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)
Reposted by Rob Attrell
A great way to prevent #Ottawa's continued sprawling is to reduce car-parking maximums for box stores via #OttCity's new Zoning By-law.
Thanks to @ottawacitizen.com for publishing our op-ed with Walkable Ottawa on this. #SustainableCities #Sprawl #CarParking
ottawacitizen.com/opinion/comm...
Thanks to @ottawacitizen.com for publishing our op-ed with Walkable Ottawa on this. #SustainableCities #Sprawl #CarParking
ottawacitizen.com/opinion/comm...
Ottawa's box store parking lots are too big. We can fix that. | Opinion
A store that requires hundreds of parking spots creates an environment that’s hostile to humans. Have you ever walked across one? | Opinion
ottawacitizen.com
January 26, 2026 at 8:57 PM
A great way to prevent #Ottawa's continued sprawling is to reduce car-parking maximums for box stores via #OttCity's new Zoning By-law.
Thanks to @ottawacitizen.com for publishing our op-ed with Walkable Ottawa on this. #SustainableCities #Sprawl #CarParking
ottawacitizen.com/opinion/comm...
Thanks to @ottawacitizen.com for publishing our op-ed with Walkable Ottawa on this. #SustainableCities #Sprawl #CarParking
ottawacitizen.com/opinion/comm...
Reposted by Rob Attrell
I get the sentiment but I think it’s important to avoid going down the road of protectionism.
It’s bad even for the US. It’s even worse for smaller countries like us.
Yes, buy Canadian. Also buy European. Korean. Australian. Mexican.
Buy from allied/friendly/non-hostile countries.
It’s bad even for the US. It’s even worse for smaller countries like us.
Yes, buy Canadian. Also buy European. Korean. Australian. Mexican.
Buy from allied/friendly/non-hostile countries.
January 24, 2026 at 11:42 PM
I get the sentiment but I think it’s important to avoid going down the road of protectionism.
It’s bad even for the US. It’s even worse for smaller countries like us.
Yes, buy Canadian. Also buy European. Korean. Australian. Mexican.
Buy from allied/friendly/non-hostile countries.
It’s bad even for the US. It’s even worse for smaller countries like us.
Yes, buy Canadian. Also buy European. Korean. Australian. Mexican.
Buy from allied/friendly/non-hostile countries.
Reposted by Rob Attrell
✨New Post✨ Orléans can be so much more than just a bedroom community. From fixing exclusionary zoning to making streets safer for our kids, here are six practical steps to build the neighborhood we actually want to live in.
Read more:
Read more:
The Six Steps to Making a Great Orléans - The New Orleans
In the Urbanist Agenda podcast episode “How to Actually Improve a City,” urban planning practitioner Brent Toderian outlines the steps most cities go through while ostensibly trying to make their citi...
theneworleans.ca
January 21, 2026 at 4:32 PM
✨New Post✨ Orléans can be so much more than just a bedroom community. From fixing exclusionary zoning to making streets safer for our kids, here are six practical steps to build the neighborhood we actually want to live in.
Read more:
Read more:
Reposted by Rob Attrell
✨New Post✨ Can one building change the future of a neighborhood? In Orléans, it can. This project shows that local shops and better places are ready to be built. Read more here:
A Building Could Change Everything - The New Orleans
This article is my personal opinion, and the ideas of some other residents in the Greater Avalon community. Check out my local Greater Avalon Community Association website: Greater Avalon Community As...
theneworleans.ca
January 20, 2026 at 1:09 PM
✨New Post✨ Can one building change the future of a neighborhood? In Orléans, it can. This project shows that local shops and better places are ready to be built. Read more here:
Reposted by Rob Attrell
Oh boy, what a take. Transit system in shambles. Infrastructure failing. 1/2 a billion given to a shady developer deal. Approval for sprawl, leading to more infrastructure debt guaranteed.
Ottawa’s property tax increases have been the lowest of any major city in Canada.
January 21, 2026 at 7:08 PM
Oh boy, what a take. Transit system in shambles. Infrastructure failing. 1/2 a billion given to a shady developer deal. Approval for sprawl, leading to more infrastructure debt guaranteed.
Reposted by Rob Attrell
The road is cleared-ish, and the sidewalk is cleared-ish. But this still isn’t accessible because it’s no one’s job to keep the sidewalk _network_ usable in the winter
January 21, 2026 at 3:06 AM
The road is cleared-ish, and the sidewalk is cleared-ish. But this still isn’t accessible because it’s no one’s job to keep the sidewalk _network_ usable in the winter
Reposted by Rob Attrell
Ever wondered what a downtown pedestrian streets looks like on a Monday evening in the middle of January in Montreal?
January 20, 2026 at 12:29 AM
Ever wondered what a downtown pedestrian streets looks like on a Monday evening in the middle of January in Montreal?
Reposted by Rob Attrell
Very glad to see positive stories like these, on how the success of Line 2 transforms entire communities. And we’re all waiting (somewhat nervously) to see the opening Of the LRT Line 1 east extension, another “game changer”. 1/ ottawacitizen.com/news/o-train...
How the O-Train Line 2 extension is putting this south-end suburb on the map
Riverside South is one of the first Ottawa suburbs to gain access to the LRT, and it's changing the community for the better.
ottawacitizen.com
January 20, 2026 at 2:24 PM
Very glad to see positive stories like these, on how the success of Line 2 transforms entire communities. And we’re all waiting (somewhat nervously) to see the opening Of the LRT Line 1 east extension, another “game changer”. 1/ ottawacitizen.com/news/o-train...
Reposted by Rob Attrell
“The future of this city has to be a public transit future. We cannot accommodate the hundreds of thousands of cars that are going to be on our roads if we don’t have a functioning transit system,” Leiper said.
Community group rolls out vision for free off-peak service on OC Transpo
Community group rolls out vision for free off-peak service on OC Transpo
A new organization called Free Transit Ottawa is looking for a few volunteers to help make their vision of transit in the capital a reality, which includes free transit during off-peak hours and on weekends and buying more buses.
bit.ly
January 20, 2026 at 12:47 PM
“The future of this city has to be a public transit future. We cannot accommodate the hundreds of thousands of cars that are going to be on our roads if we don’t have a functioning transit system,” Leiper said.
Reposted by Rob Attrell
Meanwhile people like Will Stancil will post about how suburbs are “proven consumer preference”.
Yes - the heavily subsidized is the preferred, but fiscally unsustainable, option. I like free beer too.
If people had to absorb the actual costs…
Yes - the heavily subsidized is the preferred, but fiscally unsustainable, option. I like free beer too.
If people had to absorb the actual costs…
November 22, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Meanwhile people like Will Stancil will post about how suburbs are “proven consumer preference”.
Yes - the heavily subsidized is the preferred, but fiscally unsustainable, option. I like free beer too.
If people had to absorb the actual costs…
Yes - the heavily subsidized is the preferred, but fiscally unsustainable, option. I like free beer too.
If people had to absorb the actual costs…
Reposted by Rob Attrell
(Good) Urbanism is the antidote to loneliness (and the housing crisis and the affordability crisis and so on and so on).
January 19, 2026 at 2:00 AM
(Good) Urbanism is the antidote to loneliness (and the housing crisis and the affordability crisis and so on and so on).
Reposted by Rob Attrell
I have attempted a tierlist of common styles of bike racks. (Just install staple racks!)
January 18, 2026 at 11:49 PM
I have attempted a tierlist of common styles of bike racks. (Just install staple racks!)
Reposted by Rob Attrell
Another example of the absurdity of our system of zoning and neighbourhood control is when NIMBYs can fight and block *daycares* in neighbourhoods.
A daycare within walking distance is the best thing ever.
A daycare within walking distance is the best thing ever.
Sophie Ngo and her husband spend three hours every day driving between Richmond and Vancouver just to drop off their two kids at different daycares. It is the only way they can find care. "I don’t know why it’s so hard," she says. She is right.
vancouversun.com/opinion/colu...
vancouversun.com/opinion/colu...
January 19, 2026 at 12:10 AM
Another example of the absurdity of our system of zoning and neighbourhood control is when NIMBYs can fight and block *daycares* in neighbourhoods.
A daycare within walking distance is the best thing ever.
A daycare within walking distance is the best thing ever.
Reposted by Rob Attrell
An incredibly important video on the huge benefits of upzoning a North American city, and the risks that present afterwards: www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVQ6...
This City Tried to Fix Housing. The Backlash Was Intense.
YouTube video by Oh The Urbanity!
www.youtube.com
January 18, 2026 at 11:24 PM
An incredibly important video on the huge benefits of upzoning a North American city, and the risks that present afterwards: www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVQ6...
Reposted by Rob Attrell
Zoning is the idea that you can build a huge house with no questions asked but have to fight city hall and the neighbours to build a small apartment building
January 18, 2026 at 11:34 PM
Zoning is the idea that you can build a huge house with no questions asked but have to fight city hall and the neighbours to build a small apartment building
Reposted by Rob Attrell
I have a CHALLENGE FOR CITY HALLS. Who has the bravery to take this on?
1. Read my article on the “5 Steps to Better Cities.”
2. Commit to have your staff include in EVERY report, which step the recommendation represents.
If done honestly, with no BS or spin, it could be transformative.
Thoughts?
1. Read my article on the “5 Steps to Better Cities.”
2. Commit to have your staff include in EVERY report, which step the recommendation represents.
If done honestly, with no BS or spin, it could be transformative.
Thoughts?
5 steps to making better cities
Before you can do the right thing, you have to do the right thing badly. And before that, you have to do the wrong thing.
www.fastcompany.com
January 18, 2026 at 3:15 PM
I have a CHALLENGE FOR CITY HALLS. Who has the bravery to take this on?
1. Read my article on the “5 Steps to Better Cities.”
2. Commit to have your staff include in EVERY report, which step the recommendation represents.
If done honestly, with no BS or spin, it could be transformative.
Thoughts?
1. Read my article on the “5 Steps to Better Cities.”
2. Commit to have your staff include in EVERY report, which step the recommendation represents.
If done honestly, with no BS or spin, it could be transformative.
Thoughts?
This is a great way to show people the negative externalities of car dependency even if you have and love a car. Many types of people can’t drive, and we should all have the choice.
January 18, 2026 at 1:29 PM
This is a great way to show people the negative externalities of car dependency even if you have and love a car. Many types of people can’t drive, and we should all have the choice.
Reposted by Rob Attrell
Reposted by Rob Attrell
Anyone who doesn't recognize the parallels between how vulnerable road users are treated in cities and how minorities are treated by the state is plainly an idiot.
January 17, 2026 at 5:33 PM
Anyone who doesn't recognize the parallels between how vulnerable road users are treated in cities and how minorities are treated by the state is plainly an idiot.
Reposted by Rob Attrell
And an industrial manufacturing policy to use the existing infrastructure in #ontario to manufacture micromobility and public transit vehicles
Wanna know what would absolutely tank auto-sector competitiveness? Functional transit and protected bike lanes.
January 16, 2026 at 11:43 PM
And an industrial manufacturing policy to use the existing infrastructure in #ontario to manufacture micromobility and public transit vehicles
Did a 3km bike ride this evening to pick up Chinese food for dinner. It was probably below -15 plus windchill and yesterday we had 20 cm or so of snow.
Because the streets were clear, it was not a big deal and honestly made me feel way better and more connected to my community than driving would.
Because the streets were clear, it was not a big deal and honestly made me feel way better and more connected to my community than driving would.
January 17, 2026 at 2:44 AM
Did a 3km bike ride this evening to pick up Chinese food for dinner. It was probably below -15 plus windchill and yesterday we had 20 cm or so of snow.
Because the streets were clear, it was not a big deal and honestly made me feel way better and more connected to my community than driving would.
Because the streets were clear, it was not a big deal and honestly made me feel way better and more connected to my community than driving would.
Reposted by Rob Attrell
Lots of people assured me that Dutch-style protected bike intersections would be a nightmare for snow plowing.
Seems fine to me.
Seems fine to me.
January 16, 2026 at 11:35 PM
Lots of people assured me that Dutch-style protected bike intersections would be a nightmare for snow plowing.
Seems fine to me.
Seems fine to me.
Reposted by Rob Attrell
Toronto! We're coming to the modern birthplace of The War on Cars to rally the troops in their fight against Ontario Premier Doug Ford. Presale tix are available right now for our Patreon members as well as supporters of @cycletoronto.bsky.social. Sign up to get the promo code. This one will be big!
Live in Toronto! Patreon Presale. | The War on Cars
Get more from The War on Cars on Patreon
www.patreon.com
January 16, 2026 at 11:37 PM
Toronto! We're coming to the modern birthplace of The War on Cars to rally the troops in their fight against Ontario Premier Doug Ford. Presale tix are available right now for our Patreon members as well as supporters of @cycletoronto.bsky.social. Sign up to get the promo code. This one will be big!
Reposted by Rob Attrell
Great article! We need to ensure that Ottawa's housing strategy & innovations support small builds as well as large towers. It's that "missing-middle", six-storeys and under range. For this builder, these builds cost less and are less risky. 1/ www.theglobeandmail.com/real-estate/...
Developers embrace the big advantages to building small
Lower-rise projects can be more affordable to build – and carry less risk
www.theglobeandmail.com
January 16, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Great article! We need to ensure that Ottawa's housing strategy & innovations support small builds as well as large towers. It's that "missing-middle", six-storeys and under range. For this builder, these builds cost less and are less risky. 1/ www.theglobeandmail.com/real-estate/...
Reposted by Rob Attrell
Great turn out to the Speed Gun party on King Edward. Doug Ford has made our communities less safe by canceling speed cameras. Thank you to drivers for respecting the speed limit and the Lower Town community.
January 15, 2026 at 10:46 PM
Great turn out to the Speed Gun party on King Edward. Doug Ford has made our communities less safe by canceling speed cameras. Thank you to drivers for respecting the speed limit and the Lower Town community.