Derrick Simpson

👀

bsky.app/profile/derr...

A wood frame garbage receptacle with a rubber bin placed inside

I try to mostly post positive things about Ottawa, but these garbage cans at Minto Park, and elsewhere across the city, are embarrassing.

If we can’t even fund proper garbage cans, how can we be trusted to fund and operate bigger things, like a functioning transit system?

Next Ottawa Urbanism Book Club will be August 25 at Sunnyside Public Library.

We’ll be reading “Do Androids Dream of Electric Cars”.

DM me if interested in attending. Reading optional

Not even the flow of traffic, just the flow of cars!

All the talk about right on red is well warranted, but another huge issue is blocking the box.

Basically every walk home from work I walk through crosswalks blocked by cars while I have the cross signal. There’s no enforcement and it’s a huge safety concern.

I imagine any video would be better than most books.

Just figured this would be something fun to try without a video.

How to solve the Rubik’s cube from the ottawa public library. 18 holds on 3 copies.

Thought I’d try something new and learn how to solve a Rubik’s Cube through a book instead of a video.

How are there 18 people waiting for a book about solving Rubik’s Cubes from the Ottawa Public Library!?!?

I’m honestly not mad, I’m impressed.

Do androids dream of electric cars by James Wilt, and You’ll pay for this by Michel Durand Wood

Two new picks ups from Perfect Books yesterday.

First one is the August book for the Ottawa Urbanism Book Club, second is all about municipal finances and how we can afford them long term.

Interestingly, both authors are from Winnipeg

@greatplainspress.bsky.social

This is a great initiative.

We’ll almost certainly be hosting an event or meet-up here

Oh ya the swim space is very much a tactical urbanism project imo. But it shows the huge demand for projects like this, hopefully meaning we'll have more and better projects in the future

Makes me optimistic that we can expand it and/or replicate it elsewhere

Finally went for a swim at Dow’s Lake yesterday and man was I impressed.

Nice dock, lots of seating, and the place was packed.

Consistently impressed by how much the NCC is making Ottawa more fun and enjoyable.

A vigil with ghost bikes, ghost shoes, flowers and a go fund me sign

An emotional evening in front of city hall as we remembered Saloni - a young woman killed too soon just trying to cross the street. Her friends brought a pair of her white shoes 😢. Safe streets now.

Had to wait months to check out the Truman Show from the Library.

Ottawa is clearly a city with great taste in movies

Dozens of people sitting at tables and standing around at the uncommon space off Bank Street

The Street Seats Pilot Program in Centretown is looking very promising so far.

Amazing what happens when you give space back to people.

Photo taken last night by @jaxijin.bsky.social

Well said. And a huge number of low income and urban residents that don’t even drive have to live with the poor air quality, noise, and safety issues that come with car dependency.

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.

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...

Thank you for the suggestion. Assuming time allows I will definitely visit

Toronto architecture, a city guide. The definitive handbook by Patricia McHugh and Alex Bozikovic

Instead of my normal pre-trip social media post asking for suggestions, I’m using @alexbozikovic.bsky.social’s book for ideas.

Hoping to visit and write about some more suburban neighbourhoods when I visit Toronto next month. Definitely some good suggestions in here.

We have to recognize good news when it happens, these are some seriously impressive numbers.

Almost 25% worth of Ottawa’s population rode Line 1 on Canada Day

🧵 I might have found Ottawa's own "Taco John's" example from @strongtowns.org

Both highlighted areas have:
✅ Similar size
✅ Same zoning (TM - Traditional Mainstreet)
✅ Same tax classification (C8 - Small Business)

Bonus, it includes a taco joint 🌮.

@strongtownsottawa.ca #dothemath

Orleans' Untapped Potential – St. Joseph vs Centretown - Less Car How a city organizes its space—its land use and population density—has a profound impact on its financial health and the daily lives of its residents. Denser, more compact urban areas are better able ...

Great article from @robattrell.bsky.social on how we can increase productivity and land efficiency in the suburbs.

Featuring Kent Street as a positive example to learn from!

lesscar.ca/2025/06/28/o...

A Spotify playlist called request for Ottawa that orders the songs to say “put bus lanes on bank street”

Listening to some hot tunes on the bus this morning 🔥

I completely agree! I have no issues with tall buildings, and I’ve heard from some local urbanists that Surrey has lots of plans to further improve things.

I only spent half a day there, so I know basically nothing. There’s a reason I’m writing about Vancouver and not Surrey.

Wow I’m surprised to hear that, honestly expected better.

Montreal’s a place I definitely haven’t visited and analyzed enough.

We must be so proud :,)

Very well said. We make it so long and difficult to build density that in many cases the only thing that pencils out is tall towers, which obviously needs to change.

I've got two articles drafted on Vancouver and what Ottawa can learn. However, the nearby city/suburb of Surrey surprised me the most.

I've never seen such a strange mix of extreme density and huge parking lots and stroads. Something for Ottawa to avoid as we push to densify!

A great example by @strongtownsottawa.bsky.social members communicating #Ottawa municipal finances in a simple to understand visual.

More of this please! Let's #dothemath

Which they really really should have. Walking to Lansdowne on the East side of Bank is a mess