Pat Bickerton
@pbickerton.bsky.social
I like hobbies, data, and hobbies that involve data.
Opinions are my own.
https://github.com/bickertonpa
Opinions are my own.
https://github.com/bickertonpa
One of the strategic failures of #OttCity Road Safety Action Plan is the lack of communications about where speed camera revenues are spent.
I got the list via #ATIP. Here are some projects that were only made possible because of these revenues. Full data at tinyurl.com/4brrmh9j
#Rideau-Jock
I got the list via #ATIP. Here are some projects that were only made possible because of these revenues. Full data at tinyurl.com/4brrmh9j
#Rideau-Jock
November 11, 2025 at 5:50 PM
One of the strategic failures of #OttCity Road Safety Action Plan is the lack of communications about where speed camera revenues are spent.
I got the list via #ATIP. Here are some projects that were only made possible because of these revenues. Full data at tinyurl.com/4brrmh9j
#Rideau-Jock
I got the list via #ATIP. Here are some projects that were only made possible because of these revenues. Full data at tinyurl.com/4brrmh9j
#Rideau-Jock
Reposted by Pat Bickerton
Ontario property assessments haven't been done since 2016 and it's getting ridiculous. Suburban homes are paying much lower property taxes than they should be.
Annual property taxes:
↙️ $8575 | $6360 ↘️
Annual property taxes:
↙️ $8575 | $6360 ↘️
November 9, 2025 at 12:09 AM
Ontario property assessments haven't been done since 2016 and it's getting ridiculous. Suburban homes are paying much lower property taxes than they should be.
Annual property taxes:
↙️ $8575 | $6360 ↘️
Annual property taxes:
↙️ $8575 | $6360 ↘️
Reposted by Pat Bickerton
It was a joy to join @strongtownsottawa.ca for this month’s Urbanism Book Club and to honour @derricksimpson.bsky.social for his 2025 Eco Award for Active & Accessible Champion.
Congratulations, Derrick, and keep up the excellent work!
#Ottawa #EcoAward #Community #Environment
Congratulations, Derrick, and keep up the excellent work!
#Ottawa #EcoAward #Community #Environment
November 1, 2025 at 4:09 PM
It was a joy to join @strongtownsottawa.ca for this month’s Urbanism Book Club and to honour @derricksimpson.bsky.social for his 2025 Eco Award for Active & Accessible Champion.
Congratulations, Derrick, and keep up the excellent work!
#Ottawa #EcoAward #Community #Environment
Congratulations, Derrick, and keep up the excellent work!
#Ottawa #EcoAward #Community #Environment
Reposted by Pat Bickerton
Walkable city baseball edition:
Andrés Giménez on how you get the feeling of a city by walking it.
Andrés Giménez on how you get the feeling of a city by walking it.
October 29, 2025 at 11:46 PM
Walkable city baseball edition:
Andrés Giménez on how you get the feeling of a city by walking it.
Andrés Giménez on how you get the feeling of a city by walking it.
Reposted by Pat Bickerton
College Ward has a really good Councillor.
Why I'm voting against Lansdowne 2.0
youtu.be/qzpGjx4dBCk?...
youtu.be/qzpGjx4dBCk?...
Why I'm voting against Lansdowne 2 0
YouTube video by College Ward 8
youtu.be
October 31, 2025 at 4:10 AM
College Ward has a really good Councillor.
Municipal budgets are difficult to read, but they don't have to be!
I think most people want to know the basics; where does the money come from, and how do we spend it?
Here is my attempt to simplify #OttCity 2024 Operating Budget. Revenues on the left, expenses on the right. Simple.
#DoTheMath
I think most people want to know the basics; where does the money come from, and how do we spend it?
Here is my attempt to simplify #OttCity 2024 Operating Budget. Revenues on the left, expenses on the right. Simple.
#DoTheMath
October 31, 2025 at 3:59 AM
Municipal budgets are difficult to read, but they don't have to be!
I think most people want to know the basics; where does the money come from, and how do we spend it?
Here is my attempt to simplify #OttCity 2024 Operating Budget. Revenues on the left, expenses on the right. Simple.
#DoTheMath
I think most people want to know the basics; where does the money come from, and how do we spend it?
Here is my attempt to simplify #OttCity 2024 Operating Budget. Revenues on the left, expenses on the right. Simple.
#DoTheMath
Reposted by Pat Bickerton
Hey Ontario! You've heard of the disastrous Ford bill to destroy tenant rights, but did you know that Omnibus Bill 60 would entirely wipe out the ability of cities to right-size their roads by reducing lanes _at all_, not even just for bike lanes?
#onpoli #OttBike #ontario #ottawa
#onpoli #OttBike #ontario #ottawa
October 30, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Why can't our have nice things?
It is probably because we stopped building our cities efficiently after WWII with the wide adoption of the family automobile.
Here is a great video from Halifax using 100 years of property tax data.
#OpenData #DoTheMath
It is probably because we stopped building our cities efficiently after WWII with the wide adoption of the family automobile.
Here is a great video from Halifax using 100 years of property tax data.
#OpenData #DoTheMath
Hey. Hi. Hello.
In this Halloween Special , I continue HFX By Bike's annual tradition of trying to genuinely scare you using nothing but spreadsheets and graphs.
This year it's all about the city's taxes and why it feels like Halifax can never get ahead.
youtu.be/l8kCed6o4Bc
In this Halloween Special , I continue HFX By Bike's annual tradition of trying to genuinely scare you using nothing but spreadsheets and graphs.
This year it's all about the city's taxes and why it feels like Halifax can never get ahead.
youtu.be/l8kCed6o4Bc
Built To Fail
YouTube video by HFX by Bike
youtu.be
October 28, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Why can't our have nice things?
It is probably because we stopped building our cities efficiently after WWII with the wide adoption of the family automobile.
Here is a great video from Halifax using 100 years of property tax data.
#OpenData #DoTheMath
It is probably because we stopped building our cities efficiently after WWII with the wide adoption of the family automobile.
Here is a great video from Halifax using 100 years of property tax data.
#OpenData #DoTheMath
Financially productive land isn't just found in downtown #OttCity.
Transit can act as a wealth accelerator and increases the productivity of nearby properties. Here
@strongtownsottawa.ca
shows how today's highest productive land still remains generally aligned with 1929 streetcar routes.
Transit can act as a wealth accelerator and increases the productivity of nearby properties. Here
@strongtownsottawa.ca
shows how today's highest productive land still remains generally aligned with 1929 streetcar routes.
October 25, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Financially productive land isn't just found in downtown #OttCity.
Transit can act as a wealth accelerator and increases the productivity of nearby properties. Here
@strongtownsottawa.ca
shows how today's highest productive land still remains generally aligned with 1929 streetcar routes.
Transit can act as a wealth accelerator and increases the productivity of nearby properties. Here
@strongtownsottawa.ca
shows how today's highest productive land still remains generally aligned with 1929 streetcar routes.
I've been analyzing the cost of different development patterns in #OttCity. Using the city's open data and the 2021 Census, I was able to calculate how much stuff we build (and maintain) per dwelling.
Here is an initial look at the data.
Here is an initial look at the data.
October 24, 2025 at 3:18 PM
I've been analyzing the cost of different development patterns in #OttCity. Using the city's open data and the 2021 Census, I was able to calculate how much stuff we build (and maintain) per dwelling.
Here is an initial look at the data.
Here is an initial look at the data.
Reposted by Pat Bickerton
We have sent out a letter to the premier of Ontario, Doug Ford, opposing his plan to remove speed cameras, which have been shown to overwhelmingly increase safety on our roads.
Thanks @hansonthebike.bsky.social for putting the letter together, and @pbickerton.bsky.social for the great graphics!
Thanks @hansonthebike.bsky.social for putting the letter together, and @pbickerton.bsky.social for the great graphics!
October 23, 2025 at 12:05 AM
We have sent out a letter to the premier of Ontario, Doug Ford, opposing his plan to remove speed cameras, which have been shown to overwhelmingly increase safety on our roads.
Thanks @hansonthebike.bsky.social for putting the letter together, and @pbickerton.bsky.social for the great graphics!
Thanks @hansonthebike.bsky.social for putting the letter together, and @pbickerton.bsky.social for the great graphics!
Some initial figures on the cost of different development patterns in #OttCity.
But we all new this, right? #DoTheMath
Sources: City of Ottawa, 2021 Census, Open Street Map
But we all new this, right? #DoTheMath
Sources: City of Ottawa, 2021 Census, Open Street Map
October 21, 2025 at 3:06 AM
Some initial figures on the cost of different development patterns in #OttCity.
But we all new this, right? #DoTheMath
Sources: City of Ottawa, 2021 Census, Open Street Map
But we all new this, right? #DoTheMath
Sources: City of Ottawa, 2021 Census, Open Street Map
Hey @chandrapasma.bsky.social. The data show that automated speed enforcement cameras work in Ottawa.
After the camera is installed, drivers quickly slow down and there are less high-end speeders.
The effects are lasting. Please fight to keep them.
After the camera is installed, drivers quickly slow down and there are less high-end speeders.
The effects are lasting. Please fight to keep them.
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 20, 2025 at 12:55 AM
Hey @chandrapasma.bsky.social. The data show that automated speed enforcement cameras work in Ottawa.
After the camera is installed, drivers quickly slow down and there are less high-end speeders.
The effects are lasting. Please fight to keep them.
After the camera is installed, drivers quickly slow down and there are less high-end speeders.
The effects are lasting. Please fight to keep them.
Reposted by Pat Bickerton
New from me in the Globe & Mail: Ottawa’s new zoning bylaw is a major step forward—but if we’re lucky, it’ll be the last of its kind.
Opinion: City zoning is beyond reform. To tackle the housing crisis, scrap the whole thing
Zoning isn’t doing what it’s supposed to be doing in Canada’s cities. The good news is that there is an alternative
www.theglobeandmail.com
October 17, 2025 at 2:49 PM
New from me in the Globe & Mail: Ottawa’s new zoning bylaw is a major step forward—but if we’re lucky, it’ll be the last of its kind.
We're having fun looking at how #OttCity collects property taxes.
Let me know if you have questions you'd like us to explore.
You can also analyze the data yourself. Data at strongtownsottawa.ca/resources/
Let me know if you have questions you'd like us to explore.
You can also analyze the data yourself. Data at strongtownsottawa.ca/resources/
October 19, 2025 at 3:29 AM
We're having fun looking at how #OttCity collects property taxes.
Let me know if you have questions you'd like us to explore.
You can also analyze the data yourself. Data at strongtownsottawa.ca/resources/
Let me know if you have questions you'd like us to explore.
You can also analyze the data yourself. Data at strongtownsottawa.ca/resources/
Reposted by Pat Bickerton
The amount of "fuck you I got mine" in this article is crazy.
Residents oppose proposed Baseline Road highrise development
The project would feature nine-, 28- and 30-storey structures, ground-level commercial space, 871 residential units and 585 parking spaces.
ottawacitizen.com
October 17, 2025 at 3:53 PM
The amount of "fuck you I got mine" in this article is crazy.
Reposted by Pat Bickerton
I head again today from Ottawa By-law, they're no longer accepting reports for illegal driveway expansions or hardscaping or front yard parking. Apparently there are only 4 officers for these zoning issues and there are far too many reports than they can keep up with. They need more resources.
October 11, 2025 at 2:14 AM
I head again today from Ottawa By-law, they're no longer accepting reports for illegal driveway expansions or hardscaping or front yard parking. Apparently there are only 4 officers for these zoning issues and there are far too many reports than they can keep up with. They need more resources.
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.
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.
October 8, 2025 at 11:11 PM
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.
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.
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 7, 2025 at 1:05 PM
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
More Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) data for College Ward.
Once the cameras were installed, the percentage of high-end speeds drops dramatically and general speed limit compliance improves.
#OttCity
Once the cameras were installed, the percentage of high-end speeds drops dramatically and general speed limit compliance improves.
#OttCity
October 7, 2025 at 12:49 PM
More Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) data for College Ward.
Once the cameras were installed, the percentage of high-end speeds drops dramatically and general speed limit compliance improves.
#OttCity
Once the cameras were installed, the percentage of high-end speeds drops dramatically and general speed limit compliance improves.
#OttCity
#OttCity has open data on Automated Speed Enforcement (ACE). Below driver behaviour from Stittsville.
The data show that Stittsville drivers slowed down after each ASE camera was installed. The changes are lasting too.
The data show that Stittsville drivers slowed down after each ASE camera was installed. The changes are lasting too.
October 6, 2025 at 5:01 PM
#OttCity has open data on Automated Speed Enforcement (ACE). Below driver behaviour from Stittsville.
The data show that Stittsville drivers slowed down after each ASE camera was installed. The changes are lasting too.
The data show that Stittsville drivers slowed down after each ASE camera was installed. The changes are lasting too.
#OttCity has open data on the effectiveness of Automated Speed Enforcement cameras.
The data show that once installed, drivers slow down and keep their speed down.
The data show that once installed, drivers slow down and keep their speed down.
October 6, 2025 at 3:29 PM
#OttCity has open data on the effectiveness of Automated Speed Enforcement cameras.
The data show that once installed, drivers slow down and keep their speed down.
The data show that once installed, drivers slow down and keep their speed down.
More data showing the effectiveness of Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) cameras in Barrhaven East.
Once the cameras go up, drivers start slowing down and keep slowing down.
#OttCity
Once the cameras go up, drivers start slowing down and keep slowing down.
#OttCity
October 6, 2025 at 3:06 PM
More data showing the effectiveness of Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) cameras in Barrhaven East.
Once the cameras go up, drivers start slowing down and keep slowing down.
#OttCity
Once the cameras go up, drivers start slowing down and keep slowing down.
#OttCity
Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) is working in River ward.
You can see how quickly people slow down once the camera is installed.
Interestingly, speeds on the younger cameras started out fairly low. I wonder if this is because the effects of ASE extend beyond their immediate area.
You can see how quickly people slow down once the camera is installed.
Interestingly, speeds on the younger cameras started out fairly low. I wonder if this is because the effects of ASE extend beyond their immediate area.
October 6, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) is working in River ward.
You can see how quickly people slow down once the camera is installed.
Interestingly, speeds on the younger cameras started out fairly low. I wonder if this is because the effects of ASE extend beyond their immediate area.
You can see how quickly people slow down once the camera is installed.
Interestingly, speeds on the younger cameras started out fairly low. I wonder if this is because the effects of ASE extend beyond their immediate area.