Jens von Bergmann
@jensvb.bsky.social
Data, analysis, visualization, #CensusMapper, transportation cyclist.
📍Vancouver, BC
📍Vancouver, BC
Reposted by Jens von Bergmann
New job alert 👀 So many people work incredibly hard in their free time to help us get shit done at VZV, I’m incredibly lucky to get this opportunity to dedicate myself full-time to our work. Still pinching myself that this is real honestly!
🎉Exciting News 🎉 as of last week, we've hired our first ever staff person! Anyone who's worked with us before will know @margiesanderson.bsky.social. She's been with us since day one, and is absolutely perfect for the role - 2026 will be a huge year!
More on this, and a look back on 2025:
More on this, and a look back on 2025:
We Hired Our First Staff Person! And a Look Back at 2025
An exciting announcement from Vision Zero Vancouver to start 2026: we’ve hired our first full time staff person! For those who have interacted with us before, you’ll be very familiar with Margie Sa…
visionzerovancouver.ca
January 18, 2026 at 10:09 PM
New job alert 👀 So many people work incredibly hard in their free time to help us get shit done at VZV, I’m incredibly lucky to get this opportunity to dedicate myself full-time to our work. Still pinching myself that this is real honestly!
Reposted by Jens von Bergmann
100% The main guy behind this lives kitty-corner to the school site on something like the 4th floor of his 12 storey condo building. It is petty NIMBYism at its worst.
January 18, 2026 at 5:45 PM
100% The main guy behind this lives kitty-corner to the school site on something like the 4th floor of his 12 storey condo building. It is petty NIMBYism at its worst.
Good weekend reading that I have missed when it came out. Edmonton has been a clear success story when it comes to housing in Canada and the rest of the country should pay close attention.
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 17, 2026 at 5:20 PM
Good weekend reading that I have missed when it came out. Edmonton has been a clear success story when it comes to housing in Canada and the rest of the country should pay close attention.
Reposted by Jens von Bergmann
Our piece on single stair: a crucial change that is slowly coming to Canadian cities
By me and @johnlorinc.bsky.social
By me and @johnlorinc.bsky.social
January 17, 2026 at 2:35 PM
Our piece on single stair: a crucial change that is slowly coming to Canadian cities
By me and @johnlorinc.bsky.social
By me and @johnlorinc.bsky.social
Reposted by Jens von Bergmann
If only someone had warned that many municipalities value exclusion more than they value the cash Ottawa was putting on the table (it me, I warned)
Tecumseh, Ont. town council votes to forfeit $3.2 million in federal funding instead of allowing four units as-of-right.
windsorstar.com/news/local-n...
windsorstar.com/news/local-n...
Tecumseh waves goodbye to $3.2M from Ottawa over fourplex housing
Tecumseh will miss out on previously promised $3.2 million from one federal housing fund over its refusal to allow sweeping intensification.
windsorstar.com
January 14, 2026 at 9:28 PM
If only someone had warned that many municipalities value exclusion more than they value the cash Ottawa was putting on the table (it me, I warned)
2025 population estimates are out, early check in from my phone because thanks to CanViz I now can. City of Vancouver’s population declined 2024-2025 (and 2024 estimates for both Surrey and CoV got corrected downward).. canviz.mountainmath.ca/plot?v=15921...
January 14, 2026 at 3:31 PM
2025 population estimates are out, early check in from my phone because thanks to CanViz I now can. City of Vancouver’s population declined 2024-2025 (and 2024 estimates for both Surrey and CoV got corrected downward).. canviz.mountainmath.ca/plot?v=15921...
Reposted by Jens von Bergmann
Last day to become a OneCity to vote in the mayoral nomination! Take 2 minutes now to be apart of it 🙌🏼
Today is the last day to register to vote in Vancouver's only contested mayoral nomination. Check out the link in my bio to sign up now!
We're building a movement here, a movement to build a Vancouver where we can all belong And I hope you'll be part of it.
We're building a movement here, a movement to build a Vancouver where we can all belong And I hope you'll be part of it.
January 13, 2026 at 12:39 AM
Last day to become a OneCity to vote in the mayoral nomination! Take 2 minutes now to be apart of it 🙌🏼
Reposted by Jens von Bergmann
📢{duckspatial} v0.9.0 is now on CRAN !! 🚀 If you work with big spatial data in #rstats, duckspatial brings the power of @duckdb.org to spatial analysis in R. It is dozenz
- 📦website cidree.github.io/duckspatial/
- Blog post: adrian-cidre.com/posts/014_du...
#duckspatial #rspatial #duckdb
- 📦website cidree.github.io/duckspatial/
- Blog post: adrian-cidre.com/posts/014_du...
#duckspatial #rspatial #duckdb
January 12, 2026 at 10:44 PM
📢{duckspatial} v0.9.0 is now on CRAN !! 🚀 If you work with big spatial data in #rstats, duckspatial brings the power of @duckdb.org to spatial analysis in R. It is dozenz
- 📦website cidree.github.io/duckspatial/
- Blog post: adrian-cidre.com/posts/014_du...
#duckspatial #rspatial #duckdb
- 📦website cidree.github.io/duckspatial/
- Blog post: adrian-cidre.com/posts/014_du...
#duckspatial #rspatial #duckdb
Dmitry again pushing boundaries of data work using LLMs, this is good stuff. Loving the detailed rundown of the challenges in the process.
CANSIM has 60k+ tables. StatCan covers a handful at a time in The Daily. What if the cost of coverage was (nearly) zero?
The D-AI-LY (dshkol.com/thedaily/) checks for recently updated and neglected series and writes up releases for them with viz, links to source material, and reproducible code.
The D-AI-LY (dshkol.com/thedaily/) checks for recently updated and neglected series and writes up releases for them with viz, links to source material, and reproducible code.
January 12, 2026 at 9:03 PM
Dmitry again pushing boundaries of data work using LLMs, this is good stuff. Loving the detailed rundown of the challenges in the process.
Introducing CanViz, my little side project over the break to make StatCan tables more accessible.
CanViz - Canadian Data Visualization Tool
Interactive data visualization tool for exploring and analyzing Statistics Canada data tables. Browse thousands of Canadian statistics, create custom plots, and download data in multiple formats.
canviz.mountainmath.ca
January 12, 2026 at 4:31 PM
Introducing CanViz, my little side project over the break to make StatCan tables more accessible.
Reposted by Jens von Bergmann
NEW VIDEO: North America’s Elevator’s Problem
Elevators are absolutely essential to modern cities..... and it turns out North America kind of sucks at them. We partnered with @sightline.org to look into the many issues plaguing our elevator industry, and what it might take to fix it.
Elevators are absolutely essential to modern cities..... and it turns out North America kind of sucks at them. We partnered with @sightline.org to look into the many issues plaguing our elevator industry, and what it might take to fix it.
The United States has the fewest elevators in the rich world, with Canada only a bit ahead. We teamed up with @uytaelee.bsky.social of About Here Videos to investigate why, exactly, North America sucks at elevators.
North America's Elevator Problem
YouTube video by About Here
youtu.be
January 11, 2026 at 11:02 PM
NEW VIDEO: North America’s Elevator’s Problem
Elevators are absolutely essential to modern cities..... and it turns out North America kind of sucks at them. We partnered with @sightline.org to look into the many issues plaguing our elevator industry, and what it might take to fix it.
Elevators are absolutely essential to modern cities..... and it turns out North America kind of sucks at them. We partnered with @sightline.org to look into the many issues plaguing our elevator industry, and what it might take to fix it.
Reposted by Jens von Bergmann
Never miss a Uytae video.
North America's Elevator Problem
YouTube video by About Here
youtu.be
January 11, 2026 at 10:32 PM
Never miss a Uytae video.
Reposted by Jens von Bergmann
Reminder that you should join OneCity *today* if you want to help choose between these candidates. Super quick+easy: www.onecityvancouver.ca/member-dues
OneCity is holding a contested mayoral nomination, and their two candidates, William Azaroff and Amanda Burrows, were on the Cambie Report. Link to the full episode below.
Here's what they had to say about housing (see follow up posts for alt text):
Here's what they had to say about housing (see follow up posts for alt text):
January 10, 2026 at 3:41 PM
Reminder that you should join OneCity *today* if you want to help choose between these candidates. Super quick+easy: www.onecityvancouver.ca/member-dues
This year the BC government set the wealth test for the HOG at above $2M, while renters get income tested at around $65k (adjusted net family income) for the full tax credit and get less money than the HOG for e.g. my condo.
(Yes, this is my annual call to get rid of the HOG)
(Yes, this is my annual call to get rid of the HOG)
January 7, 2026 at 5:33 AM
This year the BC government set the wealth test for the HOG at above $2M, while renters get income tested at around $65k (adjusted net family income) for the full tax credit and get less money than the HOG for e.g. my condo.
(Yes, this is my annual call to get rid of the HOG)
(Yes, this is my annual call to get rid of the HOG)
Reposted by Jens von Bergmann
I have way too many thoughts on the FCM advocacy paper on why property taxes aren't enough for municipal revenue: fcm.ca/en/resources...
But wanted to highlight the $107k "municipal investment per dwelling" metric for weirdness (p. 19-20). Like, that's not just supporting dwellings, folks!
But wanted to highlight the $107k "municipal investment per dwelling" metric for weirdness (p. 19-20). Like, that's not just supporting dwellings, folks!
January 6, 2026 at 7:29 PM
I have way too many thoughts on the FCM advocacy paper on why property taxes aren't enough for municipal revenue: fcm.ca/en/resources...
But wanted to highlight the $107k "municipal investment per dwelling" metric for weirdness (p. 19-20). Like, that's not just supporting dwellings, folks!
But wanted to highlight the $107k "municipal investment per dwelling" metric for weirdness (p. 19-20). Like, that's not just supporting dwellings, folks!
Yes, our current way to finance municipal infrastructure is broken beyond repair.
“In the longer term, the way cities generate revenue to pay for new housing infrastructure needs to be rebuilt from the ground up.”
“In the longer term, the way cities generate revenue to pay for new housing infrastructure needs to be rebuilt from the ground up.”
December 29, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Yes, our current way to finance municipal infrastructure is broken beyond repair.
“In the longer term, the way cities generate revenue to pay for new housing infrastructure needs to be rebuilt from the ground up.”
“In the longer term, the way cities generate revenue to pay for new housing infrastructure needs to be rebuilt from the ground up.”
Reposted by Jens von Bergmann
Extracting value on the front end of development (community benefits) instead of the back end (taxes) is eating the seed corn. It'll never produce as much community benefits as planting a good harvest and sowing it when it ripens.
December 28, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Extracting value on the front end of development (community benefits) instead of the back end (taxes) is eating the seed corn. It'll never produce as much community benefits as planting a good harvest and sowing it when it ripens.
Interesting how this interacts with coupling up and other living arrangements, for contrast here are age-specific headship rates.
December 26, 2025 at 7:55 AM
Interesting how this interacts with coupling up and other living arrangements, for contrast here are age-specific headship rates.
Reposted by Jens von Bergmann
Best explanation of the liar's dividend that I've ever seen.
December 24, 2025 at 6:36 AM
Best explanation of the liar's dividend that I've ever seen.
Great building and unit layout. A couple other distinction between living in Europe vs North America I can't help but notice. 🧵
here's plan of 3-bedroom unit
daylight on 3 sides.
1,240 s.f. w/ 150 sf loggia (likely higher, these are normally counted at 50%)
also note in a pinch, the living room (wohnen) could become a 4th bedroom by adding walls and door intersecting at floating column
and that plumbing wall is 👀
daylight on 3 sides.
1,240 s.f. w/ 150 sf loggia (likely higher, these are normally counted at 50%)
also note in a pinch, the living room (wohnen) could become a 4th bedroom by adding walls and door intersecting at floating column
and that plumbing wall is 👀
December 24, 2025 at 5:10 AM
Great building and unit layout. A couple other distinction between living in Europe vs North America I can't help but notice. 🧵
Reposted by Jens von Bergmann
I recently had the chance to chat with @wazaroff.bsky.social who is running for mayor. He is smart, has great judgement, and spends his time providing affordable housing for those who need it. He would make an excellent mayor.
December 22, 2025 at 9:47 PM
I recently had the chance to chat with @wazaroff.bsky.social who is running for mayor. He is smart, has great judgement, and spends his time providing affordable housing for those who need it. He would make an excellent mayor.
Reposted by Jens von Bergmann
I appreciate @1alexhemingway.bsky.social’s consistent advocacy for non-market housing without downplaying market housing or the broader supply shortage.
By covering not just zoning but also suppressed household formation, this is pretty much the gold standard for left-YIMBYism.
By covering not just zoning but also suppressed household formation, this is pretty much the gold standard for left-YIMBYism.
British Columbia’s #housing crisis is severe, but its root causes are familiar: exclusionary zoning, under-building, and chronic neglect of nonmarket housing. Economist Alex Hemingway’s proposals show how governments could reverse course, in BC and elsewhere. jacobin.com/2025/12/cana... #Canada
The Housing Crisis Is Solvable
British Columbia’s housing crisis is severe, but its root causes are familiar: exclusionary zoning, under-building, and chronic neglect of nonmarket housing. Economist Alex Hemingway’s proposals show ...
jacobin.com
December 22, 2025 at 4:06 AM
I appreciate @1alexhemingway.bsky.social’s consistent advocacy for non-market housing without downplaying market housing or the broader supply shortage.
By covering not just zoning but also suppressed household formation, this is pretty much the gold standard for left-YIMBYism.
By covering not just zoning but also suppressed household formation, this is pretty much the gold standard for left-YIMBYism.
Reposted by Jens von Bergmann
Nice. This should fit nicely into the 3FSR 400-800m TOA annuli. And in the anticipated 6 storey village zoning and some of the area plans whenever that zoning change happens.
December 21, 2025 at 5:57 AM
Nice. This should fit nicely into the 3FSR 400-800m TOA annuli. And in the anticipated 6 storey village zoning and some of the area plans whenever that zoning change happens.