Sara F.L. Kirk
@sflkirk.bsky.social
Health Promotion Prof @dalhousie.bsky.social. Posting mainly about pop health, climate anxiety & advocacy for safe streets. UK export now physically located in Kjipuktuk/Halifax, Canada. Volunteer board member of @velocanadabikes.bsky.social. She/her.
Pinned
Sara F.L. Kirk
@sflkirk.bsky.social
· Nov 11
Thought I'd better crack on with a pinned intro. I'm an applied health researcher, using primarily qualitative methods & focus on how policies & environments shape health behaviours like healthy eating & active living. I ❤️ bikes & volunteer with Velo Canada Bikes to promote a #BikeFriendlyCanada 🚲
Reposted by Sara F.L. Kirk
Elections matter. #CityMaking
“On Friday, his successor, Zohran Mamdani, is expected to announce that he is reversing two of Mr. Adams’s transit decisions, a spokeswoman for City Hall confirmed to The New York Times.” www.nytimes.com/2026/02/12/n... by @danarubinsteinbsky.bsky.social
Mamdani to Resurrect Bus and Bike Lanes Killed by Eric Adams
www.nytimes.com
February 12, 2026 at 11:54 PM
Elections matter. #CityMaking
Recently released report from Heart and Stroke has a quote from me in it. On risk factors for heart disease & stroke in #Canada. Read the full report here: issuu.com/heartandstro...
February 12, 2026 at 9:37 PM
Recently released report from Heart and Stroke has a quote from me in it. On risk factors for heart disease & stroke in #Canada. Read the full report here: issuu.com/heartandstro...
Reposted by Sara F.L. Kirk
I hope this motion will ask staff to explore where we could be reallocating existing road space for dedicated bus lanes (arterials)
Austin says he will support it. He wants to fund alternatives to car travel to make this a more livable city.
He says these buses will have to deal with congestion though. Our buses are moving slower. He’s going to have a motion coming up at regional council. (I can’t wait)
He says these buses will have to deal with congestion though. Our buses are moving slower. He’s going to have a motion coming up at regional council. (I can’t wait)
February 12, 2026 at 6:27 PM
I hope this motion will ask staff to explore where we could be reallocating existing road space for dedicated bus lanes (arterials)
Reposted by Sara F.L. Kirk
Reposted by Sara F.L. Kirk
Municipal politics 101: What you need to know before you run for local government
Morning File by @suzannerent.bsky.social
Morning File by @suzannerent.bsky.social
Municipal politics 101: What you need to know before you run for local government - Halifax Examiner
Halifax councillors and Mayor Andy Fillmore weigh in on being a municipal elected official.
www.halifaxexaminer.ca
February 12, 2026 at 3:29 PM
Municipal politics 101: What you need to know before you run for local government
Morning File by @suzannerent.bsky.social
Morning File by @suzannerent.bsky.social
Reposted by Sara F.L. Kirk
February 12, 2026 at 3:31 PM
If you care about our #HaliSky community and read nothing else today, make it this,esp. the Noticed section 1. You'll see the same arguments from some of @hfxgov.bsky.social councillors & mayor that have been dragged out for the last 52 years. All will make our city worse #ZeroVisionHFX
Municipal politics 101: What you need to know before you run for local government
Morning File by @suzannerent.bsky.social
Morning File by @suzannerent.bsky.social
Municipal politics 101: What you need to know before you run for local government - Halifax Examiner
Halifax councillors and Mayor Andy Fillmore weigh in on being a municipal elected official.
www.halifaxexaminer.ca
February 12, 2026 at 3:33 PM
If you care about our #HaliSky community and read nothing else today, make it this,esp. the Noticed section 1. You'll see the same arguments from some of @hfxgov.bsky.social councillors & mayor that have been dragged out for the last 52 years. All will make our city worse #ZeroVisionHFX
Reposted by Sara F.L. Kirk
“The United States' eroding reputation is raising fresh questions about the stability of the global order that has held for decades, and of the country's strength on the world stage.”
Poll: Top NATO allies don’t think US helps deter enemies anymore
The United States' eroding reputation is raising fresh questions about the stability of the global order that has held for decades, and of the country's strength on the world stage.
www.politico.com
February 12, 2026 at 11:58 AM
“The United States' eroding reputation is raising fresh questions about the stability of the global order that has held for decades, and of the country's strength on the world stage.”
Reposted by Sara F.L. Kirk
If Russian propagandists are fantasising about joining forces with America to fight Europe there is something fundamentally wrong with America.
Russian propagandist Solovyev fantasizes about a large-scale war in Europe,with the idea of a "united Russian-American army"fighting the EU:
"I don’t rule out the possibility of a war unfolding in the European theater of military operations -a united Russian-American army against the army of the EU
"I don’t rule out the possibility of a war unfolding in the European theater of military operations -a united Russian-American army against the army of the EU
February 12, 2026 at 11:52 AM
If Russian propagandists are fantasising about joining forces with America to fight Europe there is something fundamentally wrong with America.
Reposted by Sara F.L. Kirk
I just don't think we can afford a gold-plated suburban sidewalk network for $270 million in the middle of an affordability crisis.
February 12, 2026 at 12:51 PM
I just don't think we can afford a gold-plated suburban sidewalk network for $270 million in the middle of an affordability crisis.
Reposted by Sara F.L. Kirk
Reposted by Sara F.L. Kirk
For HRM, we need to reduce emissions and adapt via HaliFACT which relies on implementing the IMP.
This means a significant modal shift away from driving for every trip to riding for more trips 🚍⛴️🚲🛴.
This means a significant modal shift away from driving for every trip to riding for more trips 🚍⛴️🚲🛴.
Climate change is advancing faster than many scientists predicted
Point of no return: a hellish ‘hothouse Earth’ getting closer, scientists say
Continued global heating could set irreversible course by triggering climate tipping points, but most people unaware
www.theguardian.com
February 12, 2026 at 11:31 AM
For HRM, we need to reduce emissions and adapt via HaliFACT which relies on implementing the IMP.
This means a significant modal shift away from driving for every trip to riding for more trips 🚍⛴️🚲🛴.
This means a significant modal shift away from driving for every trip to riding for more trips 🚍⛴️🚲🛴.
Reposted by Sara F.L. Kirk
I hate the fact that stories about this ignore that bike lane spending is $65 million out of a $3bn capital budget of which we can only actually pay for $1.8bn of $3bn before we run out of money and debt. Cutting 0.021% of the capital budget is not fiscal responsibility, it's affordability suicide.
What’s HRM council without bike lanes?
Councillors voted in favour of a motion to look into alternatives to the AAA bike lane network.
globalnews.ca/news/1166362...
Councillors voted in favour of a motion to look into alternatives to the AAA bike lane network.
globalnews.ca/news/1166362...
Bike lane debate returns to Halifax council as staff told to look for alternatives - Halifax | Globalnews.ca
Halifax councillors passionately debated bike lanes again and ultimately voted in favour of asking for a staff report on alternatives to the much-discussed AAA network.
globalnews.ca
February 12, 2026 at 12:10 PM
I hate the fact that stories about this ignore that bike lane spending is $65 million out of a $3bn capital budget of which we can only actually pay for $1.8bn of $3bn before we run out of money and debt. Cutting 0.021% of the capital budget is not fiscal responsibility, it's affordability suicide.
Reposted by Sara F.L. Kirk
Street capacity is a public resource to be allocated in the public interest.
Kansas City Railways, 1925
— from Fighting Traffic, fig. 6.1 (p. 160)
Kansas City Railways, 1925
— from Fighting Traffic, fig. 6.1 (p. 160)
February 11, 2026 at 3:27 PM
Street capacity is a public resource to be allocated in the public interest.
Kansas City Railways, 1925
— from Fighting Traffic, fig. 6.1 (p. 160)
Kansas City Railways, 1925
— from Fighting Traffic, fig. 6.1 (p. 160)
Reposted by Sara F.L. Kirk
Seems relevant to recent discussions
Street capacity is a public resource to be allocated in the public interest.
Kansas City Railways, 1925
— from Fighting Traffic, fig. 6.1 (p. 160)
Kansas City Railways, 1925
— from Fighting Traffic, fig. 6.1 (p. 160)
February 12, 2026 at 12:12 PM
Seems relevant to recent discussions
Reposted by Sara F.L. Kirk
Plus so many working from home today that are able to. Let’s do that all the time. Less highway use, less maintenance costs and no need to build any more highways or increase their size.
February 12, 2026 at 12:35 PM
Plus so many working from home today that are able to. Let’s do that all the time. Less highway use, less maintenance costs and no need to build any more highways or increase their size.
Reposted by Sara F.L. Kirk
So many car crashes and road conditions related cancellations. We just can't afford to keep spending billions of dollars on car lanes that we can't use in the winter.
February 12, 2026 at 12:27 PM
So many car crashes and road conditions related cancellations. We just can't afford to keep spending billions of dollars on car lanes that we can't use in the winter.
Reposted by Sara F.L. Kirk
Just wondering if Austerity Andy knows that he’s acting like the evil mayor from a book that’s popular with #KidicalMassHfx kiddos.
February 11, 2026 at 11:40 PM
Just wondering if Austerity Andy knows that he’s acting like the evil mayor from a book that’s popular with #KidicalMassHfx kiddos.
Reposted by Sara F.L. Kirk
“without the safer infrastructure, cyclists will die.”
“I’m tired of killing people on our streets. I want to kill fewer people, not more people” - Cleary
“I’m tired of killing people on our streets. I want to kill fewer people, not more people” - Cleary
What’s HRM council without bike lanes?
Councillors voted in favour of a motion to look into alternatives to the AAA bike lane network.
globalnews.ca/news/1166362...
Councillors voted in favour of a motion to look into alternatives to the AAA bike lane network.
globalnews.ca/news/1166362...
Bike lane debate returns to Halifax council as staff told to look for alternatives - Halifax | Globalnews.ca
Halifax councillors passionately debated bike lanes again and ultimately voted in favour of asking for a staff report on alternatives to the much-discussed AAA network.
globalnews.ca
February 11, 2026 at 11:46 PM
“without the safer infrastructure, cyclists will die.”
“I’m tired of killing people on our streets. I want to kill fewer people, not more people” - Cleary
“I’m tired of killing people on our streets. I want to kill fewer people, not more people” - Cleary
Reposted by Sara F.L. Kirk
🎧Killing kids to save money, part 1(🔒)
Real show notes on Monday
substack.com
February 11, 2026 at 7:54 PM
Reposted by Sara F.L. Kirk
The Paris municipal election is next month. New York City & Mayor Mamdani showed us the inspirational power of the right election result. The Paris election has the opposite potential — the most inspiring city in the world in recent years potentially going backwards. Please Paris, keep inspiring us.
I believe the 2 most important city mayoral elections in the world will be tomorrow’s New York City Election (the most important turning point #VOTE in New York history? #VOTEMamdani) & next year’s Paris Election for the successor of this generation’s most important/influential mayor, Anne Hidalgo.
February 11, 2026 at 8:48 PM
The Paris municipal election is next month. New York City & Mayor Mamdani showed us the inspirational power of the right election result. The Paris election has the opposite potential — the most inspiring city in the world in recent years potentially going backwards. Please Paris, keep inspiring us.
Reposted by Sara F.L. Kirk
and this not only about Bike users These decisions put me a pedestrian, and mobility device users, in more danger:
-More Drivers with their assault car on the road at every intersection;
-More cyclists sent directly onto our path to appease Carbrain councillors.
-More Drivers with their assault car on the road at every intersection;
-More cyclists sent directly onto our path to appease Carbrain councillors.
February 11, 2026 at 10:45 AM
and this not only about Bike users These decisions put me a pedestrian, and mobility device users, in more danger:
-More Drivers with their assault car on the road at every intersection;
-More cyclists sent directly onto our path to appease Carbrain councillors.
-More Drivers with their assault car on the road at every intersection;
-More cyclists sent directly onto our path to appease Carbrain councillors.
Reposted by Sara F.L. Kirk
Not to bring everything back to bike lanes, but someone explain to me why it’s unacceptable that only those costs have escalated when roadwork costs have also ballooned and the price of a concrete pad for a bus stop went from $4k to upwards of $800k?
$150,0000-$800,000 per year to build a bus stop when before they could just pour a concrete pad for like $4k because now the work has to involve ditches, culverts, other upgrades.
February 11, 2026 at 7:22 PM
Not to bring everything back to bike lanes, but someone explain to me why it’s unacceptable that only those costs have escalated when roadwork costs have also ballooned and the price of a concrete pad for a bus stop went from $4k to upwards of $800k?
Reposted by Sara F.L. Kirk
✨ introducing… ✨
🌇 Transportation for the Abundant Society 🚅
"Abundance" says our problem is artificial scarcity—especially housing. But you can’t build your way out if transportation policy still treats traffic flow as sacred.
Transportation is the binding constraint. ssrn.com/abstract=538...
🌇 Transportation for the Abundant Society 🚅
"Abundance" says our problem is artificial scarcity—especially housing. But you can’t build your way out if transportation policy still treats traffic flow as sacred.
Transportation is the binding constraint. ssrn.com/abstract=538...
February 11, 2026 at 4:27 PM
✨ introducing… ✨
🌇 Transportation for the Abundant Society 🚅
"Abundance" says our problem is artificial scarcity—especially housing. But you can’t build your way out if transportation policy still treats traffic flow as sacred.
Transportation is the binding constraint. ssrn.com/abstract=538...
🌇 Transportation for the Abundant Society 🚅
"Abundance" says our problem is artificial scarcity—especially housing. But you can’t build your way out if transportation policy still treats traffic flow as sacred.
Transportation is the binding constraint. ssrn.com/abstract=538...
Reposted by Sara F.L. Kirk
Transit: bringing things in house and doing preventative maintenance saved us a bunch of money.
February 11, 2026 at 6:28 PM
Transit: bringing things in house and doing preventative maintenance saved us a bunch of money.