Cassie Smith (she/her)
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cassiesmith.bsky.social
Cassie Smith (she/her)
@cassiesmith.bsky.social
4.5K followers 1.4K following 1.4K posts
Feminist geographer and cargo bike mom.

Volunteer: Bike Ottawa VP, For Our Kids, Kidical Mass championing safe, sustainable, fun, and equitable spaces especially for kids.

Work: Transportation strategy and solutions with EnviroCentre. Views my own.
Posts Replies Media Videos
cassiesmith.bsky.social
4yo: my drawing of a unicorn is ✨amazing✨

Me: what about mine?

4yo: it's good too.
A kid's fingers on the side of a paper with a drawing of a unicorn and the letter J
January 19, 2026 at 12:09 AM
cassiesmith.bsky.social
Obligatory canal pic. Conditions were better than I expected. Hoping I'll be able to skate to work a couple days this week! ⛸️
Cassie, a white woman with dirty blonde hair, wearing a pink toque and beige scarf takes a smiling selfie on an outdoor skate.
January 17, 2026 at 10:00 PM
cassiesmith.bsky.social
Yes, this is the fourth winter we've used it! Mostly it feels similar to riding any other bike in the winter. We have studded tires and it can be tough going through heavy slush or big frozen ruts (I'll often walk but it's hard to push) so I mostly stick to maintained routes.
An urban Arrow e-cargo bike with cover in front of Sandy Hill Community Centre. There's snow behind it and warm bar mitts on the handlebars.
January 12, 2026 at 12:31 AM
cassiesmith.bsky.social
Love that. Similar to what we did at the first @kidicalmassottawa.bsky.social but at a larger scale.

It also makes me wonder in the current model - do involuntary non-drivers who are driven as a passengers(possibly due to lack of an independent option) show as more driving demand?
Chart of mode share by age (2022 origin-destination survey) Shows 5-10 year olds are passengers 46% of trips (plus 29% on school bus). 11-18 year olds 34% passenger, 17% school bus
January 10, 2026 at 3:40 PM
cassiesmith.bsky.social
This is such a satisfying pie chart. Off to a roaring and evidently perfectly balanced reading start in 2026.

The second book was Life After Cars that I finished on my bus ride to the @visionzeroottawa.bsky.social event tonight which was very fitting.
A snapshot from StoryGraph showing Read 2 books, 541 pages / Average time to finish 14 days and a perfectly divided six way pie chart of moods: reflective, informative, funny, inspiring, hopeful and emotional.
January 7, 2026 at 2:22 AM
cassiesmith.bsky.social
Hey @toondreessen.bsky.social - I found a fun book for your grandkids. The city planner won't hire the kittens despite having far superior plans resulting in a disastrous outcome.
A book cover: Kitten Construction Company: Meet the House Kittens by John Patrick Green. An orange kitten holds the blueprint of a house in front of a bulldozer driven by a black and white kitten with other kittens in the scoop. Pages of a graphic novel: "...the construction of a new mayor's mansion" A construction site with a sign that says Coming MAYOR'S MANSION But before construction can start, the city planner has to pick an architect. Exterior shot of an office door. Inside the office a man with glasses sits at a desk looking at a blueprint. His speech bubbles says "Hmm, yes... This design of yours is exceptional." The next pane shows the blueprint design from his pov. He continues speaking "This would make a perfect mayor's mansion/But I don't think I can hire you as the architect, Miss...?" A wacky looking multistory house with upside down chimney, exposed bathroom, second floor garage door, etc. On the opposite page it falls down with a Ka-Crash!
January 2, 2026 at 9:36 PM
cassiesmith.bsky.social
Wrapping up 2025 with my top reads!

Without a doubt the main themes are dealing with change & understanding humans, nature, tech and their intersections.

@nondriver.bsky.social @naomiaklein.bsky.social @drkatemarvel.bsky.social @amalelmohtar.com @veronicaodavis.bsky.social @peterbrownstudio.com
On a green square with the title "Best Fiction I read in 2025" are five book covers: - The Wild Robot by Peter Brown cover features an illustration of a robot on a pile of rocks - Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy cover is brown and orange moody waves - The Wedding People by Alison Espach cover has more waves with an arm giving a peace sign and another arm holding a bottle of bubbly - This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone cover features a red cardinal and a reflected blue jay both kind of pixelated. - We All Want Impossible Things by Catherine Newman cover features a sofa can with a straw and daisy coming out of the opening On a green square with the title "Best Fiction I read in 2025" are five book covers: - When Driving is Not an Option by Anna Leticia Zivarts cover features a hand drawn illustration of people waiting at a bus stop and a bus arriving - Doppelganger by Naomi Klein cover features a close up of Naomi's face distorted and pixelated - Active Hope by Joanna Macy and Chris Johnstone cover features the silhouette of a flying goose - Human nature by Kate Marvel cover features melting icy waves - Inclusive Transportation by Veronica O Davis cover features an illustration of people using an intersection in different ways
January 1, 2026 at 3:07 PM
cassiesmith.bsky.social
After 2.5 years joining by child seat/cargo bike my youngest finally got to ride her own bike in the bike bus to school. She was beyond thrilled at her accomplishment. In the first month of kindergarten no less!
A group of kids in pink and purple with smiling emojis over their faces on the road with parents to the side and behind.
December 29, 2025 at 6:57 PM
cassiesmith.bsky.social
When I have time (rarely these days) I enjoy trying new recipes & sharing plant-based meals. Get ready for Veganuary folks!

Here are the best new-to-me recipes I made in 2025:
1. minimalistbaker.com/creamy-itali...
2. plantbasedrdblog.com/2023/10/cris...
3. dietitiandebbie.com/vegetarian-e...
On a green background the text "Best recipes I tried in 2025". There are five pictures of food below - a bowl with something orange and creamy, a wrap sandwich with filling, another orange bowl, a pasta salad, and a bowl with beans and zucchini.
December 28, 2025 at 1:26 PM
cassiesmith.bsky.social
Stunningly beautiful day here in Ottawa. ☀️❄️☃️🌲

Merry Christmas everyone and thanks to the amazing volunteers who maintain outdoor rinks and cross country ski trails (for 4's first ever outing we just went to the park but will be at Kichi Sibi before we know it!
A little kid in purple snowsuit, pink goggles, buffalo plaid goggles and cross country skis slides through snow with a playground behind them. An outdoor rink on a sunny day. A kid with a hockey stick and a goalie net is in the middle.
December 25, 2025 at 10:21 PM
cassiesmith.bsky.social
I was so glad I saw this before being near Patagonia the other day. The youngest's snowpants are now ready for more winter fun and hopefully a Christmas XC ski 🎿! Thanks David!
Purple snowpants with patch stickers on the seams. A Rudolph slipper also snuck into the picture
December 25, 2025 at 3:29 PM
cassiesmith.bsky.social
8yo now associates Christmas holidays with Monopoly.

Very proud of myself for still crushing him and his sister when they joined forces mid game and had almost all of the property. Merci Marvin Jardins.
A Monopoly board game with lots of money on both sides and almost all of the property cards on the other side of the table with the shoulders and torsos of two squirming children.
December 22, 2025 at 6:30 PM
cassiesmith.bsky.social
I was frustrated that the only cards I had for teachers were specific to Christmas.

8yo understood and solved the problem 😂
Card with a snowpeople and the words Merry Christmas. The Merry Christmas text has been scratched out with happy holidays written on top.
December 18, 2025 at 12:37 PM
cassiesmith.bsky.social
In case you're wondering, my shirt is "Sacrifices":
THINGS KIDS HAVE SACRIFICED FOR DRIVERS -PLAYING ON THEIR STREET -SAFE SCHOOL STREETS -WALKING TO SCHOOL -BIKING TO SCHOOL -WALKING TO THE PARK -RANDOM PLAY -CROSSING THE STREET -PLAYING AT NIGHT -INDEPENDENCE -QUALITY STREET LIFE -AIR QUALITY -A PLANET -THEIR LIVES THINGS DRIVERS HAVE SACRIFICED FOR KIDS (Gaping blank space) ROVÉLO CREATIVE
December 14, 2025 at 3:20 PM
cassiesmith.bsky.social
Looking forward to the next @visionzeroottawa.bsky.social lab and connecting with great people doing great things with excellent transportation attire👌🏼. With @siobhanwanders.bsky.social & @eugeniewaters.bsky.social last time.

(2/3 shirts from @tomflood.bsky.social)

www.creativebyrovelo.com
Three people stand in a room. The first wears a sweatshirt that says Transit is Rad in rainbow colours, the second wears a white shirt with a lot of text on one side and nothing on the other, and the third wears a shirt that says 15 minute cities
December 14, 2025 at 3:20 PM
cassiesmith.bsky.social
Sledding to school: sibling edition.

All the fun, way easier for the parent. 👍🏼👍🏼
A kid wearing a light blue jacket pulls another kid wearing a pink jacket on a blue sled on a protected sidewalk with a towel under construction in the background
December 12, 2025 at 2:00 PM
cassiesmith.bsky.social
A winter wonderland full of bikes ❄️🚲. Thanks to @bikeottawa.bsky.social and @letsgocargo.bsky.social for bringing some fun (& coffee!!) to winter bike trips this morning. It was great to chat with so many people walking and biking by Bayview Station! #OttBike #WinterBiking
A number of cargo bikes next to a pathway. A dog sits in front bucket and a group of people smile behind. A group of people and bikes gather in the snow.
December 11, 2025 at 1:57 PM
cassiesmith.bsky.social
The external costs of motor vehicles that are not paid by users (including subsidized parking, but also roads, collision risk, and pollution) make up 32% of the costs of driving. 😱

From @toddlitman.bsky.social
A header reads Win-Win Transportation Solutions Victoria Transport Policy Institute Figure 1 Automobile Cost Distribution (Litman 2009) A piechart with external 32%, Internal Fixed 25%, Internal variable 43% Automobile travel is underpriced. More than half of automobile costs are external or fixed
December 5, 2025 at 8:45 PM
cassiesmith.bsky.social
Would you look at that, I'm already about half way through the first recommendation on this list!

Big big feelings, important, approachable info and even humour. I loved @drkatemarvel.bsky.social on the mansplaining "retired engineers" 🤭
A hand holds up a book. The cover has a storm seat and the words Human Nature: nine ways to feel about our changing planet, Kate Marvel.
December 5, 2025 at 2:47 AM
cassiesmith.bsky.social
He also planned to dress up for Halloween as a cardboard box. Not using the box as part of a costumes but actually dressing up as a box 😂. Unfortunately the weather did not cooperate so this didn't actually make it out trick or treating
A white cardboard box (with human child legs coming out from the bottom) walks down the sidewalk with pretty fall foliage.
December 4, 2025 at 2:23 AM
cassiesmith.bsky.social
I loved the point in this interview about cardboard boxes being the perfect plaything. Earlier this year my eldest had the idea to build an elaborate and functional vending machine (his favourite indulgence) out of a cardboard box. He has kept it stocked (thanks Halloween) for months now.
A cardboard box with holes covered in construction paper, dollar amounts, and Halloween candy
December 4, 2025 at 2:23 AM
cassiesmith.bsky.social
I have a new phone & it refuses to connect with any meta products. So I'm taking this as a great opportunity to seriously limit my Instagram & Facebook time 👍🏼👌🏼.

Which means Bluesky might get more of my primarily plant-based food content.

Tonight: Squash steak, risotto balls, tofu bites, & salad.
A dinner plate with an orange slab, round brown bites, irregular shaped brown bites, and a green slaw salad.
November 30, 2025 at 11:12 PM
cassiesmith.bsky.social
The #DevonshireBikeBus made the local community newspaper, The Centretown Buzz.

The article was written by one of our Grade 5 participants, photo by the principal. Makes my heart sing ❣️

#OttBike cc: @bikeottawa.bsky.social
A newspaper article. The edition is at the top November 21, 2025 followed by a photo of a group of people including many kids riding bikes stopped at a stop sign. Text that follows: The Devonshire bike bus rides on Sebastian Arnold The Devonshire Community Public School bike bus, serving students in Centretown, is rolling into its fourth year. It shows students and families that other ways of getting to school are possible and important. It's also a healthy and eco-friendly way to get to school. Cassie Smith, the parent who started the Devonshire bike bus, says, "It's a group of people that get together and do things together as a community. And it's a great way to wake up and feel ready for the day ahead at school." The bike bus runs on Fridays, except for Professional Development days or holidays. Participants-parents and students - meet about 20 minutes before school begins. They convene at Primrose Park and cycle to Devonshire P.S. The trip takes around 15 minutes. At the beginning of this school year, about 25 people joined the ride, Smith said. Anybody can join. Even students at other schools can join as the bike bus currently uses the Ottawa bike path network. Finley Arnold, a Grade 3 Devonshire student who participates in the bike bus, says, "I like how you bike with your friends and family, and it's a fun way to get to school." Usually, Smith is waiting at Primrose Park with a reflector jacket and her eight-year-old son Freddie is pedalling around the park. When everybody arrives they get into order, the leader or "bus driver" goes in front of all the kids. The scout goes in front of the leader (to check if roads are clear), the kids go in the middle, and an adult in the back goes last (to make sure nobody gets left behind). Sometimes doughnuts or cookies are served, and there is usually music played through a speaker on someone's bike. In the spring, bike buses gained momentum in other parts of the city. Broadview P.S., Manor Park P.S., Woodr…
November 30, 2025 at 1:55 PM
cassiesmith.bsky.social
Happy festive Caturday! 🎅🏻🐱
An orange cat wears a Santa hat. He looks very serious.
November 29, 2025 at 9:05 PM
cassiesmith.bsky.social
Our local goes maximalist for Christmas. It's so cozy.
Kids with Santa and Mrs Claus emojis covering their faces sit at a window table in a pub full of decorations. It's dark (and pouring rain) outside.
November 28, 2025 at 11:11 PM