Zach
@zachmathurin.bsky.social
urban planner in gatineau, québec, canada
currently working on neighbourhood planning, transit (tram), and housing
previously e-bike share on the north shore in metro vancouver
currently working on neighbourhood planning, transit (tram), and housing
previously e-bike share on the north shore in metro vancouver
Reposted by Zach
Reposted by Zach
Single stair is safer by a long shot.
Not apples to apples so to speak, but also clear that layering a ton of extra mitigations on SES is not appropriate.
Not apples to apples so to speak, but also clear that layering a ton of extra mitigations on SES is not appropriate.
December 15, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Single stair is safer by a long shot.
Not apples to apples so to speak, but also clear that layering a ton of extra mitigations on SES is not appropriate.
Not apples to apples so to speak, but also clear that layering a ton of extra mitigations on SES is not appropriate.
Reposted by Zach
Comparing a bite sized SES building to a mega double loaded (just like the one I live in)
December 15, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Comparing a bite sized SES building to a mega double loaded (just like the one I live in)
Reposted by Zach
Un-sprinklered single family is the source of most fire fatalities. Single fam = higher % of total dwellings I assume but also a higher rate (as per Pew report).
December 15, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Un-sprinklered single family is the source of most fire fatalities. Single fam = higher % of total dwellings I assume but also a higher rate (as per Pew report).
Reposted by Zach
Interesting single stair report from MN coming out - where they did a whole lot of data analysis and comparative life safety modeling.
In short, it adds substance to what we’ve been arguing:
Single stair is a lot safer than two stair buildings with long hallways, and much safer than single fam
In short, it adds substance to what we’ve been arguing:
Single stair is a lot safer than two stair buildings with long hallways, and much safer than single fam
December 15, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Interesting single stair report from MN coming out - where they did a whole lot of data analysis and comparative life safety modeling.
In short, it adds substance to what we’ve been arguing:
Single stair is a lot safer than two stair buildings with long hallways, and much safer than single fam
In short, it adds substance to what we’ve been arguing:
Single stair is a lot safer than two stair buildings with long hallways, and much safer than single fam
Reposted by Zach
In the Region of Waterloo, a Bombardier FLEXITY Freedom LRV glides into Grand River Hospital station.
Note how it cruises smoothly through every intersection, thanks to full Transit Signal Priority.
In Waterloo, the LRT doesn’t stop for cars.
#wrLRT
Note how it cruises smoothly through every intersection, thanks to full Transit Signal Priority.
In Waterloo, the LRT doesn’t stop for cars.
#wrLRT
December 14, 2025 at 1:45 AM
In the Region of Waterloo, a Bombardier FLEXITY Freedom LRV glides into Grand River Hospital station.
Note how it cruises smoothly through every intersection, thanks to full Transit Signal Priority.
In Waterloo, the LRT doesn’t stop for cars.
#wrLRT
Note how it cruises smoothly through every intersection, thanks to full Transit Signal Priority.
In Waterloo, the LRT doesn’t stop for cars.
#wrLRT
Reposted by Zach
Consultants contracted by Minnesota found that an eight-story single-stair building with 6,000 sq. ft. per floor (building 4) has dramatically lower fire risk than a same-height code-compliant two-stair building with a larger floor plate (building 1) www.dli.mn.gov/sites/defaul...
December 12, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Consultants contracted by Minnesota found that an eight-story single-stair building with 6,000 sq. ft. per floor (building 4) has dramatically lower fire risk than a same-height code-compliant two-stair building with a larger floor plate (building 1) www.dli.mn.gov/sites/defaul...
Reposted by Zach
Reposted by Zach
I wrote a thing.
Build trams, but build them well.
Understanding what tramways are, what they do best and how to employ them.
open.substack.com/pub/marcochi...
Build trams, but build them well.
Understanding what tramways are, what they do best and how to employ them.
open.substack.com/pub/marcochi...
Build trams. But build them well.
Understanding what tramways are, what they do best and how to employ them.
open.substack.com
December 5, 2025 at 2:07 AM
I wrote a thing.
Build trams, but build them well.
Understanding what tramways are, what they do best and how to employ them.
open.substack.com/pub/marcochi...
Build trams, but build them well.
Understanding what tramways are, what they do best and how to employ them.
open.substack.com/pub/marcochi...
Reposted by Zach
"Notre maître d’œuvre concluait qu’il fallait le démolir » et construire un pont tout neuf (...). Des analyses supplémentaires réalisées par un ingénieur spécialisé dans ce type d’ouvrages ont pourtant établi que le pont n’avait besoin que d’une petite cure de jeunesse. "
December 2, 2025 at 1:47 PM
"Notre maître d’œuvre concluait qu’il fallait le démolir » et construire un pont tout neuf (...). Des analyses supplémentaires réalisées par un ingénieur spécialisé dans ce type d’ouvrages ont pourtant établi que le pont n’avait besoin que d’une petite cure de jeunesse. "
Reposted by Zach
"C’est d’ailleurs le conseil – un peu brutal – qu’il a pour ses confrères québécois. Il ne faut « pas faire confiance aux prestataires, notamment au maître d’œuvre », lâche-t-il."
Je ne sais pas si les québécois sont culturellement capables de faire ça ...
Je ne sais pas si les québécois sont culturellement capables de faire ça ...
December 2, 2025 at 1:44 PM
"C’est d’ailleurs le conseil – un peu brutal – qu’il a pour ses confrères québécois. Il ne faut « pas faire confiance aux prestataires, notamment au maître d’œuvre », lâche-t-il."
Je ne sais pas si les québécois sont culturellement capables de faire ça ...
Je ne sais pas si les québécois sont culturellement capables de faire ça ...
Reposted by Zach
"les ingénieurs conseillaient au bureau de projet d’installer 10 ou 11 sous-stations électriques (...) pour maintenir les opérations même si plusieurs pannes surviennent. Mais « ça n’arrive quasiment jamais », d’où la décision d’en installer moitié moins et d’assumer la possibilité d’une panne"
December 2, 2025 at 1:41 PM
"les ingénieurs conseillaient au bureau de projet d’installer 10 ou 11 sous-stations électriques (...) pour maintenir les opérations même si plusieurs pannes surviennent. Mais « ça n’arrive quasiment jamais », d’où la décision d’en installer moitié moins et d’assumer la possibilité d’une panne"
Reposted by Zach
« Durant toute la réalisation de ce projet, à chaque choix, on se demandait si on en avait besoin ou si on savait faire avec moins »
...alors qu'ici j'ai l'impression q'avec chaque choix on se demande comment on pourrait gonfler davantage la facture...
www.lapresse.ca/internationa...
...alors qu'ici j'ai l'impression q'avec chaque choix on se demande comment on pourrait gonfler davantage la facture...
www.lapresse.ca/internationa...
La Presse en France | Un tramway 10 fois moins cher qu’à Québec ou à Montréal
Il ressemble à n’importe quel autre tramway, roule comme n’importe quel autre tramway et transporte des passagers comme n’importe quel autre tramway. Seule différence : son coût.
www.lapresse.ca
December 2, 2025 at 1:37 PM
« Durant toute la réalisation de ce projet, à chaque choix, on se demandait si on en avait besoin ou si on savait faire avec moins »
...alors qu'ici j'ai l'impression q'avec chaque choix on se demande comment on pourrait gonfler davantage la facture...
www.lapresse.ca/internationa...
...alors qu'ici j'ai l'impression q'avec chaque choix on se demande comment on pourrait gonfler davantage la facture...
www.lapresse.ca/internationa...
First it was the metaverse, then it was NFTs, now it’s AI, soon it’ll be something else. They have all this compute just laying around, which they’ve sunk all their capital into, so they keep coming up with new uses for it while also inventing new ad-delivery models to keep their businesses afloat.
Three years into the generative-AI wave, demand for the technology seems surprisingly flimsy
Investors expect AI use to soar. That’s not happening
Recent surveys point to flatlining business adoption
econ.st
December 1, 2025 at 4:51 PM
First it was the metaverse, then it was NFTs, now it’s AI, soon it’ll be something else. They have all this compute just laying around, which they’ve sunk all their capital into, so they keep coming up with new uses for it while also inventing new ad-delivery models to keep their businesses afloat.
Reposted by Zach
Single-Stair Sickos might like to learn that a lot of European cities used to produce detailed books on their built environment, including complete floor plans.
Here's a snippet from Hamburg und Seine Bauten (1914)
Here's a snippet from Hamburg und Seine Bauten (1914)
November 10, 2025 at 11:31 PM
Single-Stair Sickos might like to learn that a lot of European cities used to produce detailed books on their built environment, including complete floor plans.
Here's a snippet from Hamburg und Seine Bauten (1914)
Here's a snippet from Hamburg und Seine Bauten (1914)
Reposted by Zach
Cassini NAC natural color view taken on 2011-04-25 19:34 UTC.
Distance to Rhea: 2.23 million km
Distance to Dione: 3.12 million km
Distance to Enceladus: 2.98 million km
Distance to Saturn: 2.75 million km
Phase angle: 67 deg
live.staticflickr.com/7257/7148482...
Distance to Rhea: 2.23 million km
Distance to Dione: 3.12 million km
Distance to Enceladus: 2.98 million km
Distance to Saturn: 2.75 million km
Phase angle: 67 deg
live.staticflickr.com/7257/7148482...
January 6, 2025 at 11:54 AM
Cassini NAC natural color view taken on 2011-04-25 19:34 UTC.
Distance to Rhea: 2.23 million km
Distance to Dione: 3.12 million km
Distance to Enceladus: 2.98 million km
Distance to Saturn: 2.75 million km
Phase angle: 67 deg
live.staticflickr.com/7257/7148482...
Distance to Rhea: 2.23 million km
Distance to Dione: 3.12 million km
Distance to Enceladus: 2.98 million km
Distance to Saturn: 2.75 million km
Phase angle: 67 deg
live.staticflickr.com/7257/7148482...
Reposted by Zach
This fantastic overview of the obstacles and opportunities for missing middle housing is a greatest hits list of our favourite topics: single-stair, gentle density, zoning reform, will-it-pencil.
All described in a wonderfully accessible manner that sums up to: How do we get more quality housing.
All described in a wonderfully accessible manner that sums up to: How do we get more quality housing.
November 1, 2025 at 6:30 PM
This fantastic overview of the obstacles and opportunities for missing middle housing is a greatest hits list of our favourite topics: single-stair, gentle density, zoning reform, will-it-pencil.
All described in a wonderfully accessible manner that sums up to: How do we get more quality housing.
All described in a wonderfully accessible manner that sums up to: How do we get more quality housing.
Reposted by Zach
I wish there was a way to convey how much of a big deal this is to me, I wish you could feel it.
Our work on housing policy, condensed in a single report, has finally been translated to English. You can download it here:
carrefour.vivreenville.org/publication/...
(Click "Télécharger le PDF")
Our work on housing policy, condensed in a single report, has finally been translated to English. You can download it here:
carrefour.vivreenville.org/publication/...
(Click "Télécharger le PDF")
Opening Doors | Publications | Carrefour Vivre en Ville
Consultez notre publication « Opening Doors ». Carrefour Vivre en Ville
carrefour.vivreenville.org
October 29, 2025 at 10:50 PM
I wish there was a way to convey how much of a big deal this is to me, I wish you could feel it.
Our work on housing policy, condensed in a single report, has finally been translated to English. You can download it here:
carrefour.vivreenville.org/publication/...
(Click "Télécharger le PDF")
Our work on housing policy, condensed in a single report, has finally been translated to English. You can download it here:
carrefour.vivreenville.org/publication/...
(Click "Télécharger le PDF")
Reposted by Zach
Fantastic piece by Don Iveson on what Edmonton is doing right on housing. There are lots of lessons here for other communities.
The big picture on housing, density and affordability
How Edmonton's approach fights for affordability and fiscal efficiency
civicgood.substack.com
October 11, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Fantastic piece by Don Iveson on what Edmonton is doing right on housing. There are lots of lessons here for other communities.
Reposted by Zach
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.
Reposted by Zach
The Venn diagram of urban density and average household GHG emissions is pretty much a circle. Interesting study on “Mapping household GHG emissions in the Greater Golden Horseshoe” from the University of Toronto School of Cities schoolofcities.utoronto.ca/mapping-hous...
October 6, 2025 at 11:09 AM
The Venn diagram of urban density and average household GHG emissions is pretty much a circle. Interesting study on “Mapping household GHG emissions in the Greater Golden Horseshoe” from the University of Toronto School of Cities schoolofcities.utoronto.ca/mapping-hous...
Reposted by Zach
When there is a topic that people have spent a long time thinking about, be it climate change or as in this case housing, and you think you found a simple trick to solve it all that everyone else somehow missed, there is a very good chance you don’t know what you are talking about.
What a great proposal, I can't wait for the government to "unlock" all these empty units so we can have true affordable housing: uninsulated cottages in Haliburton.
www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
September 25, 2025 at 2:47 PM
When there is a topic that people have spent a long time thinking about, be it climate change or as in this case housing, and you think you found a simple trick to solve it all that everyone else somehow missed, there is a very good chance you don’t know what you are talking about.
Reposted by Zach
Great short video by TransLink explaining “the empty bus lane myth”
September 3, 2025 at 11:43 PM
Great short video by TransLink explaining “the empty bus lane myth”
Reposted by Zach
An innovative feature is the inclusion of rainwater channels that drain water from the roadway to the tree trenches across the cycle track.
August 21, 2025 at 3:38 PM
An innovative feature is the inclusion of rainwater channels that drain water from the roadway to the tree trenches across the cycle track.
