Jay Fitzsimmons
@jayfitz.bsky.social
Wildlife biologist 🦟 | Soccer referee, coach, and volunteer ⚽ | Dad | Slowly designing a board game about raptors 🎲 | Grower of 1 pawpaw tree 🌳 | falconry 🦅 | music 🪗 | bike infrastructure 🚲
Peterborough, ON #Ptbo
Peterborough, ON #Ptbo
Good news!
#NEWS: Waterloo Regional Council voted 15-1 in favour of the full-route LRT extension to Cambridge, with construction planned to start as early as 2028. Many community members spoke in support of the extension, noting the need for equity, active transportation & housing density in Cambridge.
November 5, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Good news!
Reposted by Jay Fitzsimmons
Every time we choose to subsidize parking we make other choices less attractive. Why would I walk, bike, or take the bus when there's an abundance of parking at every stop?
This leads to people thinking that cars are the best choice, but they've just been subsidized the most.
This leads to people thinking that cars are the best choice, but they've just been subsidized the most.
Here's some more confirmation about how expensive providing parking is from questions yesterday.
"It costs more to build than what we could get from market leases going forward. And that's average across the city, that's not just us. It's just any parking is not profitable."
This is a choice.
"It costs more to build than what we could get from market leases going forward. And that's average across the city, that's not just us. It's just any parking is not profitable."
This is a choice.
October 31, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Every time we choose to subsidize parking we make other choices less attractive. Why would I walk, bike, or take the bus when there's an abundance of parking at every stop?
This leads to people thinking that cars are the best choice, but they've just been subsidized the most.
This leads to people thinking that cars are the best choice, but they've just been subsidized the most.
Reposted by Jay Fitzsimmons
What the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group promised Ottawa residents versus what OSEG actually delivered:
October 31, 2025 at 5:09 PM
What the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group promised Ottawa residents versus what OSEG actually delivered:
Reposted by Jay Fitzsimmons
The difference in the time it takes a streetcar in Amsterdam vs. Toronto to clear an intersection after servicing a nearside stop.
October 30, 2025 at 1:32 AM
The difference in the time it takes a streetcar in Amsterdam vs. Toronto to clear an intersection after servicing a nearside stop.
Reposted by Jay Fitzsimmons
The Region should keep them up and regularly publish data on how fast cars are going and how different speeds are from when the cameras generated fines for drivers who broke the law.
Waterloo Region speed cameras will be scrapped by Nov. 14, says Ford
www.therecord.com/news/waterlo...
www.therecord.com/news/waterlo...
Waterloo Region speed cameras will be scrapped by Nov. 14, says Ford
Doug Ford pushes through legislation to turn off speed cameras by Nov. 14
www.therecord.com
October 31, 2025 at 2:36 AM
The Region should keep them up and regularly publish data on how fast cars are going and how different speeds are from when the cameras generated fines for drivers who broke the law.
Watching some #CPL playoff soccer on @onesoccer.bsky.social. The Canadian Premier League is good soccer.
Play-by-play guy Adam Jenkins is great. Perfect level of enthusiasm, knows the Laws of the Game, pronounces players' names correctly, and gives credit to refs for good calls/games.
Play-by-play guy Adam Jenkins is great. Perfect level of enthusiasm, knows the Laws of the Game, pronounces players' names correctly, and gives credit to refs for good calls/games.
October 31, 2025 at 5:11 AM
Watching some #CPL playoff soccer on @onesoccer.bsky.social. The Canadian Premier League is good soccer.
Play-by-play guy Adam Jenkins is great. Perfect level of enthusiasm, knows the Laws of the Game, pronounces players' names correctly, and gives credit to refs for good calls/games.
Play-by-play guy Adam Jenkins is great. Perfect level of enthusiasm, knows the Laws of the Game, pronounces players' names correctly, and gives credit to refs for good calls/games.
Reposted by Jay Fitzsimmons
The Biodiversity Heritage Library doesn't just provide access to historic literature. There are publications on BHL from 1469 to 2025. The Canadian Field-Naturalist is one of many in-copyright publications we've made freely accessible online (with permission from the rights holders of course). 🧪 ©️ 📖
We can only show this change because of a short (basically 1 page of text) 1983 paper in the Canadian Field-Naturalist. As far as I can tell, this paper is only available online via @biodivlibrary.bsky.social www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/2800903...
October 25, 2025 at 7:30 PM
The Biodiversity Heritage Library doesn't just provide access to historic literature. There are publications on BHL from 1469 to 2025. The Canadian Field-Naturalist is one of many in-copyright publications we've made freely accessible online (with permission from the rights holders of course). 🧪 ©️ 📖
Reposted by Jay Fitzsimmons
Unfortunately data is never enough for people who make decisions based on culture wars.
The data could show 100% compliance and 0 accidents after installation and they would still try to rip these cameras out to make our streets more dangerous.
It is still amazing to see how clearly these work!
The data could show 100% compliance and 0 accidents after installation and they would still try to rip these cameras out to make our streets more dangerous.
It is still amazing to see how clearly these work!
City wide graphs of the effects of ASE camera installation on the percent of high-end speeders, and general speed limit compliance. These cameras work
October 16, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Unfortunately data is never enough for people who make decisions based on culture wars.
The data could show 100% compliance and 0 accidents after installation and they would still try to rip these cameras out to make our streets more dangerous.
It is still amazing to see how clearly these work!
The data could show 100% compliance and 0 accidents after installation and they would still try to rip these cameras out to make our streets more dangerous.
It is still amazing to see how clearly these work!
My family and I had a great time at the Halton Streetcar Museum near Guelph @streetcarmuseum.bsky.social.
Lots of old streetcars to see, and ride a track through a forest. Learned lots from the volunteers. I love this car with snow sweepers. The bristles were made from special non-hollow bamboo!
Lots of old streetcars to see, and ride a track through a forest. Learned lots from the volunteers. I love this car with snow sweepers. The bristles were made from special non-hollow bamboo!
October 13, 2025 at 2:46 AM
My family and I had a great time at the Halton Streetcar Museum near Guelph @streetcarmuseum.bsky.social.
Lots of old streetcars to see, and ride a track through a forest. Learned lots from the volunteers. I love this car with snow sweepers. The bristles were made from special non-hollow bamboo!
Lots of old streetcars to see, and ride a track through a forest. Learned lots from the volunteers. I love this car with snow sweepers. The bristles were made from special non-hollow bamboo!
October 10, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Great to see a city councillor openly explaining the rationale for decisions. Thank you Ottawa's @arieltroster.com.
A few words about the proposed Gladstone/Gilmour bike lane, why I refuse to pit cyclists and transit riders against each other, and how I am working to improve the plan that is currently out for public consultation.
October 8, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Great to see a city councillor openly explaining the rationale for decisions. Thank you Ottawa's @arieltroster.com.
Reposted by Jay Fitzsimmons
At first, I thought this was some sort of protest before realizing it was just scientists being their awesome, nerdy selves
Video: a Japanese scientist was attacked by flies while giving the acceptance speech for his Ig Nobel Prize-winning research paper that proved painting Zebra-like stripes on cows led to a decrease in biting fly attacks.
October 4, 2025 at 4:27 PM
At first, I thought this was some sort of protest before realizing it was just scientists being their awesome, nerdy selves
Very cool project coming to some Ottawa parks! A free app lets you open a locker and use a ball, then return it.
Thanks to Canadian Tire JumpStart program for funding this. This locker program has been spreading through Europe, I hope it succeeds here.
Thanks to Canadian Tire JumpStart program for funding this. This locker program has been spreading through Europe, I hope it succeeds here.
Laroche and Reid Park will get sports equipment lockers under the new Equip Sport program with Jump Start! Read all about that here: ottawa.ca/en/recreatio...
October 4, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Very cool project coming to some Ottawa parks! A free app lets you open a locker and use a ball, then return it.
Thanks to Canadian Tire JumpStart program for funding this. This locker program has been spreading through Europe, I hope it succeeds here.
Thanks to Canadian Tire JumpStart program for funding this. This locker program has been spreading through Europe, I hope it succeeds here.
Falconers are generally supportive of wildlife health programs.
Recent survey of U.S. falconers about rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD). [rabbits are prey for many falconry birds]. Most falconers would alter their behaviour to reduce RHD transmission.
digitalcommons.usu.edu/hwi/vol17/is...
#falconry
Recent survey of U.S. falconers about rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD). [rabbits are prey for many falconry birds]. Most falconers would alter their behaviour to reduce RHD transmission.
digitalcommons.usu.edu/hwi/vol17/is...
#falconry
Falconer Perceptions of, and Support for, Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Biosecurity Actions
Rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus 2 (RHDV2) is a highly contagious virus that primarily infects wild and domestic rabbits and hares (lagomorphs). In the United States, state wildlife agencies rely on s...
digitalcommons.usu.edu
October 3, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Falconers are generally supportive of wildlife health programs.
Recent survey of U.S. falconers about rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD). [rabbits are prey for many falconry birds]. Most falconers would alter their behaviour to reduce RHD transmission.
digitalcommons.usu.edu/hwi/vol17/is...
#falconry
Recent survey of U.S. falconers about rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD). [rabbits are prey for many falconry birds]. Most falconers would alter their behaviour to reduce RHD transmission.
digitalcommons.usu.edu/hwi/vol17/is...
#falconry
Reposted by Jay Fitzsimmons
This episode made me think about how telling parents to monitor kids screen time is another example of expecting individuals to solve a societal problem - if we want to get kids off their phones we have to build a world where they have other options.
New episode up! We talked with researcher Tim Gill about how we need to make our cities safe for children, not cars. "Children are basically living very captive and kind of contained lives, and that's just not healthy."
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c...
September 30, 2025 at 2:00 PM
This episode made me think about how telling parents to monitor kids screen time is another example of expecting individuals to solve a societal problem - if we want to get kids off their phones we have to build a world where they have other options.
Reposted by Jay Fitzsimmons
In 1885, Montreal was ravaged by smallpox.
To stem the spread of the disease that had killed thousands so far, public health officials enforced vaccinations. Those that mistrusted the vaccine rioted in the streets.
This is the story of the Montreal Smallpox Riots.
🧵 1/10
To stem the spread of the disease that had killed thousands so far, public health officials enforced vaccinations. Those that mistrusted the vaccine rioted in the streets.
This is the story of the Montreal Smallpox Riots.
🧵 1/10
September 28, 2025 at 3:00 PM
In 1885, Montreal was ravaged by smallpox.
To stem the spread of the disease that had killed thousands so far, public health officials enforced vaccinations. Those that mistrusted the vaccine rioted in the streets.
This is the story of the Montreal Smallpox Riots.
🧵 1/10
To stem the spread of the disease that had killed thousands so far, public health officials enforced vaccinations. Those that mistrusted the vaccine rioted in the streets.
This is the story of the Montreal Smallpox Riots.
🧵 1/10
My team didn't make the finals this year. A new champion will be crowned within thirty minutes.
But until then, WE'RE STILL REIGNING CHAMPIONS BABY! 🍾🏆⚽
But until then, WE'RE STILL REIGNING CHAMPIONS BABY! 🍾🏆⚽
September 26, 2025 at 11:31 PM
My team didn't make the finals this year. A new champion will be crowned within thirty minutes.
But until then, WE'RE STILL REIGNING CHAMPIONS BABY! 🍾🏆⚽
But until then, WE'RE STILL REIGNING CHAMPIONS BABY! 🍾🏆⚽
The Weathering Yard is the best magazine you've never heard of.
Published by the Ontario Hawking Club for falconers. Its distribution must be small, but the quality of its photos and stories is excellent. Well done to the falconers behind this magazine! #Falconry
Published by the Ontario Hawking Club for falconers. Its distribution must be small, but the quality of its photos and stories is excellent. Well done to the falconers behind this magazine! #Falconry
September 26, 2025 at 8:29 PM
The Weathering Yard is the best magazine you've never heard of.
Published by the Ontario Hawking Club for falconers. Its distribution must be small, but the quality of its photos and stories is excellent. Well done to the falconers behind this magazine! #Falconry
Published by the Ontario Hawking Club for falconers. Its distribution must be small, but the quality of its photos and stories is excellent. Well done to the falconers behind this magazine! #Falconry
This article focuses on US cities' bus purchases. It would be interesting to see how much holds true for Canadian cities too.
It blows my mind that customization (e.g., colour schemes) are responsible for SO MUCH of the price for cities' buses!
It blows my mind that customization (e.g., colour schemes) are responsible for SO MUCH of the price for cities' buses!
In the US, even a “cheap” transit bus costs 2-3x more than in Asia or Europe -- and one agency may pay twice as much as another for nearly identical vehicles.
In Bloomberg, I explored a ripe opportunity to improve transportation by applying Abundance-coded, supply-side reforms.
🧵
In Bloomberg, I explored a ripe opportunity to improve transportation by applying Abundance-coded, supply-side reforms.
🧵
Why US Cities Pay Too Much for Transit Buses
A new paper argues that lack of competition, demand for custom features and “Buy America” rules have driven up costs for transit agencies in the US.
www.bloomberg.com
September 26, 2025 at 8:23 PM
This article focuses on US cities' bus purchases. It would be interesting to see how much holds true for Canadian cities too.
It blows my mind that customization (e.g., colour schemes) are responsible for SO MUCH of the price for cities' buses!
It blows my mind that customization (e.g., colour schemes) are responsible for SO MUCH of the price for cities' buses!
Most of us Ontarians know nothing about horse racing.
But we are subsidizing horse racing.
I recommend reading this article in @thelocal.to. I learned a lot about the industry and its financial dependence on Ontario government handouts. @nickhunebrown.bsky.social
But we are subsidizing horse racing.
I recommend reading this article in @thelocal.to. I learned a lot about the industry and its financial dependence on Ontario government handouts. @nickhunebrown.bsky.social
A quick 🧵 on my @thelocal.to feature on Woodbine Racetrack, the economics of horse racing, and how to think about racehorses as ideas about animal-human relations shift. #longreads 1/ thelocal.to/breakdown-at...
Breakdown at the Racetrack | The Local
Once a lucrative gambling business, Ontario's horse racing industry is now heavily subsidized by the government. As gamblers turn to online gaming, and ideas about animal welfare shift, a cluster of f...
thelocal.to
September 26, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Most of us Ontarians know nothing about horse racing.
But we are subsidizing horse racing.
I recommend reading this article in @thelocal.to. I learned a lot about the industry and its financial dependence on Ontario government handouts. @nickhunebrown.bsky.social
But we are subsidizing horse racing.
I recommend reading this article in @thelocal.to. I learned a lot about the industry and its financial dependence on Ontario government handouts. @nickhunebrown.bsky.social
Reposted by Jay Fitzsimmons
People arguing against speed cameras near schools and hospitals is some real cartoon villain shit
September 24, 2025 at 3:42 PM
People arguing against speed cameras near schools and hospitals is some real cartoon villain shit
I'm no fan of AI, but this could be helpful. When people can visualize a street as it could be (e.g., pedestrianized, patio areas, etc.) they're more likely to support those changes.
Cool study - using AI to show people car-free visuals of familiar streets helped increase support for transit-oriented policies.
What was hilarious was this description of the nightmare that is I-35 in Austin as "popular American street, the I-35 in Austin".
Paper: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
What was hilarious was this description of the nightmare that is I-35 in Austin as "popular American street, the I-35 in Austin".
Paper: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
September 9, 2025 at 8:30 PM
I'm no fan of AI, but this could be helpful. When people can visualize a street as it could be (e.g., pedestrianized, patio areas, etc.) they're more likely to support those changes.
"We need a mindset that is willing to risk failure to achieve results—not one that retreats into the 'safety' of process-obsession."
Thought-provoking essay by @sjshancoxli.liberalcurrents.com. As a public servant I see these issues regularly, regardless of which party is in power.
Thought-provoking essay by @sjshancoxli.liberalcurrents.com. As a public servant I see these issues regularly, regardless of which party is in power.
“They follow the rules even when they know the rules will lead to disaster, because they know that as long as they follow the rules they cannot be blamed.” www.liberalcurrents.com/good-governa...
Good Governance Requires Accountability
We must rediscover the virtue of ambition: the ambition to get out there and make some real changes—and the courage to face the music after.
www.liberalcurrents.com
September 8, 2025 at 6:59 PM
"We need a mindset that is willing to risk failure to achieve results—not one that retreats into the 'safety' of process-obsession."
Thought-provoking essay by @sjshancoxli.liberalcurrents.com. As a public servant I see these issues regularly, regardless of which party is in power.
Thought-provoking essay by @sjshancoxli.liberalcurrents.com. As a public servant I see these issues regularly, regardless of which party is in power.
Reposted by Jay Fitzsimmons
Toronto Police put major resources into ticketing cyclists inside the park adjacent to this camera & are currentl running a 3 week blitz on scooters. It’s a crystal clear msg to Toronto.
There’s a very clear signal here that Toronto police do not care about this camera or this crime.
If this guy was vandalizing police cars, he would’ve been caught in a week
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
If this guy was vandalizing police cars, he would’ve been caught in a week
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Parkside Drive speed camera vandalized for 7th time in 10 months | CBC News
The Parkside Drive speed camera has once again been cut down by vandals — the seventh time in 10 months.
www.cbc.ca
September 8, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Toronto Police put major resources into ticketing cyclists inside the park adjacent to this camera & are currentl running a 3 week blitz on scooters. It’s a crystal clear msg to Toronto.
It's nice to see a municipal planning account use BlueSky to share what they're doing and why.
Toronto’s Avenues are more than just streets; they’re places planned for growth with transit, shops, services and housing working together. In this thread, we’ll explain what’s happening and how you can get involved.
September 5, 2025 at 2:25 AM
It's nice to see a municipal planning account use BlueSky to share what they're doing and why.