a Canadian judge being sanctioned by the US
Her life is frozen. She cannot use credit cards, travel, move money, or access email. This is not sustainable
www.irishtimes.com/world/us/202...
Her life is frozen. She cannot use credit cards, travel, move money, or access email. This is not sustainable
www.irishtimes.com/world/us/202...
‘It’s surreal’: US sanctions lock International Criminal Court judge out of daily life
Canadian judge Kimberly Prost is unable to use credit cards, transfer money or book everyday services in what she calls an attack on the independence of the judiciary
www.irishtimes.com
January 2, 2026 at 7:26 PM
It is to Canada's shame we have not spoken out or supported a Canadian judge being sanctioned by the US
Her life is frozen. She cannot use credit cards, travel, move money, or access email. This is not sustainable
www.irishtimes.com/world/us/202...
Her life is frozen. She cannot use credit cards, travel, move money, or access email. This is not sustainable
www.irishtimes.com/world/us/202...
Reposted by Anton Lodder
I basically never see the racism or murder at the Racist Murder Pit. You can avoid that kind of thing if you don't go looking for it. The truth is, the Racist Murder Pit is the best place to have meaningful conversations about politics. And you can pretty easily ignore all the racism and murder
January 2, 2026 at 3:58 PM
I basically never see the racism or murder at the Racist Murder Pit. You can avoid that kind of thing if you don't go looking for it. The truth is, the Racist Murder Pit is the best place to have meaningful conversations about politics. And you can pretty easily ignore all the racism and murder
Reposted by Anton Lodder
Cold 🥶 but sunny 🌞 day, useful solar gains keeping our house at comfy 21 degrees C without any additional heating. The same glazing will be fully shaded in summer, preventing overheating.
Passivhaus and good design works in all seasons 👌
Passivhaus and good design works in all seasons 👌
January 2, 2026 at 4:13 PM
Cold 🥶 but sunny 🌞 day, useful solar gains keeping our house at comfy 21 degrees C without any additional heating. The same glazing will be fully shaded in summer, preventing overheating.
Passivhaus and good design works in all seasons 👌
Passivhaus and good design works in all seasons 👌
Reposted by Anton Lodder
Wasteful consumption by the middle class is an argument for raising taxes and spending the money on government purchases and social services, just as wasteful government spending is an argument for cutting taxes and spending.
January 2, 2026 at 7:12 AM
Wasteful consumption by the middle class is an argument for raising taxes and spending the money on government purchases and social services, just as wasteful government spending is an argument for cutting taxes and spending.
now we can really get into the weeds of which cities need to raise fares to improve transit and by how much
Pedestrian Observations: Fare Practices pedestrianobservations.com/2025/12/31/f...
With thanks to people who helped populate the table: @joao-paulouro.bsky.social, @borners.bsky.social, @egoldwyn.bsky.social, @chittimarco.bsky.social, @eensari.bsky.social, @4freedoms.es, and @etany.org.
With thanks to people who helped populate the table: @joao-paulouro.bsky.social, @borners.bsky.social, @egoldwyn.bsky.social, @chittimarco.bsky.social, @eensari.bsky.social, @4freedoms.es, and @etany.org.
Fare Practices
Here’s a table of urban public transport fares for various cities, covering the United States, Canada, parts of Europe, Turkey, and Japan. Included are single fares, multi-ride discounts, day…
pedestrianobservations.com
January 1, 2026 at 6:30 AM
now we can really get into the weeds of which cities need to raise fares to improve transit and by how much
Reposted by Anton Lodder
After listening to this podcast, I think we should convince the creators of Bluey to make an episode where the Tradies install solar on the Heelers’ house and everything goes smoothly with the install (the story’s conflict comes elsewhere). That could have a big influence on everyday Americans.
Today on Volts: you've probably heard that Australia has cheap rooftop solar power. You've probably also heard some rumors & myths about it. (Is it destabilizing the grid?) I called my favorite Australian energy expert to clear it all up. This is a fun one!
www.volts.wtf/p/whats-the-...
www.volts.wtf/p/whats-the-...
What's the real story with Australian rooftop solar?
Saul Griffith joins me to debunk the myths surrounding Australia's massive influx of solar energy.
www.volts.wtf
December 31, 2025 at 9:13 PM
After listening to this podcast, I think we should convince the creators of Bluey to make an episode where the Tradies install solar on the Heelers’ house and everything goes smoothly with the install (the story’s conflict comes elsewhere). That could have a big influence on everyday Americans.
Reposted by Anton Lodder
In an unlikely turn of events, I managed to convince the voting members of the UPC technical committee to accept my proposal, reversing the limits imposed on circuit venting. This will likely trickle down to California, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, Minnesota, Maine, Austin, Houston, and more.
December 31, 2025 at 5:57 AM
In an unlikely turn of events, I managed to convince the voting members of the UPC technical committee to accept my proposal, reversing the limits imposed on circuit venting. This will likely trickle down to California, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, Minnesota, Maine, Austin, Houston, and more.
Reposted by Anton Lodder
Yeah, trucks can be allowed to restrictively operate in cities, but the infrastructure design must be solid, with tight margins, and enforce safe behavior as seen here.
Happy New Year to all!
2026 will be EVEN MORE electric than all the years before it!
See you at a fast charger (#MCS?!) VERY SOON!
#alwaysbecharging #electrictruck #eActros
⚡️⚡️⚡️
2026 will be EVEN MORE electric than all the years before it!
See you at a fast charger (#MCS?!) VERY SOON!
#alwaysbecharging #electrictruck #eActros
⚡️⚡️⚡️
December 31, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Yeah, trucks can be allowed to restrictively operate in cities, but the infrastructure design must be solid, with tight margins, and enforce safe behavior as seen here.
our elevator rules are ableist (in the sense that they result in fewer elevators and more homes where you need stairs to get to the dwelling space)
The Americas see about 3% of global elevator installations as of 2020. The U.S. & Canada: even less.
But we've stuck with our own unique set of elevator codes, as if elevator companies still have no choice but to beat a path to our door.
Nope! "Everywhere else" is a bigger common market now.
But we've stuck with our own unique set of elevator codes, as if elevator companies still have no choice but to beat a path to our door.
Nope! "Everywhere else" is a bigger common market now.
December 31, 2025 at 6:44 PM
our elevator rules are ableist (in the sense that they result in fewer elevators and more homes where you need stairs to get to the dwelling space)