Duncan Rae
@dunrae.bsky.social
Build cities for people, not cars. | Spatial Design & Urbanism Consulting in Canada's Capital
Pinned
Duncan Rae
@dunrae.bsky.social
· Mar 31
Presenting the first draft of The BBR.
"Homes built, Jobs created, Industries made, Trade strengthened:
Canada’s Vision for Better Transit-Oriented Communities Starts in Ottawa with The Beachburg Railway Project."
beachburg.ca
"Homes built, Jobs created, Industries made, Trade strengthened:
Canada’s Vision for Better Transit-Oriented Communities Starts in Ottawa with The Beachburg Railway Project."
beachburg.ca
Reposted by Duncan Rae
With the first snowfall arriving in #Ottawa, I really wish we'd make it standard that for areas w/ complex/hard-to-plow surfaces (stairs/bus stops/bike racks/etc) we'd install heating (w/ permeable pavement) to melt snow and keep things clear & safe.
FYI, the new bridge at Kiweki Point is heated!🔥
FYI, the new bridge at Kiweki Point is heated!🔥
November 9, 2025 at 6:54 PM
With the first snowfall arriving in #Ottawa, I really wish we'd make it standard that for areas w/ complex/hard-to-plow surfaces (stairs/bus stops/bike racks/etc) we'd install heating (w/ permeable pavement) to melt snow and keep things clear & safe.
FYI, the new bridge at Kiweki Point is heated!🔥
FYI, the new bridge at Kiweki Point is heated!🔥
It's stupid that we even have to fight things like this.
The benefit of bike infrastructure in cities is clear. Ensuring there's a lane for everything (cars, transit, bikes, & walking) gives people choice, and when those choices are more space-efficient, that frees up room and eases congestion.
The benefit of bike infrastructure in cities is clear. Ensuring there's a lane for everything (cars, transit, bikes, & walking) gives people choice, and when those choices are more space-efficient, that frees up room and eases congestion.
Bill 60’s provision on banning bike lanes is
undemocratic
an assault on municipal autonomy
a threat to people’s safety
fiscally reckless
Voice your opposition. Send an email to the Premier, Minister Sarkaria, your local MPP all in one shot. See bottom of our post.
bikeottawa.ca/2025/10/30/o...
undemocratic
an assault on municipal autonomy
a threat to people’s safety
fiscally reckless
Voice your opposition. Send an email to the Premier, Minister Sarkaria, your local MPP all in one shot. See bottom of our post.
bikeottawa.ca/2025/10/30/o...
Ontario Bill 60: A Veto on a Safer, More Bikeable Ottawa
A provision buried deep in Ontario’s new omnibus legislation, Bill 60 (the Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act, 2025), is a direct, immediate threat to road safety in Ottawa. It undermines years o…
bikeottawa.ca
October 31, 2025 at 2:53 PM
It's stupid that we even have to fight things like this.
The benefit of bike infrastructure in cities is clear. Ensuring there's a lane for everything (cars, transit, bikes, & walking) gives people choice, and when those choices are more space-efficient, that frees up room and eases congestion.
The benefit of bike infrastructure in cities is clear. Ensuring there's a lane for everything (cars, transit, bikes, & walking) gives people choice, and when those choices are more space-efficient, that frees up room and eases congestion.
Reposted by Duncan Rae
Bill 60’s provision on banning bike lanes is
undemocratic
an assault on municipal autonomy
a threat to people’s safety
fiscally reckless
Voice your opposition. Send an email to the Premier, Minister Sarkaria, your local MPP all in one shot. See bottom of our post.
bikeottawa.ca/2025/10/30/o...
undemocratic
an assault on municipal autonomy
a threat to people’s safety
fiscally reckless
Voice your opposition. Send an email to the Premier, Minister Sarkaria, your local MPP all in one shot. See bottom of our post.
bikeottawa.ca/2025/10/30/o...
Ontario Bill 60: A Veto on a Safer, More Bikeable Ottawa
A provision buried deep in Ontario’s new omnibus legislation, Bill 60 (the Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act, 2025), is a direct, immediate threat to road safety in Ottawa. It undermines years o…
bikeottawa.ca
October 31, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Bill 60’s provision on banning bike lanes is
undemocratic
an assault on municipal autonomy
a threat to people’s safety
fiscally reckless
Voice your opposition. Send an email to the Premier, Minister Sarkaria, your local MPP all in one shot. See bottom of our post.
bikeottawa.ca/2025/10/30/o...
undemocratic
an assault on municipal autonomy
a threat to people’s safety
fiscally reckless
Voice your opposition. Send an email to the Premier, Minister Sarkaria, your local MPP all in one shot. See bottom of our post.
bikeottawa.ca/2025/10/30/o...
Reposted by Duncan Rae
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
It was also mentioned that paying for good design/"excellence" upfront can vastly reduce the number of change orders down the line, which ends up *saving* both time & money!
This is the 2nd time I’ve heard Edmonton City Architect Carol Belanger talk about procurement and design in his city. These are municipal buildings. They encourage excellence over cost, to get best value for residents.
October 9, 2025 at 10:37 PM
It was also mentioned that paying for good design/"excellence" upfront can vastly reduce the number of change orders down the line, which ends up *saving* both time & money!
Reposted by Duncan Rae
When the City of Ottawa developed our protected intersection guide and cycle track standards, we looked to the City of Nanaimo for inspiration. Nanaimo was (and is) a North American leader for active transportation design standards and it is starting to pay off in a big way! youtu.be/pN5muvQ0-tM?...
The city that went Dutch...
YouTube video by Nic Laporte
youtu.be
October 5, 2025 at 12:53 AM
When the City of Ottawa developed our protected intersection guide and cycle track standards, we looked to the City of Nanaimo for inspiration. Nanaimo was (and is) a North American leader for active transportation design standards and it is starting to pay off in a big way! youtu.be/pN5muvQ0-tM?...
Reposted by Duncan Rae
Glad to see this come to fruition, and to have played a part in making it happen. Last October I started meeting with representatives from Communauto and Gatineau's Regional Council on the Environment & Sustainable Development, with the aim of launching a Communauto FLEX pilot project in Ottawa. 1/
Car sharing across Ottawa – Gatineau is coming soon. I was pleased to join Maude Marquis-Bissonette, Mayor of Gatineau, and Councillor Tim Tierney to announce the launch of Communauto’s FLEX carsharing service starting mid-October.
September 26, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Glad to see this come to fruition, and to have played a part in making it happen. Last October I started meeting with representatives from Communauto and Gatineau's Regional Council on the Environment & Sustainable Development, with the aim of launching a Communauto FLEX pilot project in Ottawa. 1/
Reposted by Duncan Rae
It doesn’t matter to Doug Ford that doctors supprt them, or that police chiefs support them, ot that 3/4 of those surveyed support them. It doesn’t matter that all available evidence supports them. Doug doesn’t like them. And so they go. That’s Doug Ford’s Ontario. www.thestar.com/politics/pro...
Doug Ford will outlaw municipal speed cameras this fall: Sources
Sources say Ford's Progressive Conservatives will table legislation later this fall to outlaw the "automated speed enforcement" devices.
www.thestar.com
September 23, 2025 at 8:19 PM
It doesn’t matter to Doug Ford that doctors supprt them, or that police chiefs support them, ot that 3/4 of those surveyed support them. It doesn’t matter that all available evidence supports them. Doug doesn’t like them. And so they go. That’s Doug Ford’s Ontario. www.thestar.com/politics/pro...
Reposted by Duncan Rae
The most underappreciated issue in urbanism is the Anglosphere’s transit construction cost problem.
It’s not just that we’re spending too much money on any particular project.
It’s that we could be getting *much more transit* for the *same amount of money we’re currently spending*.
It’s not just that we’re spending too much money on any particular project.
It’s that we could be getting *much more transit* for the *same amount of money we’re currently spending*.
How This Small City Built Light Rail For Cheap
YouTube video by Oh The Urbanity!
youtu.be
September 21, 2025 at 7:12 PM
The most underappreciated issue in urbanism is the Anglosphere’s transit construction cost problem.
It’s not just that we’re spending too much money on any particular project.
It’s that we could be getting *much more transit* for the *same amount of money we’re currently spending*.
It’s not just that we’re spending too much money on any particular project.
It’s that we could be getting *much more transit* for the *same amount of money we’re currently spending*.
Reposted by Duncan Rae
Up: the entry pavillion & vertical circulation of an open cut station for a diesel regional train station running at 12 minutes interval (Ottawa)
Down: the entry pavillion (not) & vertical circulation for an open cut station in an outomated metro running at up to 3 minutes intervals (Copenhagen)
Down: the entry pavillion (not) & vertical circulation for an open cut station in an outomated metro running at up to 3 minutes intervals (Copenhagen)
September 21, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Up: the entry pavillion & vertical circulation of an open cut station for a diesel regional train station running at 12 minutes interval (Ottawa)
Down: the entry pavillion (not) & vertical circulation for an open cut station in an outomated metro running at up to 3 minutes intervals (Copenhagen)
Down: the entry pavillion (not) & vertical circulation for an open cut station in an outomated metro running at up to 3 minutes intervals (Copenhagen)
Reposted by Duncan Rae
Great message from St. Catherine's Mayor Mat Siscoe at the final AMO panel. "We don't need wider highways to address congestion in Ontario. We need more rail." Ottawa, meet the Beachburg Rail Corridor. I'm going to be talking about this a lot over the coming months.
August 20, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Great message from St. Catherine's Mayor Mat Siscoe at the final AMO panel. "We don't need wider highways to address congestion in Ontario. We need more rail." Ottawa, meet the Beachburg Rail Corridor. I'm going to be talking about this a lot over the coming months.
Reposted by Duncan Rae
We're disturbed by the numerous deaths of pedestrians and cyclists in Ottawa recently.
It's time for action.
We're garnering support for prohibiting all vehicular turns on red in downtown, for starters, and making this standard for protected intersections.
www.ecologyottawa.ca/rtor_campaign
It's time for action.
We're garnering support for prohibiting all vehicular turns on red in downtown, for starters, and making this standard for protected intersections.
www.ecologyottawa.ca/rtor_campaign
Protect pedestrians and cyclists in Ottawa!
www.ecologyottawa.ca
August 7, 2025 at 9:12 PM
We're disturbed by the numerous deaths of pedestrians and cyclists in Ottawa recently.
It's time for action.
We're garnering support for prohibiting all vehicular turns on red in downtown, for starters, and making this standard for protected intersections.
www.ecologyottawa.ca/rtor_campaign
It's time for action.
We're garnering support for prohibiting all vehicular turns on red in downtown, for starters, and making this standard for protected intersections.
www.ecologyottawa.ca/rtor_campaign
Reposted by Duncan Rae
Sucks how provincial governments in three Canadian provinces (Ontario, Alberta, and Nova Scotia) are trying to strong arm municipalities into getting rid of bike lanes.
August 3, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Sucks how provincial governments in three Canadian provinces (Ontario, Alberta, and Nova Scotia) are trying to strong arm municipalities into getting rid of bike lanes.
Reposted by Duncan Rae
Our office is hiring! We're looking for a new Councillor's Assistant, Office Manager to join our team this Fall. We take a collaborative, team-oriented approach to making Ward 9 and Ottawa a better place to live. The deadline to apply is August 7, 2025. www.seandevine.ca/we_re_hiring...
July 29, 2025 at 2:22 AM
Our office is hiring! We're looking for a new Councillor's Assistant, Office Manager to join our team this Fall. We take a collaborative, team-oriented approach to making Ward 9 and Ottawa a better place to live. The deadline to apply is August 7, 2025. www.seandevine.ca/we_re_hiring...
Reposted by Duncan Rae
This summer, we are bringing more places for people to Centretown. The City of Ottawa and the Centretown BIA worked together to create and program three new Uncommon Spaces on Frank, Florence and MacLaren.
July 15, 2025 at 7:48 PM
This summer, we are bringing more places for people to Centretown. The City of Ottawa and the Centretown BIA worked together to create and program three new Uncommon Spaces on Frank, Florence and MacLaren.
We need designs like these in #Ottawa — roads like Innes, Hunt Club, and Riverside would benefit greatly from the separation and smoother flow this layout would provide.
This roundabout takes separation to a new level.
The small town of Houten is home to a lot of innovative cycling designs, including this 'sunken' roundabout. The layout creates two layers: one for cars and one for bikes. This completely eliminates conflict points with motorised traffic.
The small town of Houten is home to a lot of innovative cycling designs, including this 'sunken' roundabout. The layout creates two layers: one for cars and one for bikes. This completely eliminates conflict points with motorised traffic.
July 13, 2025 at 10:24 PM
We need designs like these in #Ottawa — roads like Innes, Hunt Club, and Riverside would benefit greatly from the separation and smoother flow this layout would provide.
Reposted by Duncan Rae
This roundabout takes separation to a new level.
The small town of Houten is home to a lot of innovative cycling designs, including this 'sunken' roundabout. The layout creates two layers: one for cars and one for bikes. This completely eliminates conflict points with motorised traffic.
The small town of Houten is home to a lot of innovative cycling designs, including this 'sunken' roundabout. The layout creates two layers: one for cars and one for bikes. This completely eliminates conflict points with motorised traffic.
July 13, 2025 at 3:02 PM
This roundabout takes separation to a new level.
The small town of Houten is home to a lot of innovative cycling designs, including this 'sunken' roundabout. The layout creates two layers: one for cars and one for bikes. This completely eliminates conflict points with motorised traffic.
The small town of Houten is home to a lot of innovative cycling designs, including this 'sunken' roundabout. The layout creates two layers: one for cars and one for bikes. This completely eliminates conflict points with motorised traffic.
Reposted by Duncan Rae
We need to examine the link between oversized vehicles and traffic-related fatalities/major injuries. Yesterday, a pedestrian - young woman in her 20s - was struck by a pickup truck at Laurier/Elgin in downtown Ottawa. Tragically, the woman died from her injuries. 1/ www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/artic...
Pedestrian struck by pickup truck in downtown Ottawa has died: police
Ottawa police say a woman in her 20s has died after being struck by a pickup truck in downtown Ottawa Monday afternoon.
www.ctvnews.ca
July 9, 2025 at 1:38 AM
We need to examine the link between oversized vehicles and traffic-related fatalities/major injuries. Yesterday, a pedestrian - young woman in her 20s - was struck by a pickup truck at Laurier/Elgin in downtown Ottawa. Tragically, the woman died from her injuries. 1/ www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/artic...
Reposted by Duncan Rae
Today it took 20 minutes to get down Elgin and another 50 to get to Bells Corners by car. A balanced approach to our transportation network gets us all nowhere fast. We need to shift our investments to give people who want to get out of cars a real choice. Show me who is happy moving around Ottawa.
June 19, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Today it took 20 minutes to get down Elgin and another 50 to get to Bells Corners by car. A balanced approach to our transportation network gets us all nowhere fast. We need to shift our investments to give people who want to get out of cars a real choice. Show me who is happy moving around Ottawa.
Reposted by Duncan Rae
A step further, especially on commercial shopping streets, we don't want to artificially incentivize redevelopment there (on the busier street) by those being the sole opportunities for growth displacing treasured businesses. Motivating activity at highest intensity in behind helps this pattern.
June 6, 2025 at 8:44 PM
A step further, especially on commercial shopping streets, we don't want to artificially incentivize redevelopment there (on the busier street) by those being the sole opportunities for growth displacing treasured businesses. Motivating activity at highest intensity in behind helps this pattern.
Reposted by Duncan Rae
Some more amazing coverage of our push for 24/7 Bus Lanes on Bank Street! Shoutout to @ryantaras.bsky.social at the Capital Current!
capitalcurrent.ca/groups-call-...
capitalcurrent.ca/groups-call-...
Groups call for 24-hour bus lanes along Bank to ease congestion, improve safety - Capital Current
When Ottawa Council recently approved plans to include surrounding streets in a major study of transportation options along Bank Street, advocates for public transit, cyclists and pedestrians dismisse...
capitalcurrent.ca
May 31, 2025 at 1:19 AM
Some more amazing coverage of our push for 24/7 Bus Lanes on Bank Street! Shoutout to @ryantaras.bsky.social at the Capital Current!
capitalcurrent.ca/groups-call-...
capitalcurrent.ca/groups-call-...
Reposted by Duncan Rae
Whether on Elgin, or Bank, or Somerset, or Wellington, or Preston, or in much of Byward Market, how could this not benefit Ottawa? As does Montreal, the closures are from May - October. Businesses, neighbourhoods, and people would thrive. Public space would actually be public space!
This week marks the launch of another Open Street season in Montreal featuring the best pedestrian streets in North America.
The program is a mode for other cities to see what’s possible when you prioritize people over automobiles on just a fraction of our streets.
📍Montreal
The program is a mode for other cities to see what’s possible when you prioritize people over automobiles on just a fraction of our streets.
📍Montreal
May 28, 2025 at 12:21 AM
Whether on Elgin, or Bank, or Somerset, or Wellington, or Preston, or in much of Byward Market, how could this not benefit Ottawa? As does Montreal, the closures are from May - October. Businesses, neighbourhoods, and people would thrive. Public space would actually be public space!
Reposted by Duncan Rae
We’re running ads before movies at the Mayfair Theatre supporting bus lanes on Bank Street!
We’ll also be taking over the movie sign on May 29 until 2pm, consider stopping by to take a picture and show your support for less traffic and faster buses on Bank.
@strongtownsottawa.bsky.social
We’ll also be taking over the movie sign on May 29 until 2pm, consider stopping by to take a picture and show your support for less traffic and faster buses on Bank.
@strongtownsottawa.bsky.social
May 16, 2025 at 3:49 PM
We’re running ads before movies at the Mayfair Theatre supporting bus lanes on Bank Street!
We’ll also be taking over the movie sign on May 29 until 2pm, consider stopping by to take a picture and show your support for less traffic and faster buses on Bank.
@strongtownsottawa.bsky.social
We’ll also be taking over the movie sign on May 29 until 2pm, consider stopping by to take a picture and show your support for less traffic and faster buses on Bank.
@strongtownsottawa.bsky.social