William van Geest
@wvangeest.bsky.social
Settler on unceded, unsurrendered Algonquin territory. Sustainable transportation, ecology, social justice, Ottawa. ED @ecologyottawa.bsky.social. Skeets my responsibility.
Um, how is Pathways Alliance advertising on What On Earth (CBC’s climate podcast)?
November 11, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Um, how is Pathways Alliance advertising on What On Earth (CBC’s climate podcast)?
Reposted by William van Geest
1. In the wake on Mamdani’s win, we’ll see a lot more far right anti-urban sentiment. Here’s a thread on its roots and evolution.
The idea that the city is evil and corrupt, and the countryside innocent and pure, goes back a long way: to Theocritus in Alexandria, and to the Old Testament. 🧵
The idea that the city is evil and corrupt, and the countryside innocent and pure, goes back a long way: to Theocritus in Alexandria, and to the Old Testament. 🧵
November 5, 2025 at 7:58 AM
1. In the wake on Mamdani’s win, we’ll see a lot more far right anti-urban sentiment. Here’s a thread on its roots and evolution.
The idea that the city is evil and corrupt, and the countryside innocent and pure, goes back a long way: to Theocritus in Alexandria, and to the Old Testament. 🧵
The idea that the city is evil and corrupt, and the countryside innocent and pure, goes back a long way: to Theocritus in Alexandria, and to the Old Testament. 🧵
Reposted by William van Geest
NEW: Councillors and sources inside the City of Vancouver say the city's mayor, Ken Sim, will put forth a budget Wednesday that will eliminate the city's celebrated climate and sustainability department.
Vancouver mayor plans to eliminate city's climate and sustainability department
Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim is planning to eliminate the city's sustainability and climate department under the guise of a push to prevent increases to property taxes. Canada's National Observer learned a...
www.nationalobserver.com
November 11, 2025 at 1:47 AM
NEW: Councillors and sources inside the City of Vancouver say the city's mayor, Ken Sim, will put forth a budget Wednesday that will eliminate the city's celebrated climate and sustainability department.
Under-appreciated phenomenon: with an early snow, autumn leaves fallen *on top of* the snow. Ginkgos do it particularly well.
November 10, 2025 at 11:23 PM
Under-appreciated phenomenon: with an early snow, autumn leaves fallen *on top of* the snow. Ginkgos do it particularly well.
Inject it into my veins 💉
Grateful to spend two days on the Klamath watching chinook, liberated by dam removal, return to streams from which they’d been precluded since the Titanic sank. Fish are everywhere, in numbers that stagger the mind & locations that biologists figured would take years to repopulate. Too beautiful.
November 6, 2025 at 2:19 AM
Inject it into my veins 💉
👇
I'm wary of solar over parking...I'd rather parking turn to greenspace, and I worry panels will legitimize parking when we should be discouraging surface lots...there are lots of other places panels can be placed.
November 5, 2025 at 12:09 AM
👇
Just noticed these lamp posts. Assume it’s #OttCity’s decision, but clear NCC’s standards and lamps—presumably part of the canal project?
Anyway, no idea what we’re doing installing these in the middle of the sidewalk in the year of our Lord 2025 🤦♂️ #OttWalk #OttRoll
Anyway, no idea what we’re doing installing these in the middle of the sidewalk in the year of our Lord 2025 🤦♂️ #OttWalk #OttRoll
November 2, 2025 at 1:07 AM
Just noticed these lamp posts. Assume it’s #OttCity’s decision, but clear NCC’s standards and lamps—presumably part of the canal project?
Anyway, no idea what we’re doing installing these in the middle of the sidewalk in the year of our Lord 2025 🤦♂️ #OttWalk #OttRoll
Anyway, no idea what we’re doing installing these in the middle of the sidewalk in the year of our Lord 2025 🤦♂️ #OttWalk #OttRoll
October 25, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Reposted by William van Geest
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 William van Geest
Canadians: “We the north! I love hockey, skiing, and taking my kids sledding. Did you hear about a light dusting of snow shutting down some southern US city?”
Canadians, when you suggest
it’s possible to bike past September: “but what if I get… cold?”
Canadians, when you suggest
it’s possible to bike past September: “but what if I get… cold?”
October 9, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Canadians: “We the north! I love hockey, skiing, and taking my kids sledding. Did you hear about a light dusting of snow shutting down some southern US city?”
Canadians, when you suggest
it’s possible to bike past September: “but what if I get… cold?”
Canadians, when you suggest
it’s possible to bike past September: “but what if I get… cold?”
You know someone’s really discovered biking when they say things like “It feels like I'm flying,” and they refer to their “physical and mental health” and commuting time as being “invaluable” rather than “angry and wasteful.” 🙌 #OttBike
I've been up to something. For many, it's not worth making a big deal of it. But for me, it's been a goal for a long time. I started commuter cycling from #collegeward. I think it makes sense to share this as my entry into the #weekwithoutdriving challenge.
October 6, 2025 at 11:24 PM
You know someone’s really discovered biking when they say things like “It feels like I'm flying,” and they refer to their “physical and mental health” and commuting time as being “invaluable” rather than “angry and wasteful.” 🙌 #OttBike
Reposted by William van Geest
While the Nova Scotia government works to pass its controversial law that would make it illegal to block forest roads in the province, Mi’kmaw land protectors say they’re not going anywhere.
Mi’kmaw land protectors vow to hold their ground in face of new law
Mi'kmaw land protectors in Cape Breton say they're not going anywhere even if Nova Scotia passes law controversial law.
www.aptnnews.ca
October 2, 2025 at 11:06 PM
While the Nova Scotia government works to pass its controversial law that would make it illegal to block forest roads in the province, Mi’kmaw land protectors say they’re not going anywhere.
Pretty sweet to ride a biking facility so new, the paint’s still drying.
Feels like every time I return to Toronto, they’re installing new—and excellent—infrastructure. In this iteration (Harbord near Grace), they’ve installed beds within the new curbs—top notch. #CycleTO
Feels like every time I return to Toronto, they’re installing new—and excellent—infrastructure. In this iteration (Harbord near Grace), they’ve installed beds within the new curbs—top notch. #CycleTO
October 3, 2025 at 4:45 AM
Pretty sweet to ride a biking facility so new, the paint’s still drying.
Feels like every time I return to Toronto, they’re installing new—and excellent—infrastructure. In this iteration (Harbord near Grace), they’ve installed beds within the new curbs—top notch. #CycleTO
Feels like every time I return to Toronto, they’re installing new—and excellent—infrastructure. In this iteration (Harbord near Grace), they’ve installed beds within the new curbs—top notch. #CycleTO
Reposted by William van Geest
Who are non drivers?
@nrdc.org repport finds:
-34 million disabled people
-47 million young people (over 10 who don't own cars)
-5.6 million people who are 75+
-Millions of others who don't own their own vehicle
#WeekWithoutDriving
www.nrdc.org/resources/wh...
@nrdc.org repport finds:
-34 million disabled people
-47 million young people (over 10 who don't own cars)
-5.6 million people who are 75+
-Millions of others who don't own their own vehicle
#WeekWithoutDriving
www.nrdc.org/resources/wh...
Who Doesn’t Have a Car?
A new NRDC map shows car-free living and the factors affecting car usage in United States.
www.nrdc.org
October 2, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Who are non drivers?
@nrdc.org repport finds:
-34 million disabled people
-47 million young people (over 10 who don't own cars)
-5.6 million people who are 75+
-Millions of others who don't own their own vehicle
#WeekWithoutDriving
www.nrdc.org/resources/wh...
@nrdc.org repport finds:
-34 million disabled people
-47 million young people (over 10 who don't own cars)
-5.6 million people who are 75+
-Millions of others who don't own their own vehicle
#WeekWithoutDriving
www.nrdc.org/resources/wh...
Reposted by William van Geest
This is my regular reminder to everyone that jstor is open to the general public now; a free account there will give you access to 100 papers a year.
regrettably if you try to point this out online you'll get yelled out by 79208 journalists going OH SO YOU WANT JOURNALISTS TO STARVE??? even if you're, say, a journalist yourself, and point out that while there are clearly no easy answers, the status quo isn't exactly working for society
September 29, 2025 at 1:19 PM
This is my regular reminder to everyone that jstor is open to the general public now; a free account there will give you access to 100 papers a year.
“Cars have to be able to travel in the middle lanes, and that leaves the outside lanes for other things. Choices have to be made.”
Sooooo #Autowa. #BankStreet #OttCity
Sooooo #Autowa. #BankStreet #OttCity
If you want to see a better Bank Street with a pilot project of 24/7 bus lanes instead of on-street parking, come to the open house the city is going to be holding and let them know!
September 24th, 6:30 pm, at Blessed Sacrament Parish (194 Fourth Avenue)!
Info : engage.ottawa.ca/bank-street-...
September 24th, 6:30 pm, at Blessed Sacrament Parish (194 Fourth Avenue)!
Info : engage.ottawa.ca/bank-street-...
Bank Street Active Transportation and Transit Priority Feasibility Study
Open House Wednesday, September 24, 2025 6:30 to 8:30 pm, Presentation at 7pm Blessed Sacrament Parish, 194 Fourth Avenue, Ottawa, K1S 2L6 The City of Ottawa will host an open house for the Bank Stree...
engage.ottawa.ca
September 24, 2025 at 11:19 PM
“Cars have to be able to travel in the middle lanes, and that leaves the outside lanes for other things. Choices have to be made.”
Sooooo #Autowa. #BankStreet #OttCity
Sooooo #Autowa. #BankStreet #OttCity
Reposted by William van Geest
Defending the Earth is deadly work. A new report illuminates how much.
Nearly 150 land and environment defenders were killed or disappeared last year, most for standing up to mining and logging
grist.org/global-indig...
#Indigenous #climate #Mining #Logging #Environment #Tribes #Landback
Nearly 150 land and environment defenders were killed or disappeared last year, most for standing up to mining and logging
grist.org/global-indig...
#Indigenous #climate #Mining #Logging #Environment #Tribes #Landback
Defending the Earth is deadly work. A new report illuminates how much.
Nearly 150 land and environment defenders were killed or disappeared last year, most for standing up to mining and logging.
grist.org
September 19, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Defending the Earth is deadly work. A new report illuminates how much.
Nearly 150 land and environment defenders were killed or disappeared last year, most for standing up to mining and logging
grist.org/global-indig...
#Indigenous #climate #Mining #Logging #Environment #Tribes #Landback
Nearly 150 land and environment defenders were killed or disappeared last year, most for standing up to mining and logging
grist.org/global-indig...
#Indigenous #climate #Mining #Logging #Environment #Tribes #Landback
September 20, 2025 at 12:28 AM
Reposted by William van Geest
Defending the Earth is deadly work. A new report illuminates how much.
Nearly 150 land and environment defenders were killed or disappeared last year, most for standing up to mining and logging.
grist.org/global-indig...
#Climate #Indigenous #Tribes #Environment #GreenSky
Nearly 150 land and environment defenders were killed or disappeared last year, most for standing up to mining and logging.
grist.org/global-indig...
#Climate #Indigenous #Tribes #Environment #GreenSky
Defending the Earth is deadly work. A new report illuminates how much.
Nearly 150 land and environment defenders were killed or disappeared last year, most for standing up to mining and logging.
grist.org
September 17, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Defending the Earth is deadly work. A new report illuminates how much.
Nearly 150 land and environment defenders were killed or disappeared last year, most for standing up to mining and logging.
grist.org/global-indig...
#Climate #Indigenous #Tribes #Environment #GreenSky
Nearly 150 land and environment defenders were killed or disappeared last year, most for standing up to mining and logging.
grist.org/global-indig...
#Climate #Indigenous #Tribes #Environment #GreenSky
Reposted by William van Geest
In yet another story of cars ruining cities, Carling Avenue was widened to support peak hour mall car traffic and streetcar tracks on Holland were ripped up to support car/bus traffic
Great story on the history of Westgate Mall
kitchissippi.com/goodbye-to-w...
Great story on the history of Westgate Mall
kitchissippi.com/goodbye-to-w...
September 15, 2025 at 1:29 PM
In yet another story of cars ruining cities, Carling Avenue was widened to support peak hour mall car traffic and streetcar tracks on Holland were ripped up to support car/bus traffic
Great story on the history of Westgate Mall
kitchissippi.com/goodbye-to-w...
Great story on the history of Westgate Mall
kitchissippi.com/goodbye-to-w...
Reposted by William van Geest
I shouldn't be shocked, but I'm still always brought up short to realize how many people think "civility" means "white people speaking in relatively calm voices" no matter what vile shit they say.
September 13, 2025 at 3:06 PM
I shouldn't be shocked, but I'm still always brought up short to realize how many people think "civility" means "white people speaking in relatively calm voices" no matter what vile shit they say.
Reposted by William van Geest
#ottbike I have officially released a new version of my Ottawa cycle map website Obike.ca
You are now able to click on projects for more information, it will highlight the project scope, along with displaying a preview image. Can then also view a project page with images and designs of the project
You are now able to click on projects for more information, it will highlight the project scope, along with displaying a preview image. Can then also view a project page with images and designs of the project
Obike
Ottawa's future cycling infrastructure mapped, now with project pages with design documents and images
Obike.ca
September 12, 2025 at 9:36 PM
Stuff like this makes me quiiiiite concerned about #OttCity’s Asset Management deficit. Thinking of delegations from @strongtownsottawa.ca and FCA at the Budget 2026 Directions meeting of FinCo last week…seems only a matter of time before artificially low tax increases catch up to us. #OttBudget
NOTICE OF EMERGENCY / URGENT SEWER REPAIR - FISHER HEIGHTS: City staff need to perform an emergency / urgent repair of a section of failing sanitary sewer along Merivale Road/ The segment requiring repair is highlighted in yellow on the map below. This work could start as soon as September 22nd. 1/
September 11, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Stuff like this makes me quiiiiite concerned about #OttCity’s Asset Management deficit. Thinking of delegations from @strongtownsottawa.ca and FCA at the Budget 2026 Directions meeting of FinCo last week…seems only a matter of time before artificially low tax increases catch up to us. #OttBudget