Robin Richardson she/her
@canadarobin.bsky.social
Doing everything I can to help people bike more and drive less. Obsessed with cargo bikes. Organizer, Yonge4All; Leader, KidicalMassTO; Contributor, ebikes-international.com.
Proud 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈 mom.
Still COVIDing 😷💉
Proud 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈 mom.
Still COVIDing 😷💉
Look at this graph of virus in the wastewater in Toronto if you don't believe me. See that pink spike? That's Flu A, which is killing people every day. The data go up to December 21. What do you think that graph is going to look like after kids go back to school and adults go back to work?
January 5, 2026 at 10:23 PM
Look at this graph of virus in the wastewater in Toronto if you don't believe me. See that pink spike? That's Flu A, which is killing people every day. The data go up to December 21. What do you think that graph is going to look like after kids go back to school and adults go back to work?
Just remember Uncle Ben's words to Peter Parker/Spiderman: "with great power comes great responsibility." In my examples, drivers have the responsibility to be able to see other road users. If they can't, they shouldn't get behind the wheel. That's what I was taught in Driver's Ed - weren't you?
November 29, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Just remember Uncle Ben's words to Peter Parker/Spiderman: "with great power comes great responsibility." In my examples, drivers have the responsibility to be able to see other road users. If they can't, they shouldn't get behind the wheel. That's what I was taught in Driver's Ed - weren't you?
Drivers: I couldn’t see you, it was raining
Drivers: I couldn’t see you, there was frost on my windows
Drivers: I couldn’t see you, it was dark
Drivers: I couldn’t see you, the sun was in my eyes
Also drivers: I never see anyone using that bike lane, let’s rip it out.
Drivers: I couldn’t see you, there was frost on my windows
Drivers: I couldn’t see you, it was dark
Drivers: I couldn’t see you, the sun was in my eyes
Also drivers: I never see anyone using that bike lane, let’s rip it out.
November 28, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Drivers: I couldn’t see you, it was raining
Drivers: I couldn’t see you, there was frost on my windows
Drivers: I couldn’t see you, it was dark
Drivers: I couldn’t see you, the sun was in my eyes
Also drivers: I never see anyone using that bike lane, let’s rip it out.
Drivers: I couldn’t see you, there was frost on my windows
Drivers: I couldn’t see you, it was dark
Drivers: I couldn’t see you, the sun was in my eyes
Also drivers: I never see anyone using that bike lane, let’s rip it out.
I’d much rather have my taxes go to Nathan Fillion!
October 24, 2025 at 11:54 PM
I’d much rather have my taxes go to Nathan Fillion!
On it, boss.
May 24, 2025 at 12:58 AM
On it, boss.
Can wholeheartedly recommend.
May 6, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Can wholeheartedly recommend.
After three successful years, I closed the business to free up time to be with my family and work on safe streets advocacy campaigns. And I still ride my cargo bike for almost all of my day-to-day travel. My only regret is that I didn't ditch the SUV sooner!
March 6, 2025 at 10:37 PM
After three successful years, I closed the business to free up time to be with my family and work on safe streets advocacy campaigns. And I still ride my cargo bike for almost all of my day-to-day travel. My only regret is that I didn't ditch the SUV sooner!
Towards that goal, I founded @happyfietsca.bsky.social to offer cargo bike rentals for curious individuals and families. I helped lots of people try out cycling for their work, shopping, and transportation, and had a ton of fun riding different styles of cargo bikes all over the city!
March 6, 2025 at 10:37 PM
Towards that goal, I founded @happyfietsca.bsky.social to offer cargo bike rentals for curious individuals and families. I helped lots of people try out cycling for their work, shopping, and transportation, and had a ton of fun riding different styles of cargo bikes all over the city!
I’ve been wondering lately if we might have avoided the SUV trap if we had seen just one cargo/family bike back in 2009. It’s my fondest hope we might be that “one” for another family…
March 6, 2025 at 10:37 PM
I’ve been wondering lately if we might have avoided the SUV trap if we had seen just one cargo/family bike back in 2009. It’s my fondest hope we might be that “one” for another family…
We now do all of our in-city travel by bicycle. We have connected with other cyclists in Toronto through the Bike Brigade and @cycletoronto.bsky.social. We have explored areas of our city that we never might have seen otherwise! And we’re healthier, wealthier, and happier out of our car.
March 6, 2025 at 10:37 PM
We now do all of our in-city travel by bicycle. We have connected with other cyclists in Toronto through the Bike Brigade and @cycletoronto.bsky.social. We have explored areas of our city that we never might have seen otherwise! And we’re healthier, wealthier, and happier out of our car.
We sold our SUV and replaced it with cargo bikes - a Larry vs Harry eBullitt for @thebikingvet.bsky.social and a Yuba eBodaBoda for me.
March 6, 2025 at 10:37 PM
We sold our SUV and replaced it with cargo bikes - a Larry vs Harry eBullitt for @thebikingvet.bsky.social and a Yuba eBodaBoda for me.
And then, one year - I decided not to stop riding for the winter. We got studded tires for all of our bikes, dressed for the weather, and just kept riding. When the going gets tough, we yell #VikingBiking at the top of our lungs - it’s an excellent motivator!
March 6, 2025 at 10:37 PM
And then, one year - I decided not to stop riding for the winter. We got studded tires for all of our bikes, dressed for the weather, and just kept riding. When the going gets tough, we yell #VikingBiking at the top of our lungs - it’s an excellent motivator!
Meanwhile, I kept reading about climate change. I read about young activists like Greta Thunberg
and the choices they were making to minimize their contribution to global warming. I felt so guilty any time I drove my car. I made more and more trips by bicycle.
and the choices they were making to minimize their contribution to global warming. I felt so guilty any time I drove my car. I made more and more trips by bicycle.
March 6, 2025 at 10:37 PM
Meanwhile, I kept reading about climate change. I read about young activists like Greta Thunberg
and the choices they were making to minimize their contribution to global warming. I felt so guilty any time I drove my car. I made more and more trips by bicycle.
and the choices they were making to minimize their contribution to global warming. I felt so guilty any time I drove my car. I made more and more trips by bicycle.
Every year, I would sadly put my bike away when the temperatures dropped below freezing and the snow arrived. I would resume driving around, getting crankier and lazier. Meanwhile, @thebikingvet.bsky.social kept riding all winter long. “That’s crazy,” I thought. “I’m never going to do that.”
March 6, 2025 at 10:37 PM
Every year, I would sadly put my bike away when the temperatures dropped below freezing and the snow arrived. I would resume driving around, getting crankier and lazier. Meanwhile, @thebikingvet.bsky.social kept riding all winter long. “That’s crazy,” I thought. “I’m never going to do that.”
We moved a few km closer to downtown. @thebikingvet.bsky.social started riding his bike to work every day, and I decided the kids and I would bike to school on nice days. I started to take my bike to run errands, buy groceries, and do all the other things I needed to do. On nice days.
March 6, 2025 at 10:37 PM
We moved a few km closer to downtown. @thebikingvet.bsky.social started riding his bike to work every day, and I decided the kids and I would bike to school on nice days. I started to take my bike to run errands, buy groceries, and do all the other things I needed to do. On nice days.
Then, one day, my husband @thebikingvet.bsky.social
signed up for a charity bike ride for the Farley Foundation. He started riding his bike to work, one day a week, as part of his training plan. It was very noticeable how much happier he was on his bike days than on his car days.
signed up for a charity bike ride for the Farley Foundation. He started riding his bike to work, one day a week, as part of his training plan. It was very noticeable how much happier he was on his bike days than on his car days.
March 6, 2025 at 10:37 PM
Then, one day, my husband @thebikingvet.bsky.social
signed up for a charity bike ride for the Farley Foundation. He started riding his bike to work, one day a week, as part of his training plan. It was very noticeable how much happier he was on his bike days than on his car days.
signed up for a charity bike ride for the Farley Foundation. He started riding his bike to work, one day a week, as part of his training plan. It was very noticeable how much happier he was on his bike days than on his car days.
I wasted time, and I wasted money - so much money. Car repairs, parking, gas - plus of course insurance and registration fees. And my bike sat unused at the back of the garage, because I had kids who needed to be driven places!
March 6, 2025 at 10:37 PM
I wasted time, and I wasted money - so much money. Car repairs, parking, gas - plus of course insurance and registration fees. And my bike sat unused at the back of the garage, because I had kids who needed to be driven places!
I spent hours behind the wheel of my SUV. I became stressed out, angry, and mean. Several times I almost hit pedestrians in crosswalks, because the SUV had huge blind spots created by its mighty construction. We were always late.
March 6, 2025 at 10:37 PM
I spent hours behind the wheel of my SUV. I became stressed out, angry, and mean. Several times I almost hit pedestrians in crosswalks, because the SUV had huge blind spots created by its mighty construction. We were always late.
Driving in Toronto is a miserable experience. There are too many cars on the roads. Delivery trucks park wherever they like, blocking entire lanes. Construction projects go on for years, rendering entire streets useless. And drivers are stressed out, angry, and mean.
March 6, 2025 at 10:37 PM
Driving in Toronto is a miserable experience. There are too many cars on the roads. Delivery trucks park wherever they like, blocking entire lanes. Construction projects go on for years, rendering entire streets useless. And drivers are stressed out, angry, and mean.
For years, we drove our kids around in that car. School, doctor’s appointments, playdates, sports, movies, birthday parties - all car trips. Work commutes, shopping, volunteering, visits with friends - by car.
March 6, 2025 at 10:37 PM
For years, we drove our kids around in that car. School, doctor’s appointments, playdates, sports, movies, birthday parties - all car trips. Work commutes, shopping, volunteering, visits with friends - by car.
Only no one ever wanted to carpool - everyone had their own huge SUV that they wanted to drive their own kids in. And we all fought for parking at the same sports fields, trampoline parks, and movie theatres.
March 6, 2025 at 10:37 PM
Only no one ever wanted to carpool - everyone had their own huge SUV that they wanted to drive their own kids in. And we all fought for parking at the same sports fields, trampoline parks, and movie theatres.
Our society told us that families should carry their kids around in the biggest, most protected motor vehicle they could afford. Everyone we saw drove around in huge metal boxes. So that’s what we got: a 7-seater SUV, plenty of room for our kids and the carpools I imagined.
March 6, 2025 at 10:37 PM
Our society told us that families should carry their kids around in the biggest, most protected motor vehicle they could afford. Everyone we saw drove around in huge metal boxes. So that’s what we got: a 7-seater SUV, plenty of room for our kids and the carpools I imagined.
I'm sad and angry about what's happened over there, but I love the positive and pro-social vibe here at Bluesky. I think it is past time for me to introduce myself properly.
***
In 2009, I told my husband that I was pregnant with our third child. “Wow,” he said. “We’re going to need a bigger car.”
***
In 2009, I told my husband that I was pregnant with our third child. “Wow,” he said. “We’re going to need a bigger car.”
March 6, 2025 at 10:37 PM
I'm sad and angry about what's happened over there, but I love the positive and pro-social vibe here at Bluesky. I think it is past time for me to introduce myself properly.
***
In 2009, I told my husband that I was pregnant with our third child. “Wow,” he said. “We’re going to need a bigger car.”
***
In 2009, I told my husband that I was pregnant with our third child. “Wow,” he said. “We’re going to need a bigger car.”
Telling my cyclist origin story helped me find a lot of like-minded people across Canada, in the U.S., and around the world. It also brought the trolls in a big way - let's just say I quickly filled my anti-cycling cliches bingo card!
March 6, 2025 at 10:37 PM
Telling my cyclist origin story helped me find a lot of like-minded people across Canada, in the U.S., and around the world. It also brought the trolls in a big way - let's just say I quickly filled my anti-cycling cliches bingo card!