Toon Dreessen
@toondreessen.bsky.social
8.2K followers 1.2K following 4.4K posts
Architect Husband Dad he/him; past pres @oaarchitects.bsky.social; president @architectsdca.bsky.social; writer, public speaker, advocate for #procurement reform; #climatepoli @riseforarch
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toondreessen.bsky.social
* bus lanes. But bus lands works too I guess. #spaceForBuses
toondreessen.bsky.social
This is why we need bus lands on Bank Street. We don’t need extensive consultations or debates or both side-ism to find a “balance;” we need bold action, bold leadership to design public space in the public interest and just do it. @strongtownsottawa.ca
glengower.ca
Between the bus-only lanes, and the off-ramp detours, we’ve barely slowed down. Unless you’re on a bus, it’s a parking lot out there.
Reposted by Toon Dreessen
dtkmelissa.bsky.social
"Studies show that if lower speed limits aren’t enforced, more drivers just ignore them. Plus, cities may need to install traffic-calming measures, including speed bumps, roundabouts and bump-outs at crosswalks, to physically force cars to slow down."
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
buff.ly
toondreessen.bsky.social
That could be where I saw them. It was a while ago and time seems to have lost all meaning, but that might be it. There was also a souvenir store somewhere near the world memorial on Elgin I think, but I could be mixed up.
toondreessen.bsky.social
I remember seeing them a few years ago in one of those souvenir shops that sells little bottles of maple syrup and stuffies and t shirts and things. They might not have been sanctioned or authentic, but I will keep an eye out.
Reposted by Toon Dreessen
lloydalter.bsky.social
I saw my first Mercedes Econic garbage truck in Newcastle the other day and was so excited! This is the kind of vehicle we should be demanding in Canada to stop the killing of pedestrians and cyclists. Canada has hewed to the USA safety standards, but now is the time to go our own way.
Canada should make side guards on trucks mandatory; the usual excuse no longer works
Now that we are plotting an independent course from the USA, it’s time to develop our own safety strategies and standards.
lloydalter.substack.com
Reposted by Toon Dreessen
johnpfaff.bsky.social
Um, ICE just coldly shot an unarmed PRIEST in the head w a pepper ball when he (and everyone around him) clearly posed no threat.

For the crime of … complaining about government policy.

Core 1A speech.

With cameras rolling, they’re sniping priests for sport.
flglchicago.bsky.social
Here’s video of the incident
toondreessen.bsky.social
Or, hear me out, ban cruise ships.
toondreessen.bsky.social
It’s tough: can work if near factory and shipping is easy enough but that means we’d need a lot of factories or pay to ship long distances; full modular IMHO is best choice in all conditions; flat pack modular mass timber makes a lot more sense. More durable, better value, taller, more flexible
toondreessen.bsky.social
Oh it’s real. And I think you can buy souvenirs stuffies of Amicus.
Reposted by Toon Dreessen
sujo.bsky.social
This is exactly who people are right now. A man in a municipal vehicle (big Halifax branding on the side) got upset with me because I was crossing the road at an intersection with lights. I had the right-of-way & he was eager to turn left. At least he decided not to hit me.
Reposted by Toon Dreessen
wildplumbay.bsky.social
louismirante.bsky.social
Brazil built *4.5 million homes* with just their public housing program in just 9 years - Brazil has an economy slightly larger than the size of Northern California's. The entire housing economy, including private home construction, built probably 750k homes in Northern California during this time.
Reposted by Toon Dreessen
brenttoderian.bsky.social
For every €1 provided through a Basic Income For Artists pilot program in Ireland, the government got €1.46 back. So it’s being made permanent.

Over and over we see it. It saves public money to provide public housing. And it makes public money to provide basic income.

We can’t afford to NOT do it.
mikeachim.bsky.social
Damn. This is amazing. £325 per week, paid monthly, for 3 years - and the result was a profit for the Irish economy:
www.citizensinformation.ie/en/employmen...
Post from Threads user rodneyowl: "Ireland has declared the Basic Income for Artists scheme permanent. This will be officially announced in tomorrow’s budget. Details to follow. Congratulations to all who fought for it and the present and future artists of all sorts in Ireland. That includes me 👌We’re just comin to the end of a 3 year pilot scheme. It’s been a roaring success. For every €1 paid out to the 2000 participants, the government got €1.46 back. Can’t argue with that. Other countries are already taking note."
Reposted by Toon Dreessen
ahomey.bsky.social
I have yet to see a study showing otherwise. Brilliant
brenttoderian.bsky.social
For every €1 provided through a Basic Income For Artists pilot program in Ireland, the government got €1.46 back. So it’s being made permanent.

Over and over we see it. It saves public money to provide public housing. And it makes public money to provide basic income.

We can’t afford to NOT do it.
mikeachim.bsky.social
Damn. This is amazing. £325 per week, paid monthly, for 3 years - and the result was a profit for the Irish economy:
www.citizensinformation.ie/en/employmen...
toondreessen.bsky.social
1000 fountains to wash away the stink of corruption.
Reposted by Toon Dreessen
tomflood.bsky.social
An adult driver angry at a child they hit with their car.

Our car culture summed up in one video.
robsonfletcher.com
Police in Airdrie, Alberta (just north of Calgary) say this driver hit a 17-year-old girl in a marked crosswalk, got out of the vehicle, and appeared to get upset at the teenager before driving away.

They released this video and are now trying to identify the driver.
Reposted by Toon Dreessen
mirgray.bsky.social
I want to ride the bus and not see an infrastructure issue, a logistics issue or a comms issue. Today's return trip from Orléans to Rideau station involved all 3.
toondreessen.bsky.social
I love having a favourite water stain….
Reposted by Toon Dreessen
architectsdca.bsky.social
What if thinking differently was actually one of architecture’s greatest strengths? 🧠

#DyslexiaAwareness Week is a good reminder that we often see dyslexia as a challenge with reading or writing, but in architecture, it can mean strong visual thinking, creativity, and problem-solving.
How can architecture practices support colleagues with dyslexia?
With Dyslexia Awareness Week just around the corner, it’s a great opportunity for practices to learn more about what they can do to make a difference.
www.architecture.com
Reposted by Toon Dreessen
shawnmicallef.bsky.social
Like last week when I saw a ped get lightly hit by a driver who didn't stop as he crossed a sidewalk and the ped apologized.

A rotten culture we have built here around cars and trucks.
robsonfletcher.com
Police in Airdrie, Alberta (just north of Calgary) say this driver hit a 17-year-old girl in a marked crosswalk, got out of the vehicle, and appeared to get upset at the teenager before driving away.

They released this video and are now trying to identify the driver.
toondreessen.bsky.social
Horrific. The entitlement of drivers is unbelievable.
robsonfletcher.com
Police in Airdrie, Alberta (just north of Calgary) say this driver hit a 17-year-old girl in a marked crosswalk, got out of the vehicle, and appeared to get upset at the teenager before driving away.

They released this video and are now trying to identify the driver.
Reposted by Toon Dreessen
tomgoldsmith.bsky.social
The next federal budget promises to introduce sweeping austerity. It is madness that the federal government is turning towards austerity at this moment, especially given Carney's first-hand experience of it (and its dire consequences) in the UK.

open.substack.com/pub/orbitpol...
Who's Afraid of Austerity?
Fiscal "prudence" comes with very real costs
open.substack.com
toondreessen.bsky.social
And we don’t need bike lanes from carp to Navan. We need better bike infrastructure within hoods to go that #LastMile
toondreessen.bsky.social
This entire thread also applies to #OttCity; it is a place of great potential and shares challenges of suburban urban divide both electorally and in governance; these are fixable problems if we want to be #OurBestOttawa

Check out the thread as well as dan‘s incredible photos
anotherglassbox.bsky.social
Do we currently face hard challenges? Yes. But those have practical solutions. Some suburbanite complains downtown smells like pee? That's not bc Chow is a communist. That's a years-long issue with public washrooms, homelessness, and addiction treatment.