Rob Attrell
@robattrell.bsky.social
Raising kids 🏡 (attrell.ca)
Riding bikes 🚲 (@bikeottawa.bsky.social & @lesscarca.bsky.social)
Building community 🌳 (@theneworleans.bsky.social, @strongtownsottawa.ca & @cgow.bsky.social)
Riding bikes 🚲 (@bikeottawa.bsky.social & @lesscarca.bsky.social)
Building community 🌳 (@theneworleans.bsky.social, @strongtownsottawa.ca & @cgow.bsky.social)
I hate to be the one to break it to the suburbs but the only way to truly get denser housing that 'matches the neighbourhood character' is to have built it that way decades ago.
Starting today, the only option is to change what you accept as 'neighbourhood character'.
Starting today, the only option is to change what you accept as 'neighbourhood character'.
January 12, 2026 at 1:27 AM
I hate to be the one to break it to the suburbs but the only way to truly get denser housing that 'matches the neighbourhood character' is to have built it that way decades ago.
Starting today, the only option is to change what you accept as 'neighbourhood character'.
Starting today, the only option is to change what you accept as 'neighbourhood character'.
We all agree it’s very creepy that the potatoes in our pantries are just hanging out in there, fully alive, right?
January 7, 2026 at 9:54 PM
We all agree it’s very creepy that the potatoes in our pantries are just hanging out in there, fully alive, right?
Looking forward to it…in a couple of months it would appear!
January 7, 2026 at 2:36 AM
Looking forward to it…in a couple of months it would appear!
We’re certainly not going to raise taxes or densify (given current moods; of course it would be nice), so which services are going to be cut or “benefit from efficiencies” to pay for this? 😭
January 2, 2026 at 12:07 AM
We’re certainly not going to raise taxes or densify (given current moods; of course it would be nice), so which services are going to be cut or “benefit from efficiencies” to pay for this? 😭
Adventures in crossing suburban streets in the winter…
December 27, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Adventures in crossing suburban streets in the winter…
Reminder that using a car for simple errands like going for lunch or picking up takeout pizza is doing this in our atmosphere, even if you can’t see it.
December 7, 2025 at 12:58 PM
Reminder that using a car for simple errands like going for lunch or picking up takeout pizza is doing this in our atmosphere, even if you can’t see it.
We’ve entered the phase in my neighbourhood where city plowing crews are accidentally plowing more than they’re supposed to, so now the path landscape is dotted with these signs. This represents a total failure to imagine spending money on people getting around in the winter outside of a car.
December 7, 2025 at 12:53 PM
We’ve entered the phase in my neighbourhood where city plowing crews are accidentally plowing more than they’re supposed to, so now the path landscape is dotted with these signs. This represents a total failure to imagine spending money on people getting around in the winter outside of a car.
These two photos are taken 20 feet apart and reflect our priorities for transportation spending during the winter months. This is right in front of a school where the vast majority of people who need to get there 5x a week are not able to drive.
Our choices define our world.
Our choices define our world.
December 7, 2025 at 12:50 PM
These two photos are taken 20 feet apart and reflect our priorities for transportation spending during the winter months. This is right in front of a school where the vast majority of people who need to get there 5x a week are not able to drive.
Our choices define our world.
Our choices define our world.
People still want to walk around in the suburbs, exhibit #39562.
People are blazing a trail across the unplowed MUP, and you can see the “sidewalk” I snowblowed because our street doesn’t have one, it will be specially cleared least until the big plows come.
People are blazing a trail across the unplowed MUP, and you can see the “sidewalk” I snowblowed because our street doesn’t have one, it will be specially cleared least until the big plows come.
December 1, 2025 at 2:56 AM
People still want to walk around in the suburbs, exhibit #39562.
People are blazing a trail across the unplowed MUP, and you can see the “sidewalk” I snowblowed because our street doesn’t have one, it will be specially cleared least until the big plows come.
People are blazing a trail across the unplowed MUP, and you can see the “sidewalk” I snowblowed because our street doesn’t have one, it will be specially cleared least until the big plows come.
Trying an experiment in suburban Ottawa on my street, clearing a path with the plow as a sidewalk (which we don’t have).
Bonus, the sidewalk connects two multi use paths, making it easier to walk through the community, at least until the city plows come through to do the road.
Bonus, the sidewalk connects two multi use paths, making it easier to walk through the community, at least until the city plows come through to do the road.
November 30, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Trying an experiment in suburban Ottawa on my street, clearing a path with the plow as a sidewalk (which we don’t have).
Bonus, the sidewalk connects two multi use paths, making it easier to walk through the community, at least until the city plows come through to do the road.
Bonus, the sidewalk connects two multi use paths, making it easier to walk through the community, at least until the city plows come through to do the road.
Tools in the toolbox for retrofitting streets in Ontario for active transportation after Bill 60. Let's get moving.
November 24, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Tools in the toolbox for retrofitting streets in Ontario for active transportation after Bill 60. Let's get moving.
I need to pick up a few groceries. #DriveLess
November 23, 2025 at 6:17 PM
I need to pick up a few groceries. #DriveLess
It looks something like this. I don’t think small everyday errands should merit this amount of energy use. #DriveLess
November 22, 2025 at 4:18 PM
It looks something like this. I don’t think small everyday errands should merit this amount of energy use. #DriveLess
Sure, I’d love to come by for a coffee
November 19, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Sure, I’d love to come by for a coffee
Let’s go to hockey practise.
November 19, 2025 at 10:56 AM
Let’s go to hockey practise.
“I just have to pick up a couple things at the store…”
November 17, 2025 at 5:57 PM
“I just have to pick up a couple things at the store…”
If people living in the suburbs aren’t willing to accept the housing density and mixed use that they need to be productive, the city should stop giving those communities any more funding than they bring in from taxes.
Until then, infrastructure and services should only be funded to that lower level
Until then, infrastructure and services should only be funded to that lower level
November 14, 2025 at 9:43 PM
If people living in the suburbs aren’t willing to accept the housing density and mixed use that they need to be productive, the city should stop giving those communities any more funding than they bring in from taxes.
Until then, infrastructure and services should only be funded to that lower level
Until then, infrastructure and services should only be funded to that lower level
Last night, I watched the person ahead of me taking the 'scenic route' around a speed bump at Walmart. You know, so they didn't have to slow down while going up onto the sidewalk.
July 24, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Last night, I watched the person ahead of me taking the 'scenic route' around a speed bump at Walmart. You know, so they didn't have to slow down while going up onto the sidewalk.
Whoops, looks like someone blocked off the outer lanes of Orleans Blvd 174 overpass very cheaply like we’ve been suggesting. As you can see, traffic was total pandemonium!
July 17, 2025 at 2:17 AM
Whoops, looks like someone blocked off the outer lanes of Orleans Blvd 174 overpass very cheaply like we’ve been suggesting. As you can see, traffic was total pandemonium!
I saw this one a couple months ago and it was also on clearance and was very cheap and seemed like they were pretty damaged just from being displayed for a while. Glad they exist at all though.
June 28, 2025 at 8:18 PM
I saw this one a couple months ago and it was also on clearance and was very cheap and seemed like they were pretty damaged just from being displayed for a while. Glad they exist at all though.