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
Reposted by Pat Bickerton
If you don't try to draw a map of a bus network, decision-makers will never see how complicated it is.
Our firm often draws an agency's first clear map. Its effect is sometimes to show that the service doesn't make sense, which starts the process of improving it.
Apps are helpful but maps matter.
Our firm often draws an agency's first clear map. Its effect is sometimes to show that the service doesn't make sense, which starts the process of improving it.
Apps are helpful but maps matter.
The NJ Transit bus route network is incredibly complicated, and some routes only run at certain times of day or certain times of the week. You could make a case (I might not agree with it) that it is actually impossible to make a useful NJ Transit bus route map.
January 2, 2026 at 3:58 PM
If you don't try to draw a map of a bus network, decision-makers will never see how complicated it is.
Our firm often draws an agency's first clear map. Its effect is sometimes to show that the service doesn't make sense, which starts the process of improving it.
Apps are helpful but maps matter.
Our firm often draws an agency's first clear map. Its effect is sometimes to show that the service doesn't make sense, which starts the process of improving it.
Apps are helpful but maps matter.
Reposted by Pat Bickerton
The scary thing is that this pipe is only from 1959 and failed prematurely, a growing trend. There are still pipes downtown from the 1870s to be replaced. We currently replace about 20km of pipe each year, but we laid down 1800km of pipe in the 50s and 60s. 5X our current replacement rate.
January 2, 2026 at 2:16 AM
The scary thing is that this pipe is only from 1959 and failed prematurely, a growing trend. There are still pipes downtown from the 1870s to be replaced. We currently replace about 20km of pipe each year, but we laid down 1800km of pipe in the 50s and 60s. 5X our current replacement rate.
I love a good Strong Townsy speech!
#Ottcity councillor and mayoral candidate @jleiper.bsky.social makes the case for financially and environmentally sustainable development patterns.
Ottawa's New Zoning Bylaw goes to council for final approval in Jan
@strongtowns.org
#Ottcity councillor and mayoral candidate @jleiper.bsky.social makes the case for financially and environmentally sustainable development patterns.
Ottawa's New Zoning Bylaw goes to council for final approval in Jan
@strongtowns.org
After a marathon meeting on Wednesday, a joint committee of Council recommended approval of a new zoning by-law for Ottawa that implements our Official Plan. It sets us on a new path for economic and environmental sustainability. View my comments on it here:
Joint Planning and Housing and Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee
YouTube video by Ottawa City Council
www.youtube.com
December 23, 2025 at 2:43 AM
I love a good Strong Townsy speech!
#Ottcity councillor and mayoral candidate @jleiper.bsky.social makes the case for financially and environmentally sustainable development patterns.
Ottawa's New Zoning Bylaw goes to council for final approval in Jan
@strongtowns.org
#Ottcity councillor and mayoral candidate @jleiper.bsky.social makes the case for financially and environmentally sustainable development patterns.
Ottawa's New Zoning Bylaw goes to council for final approval in Jan
@strongtowns.org
Reposted by Pat Bickerton
I wonder how many days after the new year it will take for wine bottle recycling to be first provincial/municipal issue of 2026.
Tic...toc...
Tic...toc...
December 21, 2025 at 2:03 PM
I wonder how many days after the new year it will take for wine bottle recycling to be first provincial/municipal issue of 2026.
Tic...toc...
Tic...toc...
Reposted by Pat Bickerton
What does it take to move 1000 people? Smart infrastructure supporting choices that don’t take up so much space (or produce so much emissions/pollution, cost so much public money etc).
Mobility in cities is about space.
Graphic via @seattlesubway.org based on a Sydney graphic I spread years ago.
Mobility in cities is about space.
Graphic via @seattlesubway.org based on a Sydney graphic I spread years ago.
December 20, 2025 at 11:31 PM
What does it take to move 1000 people? Smart infrastructure supporting choices that don’t take up so much space (or produce so much emissions/pollution, cost so much public money etc).
Mobility in cities is about space.
Graphic via @seattlesubway.org based on a Sydney graphic I spread years ago.
Mobility in cities is about space.
Graphic via @seattlesubway.org based on a Sydney graphic I spread years ago.
Reposted by Pat Bickerton
Reposted by Pat Bickerton
This wonderful piece, about new incremental housing going up, written by Sharon Nyangweso was shared in our group. We really think this couldn't have been said better.
We cannot lock our neighbourhoods into stasis if we want them to thrive. We need to be adaptable and allow for incremental growth.
We cannot lock our neighbourhoods into stasis if we want them to thrive. We need to be adaptable and allow for incremental growth.
December 14, 2025 at 2:21 AM
This wonderful piece, about new incremental housing going up, written by Sharon Nyangweso was shared in our group. We really think this couldn't have been said better.
We cannot lock our neighbourhoods into stasis if we want them to thrive. We need to be adaptable and allow for incremental growth.
We cannot lock our neighbourhoods into stasis if we want them to thrive. We need to be adaptable and allow for incremental growth.
@humantransit.bsky.social presents the ridership vs. coverage trade-off facing transit planners. You can't do both. You must choose.
Transit enthusiasts often demand high-ridership and frequent service, but this story is a stark reminder of when even infrequent transit is worth protecting.
Transit enthusiasts often demand high-ridership and frequent service, but this story is a stark reminder of when even infrequent transit is worth protecting.
In the Ward 9 Newsletter we released yesterday, I've got a couple heartwarming stories about some "problem solving" I did with @octranspo.com. This first story is about how I worked with Sadaqa Food Bank to address a major problem they were experiencing. 1/ www.youtube.com/watch?v=Np0Z...
The story of Sadaqa Food Bank and Route 189
YouTube video by Sean Devine
www.youtube.com
December 18, 2025 at 3:08 AM
@humantransit.bsky.social presents the ridership vs. coverage trade-off facing transit planners. You can't do both. You must choose.
Transit enthusiasts often demand high-ridership and frequent service, but this story is a stark reminder of when even infrequent transit is worth protecting.
Transit enthusiasts often demand high-ridership and frequent service, but this story is a stark reminder of when even infrequent transit is worth protecting.
🧵 Slides from my delegation as #OttCity considers Draft 2 of the New Zoning Bylaw
Ottawa's 2008-250 Zoning Bylaw had 446 core zoning codes (ignoring exemptions and other modifiers).
Ottawa's 2008-250 Zoning Bylaw had 446 core zoning codes (ignoring exemptions and other modifiers).
December 17, 2025 at 7:42 PM
🧵 Slides from my delegation as #OttCity considers Draft 2 of the New Zoning Bylaw
Ottawa's 2008-250 Zoning Bylaw had 446 core zoning codes (ignoring exemptions and other modifiers).
Ottawa's 2008-250 Zoning Bylaw had 446 core zoning codes (ignoring exemptions and other modifiers).
Reposted by Pat Bickerton
Wow, what a terrible motion from Councillor Kitts.
WIDER streets in front of schools. The complete opposite of what we need. This needs to be rejected.
WIDER streets in front of schools. The complete opposite of what we need. This needs to be rejected.
December 17, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Wow, what a terrible motion from Councillor Kitts.
WIDER streets in front of schools. The complete opposite of what we need. This needs to be rejected.
WIDER streets in front of schools. The complete opposite of what we need. This needs to be rejected.
Come and warm up from the cold on Saturday night at the Rainbow Bistro with Barry and the Blasters and moi, Ottawa's okay-est trumpet player.
All band proceeds are donated to @ottawafoodbank.bsky.social
Sat Dec 6
The Rainbow Bistro (76 Murray)
Doors 630
Music 730
therainbow.ca
All band proceeds are donated to @ottawafoodbank.bsky.social
Sat Dec 6
The Rainbow Bistro (76 Murray)
Doors 630
Music 730
therainbow.ca
December 6, 2025 at 3:35 AM
Come and warm up from the cold on Saturday night at the Rainbow Bistro with Barry and the Blasters and moi, Ottawa's okay-est trumpet player.
All band proceeds are donated to @ottawafoodbank.bsky.social
Sat Dec 6
The Rainbow Bistro (76 Murray)
Doors 630
Music 730
therainbow.ca
All band proceeds are donated to @ottawafoodbank.bsky.social
Sat Dec 6
The Rainbow Bistro (76 Murray)
Doors 630
Music 730
therainbow.ca
Reposted by Pat Bickerton
Latest from me — how not to be a jerk. ottawacitizen.com/opinion/jerk...
How to not be a jerk to your city councillor | Opinion
NO ONE WANTS TO READ SIX PARAGRAPHS COMPLEX AND ALSO IRRELEVANT BACKGROUND WRITTEN IN AGGRESSIVE ALL-CAPS. | OPINION
ottawacitizen.com
December 3, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Latest from me — how not to be a jerk. ottawacitizen.com/opinion/jerk...
Reposted by Pat Bickerton
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.
Reposted by Pat Bickerton
Doug Ford: "Hey we said no bike lanes!"
City: "They're bus lanes."
Doug Ford: "They're only 2m wide!"
City: "The bus."👇
City: "They're bus lanes."
Doug Ford: "They're only 2m wide!"
City: "The bus."👇
November 28, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Doug Ford: "Hey we said no bike lanes!"
City: "They're bus lanes."
Doug Ford: "They're only 2m wide!"
City: "The bus."👇
City: "They're bus lanes."
Doug Ford: "They're only 2m wide!"
City: "The bus."👇
Reposted by Pat Bickerton
Minimum parking requirements create financially insolvent land use patterns.
The two apartment buildings on the right generate six times more in property taxes than the big box store on the left, while occupying almost half the space!
#BlackFridayParking
The two apartment buildings on the right generate six times more in property taxes than the big box store on the left, while occupying almost half the space!
#BlackFridayParking
November 28, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Minimum parking requirements create financially insolvent land use patterns.
The two apartment buildings on the right generate six times more in property taxes than the big box store on the left, while occupying almost half the space!
#BlackFridayParking
The two apartment buildings on the right generate six times more in property taxes than the big box store on the left, while occupying almost half the space!
#BlackFridayParking
Reposted by Pat Bickerton
If your transit fare is so expensive that you need multiple different carve-outs for disadvantaged groups, maybe reconsider the price of your basic fare.
Transit shouldn't be a service of last resort, it should be the primary mode for everyone, and it should be priced to achieve that goal.
Transit shouldn't be a service of last resort, it should be the primary mode for everyone, and it should be priced to achieve that goal.
November 24, 2025 at 5:17 PM
If your transit fare is so expensive that you need multiple different carve-outs for disadvantaged groups, maybe reconsider the price of your basic fare.
Transit shouldn't be a service of last resort, it should be the primary mode for everyone, and it should be priced to achieve that goal.
Transit shouldn't be a service of last resort, it should be the primary mode for everyone, and it should be priced to achieve that goal.
Reposted by Pat Bickerton
A bad day for Canada, and therefore the world.
Ontario (population 16 million, 40% of the country) has passed new legislation prohibiting bike lanes that take a lane from cars.
An escalation from Bill 212, which required municipalities to get approval.
Ontario (population 16 million, 40% of the country) has passed new legislation prohibiting bike lanes that take a lane from cars.
An escalation from Bill 212, which required municipalities to get approval.
November 24, 2025 at 7:50 PM
A bad day for Canada, and therefore the world.
Ontario (population 16 million, 40% of the country) has passed new legislation prohibiting bike lanes that take a lane from cars.
An escalation from Bill 212, which required municipalities to get approval.
Ontario (population 16 million, 40% of the country) has passed new legislation prohibiting bike lanes that take a lane from cars.
An escalation from Bill 212, which required municipalities to get approval.
Do we think there is enough off-peak ridership to justify a return to 5-min headways on L1? 1130 train getting busier and busier as it approaches the core. Standing room only now.
Transit Commission budget meeting Monday Nov 24.
Time to write your Councillor to demand better off-peak frequency.
Transit Commission budget meeting Monday Nov 24.
Time to write your Councillor to demand better off-peak frequency.
November 20, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Do we think there is enough off-peak ridership to justify a return to 5-min headways on L1? 1130 train getting busier and busier as it approaches the core. Standing room only now.
Transit Commission budget meeting Monday Nov 24.
Time to write your Councillor to demand better off-peak frequency.
Transit Commission budget meeting Monday Nov 24.
Time to write your Councillor to demand better off-peak frequency.
Reposted by Pat Bickerton
🚨No loss of life or serious injury on our roads is acceptable.
📣 We want those who govern our transportation systems to fully embrace Vision Zero
👇Join the Vision Zero Ottawa project!
📅 December 2nd 6:30-8:30pm
For details on Day Zero of Vision Zero
schoolstreetsottawa.ca/day-zero-of-...
📣 We want those who govern our transportation systems to fully embrace Vision Zero
👇Join the Vision Zero Ottawa project!
📅 December 2nd 6:30-8:30pm
For details on Day Zero of Vision Zero
schoolstreetsottawa.ca/day-zero-of-...
Day Zero of Vision Zero Ottawa
We are reaching out to ask for your support in starting a Vision Zero Team for Ottawa. This will be our Day Zero—the first step toward building a safer city for everyone. What is Vision Zero?Vision…
schoolstreetsottawa.ca
November 18, 2025 at 12:05 PM
🚨No loss of life or serious injury on our roads is acceptable.
📣 We want those who govern our transportation systems to fully embrace Vision Zero
👇Join the Vision Zero Ottawa project!
📅 December 2nd 6:30-8:30pm
For details on Day Zero of Vision Zero
schoolstreetsottawa.ca/day-zero-of-...
📣 We want those who govern our transportation systems to fully embrace Vision Zero
👇Join the Vision Zero Ottawa project!
📅 December 2nd 6:30-8:30pm
For details on Day Zero of Vision Zero
schoolstreetsottawa.ca/day-zero-of-...
Over the last 30 yrs, #OttCity has seen inner greenbelt neighbourhoods move the suburbs. Probably for more affordable housing. As Ottawa considers changes to its zoning bylaw, we should be increasing densities and housing options in these struggling areas.
Inspired by: bsky.app/profile/alex...
Inspired by: bsky.app/profile/alex...
November 18, 2025 at 4:13 AM
Over the last 30 yrs, #OttCity has seen inner greenbelt neighbourhoods move the suburbs. Probably for more affordable housing. As Ottawa considers changes to its zoning bylaw, we should be increasing densities and housing options in these struggling areas.
Inspired by: bsky.app/profile/alex...
Inspired by: bsky.app/profile/alex...
Critics of speed cameras challenge the claim that compliance lowers accidents and injuries
Below are #OttCity collisions within 30s of a camera and normalized to age of camera (-'ve = prior install)
Collisions and injuries dropped. Will they go up again?
Tx for helping
@sjamieit.bsky.social
Below are #OttCity collisions within 30s of a camera and normalized to age of camera (-'ve = prior install)
Collisions and injuries dropped. Will they go up again?
Tx for helping
@sjamieit.bsky.social
November 17, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Critics of speed cameras challenge the claim that compliance lowers accidents and injuries
Below are #OttCity collisions within 30s of a camera and normalized to age of camera (-'ve = prior install)
Collisions and injuries dropped. Will they go up again?
Tx for helping
@sjamieit.bsky.social
Below are #OttCity collisions within 30s of a camera and normalized to age of camera (-'ve = prior install)
Collisions and injuries dropped. Will they go up again?
Tx for helping
@sjamieit.bsky.social
Reposted by Pat Bickerton
I've filtered Ottawa's traffic collision data to show only collisions with injuries for each year, and then added the speed camera locations present in those years.
It looks like speed cameras have made the roads much safer.
It looks like speed cameras have made the roads much safer.
November 15, 2025 at 1:34 AM
I've filtered Ottawa's traffic collision data to show only collisions with injuries for each year, and then added the speed camera locations present in those years.
It looks like speed cameras have made the roads much safer.
It looks like speed cameras have made the roads much safer.
Reposted by Pat Bickerton
There are two speed cameras on Walkley Rd between Bank and St Laurent that were installed in 2024. In 2022 that stretch of Walkley had 34 collisions with injuries. In 2024, after the cameras were turned on, there were just 4 collisions with injuries. Speed cameras work.
November 14, 2025 at 7:01 PM
There are two speed cameras on Walkley Rd between Bank and St Laurent that were installed in 2024. In 2022 that stretch of Walkley had 34 collisions with injuries. In 2024, after the cameras were turned on, there were just 4 collisions with injuries. Speed cameras work.
Rip speed cameras 🪦
November 14, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Rip speed cameras 🪦