Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Chris Taggart 🏡 ⚡️ 🔌

Aarne Granlund @aarnegranlund.bsky.social · 3h

"City leaders attribute this achievement to long-term, systematically implemented policies grounded in the Vision Zero philosophy, rather than any single initiative."

Yes, it's about both the technology and the downstream work.

urban-mobility-observatory.transport.ec.europa.eu/news-events/...

Helsinki records zero road deaths over the past year

Helsinki has recorded a full year without traffic fatalities, credited to long-term Vision Zero policies, lower speed limits, safer street design, and expanded walking, cycling and public transport in...

urban-mobility-observatory.transport.ec.europa.eu

4 6

Reposted by Chris Taggart 🏡 ⚡️ 🔌

Pat Bickerton @pbickerton.bsky.social · 4h

Over at @strongtownsottawa.ca we've calculated the productivity of different development patterns in #OttCity. Tax per hectare is easy.

Lately, I've been estimating the cost of servicing. These numbers are much more abstract but it's been fun.

Here is some data I'm tracking.

8 21

Chris Taggart 🏡 ⚡️ 🔌 @christaggart.bsky.social · 1d

Bunch of interesting ideas here that Ottawa could borrow to offset the transit levy + fare dependency

Josh Lappen @jlappen1.bsky.social · 1d

Amazing to me that transit ads are worth so little! Also - big unacknowledged distinction btwn things transit agencies should do anyhow- rooftop solar, right-of-way colocation, transit-oriented dev leasing - and last-ditch strategies that degrade the public character of service - ads, naming rights.

Jerold Chinn @jerold.bsky.social · 1d

Several non-revenue ideas. Renting out a private car.

1 5

Chris Taggart 🏡 ⚡️ 🔌 @christaggart.bsky.social · 1d

This scenario can’t possibly result in better value/control for residents.

1 1

Chris Taggart 🏡 ⚡️ 🔌 @christaggart.bsky.social · 1d

Great to see some Canadian cities aren’t trying to wiggle out of their climate commitments by moving the goalposts

www.newswire.ca/news-release...

Toronto Climate Week spotlights a new MaRS and City of Toronto procurement model to green the City's heavy-duty vehicles

/CNW/ - The City of Toronto is implementing a novel procurement model to accelerate its clean fleet strategy, thanks to a collaboration with MaRS Discovery...

www.newswire.ca

2 2

Chris Taggart 🏡 ⚡️ 🔌 @christaggart.bsky.social · 1d

Tbh, I’m surprised Bridgehead went this long without a significant rebrand.

Behind the Bean
BB+
=
Our new icon is inspired by the "B" and two coffee beans nestled in every cherry. Modern, simple, and 100% coffee at heart.

1 1

Reposted by Chris Taggart 🏡 ⚡️ 🔌

Paul 🇨🇦 🚵 @paul-pothier.bsky.social · 2d

Outstanding!

open.substack.com/pub/cityofot...

Lansdowne 2.0: The Opportunity Costs We'll Feel Every Day

Or: How we've been told to stop worrying, close our eyes, and just say "Yes"

open.substack.com

2 6

Chris Taggart 🏡 ⚡️ 🔌 @christaggart.bsky.social · 2d

Ugh that feeling is the worst. Sorry that happened to you guys.

1 1

Reposted by Chris Taggart 🏡 ⚡️ 🔌

Katharine Hayhoe @katharinehayhoe.com · 2d

Two of the most common climate misconceptions I see, even among knowledgeable folks, are that (1) most people aren't worried about climate change, and (2) if they were, they'd act.

Not true! Data show (1) most people are worried, but (2) they won’t act if they don’t know what to do-and most don’t.

A map of the world showing how levels of worry in most countries are greater than 70%. Source: Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, International Public Opinion on Climate Change, 2023.

19 260 610

Reposted by Chris Taggart 🏡 ⚡️ 🔌

Melissa & Chris Bruntlett @modacitylife.com · 3d

When newly-elected Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson started converting car lanes to bike lanes in 2009, pundits claimed it was political suicide. In 2018, he stepped down after three terms as the longest-serving mayor in the city's history. So what can this tale teach us about so-called "bikelash"?🧵

People of all ages and abilities ride bicycles on protected cycling infrastructure on the streets of Downtown Vancouver.

7 63 250

Chris Taggart 🏡 ⚡️ 🔌 @christaggart.bsky.social · 3d

I’m surprised we haven’t tried these anywhere in the city. They’re pretty affordable.

1

Chris Taggart 🏡 ⚡️ 🔌 @christaggart.bsky.social · 3d

Perfect weather for a heat pump crawl today. Really great turnout and lots of great questions. Thanks to everyone that came out, organized and hosted groups!

If you missed this one, sign up for our newsletter at visitaheatpump.ca to catch one near you.

Group of people walking through Overbrook to visit different heat pumps

Heat pump crawl host answering heatpump questions from a group of people

2 1 7

Chris Taggart 🏡 ⚡️ 🔌 @christaggart.bsky.social · 4d

Stop burning stuff.

1 8

Chris Taggart 🏡 ⚡️ 🔌 @christaggart.bsky.social · 4d

There’s even a relatively small number of paver suppliers in the city too.

1

Reposted by Chris Taggart 🏡 ⚡️ 🔌

Ladybugspicnic @ladybugspicnic.bsky.social · 4d

I will leave this here: bsky.app/profile/hann...

Hannah Daly @hannahdaly.ie · 6d

The best guess of climate experts at this Overshoot Conference is that - in an optimistic scenario - we return to 1.5C (where we are now) in 7 generations time.

That's about the same distance from now as the start of the Industrial Revolution.

5 13

Chris Taggart 🏡 ⚡️ 🔌 @christaggart.bsky.social · 4d

💯 the south side building will be completed first.

1 2

Chris Taggart 🏡 ⚡️ 🔌 @christaggart.bsky.social · 4d

Cool things can happen when we close streets to cars!

Glen Gower @glengower.ca · 4d

Game on!!! Nearly 200 participants are taking part in this morning’s Stittsville Minor Hockey Association ball hockey tournament on Robert Grant Avenue.
#weekwithoutdriving

1 1 22

Chris Taggart 🏡 ⚡️ 🔌 @christaggart.bsky.social · 4d

Having the community and city co-identify viable tiny forest spaces and accelerate planting schedules using community associations and volunteers is perhaps the fastest way to accelerate our urban canopy growth

8

Reposted by Chris Taggart 🏡 ⚡️ 🔌

Sean Marshall @seanyyz.bsky.social · 4d

The Star (okay, except for “The Fixer”) is busy busting the speed camera myths.

The threshold in Toronto and Brampton is 11 km/h over the posted limit. That’s definitely not a “tax grab.”

www.thestar.com/news/gta/wha...

What’s the threshold to get a ticket from Toronto’s speed camera program? Here’s what the Star has found

For the first time, the Star can report the threshold for a ticket when driving over the posted speed limit — at least in Toronto and other large municipalities nearby.

www.thestar.com

4 13 29

Chris Taggart 🏡 ⚡️ 🔌 @christaggart.bsky.social · 4d

Totally, I’m more thinking a lot of people would have no problem trying to maintain it as a group but wouldn’t want to put any energy into it if a city crew just swings by and mows it all down.

1 1

Chris Taggart 🏡 ⚡️ 🔌 @christaggart.bsky.social · 5d

There’s still time to join our Overbrook Heatpump Walking Tour this weekend including a really cool OCH retrofit if you need. Also coffee and donuts! 🍩 ☕️.

We were on Ottawa Morning this morning to talk about it. @electrify613.bsky.social

www.cbc.ca/listen/live-...

visitaheatpump.ca/tours/

www.cbc.ca

1 3

Chris Taggart 🏡 ⚡️ 🔌 @christaggart.bsky.social · 5d

Planting beds in curbs? That’s impossible. Only weeds and dead grass are possible.

In the absence of actual city-managed plantings, I’d love to see the agreements where community orgs can adopt gardens in parks extended to curb gardens. Could EO adopt some of the Scott St curbs?

3 8

Reposted by Chris Taggart 🏡 ⚡️ 🔌

Mike Eliason @holz-bau.bsky.social · 6d

e-bikes are the fastest path to avoided carbon in the transportation sector.

governments actually serious about climate & safe streets & economics should be *giving* them away.

e-bikes are a force multiplier for public health and wealth building in communities bsky.app/profile/holz...

Mike Eliason @holz-bau.bsky.social · Sep 23

We are headed the wrong direction when it comes to #sustainablemobility, #safestreets, and #publichealth.

Here's the math on e-bike giveaways.

An electric cargo bike is a car-replacement in most urban areas.

This is a savings of approx. $5-6k a year - and even upwards of $12k.

a cartoon cat wearing sunglasses is holding a bunch of money .

ALT: a cartoon cat wearing sunglasses is holding a bunch of money .

media.tenor.com

2 8 34

Chris Taggart 🏡 ⚡️ 🔌 @christaggart.bsky.social · 6d

If only we could fund the gap with eyeroll-inducing mayoral photo ops.

3

Reposted by Chris Taggart 🏡 ⚡️ 🔌

Streetfilms/Clarence Eckerson Jr. @streetfilms.bsky.social · 6d

Great video to watch!!

youtu.be/ezPzocuqKPc?...

Paris School Streets: Safe for Children, Safe for Everyone

YouTube video by Streetfilms®

youtu.be

2 3