Mark (he/him)
@markedwardson.com
Civil engineering, transit, active transportation, housing, and Civ 6 shill | @WilfulAlpaca on twitter. | Vancouver/Victoria
IMO Antwerp is badly underrated as a cycling city (or wrt urbanism generally, I've never seen it talked about here). Extensive protected bike network while also being, in my (limited) experience, much more urban in nature than a bunch of the other cities on this list, including Utrecht/Amsterdam
November 24, 2025 at 12:31 AM
IMO Antwerp is badly underrated as a cycling city (or wrt urbanism generally, I've never seen it talked about here). Extensive protected bike network while also being, in my (limited) experience, much more urban in nature than a bunch of the other cities on this list, including Utrecht/Amsterdam
November 14, 2025 at 11:05 PM
right he got ~100 more votes than the cons in advance polls
I'm just doing rough math in my head but still looks like he got third place in the west end? gotta do a proper tally later
I'm just doing rough math in my head but still looks like he got third place in the west end? gotta do a proper tally later
November 8, 2025 at 8:02 PM
right he got ~100 more votes than the cons in advance polls
I'm just doing rough math in my head but still looks like he got third place in the west end? gotta do a proper tally later
I'm just doing rough math in my head but still looks like he got third place in the west end? gotta do a proper tally later
Also I'm still kinda stunned by the extent of the Liberal victory in Victoria
November 8, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Also I'm still kinda stunned by the extent of the Liberal victory in Victoria
I guess I should have expected it from the riding-level margins but still surprised Avi Lewis couldn't even crack second place in most west end ridings
November 8, 2025 at 7:05 PM
I guess I should have expected it from the riding-level margins but still surprised Avi Lewis couldn't even crack second place in most west end ridings
There's a good thread from Medlock on the Other Site about this (sorry); most people in pre-transfer poverty in the US are not a fixed population who "should be" doing okay; it's mainly people at a life stage where poverty is common and expected, and that's part of why the state fills the gap
November 8, 2025 at 6:57 AM
There's a good thread from Medlock on the Other Site about this (sorry); most people in pre-transfer poverty in the US are not a fixed population who "should be" doing okay; it's mainly people at a life stage where poverty is common and expected, and that's part of why the state fills the gap
In some personal news, I'm the latest rootless transient to move to Vancouver (now on a permanent basis)
November 2, 2025 at 10:29 PM
In some personal news, I'm the latest rootless transient to move to Vancouver (now on a permanent basis)
Re-reading John Sawatsky's THE INSIDERS and I did not realize the extent to which not just Clark, but most of the PMO, was completely oblivious to the notion that the government did not have the votes to pass a budget. It was a complete afterthought!
Anyways hopefully we've learned since then
Anyways hopefully we've learned since then
November 1, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Re-reading John Sawatsky's THE INSIDERS and I did not realize the extent to which not just Clark, but most of the PMO, was completely oblivious to the notion that the government did not have the votes to pass a budget. It was a complete afterthought!
Anyways hopefully we've learned since then
Anyways hopefully we've learned since then
Government House is really nice to visit in the fall
October 31, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Government House is really nice to visit in the fall
For context, Oak Bay wanted to remove some rocks and do some paving/landscaping to create a new MUP. A group of nearby residents got mad and successfully vetoed it
I think it's a good example of who "community engagement" successfully empowers
I think it's a good example of who "community engagement" successfully empowers
October 29, 2025 at 7:35 PM
For context, Oak Bay wanted to remove some rocks and do some paving/landscaping to create a new MUP. A group of nearby residents got mad and successfully vetoed it
I think it's a good example of who "community engagement" successfully empowers
I think it's a good example of who "community engagement" successfully empowers
of course there's a UBC landscape planning angle to this insane NIMBY story
October 29, 2025 at 7:22 PM
of course there's a UBC landscape planning angle to this insane NIMBY story
lots of interesting details here about the nuts and bolts of the french social housing system
October 29, 2025 at 5:50 AM
lots of interesting details here about the nuts and bolts of the french social housing system
hey technically the path east of the bridge is an official greenway route lol
October 28, 2025 at 11:02 PM
hey technically the path east of the bridge is an official greenway route lol
www.leg.bc.ca/parliamentar...
A junior MLA is introducing a Member Bill to allow Professionals to certify that a permit application meets city bylaw/code requirements. Any thoughts on how effective this would likely be @lanefab.com @424.bsky.social?
A junior MLA is introducing a Member Bill to allow Professionals to certify that a permit application meets city bylaw/code requirements. Any thoughts on how effective this would likely be @lanefab.com @424.bsky.social?
October 23, 2025 at 6:28 PM
www.leg.bc.ca/parliamentar...
A junior MLA is introducing a Member Bill to allow Professionals to certify that a permit application meets city bylaw/code requirements. Any thoughts on how effective this would likely be @lanefab.com @424.bsky.social?
A junior MLA is introducing a Member Bill to allow Professionals to certify that a permit application meets city bylaw/code requirements. Any thoughts on how effective this would likely be @lanefab.com @424.bsky.social?
the internet tells me that Dave's Hot Chicken is actually a well-known chain, but I genuinely thought that a name that generic only existed in developers' conceptual renders for the zoning hearing
(aside: the protected bike lane here is done! I used to bike this stretch to school as a kid. Not fun)
(aside: the protected bike lane here is done! I used to bike this stretch to school as a kid. Not fun)
October 22, 2025 at 4:24 AM
the internet tells me that Dave's Hot Chicken is actually a well-known chain, but I genuinely thought that a name that generic only existed in developers' conceptual renders for the zoning hearing
(aside: the protected bike lane here is done! I used to bike this stretch to school as a kid. Not fun)
(aside: the protected bike lane here is done! I used to bike this stretch to school as a kid. Not fun)
National Centre for Indigenous Laws, at UVic, just opened
October 21, 2025 at 6:52 PM
National Centre for Indigenous Laws, at UVic, just opened
Another neat technique you see in the NL is putting detector loops a fair bit in advance of intersections so bikes don't need to come to a stop. There's a neat intersection in Utrecht just west of the Prins Clausbrug where you can follow this path without stopping thanks to clever loops + phasing
October 15, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Another neat technique you see in the NL is putting detector loops a fair bit in advance of intersections so bikes don't need to come to a stop. There's a neat intersection in Utrecht just west of the Prins Clausbrug where you can follow this path without stopping thanks to clever loops + phasing
Burnaby is deciding to curb their SSMU bylaw because too much housing is being built
October 15, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Burnaby is deciding to curb their SSMU bylaw because too much housing is being built
Oak Bay is doing an OCP update: here's the extent to which it is pre-zoning for higher-density townhouses and mid-rise apartments. This + SSMU meets their 20-year housing need, no more and no less
Also includes this funny requirement that new retail be located to existing services and amenities
Also includes this funny requirement that new retail be located to existing services and amenities
October 14, 2025 at 11:47 PM
Oak Bay is doing an OCP update: here's the extent to which it is pre-zoning for higher-density townhouses and mid-rise apartments. This + SSMU meets their 20-year housing need, no more and no less
Also includes this funny requirement that new retail be located to existing services and amenities
Also includes this funny requirement that new retail be located to existing services and amenities
I'd add that designing good ramps is harder for curb-backed sidewalks; the ideal design that allows users to not have to zig-zag their way through the intersection relies on a buffer (this is similar for continuous sidewalks)
Alternatives are all worse
Alternatives are all worse
October 14, 2025 at 10:53 PM
I'd add that designing good ramps is harder for curb-backed sidewalks; the ideal design that allows users to not have to zig-zag their way through the intersection relies on a buffer (this is similar for continuous sidewalks)
Alternatives are all worse
Alternatives are all worse
There's the usual discussion about using BRT as a proof of concept for trains, but it's too bad we're not doing kicking cars off of Douglas, or even median bus lanes
(Draft design for Douglas below) 1/x
(Draft design for Douglas below) 1/x
October 13, 2025 at 3:22 PM
There's the usual discussion about using BRT as a proof of concept for trains, but it's too bad we're not doing kicking cars off of Douglas, or even median bus lanes
(Draft design for Douglas below) 1/x
(Draft design for Douglas below) 1/x
Genuinely kinda funny narrative of Trudeau's downfall
October 13, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Genuinely kinda funny narrative of Trudeau's downfall
At the point in The Power Broker where Moses realizes that tolls are an infinite money glitch
Retvrn
Retvrn
October 13, 2025 at 2:41 AM
At the point in The Power Broker where Moses realizes that tolls are an infinite money glitch
Retvrn
Retvrn
If it was signed in the last ~50 years. They're quite different from the original ones - a rule of thumb is that the original treaties intentionally did not meet these objectives, notably self-governance
www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca/eng/16770731...
www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca/eng/16770731...
October 10, 2025 at 5:30 PM
If it was signed in the last ~50 years. They're quite different from the original ones - a rule of thumb is that the original treaties intentionally did not meet these objectives, notably self-governance
www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca/eng/16770731...
www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca/eng/16770731...