Dr Courtney Babb
@courtneywbabb.bsky.social
Senior Lecturer Urban Planning | Urban mobility, cities and suburbs, climate futures | current projects on urban logistics, micromobility, climate resilient housing | Boorloo, Perth
Pinned
Reposted by Dr Courtney Babb
“Car bloat”—increasingly oversized automobiles—worsens road safety, affordability and the environment.
Here are some of the stories I wrote in 2025 examining the trend and proposing solutions. 🧵
In @vox.com, I likened car bloat to secondhand smoke (which helped bring down the US tobacco industry).
Here are some of the stories I wrote in 2025 examining the trend and proposing solutions. 🧵
In @vox.com, I likened car bloat to secondhand smoke (which helped bring down the US tobacco industry).
Gigantic SUVs are a public health threat. Why don’t we treat them like one?
The anti-tobacco playbook could help turn the US public against their beloved oversized cars.
www.vox.com
December 28, 2025 at 1:08 PM
“Car bloat”—increasingly oversized automobiles—worsens road safety, affordability and the environment.
Here are some of the stories I wrote in 2025 examining the trend and proposing solutions. 🧵
In @vox.com, I likened car bloat to secondhand smoke (which helped bring down the US tobacco industry).
Here are some of the stories I wrote in 2025 examining the trend and proposing solutions. 🧵
In @vox.com, I likened car bloat to secondhand smoke (which helped bring down the US tobacco industry).
Reposted by Dr Courtney Babb
NSW suffering an eruption of the HDAs - that is, spot rezonings for high density housing Independent of any planning strategy.
It’s looks like a game of ‘pin the development on the donkey’ - uncoordinated, haphazard, opaque in process, speculative, too open to corruption…
Such a risk to all of us
It’s looks like a game of ‘pin the development on the donkey’ - uncoordinated, haphazard, opaque in process, speculative, too open to corruption…
Such a risk to all of us
December 12, 2025 at 9:02 PM
NSW suffering an eruption of the HDAs - that is, spot rezonings for high density housing Independent of any planning strategy.
It’s looks like a game of ‘pin the development on the donkey’ - uncoordinated, haphazard, opaque in process, speculative, too open to corruption…
Such a risk to all of us
It’s looks like a game of ‘pin the development on the donkey’ - uncoordinated, haphazard, opaque in process, speculative, too open to corruption…
Such a risk to all of us
Reposted by Dr Courtney Babb
Back when I-35 first sliced through Austin, Texas, in the 1950s, no visual archive was kept of the people whom the highway displaced. Now, as TxDOT annexes properties along I-35 to expand the interstate, documentary photographer Liz Moskowitz records some of the people and businesses being upended.
Along a Path of Impermanence
A documentary photographer records some of the people and places being disrupted by an expansion of Interstate 35 through the center of Austin, Texas.
placesjournal.org
December 4, 2025 at 10:34 PM
Back when I-35 first sliced through Austin, Texas, in the 1950s, no visual archive was kept of the people whom the highway displaced. Now, as TxDOT annexes properties along I-35 to expand the interstate, documentary photographer Liz Moskowitz records some of the people and businesses being upended.
Reposted by Dr Courtney Babb
Must read article by @emfarrelly.bsky.social on the outrageous, undemocratic recent changes to NSW Planning Act.
Premier Minns in pocket of the worst urgera & profiteers, environmental vandals & developers.
This analysis ignored by MSM, sucked in by press release
architectureau.com/articles/pro...
Premier Minns in pocket of the worst urgera & profiteers, environmental vandals & developers.
This analysis ignored by MSM, sucked in by press release
architectureau.com/articles/pro...
Prohibiting the public interest
The new New South Wales Environmental Planning and Assessment (Planning System Reforms) Bill 2025, which slid through parliament in November with bipartisan support and little press coverage, is “trus...
architectureau.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:19 PM
Must read article by @emfarrelly.bsky.social on the outrageous, undemocratic recent changes to NSW Planning Act.
Premier Minns in pocket of the worst urgera & profiteers, environmental vandals & developers.
This analysis ignored by MSM, sucked in by press release
architectureau.com/articles/pro...
Premier Minns in pocket of the worst urgera & profiteers, environmental vandals & developers.
This analysis ignored by MSM, sucked in by press release
architectureau.com/articles/pro...
Reposted by Dr Courtney Babb
At Sydney’s mighty arms convention, weapons are sold as ‘solutions’. No one mentions the people they will target
At Sydney’s mighty arms convention, weapons are sold as ‘solutions’. No one mentions the people they will target
As protesters outside condemn war, inside the Indo-Pacific International Maritime Exposition the defence minister praises the ‘beautiful, menacing and extremely cool’ technology on show
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Inside the heavily guarded, aseptically cool halls of the Indo-Pacific International Maritime Exposition, Australia’s defence minister, Richard Marles, describes it as, for some in the room, “a kind of Disneyland … the happiest place on Earth”.
Standing outside, facing barricades and a broad line of armed police, those protesting the very presence of the arms conference in Sydney view it is anything but. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 7, 2025 at 2:04 PM
At Sydney’s mighty arms convention, weapons are sold as ‘solutions’. No one mentions the people they will target
Reposted by Dr Courtney Babb
100% this! I'm going to start calling those two-wheeled electric vehicles with throttles that don't require pedalling "e-motos" too. Hopefully we can shift the narrative => e-bikes are NOT a problem in Toronto's bike lanes, e-motos are the problem. #BikeTO #bikesky
@peopleforbikes.bsky.social looks at the problem of "e-motos" that are confused with e-bikes. There is confusion everywhere in the e-bike world; it's time to clarify and simplify the rules and get the too-big too-fast two-wheeled things out of the bike lanes.
When it comes to e-bikes, we need "clear, simple, straightforward rules that a nine-year-old can explain."
People for Bikes has recommendations for dealing with the confusion between "e-motos" and e-bikes. I have some too.
lloydalter.substack.com
November 7, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Inside Labor’s plan to tax EVs www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/economy... via @thesaturdaypaper.com.au
Inside Labor’s plan to tax EVs
Labor’s plan to tax electric vehicles has stalled on the conflicting goals of budget repair and emissions reduction.
www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au
November 7, 2025 at 10:31 PM
Inside Labor’s plan to tax EVs www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/economy... via @thesaturdaypaper.com.au
Reposted by Dr Courtney Babb
A broken university system is letting Australia down https://australiainstitute.org.au/post/a-broken-university-system-is-letting-australia-down/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=a-broken-university-system-is-letting-australia-down #auspol
A broken university system is letting Australia down
Poor governance, poor policy and decades of neoliberalism have broken Australia’s university sector, with devastating consequences for students and the country.
australiainstitute.org.au
November 5, 2025 at 4:12 PM
A broken university system is letting Australia down https://australiainstitute.org.au/post/a-broken-university-system-is-letting-australia-down/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=a-broken-university-system-is-letting-australia-down #auspol
RIP Kitkat, Mayor of 16th Street: “The mayor of this space was taken by technology that none of us asked for and…none of us consented to”
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Death of beloved neighborhood cat sparks outrage against robotaxis in San Francisco
KitKat, affectionately known as ‘mayor of 16th Street’, was struck and killed by a Waymo in the city’s Mission District
www.theguardian.com
November 5, 2025 at 8:27 PM
RIP Kitkat, Mayor of 16th Street: “The mayor of this space was taken by technology that none of us asked for and…none of us consented to”
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Today, I’m taking part in a half day work stoppage with fellow Curtin University NTEU comrades. We are taking part in protected industrial action to secure better workloads, pay and conditions for all Curtin Staff in our Enterprise Bargaining Agreement ✊
@nteunion.bsky.social
@nteunion.bsky.social
November 4, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Today, I’m taking part in a half day work stoppage with fellow Curtin University NTEU comrades. We are taking part in protected industrial action to secure better workloads, pay and conditions for all Curtin Staff in our Enterprise Bargaining Agreement ✊
@nteunion.bsky.social
@nteunion.bsky.social
It’s Bike Month here in Western Australia, so it’s the perfect time for our public transport agency to release this ad campaign pointing out how embarrassing and disempowering it is to ride a bike
October 24, 2025 at 10:50 PM
It’s Bike Month here in Western Australia, so it’s the perfect time for our public transport agency to release this ad campaign pointing out how embarrassing and disempowering it is to ride a bike
Reposted by Dr Courtney Babb
Slower speeds save lives: "...there were 2,638 people injured, including deaths, on low-speed roads in the most recent 18 months, compared with 3,520 injuries between April 2022 and September 2023, a reduction of 25%."
Nearly 900 fewer people injured since 20mph introduction in Wales
Figures show a 25% reduction in the number of injuries on Wales' roads in the past 18 months.
www.bbc.com
September 17, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Slower speeds save lives: "...there were 2,638 people injured, including deaths, on low-speed roads in the most recent 18 months, compared with 3,520 injuries between April 2022 and September 2023, a reduction of 25%."
Reposted by Dr Courtney Babb
They know the climate chaos coming, they know their decision will make it worse, and kill any hope of mitigation, but they did it anyway - for their own benefit.
Not a principle among them.
Not a principle among them.
A Friday afternoon special from the Albanese government.
Literally the worst environmental decision imaginable.
Literally the worst environmental decision imaginable.
Australia's largest gas project given final approval to operate until 2070
Australia's biggest gas project, Woodside's North West Shelf, has received final approval to extend operations through until 2070.
www.abc.net.au
September 12, 2025 at 9:30 AM
They know the climate chaos coming, they know their decision will make it worse, and kill any hope of mitigation, but they did it anyway - for their own benefit.
Not a principle among them.
Not a principle among them.
Reposted by Dr Courtney Babb
Welcome to the enshittification of cars. This is the worst thing to happen to cars since SUVs.
VW introduces monthly subscription to increase car power
The German car-maker says its
www.bbc.co.uk
August 17, 2025 at 11:33 PM
Welcome to the enshittification of cars. This is the worst thing to happen to cars since SUVs.
Reposted by Dr Courtney Babb
No, Jim, their primary purpose is to PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT. Kinda important during dual climate change and biodiversity extinction crises, which are an existential threat to humanity…and your precious economy. www.theguardian.com/business/202... Just another neoliberal Labor politician.
Jim Chalmers says environment laws need overhaul to stop people ‘burning cash waiting for approvals’
Treasurer says ‘status quo is no longer acceptable’ on Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act as Labor pushes to build 1.2m new homes by 2029
www.theguardian.com
August 15, 2025 at 11:00 PM
No, Jim, their primary purpose is to PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT. Kinda important during dual climate change and biodiversity extinction crises, which are an existential threat to humanity…and your precious economy. www.theguardian.com/business/202... Just another neoliberal Labor politician.
Reposted by Dr Courtney Babb
We need to talk about oversized trucks and the aesthetic of fascism.
ICE used your taxpayer dollars to trick out a bunch of trucks in new livery, all painted black with "ICE" and a logo printed in gold on the side (and Trump's name in gold on the back window), then shoot a rap video in DC to post on social media.
I am not making this up.
I am not making this up.
August 15, 2025 at 12:22 AM
We need to talk about oversized trucks and the aesthetic of fascism.
“Expanding freeway networks undermines efforts to reduce emissions and encourage cleaner transport. It points to a deep-seated flaw in Australia’s urban planning systems which must be solved.”
theconversation.com/australia-wh...
theconversation.com/australia-wh...
Australia, why are you still obsessed with freeways – when they’re driving us away from net zero?
Expanding freeway networks undermines climate action. It points to a deep-seated flaw in Australia’s urban planning systems which must be solved.
theconversation.com
August 15, 2025 at 10:23 PM
“Expanding freeway networks undermines efforts to reduce emissions and encourage cleaner transport. It points to a deep-seated flaw in Australia’s urban planning systems which must be solved.”
theconversation.com/australia-wh...
theconversation.com/australia-wh...
1.3 billion tonnes of GHG emissions and critical risks to Perth’s water security and the Northern Jarrah forests. There’s a few more days to make a submission on Alcoa’s plan to expand mining in Perth hills.
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08...
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08...
Perth council rejects Alcoa bauxite drilling over water, forest concerns
US aluminium giant Alcoa's proposed expansions to its mining operations near Perth could lead to the release of three years' worth of Australia's greenhouse gas emissions — in Australia and downstream...
www.abc.net.au
August 15, 2025 at 10:18 PM
1.3 billion tonnes of GHG emissions and critical risks to Perth’s water security and the Northern Jarrah forests. There’s a few more days to make a submission on Alcoa’s plan to expand mining in Perth hills.
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08...
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08...
Reposted by Dr Courtney Babb
CCWA will hold a “requiem for our reefs” at @wamuseum.bsky.social's Woodside Open Day to highlight the “devastating impact of Woodside’s emissions on WA’s coral reef system" & call for public support to stop WoodCIDE from "drilling for new gas under the pristine Scott Reef in the Browse Basin”
August 12, 2025 at 10:01 PM
CCWA will hold a “requiem for our reefs” at @wamuseum.bsky.social's Woodside Open Day to highlight the “devastating impact of Woodside’s emissions on WA’s coral reef system" & call for public support to stop WoodCIDE from "drilling for new gas under the pristine Scott Reef in the Browse Basin”
Reposted by Dr Courtney Babb
Five years ago today, I wrote my first of 50+ stories about car safety.
My motivation was simple: I couldn't understand why e-scooters were capped at 12 mph, but hulking SUVs could go 10x faster.
The passage below still feels true.
www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...
My motivation was simple: I couldn't understand why e-scooters were capped at 12 mph, but hulking SUVs could go 10x faster.
The passage below still feels true.
www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...
August 12, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Five years ago today, I wrote my first of 50+ stories about car safety.
My motivation was simple: I couldn't understand why e-scooters were capped at 12 mph, but hulking SUVs could go 10x faster.
The passage below still feels true.
www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...
My motivation was simple: I couldn't understand why e-scooters were capped at 12 mph, but hulking SUVs could go 10x faster.
The passage below still feels true.
www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...
Reposted by Dr Courtney Babb
The UK government, which is going all-in on AI, is asking people to delete emails in order to save water, claiming it will lighten the load on data centres.
UK Asks People to Delete Emails In Order to Save Water During Drought
As Britain experiences one of its worst droughts in decades, its leaders suggest people get rid of old data to reduce stress on data centers.
www.404media.co
August 12, 2025 at 9:46 PM
The UK government, which is going all-in on AI, is asking people to delete emails in order to save water, claiming it will lighten the load on data centres.
Reposted by Dr Courtney Babb
Pls stop what you are doing and read this entire report on Israel's murder of journalist Anas al-Sharif and five colleagues in Gaza City.
"He characterized Israel’s threats as 'Silence or Death,' and he vowed not to be silent."
It ends with his final message. www.dropsitenews.com/p/anas-al-sh...
"He characterized Israel’s threats as 'Silence or Death,' and he vowed not to be silent."
It ends with his final message. www.dropsitenews.com/p/anas-al-sh...
The Israeli Assassination of Journalist Anas al-Sharif and Five Colleagues in Gaza City
“We understand these are our last days.”
www.dropsitenews.com
August 11, 2025 at 9:19 PM
Pls stop what you are doing and read this entire report on Israel's murder of journalist Anas al-Sharif and five colleagues in Gaza City.
"He characterized Israel’s threats as 'Silence or Death,' and he vowed not to be silent."
It ends with his final message. www.dropsitenews.com/p/anas-al-sh...
"He characterized Israel’s threats as 'Silence or Death,' and he vowed not to be silent."
It ends with his final message. www.dropsitenews.com/p/anas-al-sh...
The best way to cap off a week is by walking around with a bunch of geography teachers talking urban infill, the housing crisis, gentrification, laneways and vegetable worshipping churches.
August 8, 2025 at 1:06 PM
The best way to cap off a week is by walking around with a bunch of geography teachers talking urban infill, the housing crisis, gentrification, laneways and vegetable worshipping churches.