Ben MacLeod 馬志斌
@benmacleod.bsky.social
Hong Kong / Halifax, urban & transportation things
Pinned
Ben MacLeod 馬志斌
@benmacleod.bsky.social
· Feb 26
![A screenshot of a letter that reads: Good morning. Thank you council and staff for the opportunity to speak. My name is Ben MacLeod and I live in Halifax.
As you all know, the Strategic Priorities Plan set out the municipality’s priorities and values. It was drafted in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic and it outlines how some of council’s priorities translate to action against the pandemic. For instance, the plan states that Corporate Safety will “play a key role in responding to COVID-19” by helping business units develop “effective workplace safety plans [and] safe work practices”.
I spoke on the same topic during last year’s meeting.
I stated that COVID-19 remains a workplace safety issue that the municipality is failing to mitigate, contrary to the commitments to safety outlined in the Strategic Priorities Plan as well as the municipality’s obligations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. I also stated that the municipality, in failing to provide safe and healthy work environments, also fails fundamentally to deliver on its commitment to diversity and inclusion.
Since then, Human Resources has told me that the municipality still does not have any COVID-19 mitigation in place. In other words, nothing has improved, so I make my plea again today.
According to the Strategic Priorities Plan, evidence-based decision making is one of the municipality’s key values. What is the evidence driving the municipality’s policies on COVID?
The World Health Organization stresses that the pandemic has not ended. COVID-19 continues to widely circulate, kill, and disable.
COVID is not benign. It has been linked to a host of ailments affecting practically all human organ systems. Even mild cases can have long-term consequences. Repeated infections do cumulative damage. With each infection, you roll the dice. There is no cure for Long COVID.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:xwlgxzjlrxt3tnmmevc53fqe/bafkreicdqm3cjoh63u5fyaty6hio6igg3ga2n26z6qjdk5axo7cvpy3zoa@jpeg)
this morning, I spoke to Halifax regional council on workplace safety, diversity, and inclusion (again)
I desperately want to live in a city that is actively bettering itself – it's what drew me back to Halifax. However, we are quickly regressing under amateurish provincial leaders and their "vacuous and controllable" mayor. I don't think continued population growth is assured.
It seems like we had a brief period in Halifax when the constant talk of outward migration of young people stopped, but it seems like we’ve returned to the baseline I remember from childhood.
February 4, 2026 at 2:12 PM
I desperately want to live in a city that is actively bettering itself – it's what drew me back to Halifax. However, we are quickly regressing under amateurish provincial leaders and their "vacuous and controllable" mayor. I don't think continued population growth is assured.
Reposted by Ben MacLeod 馬志斌
How to improve Halifax traffic, provincial government edition:
1) Incentivize more drivers to go through two ridiculous bottlenecks to cram more cars onto the Peninsula.
2) Gaze in astonishment when you make things WORSE.
3) Blame bike lanes because you're angry that cyclists keep passing you.
1) Incentivize more drivers to go through two ridiculous bottlenecks to cram more cars onto the Peninsula.
2) Gaze in astonishment when you make things WORSE.
3) Blame bike lanes because you're angry that cyclists keep passing you.
Collisions on BOTH sides of the Macdonald...
One was near the HFX-Side, and that was earlier.
But NOW - another collision at the former tolls of the Macdonald. Expect big extended delays #HFXTraffic
One was near the HFX-Side, and that was earlier.
But NOW - another collision at the former tolls of the Macdonald. Expect big extended delays #HFXTraffic
February 4, 2026 at 12:51 PM
How to improve Halifax traffic, provincial government edition:
1) Incentivize more drivers to go through two ridiculous bottlenecks to cram more cars onto the Peninsula.
2) Gaze in astonishment when you make things WORSE.
3) Blame bike lanes because you're angry that cyclists keep passing you.
1) Incentivize more drivers to go through two ridiculous bottlenecks to cram more cars onto the Peninsula.
2) Gaze in astonishment when you make things WORSE.
3) Blame bike lanes because you're angry that cyclists keep passing you.
Reposted by Ben MacLeod 馬志斌
Lots of interesting info in this one!
Halifax Transit is improving, but still underperforming. Are its scheduled times even realistic? www.saltwire.com/nova-scotia/...
Halifax Transit is improving, but still underperforming. Are its scheduled times even realistic?
Staffing, traffic and outdated schedules could be contributing to transit headaches.
www.saltwire.com
February 4, 2026 at 11:44 AM
Lots of interesting info in this one!
Reposted by Ben MacLeod 馬志斌
“What sometimes seems like millions being spent on bikes is actually millions being spent to avoid impacts to vehicle traffic.”
Even though I am still learning about bike infrastructure, I say a version of this line to people who complain to me about bike lanes.
Even though I am still learning about bike infrastructure, I say a version of this line to people who complain to me about bike lanes.
My Council Update from last week's meeting: Lakes, Bike Network modifications, a One-HRM Membership for Parks and Rec, and regulating ride share companies. Read it here: samaustin.ca/council-upda...
Council Update: Lakes, Bike Network, One-Membership, Ride Share - Sam Austin
Agenda, January 27 LakeWatchersCouncil received its first detailed report into results from the LakeWatchers program. The Program launched in 2022 and involves sampling lake water in 79 lakes across H...
samaustin.ca
February 3, 2026 at 11:08 PM
“What sometimes seems like millions being spent on bikes is actually millions being spent to avoid impacts to vehicle traffic.”
Even though I am still learning about bike infrastructure, I say a version of this line to people who complain to me about bike lanes.
Even though I am still learning about bike infrastructure, I say a version of this line to people who complain to me about bike lanes.
“I tabled a motion asking staff how we can add high-occupancy vehicle lanes in our existing bus lanes by June" — Mayor Fillmore takes credit for another innovative traffic "solution": turning the bus lanes into car lanes.
Carpool lanes coming to Halifax in a matter of months
www.saltwire.com/nova-scotia/...
www.saltwire.com/nova-scotia/...
Carpool lanes coming to Halifax in a matter of months
Nova Scotia’s public works minister says coordinated traffic lights are also in the works
www.saltwire.com
February 3, 2026 at 9:20 PM
“I tabled a motion asking staff how we can add high-occupancy vehicle lanes in our existing bus lanes by June" — Mayor Fillmore takes credit for another innovative traffic "solution": turning the bus lanes into car lanes.
Reposted by Ben MacLeod 馬志斌
That last line gets at one of the things that bugs me the most.
A lot of current policy directions are almost perfectly designed to make Halifax become less liveable and less desirable to young adults, selling out this city’s future potential.
A lot of current policy directions are almost perfectly designed to make Halifax become less liveable and less desirable to young adults, selling out this city’s future potential.
The year is 2035. Council has voted to delay the bike network yet again. Finishing it will now cost $500 million.
Road costs and taxes are higher than they’ve ever been. Traffic is gridlocked everywhere. Young people leave the city to find opportunity elsewhere. Council can’t figure out why.
Road costs and taxes are higher than they’ve ever been. Traffic is gridlocked everywhere. Young people leave the city to find opportunity elsewhere. Council can’t figure out why.
February 2, 2026 at 3:24 PM
That last line gets at one of the things that bugs me the most.
A lot of current policy directions are almost perfectly designed to make Halifax become less liveable and less desirable to young adults, selling out this city’s future potential.
A lot of current policy directions are almost perfectly designed to make Halifax become less liveable and less desirable to young adults, selling out this city’s future potential.
Reposted by Ben MacLeod 馬志斌
Freeze your city’s buildings in amber, you might just find other things about your city changing. Affordability, youthfulness, culture, dynamism.
For 200 years, SF's magic was attracting the next gen of misfits and entrepreneurs. Then we stopped building housing.
"Already an aging place, San Francisco now... has the fewest residents younger than 30, and the most Baby Boomers and older residents."
www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/m...
"Already an aging place, San Francisco now... has the fewest residents younger than 30, and the most Baby Boomers and older residents."
www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/m...
Is S.F. the most millennial place in America? Here’s what the data says
It’s no surprise that San Francisco, a place increasingly eschewed by 20-something Gen Zers, is dominated by millennials. Here’s which other places are similar — and how it’s changed.
www.sfchronicle.com
February 2, 2026 at 1:50 AM
Freeze your city’s buildings in amber, you might just find other things about your city changing. Affordability, youthfulness, culture, dynamism.
Reposted by Ben MacLeod 馬志斌
"I think in in Halifax we have a culture of sort of aggressive driving."
Dad speaks out after he and son, 4, almost got hit by bus
Tom Himmelman was able to get dashcam footage of the incident, which shows a Halifax Transit bus failing to yield in an illuminated crosswalk. He says he's concerned about driver training, enforcement...
www.cbc.ca
January 31, 2026 at 1:40 PM
"I think in in Halifax we have a culture of sort of aggressive driving."
Reposted by Ben MacLeod 馬志斌
Halifax’s bike network plan is being implemented slowly, piecemeal, even apologetically, as if inviting the growth of an opposition that is now gradually bringing it to a halt. It’s like we’ve been trying to give ourselves an allergy to bike lanes. #BikeHfx
January 30, 2026 at 11:37 AM
Halifax’s bike network plan is being implemented slowly, piecemeal, even apologetically, as if inviting the growth of an opposition that is now gradually bringing it to a halt. It’s like we’ve been trying to give ourselves an allergy to bike lanes. #BikeHfx
Frigid day of Suburban Plan fieldwork in outer Dartmouth ❄️
January 30, 2026 at 2:25 AM
Frigid day of Suburban Plan fieldwork in outer Dartmouth ❄️
"Coun. Trish Purdy said on-street parking is important, especially at hospitals [...] even with the free parking and the parkade that the hospital has built, there were several days when the parkade was completely full with no extra parking spots."
Halifax council votes in favour of two cheaper bike lane alternatives
Story by me
www.halifaxexaminer.ca/government/c...
Note to self: I must get more photos of bike lanes and proposed bike lane projects.
Story by me
www.halifaxexaminer.ca/government/c...
Note to self: I must get more photos of bike lanes and proposed bike lane projects.
Halifax council votes in favour of two cheaper bike lane alternatives - Halifax Examiner
Novalea Drive and Welsford Street bikeway get yes votes, while Sam Austin asks to keep original plan for Victoria Road and Highfield Park Drive.
www.halifaxexaminer.ca
January 28, 2026 at 2:44 PM
"Coun. Trish Purdy said on-street parking is important, especially at hospitals [...] even with the free parking and the parkade that the hospital has built, there were several days when the parkade was completely full with no extra parking spots."
Reposted by Ben MacLeod 馬志斌
With 2025 housing starts data in a quick check where select metro areas are at, and how that fits in historically. Montréal, Calgary, and Vancouver beat out Toronto for 2025 starts.
Live version: canviz.mountainmath.ca/plot?v=42127...
Live version: canviz.mountainmath.ca/plot?v=42127...
January 23, 2026 at 12:33 AM
With 2025 housing starts data in a quick check where select metro areas are at, and how that fits in historically. Montréal, Calgary, and Vancouver beat out Toronto for 2025 starts.
Live version: canviz.mountainmath.ca/plot?v=42127...
Live version: canviz.mountainmath.ca/plot?v=42127...
Reposted by Ben MacLeod 馬志斌
Dear #BikeHFX, it sure looks like we’ve been Doug Forded by Fred Tilley and Tim Houston. 🪦 RIP to the bike network planned for the Halifax Peninsula (at least until we can vote out the NSPCs).
January 22, 2026 at 8:57 PM
Dear #BikeHFX, it sure looks like we’ve been Doug Forded by Fred Tilley and Tim Houston. 🪦 RIP to the bike network planned for the Halifax Peninsula (at least until we can vote out the NSPCs).
"The National Trust for Canada is expressing 'alarm' over Parks Canada’s decision to shut down the Canadian Register of Historic Places."
Oh no! I've found that website really valuable over the years. The National Trust is calling on Canadians to write the minister of the environment:
Oh no! I've found that website really valuable over the years. The National Trust is calling on Canadians to write the minister of the environment:
January 21, 2026 at 4:45 PM
"The National Trust for Canada is expressing 'alarm' over Parks Canada’s decision to shut down the Canadian Register of Historic Places."
Oh no! I've found that website really valuable over the years. The National Trust is calling on Canadians to write the minister of the environment:
Oh no! I've found that website really valuable over the years. The National Trust is calling on Canadians to write the minister of the environment:
Reposted by Ben MacLeod 馬志斌
It was absolutely appalling how universities adopted the idea of accessibility because they were trying to sell online learning, and then removed accessible options as soon as they could. Soul crushing.
So much of this piece reminds me of my experience working for the city. Canadian institutions present themselves as champions of equity, diversity, and inclusion. In practice, especially when it comes to the pandemic, they often won't even try to uphold the values they profess.
How Universities Are Shutting Out Disabled Students and Staff | The Walrus
Some administrators treat accommodations as a favour—and those requesting them as problems
thewalrus.ca
January 17, 2026 at 4:03 PM
It was absolutely appalling how universities adopted the idea of accessibility because they were trying to sell online learning, and then removed accessible options as soon as they could. Soul crushing.
So much of this piece reminds me of my experience working for the city. Canadian institutions present themselves as champions of equity, diversity, and inclusion. In practice, especially when it comes to the pandemic, they often won't even try to uphold the values they profess.
How Universities Are Shutting Out Disabled Students and Staff | The Walrus
Some administrators treat accommodations as a favour—and those requesting them as problems
thewalrus.ca
January 17, 2026 at 3:43 PM
So much of this piece reminds me of my experience working for the city. Canadian institutions present themselves as champions of equity, diversity, and inclusion. In practice, especially when it comes to the pandemic, they often won't even try to uphold the values they profess.
Reposted by Ben MacLeod 馬志斌
Halisky you probably heard about the pedestrian being hit by a car in Eastern Passage this morning.
Preeti is my grandbaby's daycare teacher, and GB loves her.
Preeti's parents are in India and want to come to support her while she recovers.
If you can, please consider giving.
Preeti is my grandbaby's daycare teacher, and GB loves her.
Preeti's parents are in India and want to come to support her while she recovers.
If you can, please consider giving.
Donate to Help Preeti and her family, organized by Jennifer Green
On January 15, our coworker and dear friend Preeti was struck by a car while walking to work… Jennifer Green needs your support for Help Preeti and her family
gofund.me
January 16, 2026 at 1:44 AM
Halisky you probably heard about the pedestrian being hit by a car in Eastern Passage this morning.
Preeti is my grandbaby's daycare teacher, and GB loves her.
Preeti's parents are in India and want to come to support her while she recovers.
If you can, please consider giving.
Preeti is my grandbaby's daycare teacher, and GB loves her.
Preeti's parents are in India and want to come to support her while she recovers.
If you can, please consider giving.
I understand why they are doing this – Wikipedia is shovelled into gen AI whether WMF is paid for it or not. But this seems like an implicit endorsement of gen AI that really saps my motivation to continue editing. I can't be alone in this, and the website has long struggled with editor retention.
Wikimedia Foundation announces new AI partnerships with Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, Perplexity and others
Wikimedia Foundation announces new AI partnerships with Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, Perplexity and others | TechCrunch
The AI partnerships allow companies to access the org's content, like Wikipedia, at scale.
techcrunch.com
January 15, 2026 at 6:38 PM
I understand why they are doing this – Wikipedia is shovelled into gen AI whether WMF is paid for it or not. But this seems like an implicit endorsement of gen AI that really saps my motivation to continue editing. I can't be alone in this, and the website has long struggled with editor retention.
Halifax councillor Sam Austin's newsletter has a well-written explanation of how Canada's strict stairway requirements seriously limit housing options, and how this could be remedied while maintaining safety. 🏡
My Council Update: Missing Middle Housing and the building code, plus the HRM pension plan. Read it here samaustin.ca/council-upda...
Council Update: Missing Middle, Pensions - Sam Austin
Missing Middle Housing and the Building CodeA motion of mine was back before Council around eliminating barriers to Missing Middle Housing. The situation I’m trying to change is our restrictive rules ...
samaustin.ca
January 15, 2026 at 5:09 PM
Halifax councillor Sam Austin's newsletter has a well-written explanation of how Canada's strict stairway requirements seriously limit housing options, and how this could be remedied while maintaining safety. 🏡
Reposted by Ben MacLeod 馬志斌
One of my biggest takeaways from living in Tokyo was that the city is incredible in spite of the fact that 95% of the architecture is unremarkable.
It makes the years-long design review process for a single apartment building in the U.S. seem all the more frivolous.
It makes the years-long design review process for a single apartment building in the U.S. seem all the more frivolous.
Tokyo is a city that makes the argument that architecture is irrelevant.
What matters more is urbanism:
The street network
The density
The freedom of uses
The clustering around rail
What matters more is urbanism:
The street network
The density
The freedom of uses
The clustering around rail
January 5, 2026 at 9:46 PM
One of my biggest takeaways from living in Tokyo was that the city is incredible in spite of the fact that 95% of the architecture is unremarkable.
It makes the years-long design review process for a single apartment building in the U.S. seem all the more frivolous.
It makes the years-long design review process for a single apartment building in the U.S. seem all the more frivolous.
Reposted by Ben MacLeod 馬志斌
NEW POST
While cities across North America struggle with housing shortages, Edmonton is proving that zoning reform works.
In 2025, for the first time in history, the number of homes permitted in 5-8 unit rowhomes surpassed detached homes. 🧵
#yeg #yegcc #yimby
www.jacobdawang.com/blog/2026/zb...
While cities across North America struggle with housing shortages, Edmonton is proving that zoning reform works.
In 2025, for the first time in history, the number of homes permitted in 5-8 unit rowhomes surpassed detached homes. 🧵
#yeg #yegcc #yimby
www.jacobdawang.com/blog/2026/zb...
2025: The year Edmonton built the missing middle – Jacob Dawang
Edmonton’s zoning reform is working. In 2025, newly legalized eight-home rowhomes drove a record increase in homebuilding, achieved by redeveloping only 0.39% of properties in mature neighbourhoods.
www.jacobdawang.com
January 5, 2026 at 5:00 PM
NEW POST
While cities across North America struggle with housing shortages, Edmonton is proving that zoning reform works.
In 2025, for the first time in history, the number of homes permitted in 5-8 unit rowhomes surpassed detached homes. 🧵
#yeg #yegcc #yimby
www.jacobdawang.com/blog/2026/zb...
While cities across North America struggle with housing shortages, Edmonton is proving that zoning reform works.
In 2025, for the first time in history, the number of homes permitted in 5-8 unit rowhomes surpassed detached homes. 🧵
#yeg #yegcc #yimby
www.jacobdawang.com/blog/2026/zb...
Reposted by Ben MacLeod 馬志斌
It’s funny how 99% of the anti-cyclist/anti-pedestrian comments also went away on the Nova Scotia Dashcam group when they started banning anyone who posts a racist or xenophobic comment. 🤔
January 5, 2026 at 12:55 PM
It’s funny how 99% of the anti-cyclist/anti-pedestrian comments also went away on the Nova Scotia Dashcam group when they started banning anyone who posts a racist or xenophobic comment. 🤔
Covid-cautious queers of Halifax – the Mask4Mask New Year's Eve party is starting now! 🎉 see mask4mask_queers_hfx on IG for details.
January 1, 2026 at 1:32 AM
Covid-cautious queers of Halifax – the Mask4Mask New Year's Eve party is starting now! 🎉 see mask4mask_queers_hfx on IG for details.
Reposted by Ben MacLeod 馬志斌
Holy hell…
THIS THIS THIS. ALL OF THIS
THIS is why faculty resist technological strategies for teaching. There is no engaging with Edtech without this context
THIS is why faculty resist technological strategies for teaching. There is no engaging with Edtech without this context
December 30, 2025 at 5:33 AM
Holy hell…
Reposted by Ben MacLeod 馬志斌
Signal boosting:
Currently at a crossroads thinking about long-term plans and I’d love to shadow a transit service planner sometime. I’ve been fascinated by service planning since I was a kid and learning more about their day-to-day work would be really helpful! 🚌🗺️
December 29, 2025 at 2:57 AM
Signal boosting: