Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

L

@lisas.bsky.social

Me being an irresponsible parent allowing my kids to ride all over the road while I take this video 🙃🙄

October 17, 2025 at 10:35 PM

L

@lisas.bsky.social

Teaching my kids reminds me how incredible teachers are.
We’ve dropped the provincially released strike curriculum and are learning to sew instead—so fair warning: handmade gifts for everyone this Christmas! #yyc

A child stands indoors on a wood floor, wrapped in a dark blue plaid fabric tied in a large knot at the front, holding up a peace sign. The background shows a beige couch, laundry basket, and a bright window with white shutters.

A child stands in a living room wearing a cream and orange plaid fabric draped and tied in a bow at the front. The background includes a beige couch, a storage bench, and a window letting in natural light.

October 14, 2025 at 1:53 PM

L

@lisas.bsky.social

It’s true, this goat held on for 25 km. I was glad I had one in my pannier bag for it!

A blue bicycle with a stuffed animal, a white mountain goat wearing a green plaid hoodie, attached to the handlebars. A child wearing a white sweatshirt with flower patches, dark sweatpants, pink gloves, and a helmet stands next to the bike. Behind them is a concrete barrier and a forest of trees with yellow autumn leaves.

October 11, 2025 at 4:18 PM

L

@lisas.bsky.social

We made it out for one last 2025 BVP ride. The 7s (they are 7 now!!) did spectacular as always and used their birthday money to purchase Johnston Canyon goats. 6 hours, 50 km, a few tears, lots of smiles, and now an exhausted family.

Two children wearing helmets ride their bikes side by side on a quiet paved road surrounded by tall trees with autumn foliage under a cloudy sky.

September 28, 2025 at 2:06 AM

L

@lisas.bsky.social

If you need a ladder to get in, maybe it’s too tall to be sharing the road with kids

A large lifted pickup truck is parked on a residential street. Two young children wearing helmets stand directly in front of the truck, but their small size makes it clear how easily they could be hidden from the driver’s view.

September 20, 2025 at 11:44 PM

L

@lisas.bsky.social

Somehow we have gone from toddlers riding in the urban arrow to independent riders and I’m not sure how I feel about it. I am so proud of how independent these two are and I love all that them riding brings but I am still struggling with the fact that they don’t want to ride in the UA anymore.

Two young children look out at a park from their seats in an urban arrow.

Two 7 yr olds ride their bikes in front of their parent who is riding an urban arrow. You can see the urban arrow bucket at in the photo.

September 20, 2025 at 9:08 PM

L

@lisas.bsky.social

Anyone have suggestions or comments on any of these suggested bike routes? I just want safe and easy….
#yycbike

September 10, 2025 at 7:28 PM

L

@lisas.bsky.social

Smoke season: when it’s too hot to keep the windows closed, too smoky to open them, and you feel guilty running the AC because the planet’s already on fire—yet it’s still too warm inside to sleep. #yyc

Screenshot of an IQAir air quality app showing Crescent Heights with an AQI of 183, labeled ‘Unhealthy.’ The main pollutant is PM2.5 at 101.0 µg/m³. The display also shows cloudy weather, 19°C temperature, 6.7 km/h wind speed, and 70% humidity. A small red icon with a masked face indicates poor air quality

September 3, 2025 at 4:03 AM

L

@lisas.bsky.social

First day of grade 2 was a smokey one but we still got out there on our bikes.
Happy to see full bike racks and lots of parents arriving with kids on bikes this morning!

Two children, wearing helmets and matching purple shirts, ride their bikes in a designated bike lane. The photo is taken from behind, from the perspective of a parent riding a cargo bike (Urban Arrow) with items visible in the front box. Parked cars line the street, a pedestrian crossing sign is on the right, and the hazy sky shows an orange sun through smoke.

September 2, 2025 at 2:40 PM

L

@lisas.bsky.social

When two sets of twins plan a play date where they bike to Johnston’s Canyon for ice cream the parents make it happen.
I will say the 45 km return trip was much easier emotionally with 2 more parents and friends but it took at an additional 90 minutes compared to the spring.

Map showing the route from Banff to Johnston Canyon along the Bow Valley Parkway, following the Bow River through Banff National Park

Children riding bicycles along a paved road through a forested area in Banff National Park, with mountains visible in the background on a sunny day

Four children wearing bike helmets look out over the turquoise Bow River from a wooden viewpoint along the Bow Valley Parkway, with interpretive signs on either side and forested mountains in the background.

August 30, 2025 at 12:27 AM

L

@lisas.bsky.social

Sometimes in August you need to transport a Christmas tree #yycbike

The image shows a white Urban Arrow cargo bike parked on a sidewalk. The bike has a large black cargo box in the front decorated with pink flower decals and various stickers. Inside the cargo box, a long cardboard box labeled “Trim-A-Tree Tree” is secured with blue straps, sticking out at an angle. In the background, there’s a grassy boulevard, a street, a parked car, and some residential buildings.

The photo is taken from the rider’s perspective on a cargo bike. A very large cardboard box, secured with strips of blue tape and clear packing tape, is loaded into the front cargo box of the bike. The box is long and extends forward, partially blocking the rider’s view of the street ahead. The bike’s handlebars, brake cables, and a water bottle with a straw are visible in the foreground. In the background, there’s a quiet residential street with trees, parked cars, and a motorcycle near the curb.

August 27, 2025 at 11:14 PM

L

@lisas.bsky.social

Today was the seasonal wake up before dawn to sign your kids up for swimming lessons day. Logged in at 5:30 to get into the queue, registered by 7am. Better than previous years but still a process.

Screen print of the queue to register for swimming lessons. Text:

Thank you for your patience as we work to improve your online experience on registration days.
What is this?
The event will begin at: 6:00 AM
17 Minutes 50 Seconds
Status last updated: 5:41:48 AM
Message last updated: 2:03 PM
Stay in the queue to register for fall swimming lessons. Navigating away will result in you losing your spot in the queue.
To book drop-in classes or view the drop-in schedules please see the facility Drop-in
Schedules.
Queue ID:
9f1cca45-af27-45f2-9463-c056e213cb15

August 26, 2025 at 9:08 PM

L

@lisas.bsky.social

I responded to his response and cc’d my MLA. I appreciate having an NDP MLA and that they don’t seem too annoyed that I cc them in my emails.

Screen capture of the email response from the MLA.
Text reads-

RE: Response to your letter on bike lane infrastructure Re: Bike Lanes (AR103667)

Dear Lisa,

Thank you for keeping us updated on the minister’s (less-than-satisfactory) response, and thank you for the time and effort it must have taken to attempt to educate him. I particularly appreciate your footnoted references. It would be fantastic if the minister himself put the same diligence into reading up on his portfolio.

Advocacy from informed Albertans such as yourself is so important to holding this government accountable. Thank you for working towards a better Alberta for all of us.

Sincerely,

image001.png
Marcie Wallace
Constituency Assistant
Calgary-Mountain View
MLA Kathleen Ganley
#102 – 723 14 St NW
Calgary, AB T2N 2A4

August 22, 2025 at 6:43 PM

L

@lisas.bsky.social

Oh I got this response last night to a letter I sent over a month ago.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts regarding bicycle lanes in the City of Calgary. As Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors, I am able to provide the following information.

The Government of Alberta and Transportation and Economic Corridors are supportive of active transportation options, including bicycle lanes, when they are well-planned and appropriately integrated into the broader road network. Bicycle infrastructure can play an important role in promoting community connectivity, health, and mobility; however, Alberta’s roads must continue to support the evolving transportation needs of a growing population.

The Government of Alberta is concerned with lane-removal initiatives which may reduce roadway capacity and impact the safe and efficient movement of vehicles, particularly along key urban roadways that connect to the provincial road network.

The department will continue to work with municipalities to ensure Alberta’s roads meet evolving transportation needs and support the movement of people and goods throughout the province.

Thank you for writing and for your interest in Alberta’s transportation network.

Sincerely,

Honourable Devin Dreeshen, ECA
Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors

Classification: Protected A

August 19, 2025 at 5:30 PM

L

@lisas.bsky.social

Summer days are riding your bike to and from the outdoor pool in your swimsuits, listening to music and being outside.

Side note- the pink polka dot swim suit is my first attempt at sewing a swimsuit!!!

Two young children are riding bikes on a residential street, both wearing helmets, swimsuits, and shorts. One child, on a blue bike with a pink basket, is wearing a colorful one-piece swimsuit with light blue shorts and is reaching toward their helmet. The other child, on a white bike decorated with stickers, is wearing a pink and black polka dot long-sleeve swim top with purple shorts. A shared pedestrian and bicycle path sign is visible in the background near a sidewalk and grassy area.

August 2, 2025 at 11:01 PM

L

@lisas.bsky.social

Explaining 4-way stop rules to my 6-year-olds—after a driver who rolled through the intersection told us to learn the rules of the road.

Two young children sit on a couch, observing a hand-drawn diagram of a 4-way stop intersection placed on a piece of paper. The diagram includes labeled roads, stop signs, and four surrounding houses. Paper cutouts representing cars are positioned at the intersection, illustrating traffic movement and right-of-way rules.

July 31, 2025 at 11:21 PM

L

@lisas.bsky.social

I used to love to cook but since having kids it has become a chore that I dislike. My kids often eat the most random meals. One night this week they each had half a watermelon and mini pizza.
They were fed and no one cried and there were minimal dishes… it’s a win in my mind.

Two young children sit cross-legged on the floor, each with a half watermelon in a bowl in front of them, scooping out the fruit with spoons. Beside the watermelon are small blue plates with mini pizzas. They’re sitting on a soft blue mat.

July 26, 2025 at 3:57 AM

L

@lisas.bsky.social

Happiness is dancing on your bike on your way home!
#yycbike

July 20, 2025 at 4:06 AM

L

@lisas.bsky.social

Tracking our bike kilometres this summer. This is the last 7 weeks of biking for my 6 year olds. I love that they are so excited to mark the charts daily!

A picture of two charts. Top one has Rachel written by a 6 yr old and a bike drawn on it, the second has Astrid written by 6 yr old and a bike drawn on it with a heart around the bike. Both have squares coloured in representing the 187km the children have biked in the last 7 week.

July 20, 2025 at 2:05 AM

L

@lisas.bsky.social

I periodically get these electricity usage reports. I have updated our appliances, we turn lights off when we aren’t using them, we do most of the stuff advised but we are always in the fair zone. I wish condos had more options to be energy efficient when the condo board isn’t inclined.