Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Bike Ottawa @bikeottawa.bsky.social · 1d

Bikes are good for business, health and more. We know it. Now we need to convince our federal politicians to keep funding active transportation.

Come in great numbers. Support @velocanadabikes.bsky.social’s message. The more people come, the stronger the message.

Tomorrow! Register now. 👇

Vélo Canada Bikes @velocanadabikes.bsky.social · 28d

🇨🇦 Join parliamentarians, local and national leaders, and fellow cyclists in for a non-partisan celebration of everyday cycling in Canada. Let us know if you can be there in Ottawa on Wednesday, October 8th at 5 p.m. for Bike Day on the Hill 2025!

Register here: simpli.events/e/bikedayont...

Bike Day on the Hill 2025 | Simpli Events

Bike Day on the Hill is back! Join parliamentarians, local and national leaders, and fellow cyclists in a non-partisan celebration of everyday cycling in Canada. This year we will be highlighting cycl...

simpli.events

1 6

Bike Ottawa @bikeottawa.bsky.social · 3d

SAVE THE DATE

Our AGM is coming up. We have a great guest speaker ligned up (with workshop to boot).

When: October 26, starting at 1:30pm
Where: Bayview Yards

Refreshments will be provided.

Stay tuned. More coming up soon.

Poster of upcoming Bike Ottawa AGM. People are cycling with kids on a major road as part of a kidical mass ride. AGM to be held on October 26, 2025, Bayview Yards, starting at 1:30pm

2 4

Bike Ottawa @bikeottawa.bsky.social · 5d

How’s your #WeekWithoutDriving coming along? Have you tried yet?

Could be a bike ride/walk to the library? A bus/LRT ride to work? Picking up something in your hood on foot.

Let us know.

Cassie Smith (she/her) @cassiesmith.bsky.social · 6d

A lot of biking in today's edition of #WeekWithoutDriving

- walk kids to school
- bike to library, hair salon, & co-working space downtown
- bike to a group ride checking out new infrastructure
- stop for groceries (and sunset) on the bike home

My bike gives me flexibility.

A group of people bike on a path with jersey barriers on one side and a gravel lot on the other. A grocery store is on the left side.

Two long tail cargo bikes and a regular bike at a rack outside of Farm Boy grocery store

1 5 13

Reposted by Bike Ottawa

Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 7d

“Expanding the average car length from 5 meters (16.4 ft) to 5.5 meters (18 ft) decreases street parking spots by 9.3%, while an additional expansion to 6m (19.7 ft) causes a further loss of 7%…the growing share of larger vehicles has caused many on-street parking spots to effectively disappear.”

Meet the Montreal Mayor Who Declared War on SUVs

Oversized vehicles are devouring street parking spaces in the Canadian city. So one borough’s mayor is fighting back with bigger fees for hefty trucks and SUVs.

www.bloomberg.com

9 90 320

Reposted by Bike Ottawa

Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 6d

“The e-bike market is skyrocketing — and, according to some studies, outpacing electric cars…The question now is: Do officials double down on deadly car-centric urban design, or do they rethink cities to encourage people to ditch four wheels for two?”

Via @grist.org grist.org/transportati...

E-bikes could cut carbon, congestion, and costs — if cities take them seriously

E-bike sales are booming, providing a clean form of transportation that also improves public health. Yet cities remain committed to cars.

grist.org

21 100 330

Bike Ottawa @bikeottawa.bsky.social · 6d

Great podcast from @thewaroncars.bsky.social

* Children are an indicator species for the health of our cities

* Playgrounds shouldn’t be age-specific reservations for kids

* Doorstep: When kids come out their front door, they should be able to find space to play👇

www.patreon.com/posts/140000...

EPISODE 158: Cities for Children with Tim Gill | The War on Cars

www.patreon.com

7 15

Bike Ottawa @bikeottawa.bsky.social · 7d

Gladstone-Gilmour bikeway

People on bikes go left and right, left and right all through the town. Sounds familiar?

Residents of Dalhousie neighbourhood want a safer cycling route on Gladstone.

Join their rally: October 9, 7:45 am, Bronson/Christie

#ottbike

bikeottawa.ca/2025/10/01/r...

Poster of Gladstone-Gilmour bikeway rally. When? October 9, 7:45am. Where? Bronson and Gilmour

5 11

Reposted by Bike Ottawa

Cassie Smith (she/her) @cassiesmith.bsky.social · 9d

Thanks for considering. It doesn't have to be all or nothing - the challenge can include reflection on what those times when you drive mean. What options would there be in that situation for people who cannot drive and could those be improved?

3 11

Bike Ottawa @bikeottawa.bsky.social · 9d

What she says 👇

Cassie Smith (she/her) @cassiesmith.bsky.social · 9d

Thanks for considering. It doesn't have to be all or nothing - the challenge can include reflection on what those times when you drive mean. What options would there be in that situation for people who cannot drive and could those be improved?

7

Bike Ottawa @bikeottawa.bsky.social · 9d

How about @stephanieplante.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social @lauradudas.bsky.social @tkavanaghbayward.bsky.social @arieltroster.com @jleiper.bsky.social 2/2

1 2 5

Bike Ottawa @bikeottawa.bsky.social · 9d

It’s started! Councillors Gower and Menard are in. Who else is?

How about trying? @mayormarksutcliffe.bsky.social @timtierney.ca @rawlson.bsky.social @stevedesroches.bsky.social @clarkekelly.bsky.social @riverwardriley.bsky.social @lainejohnson.bsky.social 1/2

Bike Ottawa @bikeottawa.bsky.social · 28d

What if, for one week, you experienced your daily life without relying on a car? How might it change your perspective on the way our community moves?

Join the challenge Sept 29-Oct 5. Experience life without driving. Share your stories.👇 #WeekWithoutDriving #OttCity

bikeottawa.ca/2025/09/04/j...

Poster of Week Without Driving. On the left, an orange column with images of bikes and shoes. On the right, Week Without Driving with logos of partners: Bike Ottawa, For our Kids Ottawa Gatineau, Strong Towns Ottawa, Ottawa Transit Riders and Ecology Ottawa.

3 7 19

Bike Ottawa @bikeottawa.bsky.social · 9d

Nice! Have you been able to convince your council colleagues beside @shawnmenard.bsky.social?

Reposted by Bike Ottawa

Cassie Smith (she/her) @cassiesmith.bsky.social · 9d

It's the first day of the #WeekWithoutDriving. How are you getting around?

It's a PD Day and my partner is taking the day off with the kids so no school run and I am just heading to a co-working space by bike.

Bike Ottawa @bikeottawa.bsky.social · 28d

What if, for one week, you experienced your daily life without relying on a car? How might it change your perspective on the way our community moves?

Join the challenge Sept 29-Oct 5. Experience life without driving. Share your stories.👇 #WeekWithoutDriving #OttCity

bikeottawa.ca/2025/09/04/j...

1 3 11

Reposted by Bike Ottawa

Ecology Ottawa @ecologyottawa.bsky.social · 9d

How will you be getting around this week?

If you usually go with a car, consider going without; and if you’re usually car-free, consider how you can further contribute to safer streets for all.

For all, an opportunity to reflect on how car-centricity affects our lives.

#WeekWithoutDriving

Bike Ottawa @bikeottawa.bsky.social · 28d

What if, for one week, you experienced your daily life without relying on a car? How might it change your perspective on the way our community moves?

Join the challenge Sept 29-Oct 5. Experience life without driving. Share your stories.👇 #WeekWithoutDriving #OttCity

bikeottawa.ca/2025/09/04/j...

2 6 10

Reposted by Bike Ottawa

Plain Kate @k8thek8.bsky.social · 9d

This one time I left my car sitting in the carpark for like six months (over the winter, too) and when I went to try and drive it the brakes were seized up and it wouldn't move so I had to call a tow truck

The point is you can go without a car for a HELLA LONG time, try it, a week is easy

Bike Ottawa @bikeottawa.bsky.social · 28d

What if, for one week, you experienced your daily life without relying on a car? How might it change your perspective on the way our community moves?

Join the challenge Sept 29-Oct 5. Experience life without driving. Share your stories.👇 #WeekWithoutDriving #OttCity

bikeottawa.ca/2025/09/04/j...

1 2 10

Bike Ottawa @bikeottawa.bsky.social · 10d

What if, instead of right on red, one could only turn on a green arrow (where warranted)? It would take the guessing out of the game for drivers and make it safe for everyone. This one is in Hull. #BanRightOnRed

Intersection of Maisonneuve and Allumettières. The traffic light is red for people heading straight. There’s a green arrow for people turning right.

2 4 33

Bike Ottawa @bikeottawa.bsky.social · 10d

Well you could document this very fact. Showing why you can’t do without your car. Mapping your route on Google map will show the differences between transportation mode.
You could also try on your hood. Short, local trips. And again document why you chose to drive.
No blaming. Just trying.

1 4

Reposted by Bike Ottawa

Glen Gower @glengower.ca · 10d

Starts tomorrow!

Bike Ottawa @bikeottawa.bsky.social · 28d

What if, for one week, you experienced your daily life without relying on a car? How might it change your perspective on the way our community moves?

Join the challenge Sept 29-Oct 5. Experience life without driving. Share your stories.👇 #WeekWithoutDriving #OttCity

bikeottawa.ca/2025/09/04/j...

3 2 10

Bike Ottawa @bikeottawa.bsky.social · 11d

Great turnout at today’s Kidical Mass ride in Orleans, Ottawa. Shows there’s an appetite for cycling outside the core.

#KidicalMassRide #Ottawa #Orleans
@cgow.bsky.social

6 31

Reposted by Bike Ottawa

Melissa Bowman @dtkmelissa.bsky.social · 15d

"A 2019 analysis of collision research found that a pedestrian has a 50-per-cent chance of dying when hit by a car travelling at 59 kilometres an hour. That drops to 29 per cent at 50 kilometres and hour, 10 per cent at 37 kilometres an hour and to 5 per cent at 30 kilometres an hour." #SpeedKills

Does setting slower speed limits on residential streets make them safer?

Slower speeds reduces the number and severity of collisions so long as they’re enforced

www.theglobeandmail.com

2 4 15

Reposted by Bike Ottawa

Vélo Canada Bikes @velocanadabikes.bsky.social · 15d

🚲+🇨🇦=💰💰💰

"The case is straightforward: cycling boosts tourism, supports Canadian businesses, saves households money, and cuts public spending on health and transportation."

Great to see Bike Day on the Hill featured in @momentummag.bsky.social!

👉 momentummag.com/bike-day-on-...

Bike Day on the Hill 2025: How Cycling is Driving Canada’s Prosperity

Bike Day on the Hill may feature wobbly MPs and playful slow races, but at its core it’s a reminder that two wheels can push Canada toward healthier communities and a stronger economy

momentummag.com

5 22

Bike Ottawa @bikeottawa.bsky.social · 15d

Happjness is… making a home delivery by bike after dropping kids off at school.

#bikesmeanbusiness #biketoschool #ebikes #cargobikes

Person on an e-longtail bike leaving a parking lot after making a home delivery. Two kid helmets are hanging off the rails.

9

Reposted by Bike Ottawa

Edward Xie @edwardxie.bsky.social · 18d

Saw a patient in the ER that was struck by a car while riding their bicycle. They noted that they were not intending to make a police report because the driver had stopped and been nice. Mutual kindness is heartwarming, but there are reasons why making an official report is important.

1/ #bikeTO

1 18 68

Bike Ottawa @bikeottawa.bsky.social · 19d

If road users must be labelled, it’s the drivers of (inherently) dangerous vehicles.

Bingo! 👇

Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 20d

What we call things reveals a lot about our priorities and biases.

Graphic via @reenamahajan.bsky.social

Graphic noting that people walking are called “vulnerable road users” as are people cycling. While “vehicles” are considered neutral and normal. But what if drivers were called “dangerous road users?”

1 2 9

Bike Ottawa @bikeottawa.bsky.social · 19d

Happiness is… biking to work, enjoying the cool morning temperature.

#biketowork #fallcolours #ottawa

Person casually biking to work, his hands behind his back, on a quiet street. On the right, a tree donning orange colours and on the upper left part of the Minto bridge.

1 23