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lanrickbennett.bsky.social
Lanrick Bennett
@lanrickbennett.bsky.social
13K followers 330 following 3.5K posts
Working within the active transportation, environmental protection, affordable housing and placemaking sphere. Always advocating #BikeTO #TransformTO #BLM #TweetsAreMineByDefault
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lanrickbennett.bsky.social
#30DayMapChallenge

Day 11 - On October 27 2025, Amsterdam celebrated it’s 750th anniversary

h/t @andrew-pask.bsky.social #amsterdam750
This image is a detailed, colorful, hand-drawn map of the Amsterdam area, showcasing a planned urban layout. The map is rendered in a traditional, illustrative style with a light, pastel color palette. The map is bordered by a thin black line and includes a legend in the bottom right corner, detailing the color codes used for different types of land use and structures. The map is divided into various sections, each with distinct colors and patterns. The top section near the river (labeled "R.T. U.") is predominantly blue, representing water bodies. Adjacent to the water, the land is colored yellow and green, indicating residential areas with grid-like street patterns. The central area features pink and red sections, suggesting mixed-use or commercial zones with more irregular street layouts. To the right, the area is marked with brown and gray, indicating industrial or institutional zones with larger, more organized buildings. Roads and pathways are depicted in thin black lines, intersecting the various sections. Key structures and buildings are marked with small black symbols. The map also includes a few labeled streets and a key for identifying different land uses and structures. The overall style is reminiscent of early 20th-century urban planning maps.
November 11, 2025 at 11:48 AM
lanrickbennett.bsky.social
Kids on the Move: Advancing Safe Active Travel

By HUB Cycling: Your Cycling Connection
Online event
Nov 19 from 3pm-4pm EST

Find out how these programs can be adapted and replicated in other communities.
REGISTER: ow.ly/eure50XmK9I

h/t @wearehub.bsky.social @cassiesmith.bsky.social
November 11, 2025 at 12:27 AM
lanrickbennett.bsky.social
World Day of Remembrance For Road Traffic Victims
November 16, 2025 at 4.30pm Ceremony begins at 5pm

QUEEN'S PARK SOUTH LAWN via @ffsafestreets.bsky.social

#WDoR2025
#RememberSupportAct
World Day of Remembrance For Road Traffic Victims November 16, 2025 QUEEN'S PARK SOUTH LAWN #WDoR2025 #RememberSupportAct
November 11, 2025 at 12:27 AM
lanrickbennett.bsky.social
#BikeTO in Motion

Taking Action for Safe Cycling in the City

Discussion with cycling advocates working to make Toronto cycling-friendly

Sat, Nov 15, 2-4 pm
h/t @mbonsma.bsky.social

eventbrite.ca/e/taking-action-for-safe-cycling-in-the-city-tickets-1797500766179?aff=ebdssbdestsearch&keep_tld=1
Taking Action for Safe Cycling in the City Concerned about safe cycling in the city? Join us for a discussion with cycling advocates working to make Toronto cycling-friendly and learn how you can become involved. Panel discussion followed by a Q&A period. Saturday, November 15, 2025, 2 - 4 pm S. Walter Stewart Library eventbrite eventbrite.ca/e/taking-action-for-safe-cycling-in-the-city-tickets- 1797500766179?aff=ebdssbdestsearch&keep tld=1 public librar S. Walter Stewart Library 170 Memorial Park Ave. Toronto, Ontario 416-396-3975 www.tpl.ca Panel speakers: Dr. Madeleine Bonsma-Fisher is a postdoctoral fellow in Civil & Mineral Engineering at the University of Toronto studying how safe cycling networks influence the destinations people can access by bicycle in Canadian cities. She is a co-founder of UofT Coders, a group for graduate students to teach each other programming skills in a supportive peer environment. You can find her on Bluesky at @mbonsma.bsky.social or riding around Toronto with her family on her beloved cargo bikes. Jess Spieker was nearly killed by a reckless driver who struck her in 2015. Other members of Friends and Families for Safe Streets (FFS) have suffered the unbearable devastation of having a loved one killed by a motorist. Together, members of the group work to make sure that the loss, anguish and grief inflicted on them never happens to anyone else, ever again. See more at: ffsafestreets.ca Alison Stewart is the second Bicycle Mayor of Toronto, part of a global network that seeks to transform cities through cycling. She is also the founding member of Femme and Friends, a collective of women who seek to build the culture of biking by creating inclusive and supportive spaces for people to bike without the fear of judgment or competition. Alison began her journey as a cycling advocate in 2013 out of frustration with dangerous cycling conditions and the desire to be a positive agent of change. See more at: bycs.org/alison-stewart and femmesandfriends.ca Information Tables: Cycle Toronto is a member-supported charity that has been leading the change for a healthier, more vibrant, and more cycling-friendly city since 2008. Most recently, it served as the lead applicant in a successful Charter challenge against Ontario's Bill 212, blocking the Province's attempt to remove 19 kilometres of Toronto's bike lanes. See more at: cycleto.ca
November 11, 2025 at 12:27 AM
lanrickbennett.bsky.social
When we talk about snowfall in Toronto, we aren't really talking about a lot of snow.

"Toronto got an average annual total of 121.4cm of snowfall in the last 5 years"

How quickly we remove it to keep people safe from slipping and falling is an issue.

www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis...
2023-2024 WINTER SEASON REVIEW • Toronto got an average annual total of 121.4cm of snowfall in the last 5 years • 2023-24 was a mild winter with a total of 51cm of snowfall compared to 145cm of snowfall in previous season, 2022-23 • The most typical snow event ranges from 2cm up to 10cm of accumulation • The range of snow accumulation for the 2023-24 season was from 1.5 cm to 12 cm 2023-2024 WINTER SEASON DATA Summary: Despite less snowfall than the 2022-23 winter season, there were still a significant number of activations. An activation is triggered when weather conditions reach the City’s approved service level thresholds. Data on Weather Conditions 2022 23 2023 24 Total Amount of Snowfall 145.0 cm 51.0 cm Range of snow accumulation for the season 1.0 to 26.0 cm 1.5 to 12.0 cm Total number of snow events 41 events 25 events Number of Winter Activations Types of Activations 2022 23 2023 24 Anti-icing 17 18 Salting – Arterial/Collector Roads 41 25 Salting – Local Roads 40 20 Plowing – Arterial/Collector Roads 11 3 Plowing – Local Roads 8 3 Salting and Plowing – Sidewalks 33 12
November 10, 2025 at 7:54 PM
lanrickbennett.bsky.social
Well being that winter lasts for between 6-8 months, we are all surviving in our own way.
An image of a Twitter post Emmett Macfarlane @EmmMacfarlane I'm all for upping bike infrastructure but we're a country with winter 6-8 months a year and an average home-to-work commute time of like an hour driving so I don't think bikes are gonna be the panace some people seem to think they'll be. * CBC KW @CBCKW891. 2021-11-10 Bikes took a back seat at COP26. Advocates urge Canada to make them a priority in its climate plan ift.tt/3BXgoHr
November 10, 2025 at 3:18 PM
lanrickbennett.bsky.social
The excuse of “it’s the first snow fall of season” is bullshit. We have proper equipment to keep vulnerable road users safe. Sidewalks & Bike Lanes should be prioritized pieces of infrastructure that can be cleared of ice & snow first.

Regardless an ok ride to work via #BikeTO
Bike lanes covered with snow and then layer of ice underneath A ma of Toronto with my route highlighted in orange
November 10, 2025 at 2:14 PM
lanrickbennett.bsky.social
#ThIsTorontoDanforth

Riding through Withrow Park this morning.
I want Toronto Parks & Recreation Division to know, with multiple #BikeShareTO stations strategically placed in our parks here in the #EastEnd, snow & ice clearing should be the easiest of wins for safe and equitable movement. #BikeTO
Snow covered pathway Snow covered pathway
November 10, 2025 at 1:57 PM
lanrickbennett.bsky.social
#ThIsTorontoDanforth

Listening to Metro Morning’s traffic report, you’d think every driver in Toronto should be given a mandatory two week refresher on how to navigate streets when there is snow on the ground. If you don’t pass, your licence is taken away until Spring.

#BikeTO
November 10, 2025 at 1:57 PM
lanrickbennett.bsky.social
#HappyMonday

Sharing my collection of #IdeasAtWork video playlist for November 10th

h/t @lauragmitchell.com @mplscargobikelibrary.com @bikebreath.bsky.social @ohtheurbanity.bsky.social @ridealso.bsky.social @levihildebrand.bsky.social @riesemuller.bsky.social

youtube.com/playlist?lis...
Video Playlist for Nov 10th, 2025 #IdeasAtWork 1. Minneapolis Cargo Bike Library - Cyclehoop 2. This city is overcoming the backlash and building a cycling city - Shifter 3. Basket Bags Changed Everything - Bike Breath 4.Why This “Anti-Car Labyrinth” Is Actually Brilliant - Oh The Urbanity! 5. Honest thoughts on cargo bike ownership after 6 months. - Levi & Leah 6. We Review the Riese & Müller Homage 5 eBike with Nicholas Cowell - Fully Charged 7. RJ Scaringe & Chris Yu Introduce the TM-B - Ride ALSO A prson on a e-cargo bike Minneapolis Cargo Bike Library Overhead view of a protected intersection "Billiant" An image with a lot of equipment including a bike, bench, computer and a ladder
November 10, 2025 at 12:20 PM
lanrickbennett.bsky.social
#30DayMapChallenge

Day 10 - Don River Valley Park (2018-2020)

The Don River Valley Park is the centrepiece of Toronto’s rapidly growing downtown: a 200-hectare park spanning Pottery Road to Corktown Common.

h/t @evergreencanada.bsky.social
donrivervalleypark.ca/park-map/
This image is a digital screenshot of a web page featuring a map and a legend. The map, occupying the left half of the image, displays a detailed, colored layout of a park area with green spaces, paths, and waterways. The park is labeled "The Don River Valley Park" at the top left. Various colored lines and icons on the map represent different trail types, such as mixed surface, paved, and lowered down trail, as well as other features like entrances and washrooms. The map has a white background with black and colored lines and icons for trail types, and green and gray for park areas and waterways, respectively. The right half of the image contains a legend with the title "LEGEND" in bold black text at the top. Below the title, the legend lists different trail types and features with corresponding colored icons and descriptions. The legend includes icons for mixed surface trail, paved trail, lowered down trail, entrance point, accessible entrance point, stairs to trail, washrooms, and subway and evening shuttle bus. At the top of the right side, there are navigation tabs for "Park Map," "Things to Do," "About the Park," and "News." The overall layout is clean and modern, with a white background and black text.
November 10, 2025 at 11:28 AM
lanrickbennett.bsky.social
#IdeasAtWork

Church St pedestrianization plan via @chanface.bsky.social

bsky.app/profile/chan...
Rodney 🚧🚇‬ ‪@chanface.bsky.social‬ · 3d Update: had another meeting today with the councillor's office about the Church St pedestrianization plan & things are moving along! We’re aiming for Dundonald to Alexander during Summer 2026, possibly rolled into an extended Pride ped’ztn or FIFA activation! Transpo staff & the BIA are onboard! Image of a pedestrian street Chris Moise‬ ‪@chrismoise.ca‬ · 1mo Love it! I will propose it to the Village BIA and Transportation Staff and see what we can do for next summer.
November 9, 2025 at 4:45 PM
lanrickbennett.bsky.social
#30DayMapChallenge

Day 9 #ImLibraryPeople

TPL_on_reddit says “Each corresponds to areas in the north, east, south/ centre and west of the city limits back then. Pre-amalgamated TPL had a smaller geographic footprint than today's TPL”

h/t @rebeccachesley.bsky.social @gmeslin.bsky.social
1/4 Toronto Public Library neighbourhood maps that have illustrations of roads, people, cars and buildings including libraries. Titled ‘Where’s A Public Library’ 2/4 Toronto Public Library neighbourhood maps that have illustrations of roads, people, cars and buildings including libraries. Titled ‘Where’s A Public Library’ 3/4 Toronto Public Library neighbourhood maps that have illustrations of roads, people, cars and buildings including libraries. Titled ‘Where’s A Public Library’ 4/4 Toronto Public Library neighbourhood maps that have illustrations of roads, people, cars and buildings including libraries. Titled ‘Where’s A Public Library’
November 9, 2025 at 2:47 PM
lanrickbennett.bsky.social
#HearThis Sharing 3 pieces of Black specific content with my kids this week.

1. Paint The Polls BLACK
2. Call for Black Artists
3. Reclaiming Black Memory, Forging Black Possibilities

I think these stories are all worth #Amplifying

h/t @utoronto.ca

medium.com/@lanrickbenn...
THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 9TH #HEARTHIS SHARING 3 PIECES OF BLACK SPECIFIC CONTENT WITH MY KIDS THIS WEEK Images of voter booths Essence PAINT THE POLLS BLACK Black Women Make History in 2025 Elections: New Mayors Elected Across Detroit, Albany, Charlotte, and Conyers YOUR VOICE SHARE Join our focus groups to share your experiences in public art. Sessions run Nov-Dec 2025 (in-person + online). Paid participation. CALL FOR Help reimagine an equitable future in public art. Sign up to learn more! BLACK ARTISTS The John Seltzer and Mark Seltzer Memorial Lecture Reclaiming Black Memory, Forging Black Possibilities: A Conversation with Melissa J. Nelson Aaron Francis Tura Cousins Wilson and Shane Laptiste Images of all of the participants
November 9, 2025 at 11:18 AM
lanrickbennett.bsky.social
Channel your own @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social here

homes.luddy.indiana.edu/ccshan/for/f...

h/t @meghancarnold.com
BIKE LANES FOR EVERYONE
November 8, 2025 at 10:01 PM
lanrickbennett.bsky.social
#IdeasAtWork

From pick up to back home in under 15mins ❤️ #queenbooks

Tickled pink to finally show off my copy of ‘Life After Cars’ via the fine folks behind @thewaroncars.bsky.social

h/t @sgoodyear.bsky.social @brooklynspoke.bsky.social

Cc: @ternbicycles.com
#EastEndLove #BikeTO
In front of Queen Books with a copy of LIFE AFTER CARS A photo of my new yellow book with my red bike Image of my bike on its resting pad with my book in hand
November 8, 2025 at 9:32 PM
lanrickbennett.bsky.social
The lack of empathy isn’t a surprise by this wannabe influencer.

Of note: keepSIX Consumption and Treatment Service at the South Riverdale Community Health Centre was permanently closed on March 21, 2025
Image of spilled needles from a collection depot Wannabe influencer Warren Kinsella akinsellawarren X.com Jimmie Simpson Park. #OliviaChowsToronto Image of Apple Map highlighting walk distance from Jimmie Simpson Park to South Riverdale Community Health Centre NEWS Sections Toronto Leslieville drug consumption site closes doors for good in response to Ontario law Toronto woman killed by stray bullet while walking near the site in July 2023 Muriel Draaisma • CBC News • Posted: Mar 22, 2025 4:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: March 22 Outside image of South Riverdale Community Health Centre
November 8, 2025 at 7:49 PM
lanrickbennett.bsky.social
Name your fav superhero that isn’t DC or Marvel
1980s TV Shows Image of The Greatest American Hero and Ottoman
November 8, 2025 at 3:58 PM
lanrickbennett.bsky.social
#IdeasAtWork

@visionzerovancouver.ca presents:
Life After Cars

A conversation with the hosts of @thewaroncars.bsky.social podcast.
Nov. 8th at 6:30 PM, Downtown Vancouver

Hosted by
@uytaelee.bsky.social

h/t @tomflood.bsky.social @lucymaloney.bsky.social

visionzerovancouver.ca/2025/08/01/l...
Vision Zero Vancouver presents: Life After Cars A conversation with the hosts of the War on Cars podcast. Nov. 8th at 6:30 PM, Downtown Vancouver Doug Gordon Sarah Goodyear Vancouver City Councillor Lucy Maloney Hosted by Uytae Lee And Tom Flood of Rovélo Creative
November 7, 2025 at 11:48 AM
lanrickbennett.bsky.social
Grateful for the opportunity to do this work, and to the Marketing and Donor Experience team for telling this story so powerfully.

/end

- @unitedwaygt.bsky.social #AnyWayWeCan
www.unitedwaygt.org/issues/five-...
Image of a stuffed baby doll with multiple pieces of identification, a bus pass, cheque from the Ontario Works Progra,m and a pencil Five powerful lessons about poverty in the GTA from United Way’s simulator November 05, 2025 by United Way Greater Toronto In United Way’s poverty simulator, participants are assigned a role within a family living on a low income and challenged to stretch a small budget and limited resources to meet everyday needs.
November 6, 2025 at 7:48 PM
lanrickbennett.bsky.social
That reminder grounded everything. In my role, I help design immersive experiences and educational opportunities that help donors understand the interconnected challenges facing communities across the GTA. These simulations do exactly that, bridging empathy, understanding, and action. 3/
5. Not knowing where to start is a barrier in itself In the simulator, the community action centre offering bus tickets, cash and utility vouchers — the very things participants needed — sat nearly empty until a volunteer called out to participants, explaining what kind of supports were available. It’s not all that different outside the simulator. A newcomer might not know there’s an employment centre on their street. A senior on a tight budget might not realize a local food bank could help. And for someone already coping with food insecurity or the stress of adjusting to a new city and language, navigating a maze of government and community programs to connect to the supports they need can feel like one more impossible task. A woman wearing a headset connects callers to community services through 211. At 211, trained specialists are there 24/7 to help people find the community supports they need. United Way is there to connect people to support quickly. We’re a proud founding partner of 211 — a free, confidential helpline that’s available 24/7 by phone, text or web chat in more than 150 languages. And by funding 300+ community agencies and nine Community Hubs, we ensure help is close to home and easy to find.
November 6, 2025 at 7:48 PM
lanrickbennett.bsky.social
, Chantel told me something that has stayed with me: “Don’t describe it as a game. You’re not trying to win a prize at the end. You’re stepping into the reality of what so many people who live in our city deal with. People who may not have the same security and stability we take for granted.” 2/
3. Growing up in poverty can mean growing up too soon One simulator participant playing a 14-year-old spent the first week determined to find a part-time job to help his parents pay rent. Between working and caring for a younger sibling while his parents took extra shifts, he started falling behind in school. Poverty has real consequences for children and youth in our communities. One in four food bank clients are children, according to the 2025 Who’s Hungry Report, with 18 per cent of households with children reporting their kids went hungry at least once a week. In some low-income neighbourhoods across Canada, nearly half of high school students drop out. Children play at the Thorncliffe Park Community Hub. Children play and take part in learning programs while their parents and caregivers find support at United Way’s Thorncliffe Park Community Hub. United Way helps kids get their best start while supporting their families. We fund 68 youth programs — from after-school learning activities to parenting workshops. United Way-funded Community Hubs bring a range of services that are helpful for families together under one roof. At the Thorncliffe Park Hub, for example, kids can join free programs, teens can drop in for recreational activities and homework clubs while parents can head down the hall to visit a doctor or join a job-readiness program.
November 6, 2025 at 7:48 PM
lanrickbennett.bsky.social
Two weeks into my new role at United Way Greater Toronto, I was given an assignment to shadow Chantel Guthrie, Manager of Donor Engagement, Philanthropy & Marketing, as she delivered two Poverty Simulator sessions. A third session would have me at the helm. Before we began 1/
Image of two people on either end of a long table preparing food items 1. Survival leaves little room for tomorrow In the simulator, participants focused on one thing: getting through the week. That meant frantically scraping together enough money to keep the lights on, buy food or respond to sudden crises like job loss or eviction. Every moment was about staying afloat. Planning ahead wasn’t an option. Many low-income families in our region feel like they’re surviving more than living. When every day is about getting by or reacting to urgent situations, there’s little time or energy left for long-term goals like education, career growth or saving for the future. It’s no surprise that people with lower incomes experience anxiety more than twice as often as those with higher ones. Two women at York Region Food Network package food for community distribution. Through United Way-funded programs like Seeds for Change at York Region Food Network, residents gain reliable access to food through community gardens, food literacy and cooking programs. That’s where United Way comes in. We fund over 300 community agencies that help people meet urgent needs and move beyond crisis. A community kitchen we support serves hot meals while connecting people to housing and employment. A youth shelter offers a safe bed as well as counselling and long-term housing planning. It’s all part of our wraparound approach that helps people find stability and start looking ahead.
November 6, 2025 at 7:48 PM
lanrickbennett.bsky.social
#IdeasAtWork

What happens when an election brings out the ability to create third spaces for youth?

"Members of Gen Z found something unexpected in the mayoral race: a chance to hang out. Their enthusiasm turned into real votes." - @nytimes.com

www.nytimes.com/2025/11/04/n...
A Little-Noted Element Propelled Mamdani’s Rise: Gen Z Loneliness Members of Gen Z found something unexpected in the mayoral race: a chance to hang out. Their enthusiasm turned into real votes. A do-it-yourself merch night was held for Zohran Mamdani supporters at Farm to People, an eatery in Brooklyn.Credit...Shuran Huang for The New York Times Emma GoldbergBenjamin Oreskes By Emma Goldberg and Benjamin Oreskes Nov. 4, 2025
November 5, 2025 at 2:13 PM
lanrickbennett.bsky.social
LBJ's Humpday Podcast Picks for Nov 5th

This week’s lineup covers U.S. election ripples, the Jays’ bittersweet season, and Carney’s high-stakes first budget.

h/t @nytimes.com @thestar.com @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social @mark-carney.bsky.social @bluejays.com

medium.com/@lanrickbenn...
Image with headphones around a mic Text "LBJ's Humpday Who am I listening to Today? Podcast Picks" The Daily A Good Night for Democrats The party's candidates powered to victories across teh United States This Matters Listen: Baseball is a game of failure The Blue Jays and a nation of fans were winners Bruce Arthur, sports columnist at the Star, on the surest way to get the Jays - and the city - back into the World Series. image of the Prime Minister Carney holding a book Carney's budget: generational or generic? Front Burner
November 5, 2025 at 1:21 PM