Chris DeGroot
@chrisdegroot.ca
Assistant Prof, Mechanical Engineering. Wastewater and sustainable energy researcher. Cargo bike dad. Publications en français et en anglais. 🇨🇦
Cool, let’s make cities worse for the people that live in them and pay taxes to them, in case someone wants to drive there to access its amenities without paying for them.
But if I drive to a large city, it becomes my problem. It also hurts the people who live outside the area and work inside it.
January 1, 2026 at 2:55 AM
Cool, let’s make cities worse for the people that live in them and pay taxes to them, in case someone wants to drive there to access its amenities without paying for them.
Meanwhile in London Ontario, bike lanes are mostly used for snow storage.
Cam Guthrie uses Strong Mayors powers to reinstate snow removal service for bike lanes
Cam Guthrie uses Strong Mayors powers to reinstate snow removal service for bike lanes
Cam Guthrie is using his Strong Mayor powers to increase the City of Guelph’s operating budget by $650,000 and reinstate snow removal services for bike lanes.
bit.ly
December 17, 2025 at 2:44 AM
Meanwhile in London Ontario, bike lanes are mostly used for snow storage.
I invested in Tesla stock more than 10 years ago because I believed electric cars would help reduce transport emissions. I made a lot of money. I sold everything last year because of the fascist CEO and the fact that I just don’t think robotaxis are a worthwhile goal. Tesla has lost the plot.
People are at risk of being injured or killed for beta testing on our publicly funded streets.
Tesla’s Robotaxi is crashing roughly once every 40,000 miles so far in Austin, and that's with a human safety supervisor in vehicle.
For comparison, the average human driver in the US crashes about once every 500,000 miles.
electrek.co/2025/12/15/t...
For comparison, the average human driver in the US crashes about once every 500,000 miles.
electrek.co/2025/12/15/t...
December 17, 2025 at 2:01 AM
I invested in Tesla stock more than 10 years ago because I believed electric cars would help reduce transport emissions. I made a lot of money. I sold everything last year because of the fascist CEO and the fact that I just don’t think robotaxis are a worthwhile goal. Tesla has lost the plot.
Québec City - Collecting garbage by cargo bike!
Québec - Ramassage des déchets à vélo cargo !
Québec - Ramassage des déchets à vélo cargo !
December 17, 2025 at 1:57 AM
Québec City - Collecting garbage by cargo bike!
Québec - Ramassage des déchets à vélo cargo !
Québec - Ramassage des déchets à vélo cargo !
The 2030 targets were always impossible (because we had no plan to come even close to meeting them). This puts 2050 in serious doubt as well.
‘Be honest with Canadians:’ Guilbeault says 2030 emissions targets are now ‘impossible’
Guilbeault says 2030 emissions targets are now ‘impossible’
Former environment minister Steven Guilbeault, who resigned last week from Prime Minister Mark Carney’s cabinet over a “profound” disagreement in climate policy, says it will now be “impossible” for the federal government to reach its 2030 emissions targets in the wake of the energy deal with Alberta.
www.ctvnews.ca
December 4, 2025 at 2:37 AM
The 2030 targets were always impossible (because we had no plan to come even close to meeting them). This puts 2050 in serious doubt as well.
Reposted by Chris DeGroot
Gonna check in on Canada, where politics is more normal... I see there is a convoy headed to Ottawa to avenge a flock of dead ostriches
November 22, 2025 at 12:01 AM
Gonna check in on Canada, where politics is more normal... I see there is a convoy headed to Ottawa to avenge a flock of dead ostriches
Instead of speeders paying, now we all get to pay through our taxes (whether or not we speed or even drive)
www.ctvnews.ca/london/artic...
www.ctvnews.ca/london/artic...
London to receive $1.2M for traffic calming, replacing speed cameras in school zones
London, Ont. will be on the receiving end of $1.2 million from the provincial government to improve traffic safety in school zones.
www.ctvnews.ca
November 15, 2025 at 12:41 AM
Instead of speeders paying, now we all get to pay through our taxes (whether or not we speed or even drive)
www.ctvnews.ca/london/artic...
www.ctvnews.ca/london/artic...
We are the worst province ever.
(⭐️ Support Me By Subscribing/Donating ⭐️)
Ontario Provincial Polling:
PCPO: 44% (+1)
OLP: 32% (+2)
ONDP: 13% (-6)
GPO: 7% (+2)
Others: 3%
Liaison / October 20, 2025 / n=859 / Online
(% Change with 2025 Election)
Check out more ON details on @338canada.bsky.social at: 338canada.com/ontario/
Ontario Provincial Polling:
PCPO: 44% (+1)
OLP: 32% (+2)
ONDP: 13% (-6)
GPO: 7% (+2)
Others: 3%
Liaison / October 20, 2025 / n=859 / Online
(% Change with 2025 Election)
Check out more ON details on @338canada.bsky.social at: 338canada.com/ontario/
November 4, 2025 at 11:28 PM
We are the worst province ever.
Canadians want help with cost of living and lower deficits. As far as I am aware the only way this is possible is by higher taxes. Increasing taxes across the board would negate any cost of living savings. Therefore I think Canadians want to tax the rich (rightly so).
globalnews.ca/news/1150523...
globalnews.ca/news/1150523...
Ahead of budget, Canadians want cost of living help, not deficits: poll - National | Globalnews.ca
The Ipsos poll for Global News found 42 per cent of respondents want Tuesday's federal budget to prioritize helping with the increasing cost of everyday expenses.
globalnews.ca
November 3, 2025 at 2:06 AM
Canadians want help with cost of living and lower deficits. As far as I am aware the only way this is possible is by higher taxes. Increasing taxes across the board would negate any cost of living savings. Therefore I think Canadians want to tax the rich (rightly so).
globalnews.ca/news/1150523...
globalnews.ca/news/1150523...
Clock changes are ridiculous.
November 2, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Clock changes are ridiculous.
Reposted by Chris DeGroot
Today in the globe and mail
November 1, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Today in the globe and mail
Pro tips for a safe Halloween: If it’s raining, use an umbrella or raincoat, not a car, for protection. If it’s cold, use a coat or sweater, not a car.
Yes, Halloween is the deadliest day of the year for child pedestrians—great advice from @mcbazacophd.bsky.social
(It’s also our kid’s birthday)
(It’s also our kid’s birthday)
October 31, 2025 at 12:18 PM
Pro tips for a safe Halloween: If it’s raining, use an umbrella or raincoat, not a car, for protection. If it’s cold, use a coat or sweater, not a car.
Reposted by Chris DeGroot
Alexa explodes after Canadian replies to query with, “Oh, yeah, no, for sure.”
Alexa explodes after Canadian replies to query with, “Oh, yeah, no, for sure.”
OROMOCTO, NB - A local man almost lost his home yesterday after his Amazon Alexa smart home device burst into flames. Lloyd Wentworth, 38, says the fire started as he was preparing dinner in his bunga...
www.thebeaverton.com
October 29, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Alexa explodes after Canadian replies to query with, “Oh, yeah, no, for sure.”
So, setting goals and taking minimal action to achieve them, does not in fact work.
Canada not on track to meet 2030 climate targets, report finds
Canada not on track to meet 2030 climate targets, report finds
A new analysis says Canada is not on track to meet its 2030 or 2035 emissions targets.
www.ctvnews.ca
October 27, 2025 at 8:06 PM
So, setting goals and taking minimal action to achieve them, does not in fact work.
The number of people who don’t believe those we rely on for services deserve to earn a decent living is deeply troubling.
who creates the lively art and music scenes if the rent is too high? who makes cultural life? who serves you food or washes your dishes? who creates the fancy little restaurants that draw you to urban living? affordable housing is at the heart of what makes city life worthwhile.
October 26, 2025 at 4:04 PM
The number of people who don’t believe those we rely on for services deserve to earn a decent living is deeply troubling.
Is Colonel Sanders at the Jays game?
October 26, 2025 at 12:59 AM
Is Colonel Sanders at the Jays game?
Reposted by Chris DeGroot
I am becoming convinced that autonomous vehicles are designed to solve the problem of "I live in a wealthy suburb but have a horrible car commute and don't want to drive anymore but also hate trains and buses and refuse to ride a bike."
October 15, 2025 at 6:09 PM
I am becoming convinced that autonomous vehicles are designed to solve the problem of "I live in a wealthy suburb but have a horrible car commute and don't want to drive anymore but also hate trains and buses and refuse to ride a bike."
My 4-year-old just started a sentence with “Dad, I know how you like wine in a bag…” 🙃
October 8, 2025 at 9:56 PM
My 4-year-old just started a sentence with “Dad, I know how you like wine in a bag…” 🙃
Someone is doing to die after being hit by a driver of a vehicle at a location that used to have a speed camera. This will be on you, Doug.
NEW: Ontario Premier Doug Ford has responded to a letter from more than 20 Ontario mayors asking to save the province’s automated speed cameras, telling them “the answer is no.” #OnPoli
globalnews.ca/news/1146790...
globalnews.ca/news/1146790...
‘The answer is no’: Ford rejects plea from mayors to save, alter Ontario’s speed cameras | Globalnews.ca
Replying to a letter sent last week asking for changes to how speed cameras operate instead of an all-out ban, Ford repeated his claim the program is a 'cash grab.'
globalnews.ca
October 7, 2025 at 10:16 PM
Someone is doing to die after being hit by a driver of a vehicle at a location that used to have a speed camera. This will be on you, Doug.
The Ford government is openly and blatantly corrupt. Is anyone going to do something about it? Apparently not.
Doug Ford faces new corruption accusations following scathing spending reports from Auditor General.
Doug Ford faces new corruption accusations following scathing spending reports from Auditor General
Ontario Premier Doug Ford's government is facing new accusations of corruption after the Auditor General released a series of reports on government spending.
www.chch.com
October 2, 2025 at 1:46 AM
The Ford government is openly and blatantly corrupt. Is anyone going to do something about it? Apparently not.
Speed bumps are trash. Larger vehicles (you know, the most dangerous ones) can simply ride over them at speed. Terrible solution.
NEW: Premier Doug Ford says he will hand cities cash to replace automated cameras with speed bumps and lights as he looks to remove the enforcement tools across the province. #onpoli
globalnews.ca/news/1144037...
globalnews.ca/news/1144037...
Ford pledges ‘a lot of money’ for cities to install speed bumps instead of cameras | Globalnews.ca
On Monday morning, Ford said he would give provincial funding to municipalities to make major road design changes he believes are a more effective way to reduce speeding.
globalnews.ca
September 23, 2025 at 12:12 AM
Speed bumps are trash. Larger vehicles (you know, the most dangerous ones) can simply ride over them at speed. Terrible solution.
Reposted by Chris DeGroot
"So why the allergic reaction to accountability? The complaints are excuses. People don’t like getting caught breaking rules they want to break. The critics of cameras are the violators and why should we listen to the people who are making the roads less safe"
www.theglobeandmail.com/drive/cultur...
www.theglobeandmail.com/drive/cultur...
As a former traffic cop, I see the evidence first-hand – speed cameras aren’t a tax grab, they make cities safer
When Ontario Premier Doug Ford called automated speed enforcement cameras a tax grab and said municipalities should get rid of them, I was shocked, write Sean Shapiro
www.theglobeandmail.com
September 16, 2025 at 12:55 AM
"So why the allergic reaction to accountability? The complaints are excuses. People don’t like getting caught breaking rules they want to break. The critics of cameras are the violators and why should we listen to the people who are making the roads less safe"
www.theglobeandmail.com/drive/cultur...
www.theglobeandmail.com/drive/cultur...
I think my “junk mail” filter is broken since all of my most urgent and important emails are going there…
September 12, 2025 at 7:52 PM
I think my “junk mail” filter is broken since all of my most urgent and important emails are going there…