Jim Mayer 🇨🇦
@pentastich.bsky.social
Urbanism, utility cycling, rowing, food, vintage cocktails, and city living. Victoria, BC, Canada. He/him.
Blog: https://www.boomin-in-victoria.ca
Mastodon (rarely) https://urbanists.social/@pentastich
Formerly @pentastich on Birdland
Blog: https://www.boomin-in-victoria.ca
Mastodon (rarely) https://urbanists.social/@pentastich
Formerly @pentastich on Birdland
Reposted by Jim Mayer 🇨🇦
What do these cities have in common with Victoria? Saanich, Esquimalt, Edmonton, Winnipeg, ❤️Minneapolis❤️, Chicago, Austin, Tampa, Boston, Nashville, Ann Arbor, and many more.
Moving forward with protected bike-and-roll infrastructure.
#urbanism #safety #yyj
davethompsonvictoria.ca/victoria-has...
Moving forward with protected bike-and-roll infrastructure.
#urbanism #safety #yyj
davethompsonvictoria.ca/victoria-has...
Dave Thompson Victoria
I’ve been meeting with workers and business owners, youth and seniors, visitors and residents, front-line service providers and community organizations to discuss Victoria’s future, and what City Coun...
davethompsonvictoria.ca
February 9, 2026 at 10:42 PM
What do these cities have in common with Victoria? Saanich, Esquimalt, Edmonton, Winnipeg, ❤️Minneapolis❤️, Chicago, Austin, Tampa, Boston, Nashville, Ann Arbor, and many more.
Moving forward with protected bike-and-roll infrastructure.
#urbanism #safety #yyj
davethompsonvictoria.ca/victoria-has...
Moving forward with protected bike-and-roll infrastructure.
#urbanism #safety #yyj
davethompsonvictoria.ca/victoria-has...
1/2 I sometimes get looks when people learn my wife and I choose not to own a car. I suspect some people imagine that car non-ownership is the hair shirt of the Ecosocialist Echo Chamber Biking Cartel. Well, no, but I wrote a blog post anyway.
#yyj #urbanism
www.boomin-in-victoria.ca/2026/02/the-...
#yyj #urbanism
www.boomin-in-victoria.ca/2026/02/the-...
The Long and Winding Road: How We Ended Up Not Owning a Car
My wife and I decided to move to Victoria about a decade ago. We had retired, felt like an adventure, and were looking for a fun, walkable, ...
www.boomin-in-victoria.ca
February 9, 2026 at 11:48 PM
1/2 I sometimes get looks when people learn my wife and I choose not to own a car. I suspect some people imagine that car non-ownership is the hair shirt of the Ecosocialist Echo Chamber Biking Cartel. Well, no, but I wrote a blog post anyway.
#yyj #urbanism
www.boomin-in-victoria.ca/2026/02/the-...
#yyj #urbanism
www.boomin-in-victoria.ca/2026/02/the-...
Reposted by Jim Mayer 🇨🇦
Keep this in mind when people claim cars mean business — closing Central #Madrid to cars over holidays resulted in a 9.5% boost in retail spending on its main shopping street: STUDY.
There was also a 71% drop in air pollution.
Via @carltonreid.com in @forbes.com. #citymakingmath #citiesforpeople
There was also a 71% drop in air pollution.
Via @carltonreid.com in @forbes.com. #citymakingmath #citiesforpeople
Closing Central Madrid To Cars Resulted In 9.5% Boost To Retail Spending, Finds Bank Analysis
City of Madrid significantly boosted the takings of its shops and restaurants last Christmas by banning cars from the CBD, finds an analysis by Spain's second largest bank.
www.forbes.com
February 8, 2026 at 5:09 AM
Keep this in mind when people claim cars mean business — closing Central #Madrid to cars over holidays resulted in a 9.5% boost in retail spending on its main shopping street: STUDY.
There was also a 71% drop in air pollution.
Via @carltonreid.com in @forbes.com. #citymakingmath #citiesforpeople
There was also a 71% drop in air pollution.
Via @carltonreid.com in @forbes.com. #citymakingmath #citiesforpeople
Reposted by Jim Mayer 🇨🇦
In this weekend’s @thestar.com column I look at how churches have a tradition creating needed housing in Canada & Cabbagetown’s objection to height at St Luke’s is wrong. It’s also voter-supported city policy to force all density into a few areas so you can’t have it both ways, yo.
Shawn Micallef: How high is too high? Why Toronto’s beef with the size of residential towers misses the point
The pressure to go higher in places like this is because it’s not possible in a lot of Toronto where multi-unit apartment bias is strong.
www.thestar.com
February 7, 2026 at 3:43 PM
In this weekend’s @thestar.com column I look at how churches have a tradition creating needed housing in Canada & Cabbagetown’s objection to height at St Luke’s is wrong. It’s also voter-supported city policy to force all density into a few areas so you can’t have it both ways, yo.
Reposted by Jim Mayer 🇨🇦
this development is
a. nuts - every home has daylight on at least 3 sides
b. 100% illegal in ever city in the US
c. full of family-sized homes
d. thin - the shallow floor plate leaves most of site open for nature/people
4x 6-story point access blocks ftw
www.baunetz-architekten.de/fischer-arch...
a. nuts - every home has daylight on at least 3 sides
b. 100% illegal in ever city in the US
c. full of family-sized homes
d. thin - the shallow floor plate leaves most of site open for nature/people
4x 6-story point access blocks ftw
www.baunetz-architekten.de/fischer-arch...
Wohnsiedlung Birchlenstrasse, Dübendorf | Fischer Architekten, Zürich
Architekten Profil im BauNetz von Fischer Architekten , CH-8045 Zürich - Fischer,Architekten,AG,Zürich
www.baunetz-architekten.de
February 7, 2026 at 5:40 PM
this development is
a. nuts - every home has daylight on at least 3 sides
b. 100% illegal in ever city in the US
c. full of family-sized homes
d. thin - the shallow floor plate leaves most of site open for nature/people
4x 6-story point access blocks ftw
www.baunetz-architekten.de/fischer-arch...
a. nuts - every home has daylight on at least 3 sides
b. 100% illegal in ever city in the US
c. full of family-sized homes
d. thin - the shallow floor plate leaves most of site open for nature/people
4x 6-story point access blocks ftw
www.baunetz-architekten.de/fischer-arch...
Reposted by Jim Mayer 🇨🇦
"For years, a cottage industry of political observers has contorted itself to obscure and occlude the obvious. That regardless of what others see in him, Trump’s entire political career...cannot be understood outside the context of his bitter, deep-seated racism." (gift link)
Opinion | This Is Just Who Trump Is
www.nytimes.com
February 7, 2026 at 4:49 PM
"For years, a cottage industry of political observers has contorted itself to obscure and occlude the obvious. That regardless of what others see in him, Trump’s entire political career...cannot be understood outside the context of his bitter, deep-seated racism." (gift link)
Reposted by Jim Mayer 🇨🇦
There's a lot BC can learn from in this excellent report. Perhaps most directly relevant for #yyj : we need to plan transit around our goals as a region, not around ideology. Also, we need to empower at least one set of decision-makers to actually build what we need as a region.
February 6, 2026 at 8:38 PM
There's a lot BC can learn from in this excellent report. Perhaps most directly relevant for #yyj : we need to plan transit around our goals as a region, not around ideology. Also, we need to empower at least one set of decision-makers to actually build what we need as a region.
Reposted by Jim Mayer 🇨🇦
About f--king time.
My question is why the media happily ran after every "flooding the zone with shit" play from MAGA Alberta while ignoring the obvious Donbas playbook being used in Alberta.
Donbas Danielle is not playing with fire.
She's burning our house.
www.policymagazine.ca/danielle-smi...
My question is why the media happily ran after every "flooding the zone with shit" play from MAGA Alberta while ignoring the obvious Donbas playbook being used in Alberta.
Donbas Danielle is not playing with fire.
She's burning our house.
www.policymagazine.ca/danielle-smi...
Danielle Smith is Playing with Fire - Policy Magazine
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is playing with fire.
www.policymagazine.ca
February 6, 2026 at 1:27 AM
About f--king time.
My question is why the media happily ran after every "flooding the zone with shit" play from MAGA Alberta while ignoring the obvious Donbas playbook being used in Alberta.
Donbas Danielle is not playing with fire.
She's burning our house.
www.policymagazine.ca/danielle-smi...
My question is why the media happily ran after every "flooding the zone with shit" play from MAGA Alberta while ignoring the obvious Donbas playbook being used in Alberta.
Donbas Danielle is not playing with fire.
She's burning our house.
www.policymagazine.ca/danielle-smi...
Good move! British Columbia should do the same. How about it, @eby-david.bsky.social! Twitter was a great tool, and I miss what it was, but today it's a toxic wasteland and a propaganda tool. We shouldn't be boosting its credibility or be sending "clicks" its way.
#cdnpoli
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
#cdnpoli
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
N.B. government to stop using social media platform X after request from advocate | CBC News
Following a report highlighting concerns about sexualization and exploitation on X, formerly Twitter, the New Brunswick government will stop using the social media platform.
www.cbc.ca
February 6, 2026 at 5:11 PM
Good move! British Columbia should do the same. How about it, @eby-david.bsky.social! Twitter was a great tool, and I miss what it was, but today it's a toxic wasteland and a propaganda tool. We shouldn't be boosting its credibility or be sending "clicks" its way.
#cdnpoli
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
#cdnpoli
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Reposted by Jim Mayer 🇨🇦
A call to allow mobility scooters to use bike lanes has received unanimous support from Victoria council, and will now be going to the next step.
Motion to support mobility scooter use in bike lanes gets Victoria council’s unanimous support
A call to allow mobility scooters to use bike lanes has received unanimous support from Victoria council, and will now be going to the next step.
cheknews.ca
February 5, 2026 at 11:29 PM
A call to allow mobility scooters to use bike lanes has received unanimous support from Victoria council, and will now be going to the next step.
Go Krista! Councillor Loughton is absolutely right. We need to pull out all the stops to help people get off the street. It makes no sense to have people who no longer need supportive housing remain because they can't afford market rent.
@kristaloughton.bsky.social
@kristaloughton.bsky.social
Loughton emphasizes how much she wants this done ASAP, before April. "We need to get people indoors. It's critically important. It's the most important thing this Council can do."
February 5, 2026 at 11:29 PM
Go Krista! Councillor Loughton is absolutely right. We need to pull out all the stops to help people get off the street. It makes no sense to have people who no longer need supportive housing remain because they can't afford market rent.
@kristaloughton.bsky.social
@kristaloughton.bsky.social
This is insane. Cars "careen across" that median? 121 injuries or deaths in four years just in View Royal? I think we'd be better off dedicating one lane each way for emergency vehicles and transit. The crazy thing is that this is normal and nobody bats an eye.
#yyj
vicnews.com/2026/02/05/v...
#yyj
vicnews.com/2026/02/05/v...
February 5, 2026 at 9:25 PM
This is insane. Cars "careen across" that median? 121 injuries or deaths in four years just in View Royal? I think we'd be better off dedicating one lane each way for emergency vehicles and transit. The crazy thing is that this is normal and nobody bats an eye.
#yyj
vicnews.com/2026/02/05/v...
#yyj
vicnews.com/2026/02/05/v...
1/ This post is too late, but I really hope that council follows the staff recommendation and moves this project forward. The issue is that the funding stream for a childcare facility in the new complex fell through, and BC Housing's mandate…
#yyj
pub-victoria.escribemeetings.com/Meeting.aspx...
#yyj
pub-victoria.escribemeetings.com/Meeting.aspx...
Update on 2501-2699 Blanshard Street, 825/841 Hillside Avenue, 2500-2684 Dowler Place and 900 Kings Road: Rezoning Application No. 00866 - Council (to follow COTW) - February 05, 2026
pub-victoria.escribemeetings.com
February 5, 2026 at 8:53 PM
1/ This post is too late, but I really hope that council follows the staff recommendation and moves this project forward. The issue is that the funding stream for a childcare facility in the new complex fell through, and BC Housing's mandate…
#yyj
pub-victoria.escribemeetings.com/Meeting.aspx...
#yyj
pub-victoria.escribemeetings.com/Meeting.aspx...
Reposted by Jim Mayer 🇨🇦
When are we going to collectively wake up and realize that it's all a scam and the main (sole?) purpose is crime?
How cryptocurrency’s second largest coin missed out on the industry’s boom
How cryptocurrency’s second largest coin missed out on the industry’s boom
A leaked pitch to reshape Ethereum’s leadership exposed deep divisions over politics, power and Ether’s static price
www.theguardian.com
February 5, 2026 at 3:42 PM
When are we going to collectively wake up and realize that it's all a scam and the main (sole?) purpose is crime?
Reposted by Jim Mayer 🇨🇦
Not the most important thing in the world, but the Conservative party has a shadow minister for foreign affairs, a shadow minister for Canada-US trade and a shadow minister for international trade.
And none of those people are Jamil Jivani.
And none of those people are Jamil Jivani.
February 5, 2026 at 3:03 PM
Not the most important thing in the world, but the Conservative party has a shadow minister for foreign affairs, a shadow minister for Canada-US trade and a shadow minister for international trade.
And none of those people are Jamil Jivani.
And none of those people are Jamil Jivani.
1/ A great video on bike shares, and highly relevant to Victoria as start this up here. The section on service fragmentation is why I hope #yyj goes with Evolve. That said, I want a regional system integrated with BC Transit, something I hope the new CRD Regional Transportation Service steps up to.
NEW VIDEO: The Bikeshare Dilemma
Bikeshares and scootershares (also known as “Shared Micromobility) is one of the fastest growing forms of transportation on the planet today, but cities appear deeply divided on how to manage them. youtu.be/qfz6AsYycA8
Bikeshares and scootershares (also known as “Shared Micromobility) is one of the fastest growing forms of transportation on the planet today, but cities appear deeply divided on how to manage them. youtu.be/qfz6AsYycA8
The Bike Share Dilemma
YouTube video by About Here
youtu.be
February 5, 2026 at 7:44 PM
1/ A great video on bike shares, and highly relevant to Victoria as start this up here. The section on service fragmentation is why I hope #yyj goes with Evolve. That said, I want a regional system integrated with BC Transit, something I hope the new CRD Regional Transportation Service steps up to.
Reposted by Jim Mayer 🇨🇦
Oregon leaning into the "don't make skating illegal, build skateparks and teach safety" approach to ebikes. Smart. electrek.co/2026/02/04/w...
While some US states try to kill e-bikes, one is pushing more kids onto them
Across the US, the e-bike policy map is starting to look oddly contradictory. In some states, lawmakers are responding to...
electrek.co
February 4, 2026 at 3:17 PM
Oregon leaning into the "don't make skating illegal, build skateparks and teach safety" approach to ebikes. Smart. electrek.co/2026/02/04/w...
Both parts of this video are really good. I watched the whole, very long, thing. The parts about renewable energy and energy storage are fascinating. I had no clue about what the ending would be.
youtu.be/KtQ9nt2ZeGM
youtu.be/KtQ9nt2ZeGM
You are being misled about renewable energy technology.
YouTube video by Technology Connections
youtu.be
February 5, 2026 at 8:22 AM
Both parts of this video are really good. I watched the whole, very long, thing. The parts about renewable energy and energy storage are fascinating. I had no clue about what the ending would be.
youtu.be/KtQ9nt2ZeGM
youtu.be/KtQ9nt2ZeGM
Reposted by Jim Mayer 🇨🇦
Tomorrow, @victoria.ca council will vote on an advocacy motion to welcome wheelchairs and (3&4 wheel) mobility scooters on bike & roll routes. Sandra Hough has something to say about this: www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xC1... #yyj #bcpoli #wheelchair @davethompsonvic.bsky.social
February 5, 2026 at 4:38 AM
Tomorrow, @victoria.ca council will vote on an advocacy motion to welcome wheelchairs and (3&4 wheel) mobility scooters on bike & roll routes. Sandra Hough has something to say about this: www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xC1... #yyj #bcpoli #wheelchair @davethompsonvic.bsky.social
Reposted by Jim Mayer 🇨🇦
The BC Transit survey on options to #yyj Airport is up. Most tantalizing is the possibility of service as early as Sept 26, but that comes with issues. Maps below give a glimpse of 3 of 4 options. The last is new service direct from downtown, so no map for that.
engage.bctransit.com/victoria-air...
engage.bctransit.com/victoria-air...
February 4, 2026 at 8:26 PM
The BC Transit survey on options to #yyj Airport is up. Most tantalizing is the possibility of service as early as Sept 26, but that comes with issues. Maps below give a glimpse of 3 of 4 options. The last is new service direct from downtown, so no map for that.
engage.bctransit.com/victoria-air...
engage.bctransit.com/victoria-air...
This is very interesting. I've long felt that Canada should allow unmodified EU cars here. That would let Canadians buy the smaller cars that many here prefer. It would be cool if we could build and export them, too!
#cdnpoli
www.ctvnews.ca/london/artic...
#cdnpoli
www.ctvnews.ca/london/artic...
‘Might be a good fit’: Rumours swirl that a European company may be bringing back the BrightDrop
Production was stopped in the fall with General Motors stressing there were no plans for a return, but now there are reports emerging that the BrightDrop EV’S may still have a future.
www.ctvnews.ca
February 4, 2026 at 7:05 PM
This is very interesting. I've long felt that Canada should allow unmodified EU cars here. That would let Canadians buy the smaller cars that many here prefer. It would be cool if we could build and export them, too!
#cdnpoli
www.ctvnews.ca/london/artic...
#cdnpoli
www.ctvnews.ca/london/artic...
1/ What Hoboken has done shows what can be achieved with a pragmatic, fundamentals driven, approach to traffic safety. A key technique is getting "daylighting" right. TL;DR physically preventing parking within 25 ft (7.6 m) of an intersection. There are lots of ways to do that.
#yyj #safestreets
#yyj #safestreets
"The City Where Traffic Fatalities Vanished. For nine straight years, Hoboken, New Jersey hasn’t seen a single fatal crash. Here’s how they did it."
Victoria is doing a lot of these things. We have a ways to go.
reasonstobecheerful.world/the-city-whe...
#yyj #safety #urbanism
Victoria is doing a lot of these things. We have a ways to go.
reasonstobecheerful.world/the-city-whe...
#yyj #safety #urbanism
The City Where Traffic Fatalities Vanished
For nine straight years, Hoboken, New Jersey hasn't seen a single fatal crash. Here's how they did it.
reasonstobecheerful.world
February 4, 2026 at 6:06 PM
1/ What Hoboken has done shows what can be achieved with a pragmatic, fundamentals driven, approach to traffic safety. A key technique is getting "daylighting" right. TL;DR physically preventing parking within 25 ft (7.6 m) of an intersection. There are lots of ways to do that.
#yyj #safestreets
#yyj #safestreets
Reposted by Jim Mayer 🇨🇦
"How a Small Canadian City Tripled Cycling Rates in Just 11 Years" video describes how bikeways increase biking in Victoria, BC. My report, "Good News from the 2022 CRD Travel Survey" (www.vtpi.org/CRDts.pdf) provides more evidence.
Many people want to drive less and bike more, but need bikeways.
Many people want to drive less and bike more, but need bikeways.
February 2, 2026 at 7:22 PM
"How a Small Canadian City Tripled Cycling Rates in Just 11 Years" video describes how bikeways increase biking in Victoria, BC. My report, "Good News from the 2022 CRD Travel Survey" (www.vtpi.org/CRDts.pdf) provides more evidence.
Many people want to drive less and bike more, but need bikeways.
Many people want to drive less and bike more, but need bikeways.
1/ The recent rash of crashes in the City of Victoria has generated a lot of conversation here, on Reddit, and in other media. The details are often murky. This is my deep dive on a crash where the details were all too visible.
#yyj #yyjbike #safestreets
www.boomin-in-victoria.ca/2026/02/a-we...
#yyj #yyjbike #safestreets
www.boomin-in-victoria.ca/2026/02/a-we...
A Well Documented Crash: Johnson Street Bridge, July 5, 2022
This post is a deep dive into the moments leading up to the driver of a semi-truck hitting a person on a bicycle back in July of 2022. Unus...
www.boomin-in-victoria.ca
February 2, 2026 at 4:17 AM
1/ The recent rash of crashes in the City of Victoria has generated a lot of conversation here, on Reddit, and in other media. The details are often murky. This is my deep dive on a crash where the details were all too visible.
#yyj #yyjbike #safestreets
www.boomin-in-victoria.ca/2026/02/a-we...
#yyj #yyjbike #safestreets
www.boomin-in-victoria.ca/2026/02/a-we...