Madeleine Bonsma-Fisher, PhD
@mbonsma.bsky.social
Bikes + data, UofT biophys PhD, mom.
I post about bikes and safe streets, local politics, and sometimes science. She/her.
I post about bikes and safe streets, local politics, and sometimes science. She/her.
Pinned
I have removed
the bike lanes
that were in
the road
and which
you were probably
using
to get to work
Forgive me
they were delicious
so crunchy
and so cold
the bike lanes
that were in
the road
and which
you were probably
using
to get to work
Forgive me
they were delicious
so crunchy
and so cold
Reposted by Madeleine Bonsma-Fisher, PhD
Re-upping this position before the December 1st application deadline. I'm looking to hire a post-doc - could be a climate scientist or environmental economist. Ideal start early 2026 but could be later. Please circulate!
🚨The Moore Lab at UC Davis is hiring!🚨
Post-doc for a project with @adamsobel.bsky.social on the valuation of climate information for adaptation
Could be a good fit for an environmental economist or a climate scientist - flexible start date and location
Apply by Dec 1st: recruit.ucdavis.edu/JPF07346
Post-doc for a project with @adamsobel.bsky.social on the valuation of climate information for adaptation
Could be a good fit for an environmental economist or a climate scientist - flexible start date and location
Apply by Dec 1st: recruit.ucdavis.edu/JPF07346
Postdoctoral Scholar - Environmental Science & Policy
University of California, Davis is hiring. Apply now!
recruit.ucdavis.edu
November 25, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Re-upping this position before the December 1st application deadline. I'm looking to hire a post-doc - could be a climate scientist or environmental economist. Ideal start early 2026 but could be later. Please circulate!
Reposted by Madeleine Bonsma-Fisher, PhD
A huge 89% majority of global people [56% even in the United States] want stronger action to fight the #ClimateCrisis, but mistakenly believe they’re in a minority.
People want action. Smart cities are taking action. Nations should support city action.
#ActionStartsHere @mayors4climate.bsky.social
People want action. Smart cities are taking action. Nations should support city action.
#ActionStartsHere @mayors4climate.bsky.social
Activate climate’s ‘silent majority’ to supercharge action, experts say
Making concerned people aware their views are far from alone could unlock the change so urgently needed
www.theguardian.com
November 24, 2025 at 10:18 PM
A huge 89% majority of global people [56% even in the United States] want stronger action to fight the #ClimateCrisis, but mistakenly believe they’re in a minority.
People want action. Smart cities are taking action. Nations should support city action.
#ActionStartsHere @mayors4climate.bsky.social
People want action. Smart cities are taking action. Nations should support city action.
#ActionStartsHere @mayors4climate.bsky.social
The suspension in modern cars is too good. At the speeds people are driving down my street, I want those speed bumps to HURT
November 24, 2025 at 10:31 PM
The suspension in modern cars is too good. At the speeds people are driving down my street, I want those speed bumps to HURT
A fun milestone: the per-km cost of our cargo bike has dropped below the CRA reimbursement rate for driving in Ontario ($0.60/km)!
November 24, 2025 at 9:56 PM
A fun milestone: the per-km cost of our cargo bike has dropped below the CRA reimbursement rate for driving in Ontario ($0.60/km)!
Reposted by Madeleine Bonsma-Fisher, PhD
A bad day for Canada, and therefore the world.
Ontario (population 16 million, 40% of the country) has passed new legislation prohibiting bike lanes that take a lane from cars.
An escalation from Bill 212, which required municipalities to get approval.
Ontario (population 16 million, 40% of the country) has passed new legislation prohibiting bike lanes that take a lane from cars.
An escalation from Bill 212, which required municipalities to get approval.
November 24, 2025 at 7:50 PM
A bad day for Canada, and therefore the world.
Ontario (population 16 million, 40% of the country) has passed new legislation prohibiting bike lanes that take a lane from cars.
An escalation from Bill 212, which required municipalities to get approval.
Ontario (population 16 million, 40% of the country) has passed new legislation prohibiting bike lanes that take a lane from cars.
An escalation from Bill 212, which required municipalities to get approval.
2/3 of my friend's kid's kindergarten class is currently out with Influenza A. Time to get those flu and COVID vaccines, folks!
November 24, 2025 at 8:16 PM
2/3 of my friend's kid's kindergarten class is currently out with Influenza A. Time to get those flu and COVID vaccines, folks!
I know a lot of people for whom Rad was their gateway into the magic of bike life. This is sad for them and for the company, who are already in a bad financial situation. I am personally not regretting spending more on quality e-bikes with certified components.
CPSC Warns Consumers to Immediately Stop Using Batteries for E-Bikes from Rad Power Bikes Due to Fire Hazard; Risk of Serious Injury or Death www.cpsc.gov/Warnings/202...
November 24, 2025 at 7:50 PM
I know a lot of people for whom Rad was their gateway into the magic of bike life. This is sad for them and for the company, who are already in a bad financial situation. I am personally not regretting spending more on quality e-bikes with certified components.
Reposted by Madeleine Bonsma-Fisher, PhD
CPSC Warns Consumers to Immediately Stop Using Batteries for E-Bikes from Rad Power Bikes Due to Fire Hazard; Risk of Serious Injury or Death www.cpsc.gov/Warnings/202...
November 24, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Reposted by Madeleine Bonsma-Fisher, PhD
I walked along a few kms of College St this morning before 9am. Day care drop then carried on. Watched the people push and cycle their kids around, some dad on a cargo bike waved & said hi to some tweens walking in front of me. All very Sesame Street.
And this gov't has contempt for it all.
And this gov't has contempt for it all.
November 24, 2025 at 6:04 PM
I walked along a few kms of College St this morning before 9am. Day care drop then carried on. Watched the people push and cycle their kids around, some dad on a cargo bike waved & said hi to some tweens walking in front of me. All very Sesame Street.
And this gov't has contempt for it all.
And this gov't has contempt for it all.
My life hack tip is that you can put anything in pancakes as long as the batter gets the right goopiness. If you want them fluffy, ~1 tsp baking powder to every ~1 cup dry.
Fridge cleaner pancakes can include:
- any flour-type substance
- eggs
- yogurt
- flax
- apple sauce
- the list goes on!
Fridge cleaner pancakes can include:
- any flour-type substance
- eggs
- yogurt
- flax
- apple sauce
- the list goes on!
November 24, 2025 at 3:55 PM
My life hack tip is that you can put anything in pancakes as long as the batter gets the right goopiness. If you want them fluffy, ~1 tsp baking powder to every ~1 cup dry.
Fridge cleaner pancakes can include:
- any flour-type substance
- eggs
- yogurt
- flax
- apple sauce
- the list goes on!
Fridge cleaner pancakes can include:
- any flour-type substance
- eggs
- yogurt
- flax
- apple sauce
- the list goes on!
Just ONE DAY left to submit a comment on Bill 60, which will block not only ALL new bike lanes in Ontario that take away car lanes, but also puts bus lanes, patios, and pedestrian streets at risk too. Submit your comment here before the end of November 22: ero.ontario.ca/notice/025-1...
November 21, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Just ONE DAY left to submit a comment on Bill 60, which will block not only ALL new bike lanes in Ontario that take away car lanes, but also puts bus lanes, patios, and pedestrian streets at risk too. Submit your comment here before the end of November 22: ero.ontario.ca/notice/025-1...
Reposted by Madeleine Bonsma-Fisher, PhD
Fun fact: despite the enormous land mass, the population-weighted density of Canada — basically the density experienced by the average person — is the same as Denmark and close to the Netherlands.
Canada and Denmark are 3,000 people per km², while the Netherlands is 3,400/km².
Canada and Denmark are 3,000 people per km², while the Netherlands is 3,400/km².
Mapping Population Density Across the Globe
Explore the detailed geography of population across the globe with interactive mapping and statistics. Identify global megacity regions and the growth and diversity of urban forms. Data is from the Gl...
luminocity3d.org
October 11, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Fun fact: despite the enormous land mass, the population-weighted density of Canada — basically the density experienced by the average person — is the same as Denmark and close to the Netherlands.
Canada and Denmark are 3,000 people per km², while the Netherlands is 3,400/km².
Canada and Denmark are 3,000 people per km², while the Netherlands is 3,400/km².
Even Canadian suburbs are much more dense than American. I don't own a car and live in a walkable and very dense neighbourhood, but it's a streetcar suburb of Toronto and not actually walking distance to downtown.
Put differently, if America had European "style" suburbs, much of the debate on affordability and density would not exist as it does today. That's how much of an improvement it would be at face value. It would immediately solve entire housing crises in at least several key regions, if not all.
This is true but glides over the fact that what passes as a suburb in e.g. England or France is already anywhere from x3-x5 more dense than their American counterpart. You are comparing things that are categorically different and are thus irrelevant to the American context lol
November 19, 2025 at 1:21 AM
Even Canadian suburbs are much more dense than American. I don't own a car and live in a walkable and very dense neighbourhood, but it's a streetcar suburb of Toronto and not actually walking distance to downtown.
Reposted by Madeleine Bonsma-Fisher, PhD
Anne Hidalgo is one of the most courageous mayors in history. They sued her. Said she was attacking Parisian heritage. Said she would make traffic worse.
And yet she persisted. She seized an opportunity and delivered.
And yet she persisted. She seized an opportunity and delivered.
Ridership on Paris region transit systems is now generally at or higher than pre-pandemic levels. Bike use is much higher than pre-pandemic.
At the same time, car traffic in Paris and on its ring highway is substantially lower than it was pre-pandemic. www.institutparisregion.fr/mobilite-et-...
At the same time, car traffic in Paris and on its ring highway is substantially lower than it was pre-pandemic. www.institutparisregion.fr/mobilite-et-...
November 18, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Anne Hidalgo is one of the most courageous mayors in history. They sued her. Said she was attacking Parisian heritage. Said she would make traffic worse.
And yet she persisted. She seized an opportunity and delivered.
And yet she persisted. She seized an opportunity and delivered.
"As long as we’re wanting the efficiency of the vehicles that we’re using... as long as we’re going over 5 km/h, there unfortunately will occasionally be injuries; there will occasionally be accidents." -Ontario politician Ric Bresee on his government removing bike lanes
Many folks in the advocacy community know that efforts to lower driving speeds save lives...so in most places we're left to grapple with this reality where we know that most people and institutions choose to accept a certain amount of preventable human suffering as unavoidable collateral damage.
“Helsinki hasn’t registered a single traffic-related fatality in the past year…Citing data that shows the risk of pedestrian fatality is cut in half by reducing a car’s speed from 40 to 30km/hr, city officials imposed the lower limit in most of Helsinki’s residential areas & city center in 2021.”
November 17, 2025 at 2:35 PM
"As long as we’re wanting the efficiency of the vehicles that we’re using... as long as we’re going over 5 km/h, there unfortunately will occasionally be injuries; there will occasionally be accidents." -Ontario politician Ric Bresee on his government removing bike lanes
Reposted by Madeleine Bonsma-Fisher, PhD
My good friend Jess reading out names of innocent ppl who have a lost their lives to road violence.
Candles represent lives lost.
It’s so wrong when our elected reps place the convenience of drivers over prioritizing the safety of vulnerable road users.
via @ffsafestreets.bsky.social #WDoR2025
Candles represent lives lost.
It’s so wrong when our elected reps place the convenience of drivers over prioritizing the safety of vulnerable road users.
via @ffsafestreets.bsky.social #WDoR2025
November 16, 2025 at 11:50 PM
My good friend Jess reading out names of innocent ppl who have a lost their lives to road violence.
Candles represent lives lost.
It’s so wrong when our elected reps place the convenience of drivers over prioritizing the safety of vulnerable road users.
via @ffsafestreets.bsky.social #WDoR2025
Candles represent lives lost.
It’s so wrong when our elected reps place the convenience of drivers over prioritizing the safety of vulnerable road users.
via @ffsafestreets.bsky.social #WDoR2025
This should be illegal
November 16, 2025 at 6:11 PM
This should be illegal
Reposted by Madeleine Bonsma-Fisher, PhD
Almost everywhere in the City of Toronto has fewer people that it did 50 years ago
November 15, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Almost everywhere in the City of Toronto has fewer people that it did 50 years ago
Pour one out for the 1950s-era passenger train between Smithville and Hamilton 😔
tales.wellandhistory.ca/2015/05/05/m...
tales.wellandhistory.ca/2015/05/05/m...
November 15, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Pour one out for the 1950s-era passenger train between Smithville and Hamilton 😔
tales.wellandhistory.ca/2015/05/05/m...
tales.wellandhistory.ca/2015/05/05/m...
Happening today!
#ThIsTorontoDanforth
Taking Action for Safe Cycling in the City
Join for a discussion with cycling advocates working to make Toronto cycling-friendly
Sat, Nov 15, 2025, 2 - 4 pm
eventbrite.ca/e/taking-action-for-safe-cycling-in-the-city-tickets-1797500766179?aff=ebdssbdestsearch&keep_tld=1
Taking Action for Safe Cycling in the City
Join for a discussion with cycling advocates working to make Toronto cycling-friendly
Sat, Nov 15, 2025, 2 - 4 pm
eventbrite.ca/e/taking-action-for-safe-cycling-in-the-city-tickets-1797500766179?aff=ebdssbdestsearch&keep_tld=1
November 15, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Happening today!
Reposted by Madeleine Bonsma-Fisher, PhD
My unconventional biking in the rain tip: listen to songs that celebrate the rain! Like “I’m only happy when it rains” by garbage or “Unwritten” by Natasha Bedington.
Pic to prove I’m very wet at school pick up
Pic to prove I’m very wet at school pick up
November 14, 2025 at 11:26 PM
My unconventional biking in the rain tip: listen to songs that celebrate the rain! Like “I’m only happy when it rains” by garbage or “Unwritten” by Natasha Bedington.
Pic to prove I’m very wet at school pick up
Pic to prove I’m very wet at school pick up
I was radicalized at 13 when I wrote my Grade 8 speech on light pollution and learned for the first time that a better world was possible
Lots of folks captioning aurora photos like "for a few minutes we didn't think about politics"
guess I'm built different, every time I'm out trying to see night sky stuff I frequently think about how much light pollution is entirely preventable with just a tiny bit of regulation
guess I'm built different, every time I'm out trying to see night sky stuff I frequently think about how much light pollution is entirely preventable with just a tiny bit of regulation
November 13, 2025 at 10:22 PM
I was radicalized at 13 when I wrote my Grade 8 speech on light pollution and learned for the first time that a better world was possible
Reposted by Madeleine Bonsma-Fisher, PhD
Lots of folks captioning aurora photos like "for a few minutes we didn't think about politics"
guess I'm built different, every time I'm out trying to see night sky stuff I frequently think about how much light pollution is entirely preventable with just a tiny bit of regulation
guess I'm built different, every time I'm out trying to see night sky stuff I frequently think about how much light pollution is entirely preventable with just a tiny bit of regulation
November 13, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Lots of folks captioning aurora photos like "for a few minutes we didn't think about politics"
guess I'm built different, every time I'm out trying to see night sky stuff I frequently think about how much light pollution is entirely preventable with just a tiny bit of regulation
guess I'm built different, every time I'm out trying to see night sky stuff I frequently think about how much light pollution is entirely preventable with just a tiny bit of regulation
Reposted by Madeleine Bonsma-Fisher, PhD
TWO!
1. Cyclists permitted to use leading pedestrian intervals & PXOs
Saves over a million $ of cycling budget on signals & eliminates needing council approval for so many cycling things.
2. Permit bidirectional cycling on all 1-way local streets, ala Paris.
Both make roads safer for everyone.
1. Cyclists permitted to use leading pedestrian intervals & PXOs
Saves over a million $ of cycling budget on signals & eliminates needing council approval for so many cycling things.
2. Permit bidirectional cycling on all 1-way local streets, ala Paris.
Both make roads safer for everyone.
November 12, 2025 at 10:50 PM
TWO!
1. Cyclists permitted to use leading pedestrian intervals & PXOs
Saves over a million $ of cycling budget on signals & eliminates needing council approval for so many cycling things.
2. Permit bidirectional cycling on all 1-way local streets, ala Paris.
Both make roads safer for everyone.
1. Cyclists permitted to use leading pedestrian intervals & PXOs
Saves over a million $ of cycling budget on signals & eliminates needing council approval for so many cycling things.
2. Permit bidirectional cycling on all 1-way local streets, ala Paris.
Both make roads safer for everyone.