Cassie Smith (she/her)

"Current pricing fails to reward consumers for the savings that result when they choose mobility options that reduce the costs they impose on society."

www.vtpi.org/winwin.pdf

The external costs of motor vehicles that are not paid by users (including subsidized parking, but also roads, collision risk, and pollution) make up 32% of the costs of driving. 😱

From @toddlitman.bsky.social

Convenient low cost storage for private vehicles is a huge part of their competitive advantage as a mode of transportation.

No wonder people fight so hard to maintain it. Otherwise they may have to face the reality that cars don't work well in cities without a ton of public subsidy.

So disappointing.

Findings from the UK - more public support for reallocating road space than reallocating car parking space.

So, the opposite of Bill 60 - great, great, great.

At least one that is currently checked out!

Federal net-zero body falling apart in wake of Alberta-Ottawa deal Two prominent members of the Net-Zero Advisory Body, including its chair, have resigned this week, citing a lack of influence over a government that’s increasingly pulling back on climate action.

The Net-Zero Advisory Body is *legally* mandated to consult on Canada’s climate plans but has been completely ignored by Carney and Dabrusin. It appears that it is being bled dry — and now two of its most prominent members have quit in frustration.

Would you look at that, I'm already about half way through the first recommendation on this list!

Big big feelings, important, approachable info and even humour. I loved @drkatemarvel.bsky.social on the mansplaining "retired engineers" 🤭

Climate content for purpose, courage, and hope | Talking Climate with Katharine Hayhoe Get more from Talking Climate with Katharine Hayhoe on Patreon

For me, 2025 has felt like a particularly heavy year ... and you might feel the same. So as we head into the holiday season, I wanted to share a few recommendations — books, podcasts, and newsletters — that encourage me, make me think, and remind me how hope begins with action.

Probably a bit wordy for anyone in motion, but great for when it's a parked billboard!

Supriya Dwivedi: Mark Carney is giving in to the bros Fighting poverty and violence around the world means embracing feminist ideas.

So happy my girl @supriya.bsky.social is out here opinionating again: "When Canada walks away from feminist policy, it abandons a key driver of poverty and strife. And when Canada appears to bow to bro-signalling ... it has joined the league of polite misogyny." www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...

And I get it. As a driver I want to keep cyclists safe too and sometimes you can feel how the unfairly system prioritizes you as a driver.

I wish there was a way to communicate 'keep going - you're not a jerk. And if you feel you need to do more - email the mayor or donate to bike advocacy 😉

Even with the kid waving then through and they still don't get it, happens with us all the time too🤦🏼‍♀️.

I tell myself that these are hopefully people who support better bike infrastructure because they want to keep us safe and just don't know how.

Three drivers tried to wave us through this crossing while blocking me from view for drivers in the other lanes of travel. Even if it's safe, I often refuse to go—little eyes are watching & she needs to learn how to cross safely & not trust that cars will stop. #yycbike

In a previous career I managed VVIPs & VIPs at FIFA events hosted by Canada (yes, they actually used the term VVIP and yes, I assume there are now VVVVIPs).

I am always a lot happier in what I do now, but never more so than this week. 😬😶😬😶😬.

Trump Returns to Gasoline as Fuel of Choice for Cars, Gutting Biden’s Climate Policy

Among the many reasons this is very bad:

The environmental advocacy/foundation world was *just starting* to push for less driving, not just less gas-powered driving.

I fear they'll now revert to promoting EVs -- full stop.

A white cardboard box (with human child legs coming out from the bottom) walks down the sidewalk with pretty fall foliage.

He also planned to dress up for Halloween as a cardboard box. Not using the box as part of a costumes but actually dressing up as a box 😂. Unfortunately the weather did not cooperate so this didn't actually make it out trick or treating

I loved the point in this interview about cardboard boxes being the perfect plaything. Earlier this year my eldest had the idea to build an elaborate and functional vending machine (his favourite indulgence) out of a cardboard box. He has kept it stocked (thanks Halloween) for months now.

I hear some days he can even count by twos and tie his shoes.

Vision Zero Ottawa A site for Vision Zero Ottawa, a non-profit community advocacy group committed to promoting Vision Zero principles. The site serves as a landing spot for campaigns, volunteer recruitment, and donat…

Vision Zero Ottawa has entered the chat.

Our goals: to overturn the culture of accepting tragedy as inevitable; human health over all other objectives; take a safe systems and design approach to safety; and to hold those who govern our transport systems accountable.

Join us.

visionzeroottawa.ca

Oops, younger kid. But point is still the same: 4+yo Kid 🔋 Almost 5yo phone 🪫

Also my new phone was after " hoarding it" for more than 4 years. It was older than my oldest kid, but unlike kid was no longer able to retain energy very well 😂

bsky.app/profile/geor...

A dinner plate with an orange slab, round brown bites, irregular shaped brown bites, and a green slaw salad.

I have a new phone & it refuses to connect with any meta products. So I'm taking this as a great opportunity to seriously limit my Instagram & Facebook time 👍🏼👌🏼.

Which means Bluesky might get more of my primarily plant-based food content.

Tonight: Squash steak, risotto balls, tofu bites, & salad.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🚲 𝙼𝚎𝚎𝚝 𝚛𝚞𝚛𝚊𝚕 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚐𝚘 𝚋𝚒𝚔𝚎𝚛 𝙹𝚎𝚖𝚖𝚊 𝙱𝚎𝚎𝚍𝚒𝚎

Jemma lives with her family in a village about 14 miles (22km) from Stirling, Scotland. But that doesn't stop her choosing the cargo bike for many of her trips.

"𝑾𝒉𝒚 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝑰 𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒂 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒈𝒐 𝒃𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒐𝒏 𝒎𝒚 𝒓𝒆𝒈𝒖𝒍𝒂𝒓 𝒋𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒏𝒆𝒚𝒔, 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝑰 𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒓𝒖𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚?"

A newspaper article. The edition is at the top November 21, 2025 followed by a photo of a group of people including many kids riding bikes stopped at a stop sign. Text that follows: The Devonshire bike bus rides on Sebastian Arnold The Devonshire Community Public School bike bus, serving students in Centretown, is rolling into its fourth year. It shows students and families that other ways of getting to school are possible and important. It's also a healthy and eco-friendly way to get to school. Cassie Smith, the parent who started the Devonshire bike bus, says, "It's a group of people that get together and do things together as a community. And it's a great way to wake up and feel ready for the day ahead at school." The bike bus runs on Fridays, except for Professional Development days or holidays. Participants-parents and students - meet about 20 minutes before school begins. They convene at Primrose Park and cycle to Devonshire P.S. The trip takes around 15 minutes. At the beginning of this school year, about 25 people joined the ride, Smith said. Anybody can join. Even students at other schools can join as the bike bus currently uses the Ottawa bike path network. Finley Arnold, a Grade 3 Devonshire student who participates in the bike bus, says, "I like how you bike with your friends and family, and it's a fun way to get to school." Usually, Smith is waiting at Primrose Park with a reflector jacket and her eight-year-old son Freddie is pedalling around the park. When everybody arrives they get into order, the leader or "bus driver" goes in front of all the kids. The scout goes in front of the leader (to check if roads are clear), the kids go in the middle, and an adult in the back goes last (to make sure nobody gets left behind). Sometimes doughnuts or cookies are served, and there is usually music played through a speaker on someone's bike. In the spring, bike buses gained momentum in other parts of the city. Broadview P.S., Manor Park P.S., Woodr…

The #DevonshireBikeBus made the local community newspaper, The Centretown Buzz.

The article was written by one of our Grade 5 participants, photo by the principal. Makes my heart sing ❣️

#OttBike cc: @bikeottawa.bsky.social

An orange cat wears a Santa hat. He looks very serious.

Happy festive Caturday! 🎅🏻🐱

If you're tiring of the K-pop Demon hunters soundtrack, but your kids aren't, try the Vitamin String Quartet version.

To say we are feeling betrayed by the #Carney #Smith #MOU is an understatement.

Read our full statement and learn how you can stand up on behalf of all children and the planet.

#Climate #CanPoli #Environment #OilAndGas #Children #Parenting #CleanAir

www.forourkids.ca/parents_and_...

Kids with Santa and Mrs Claus emojis covering their faces sit at a window table in a pub full of decorations. It's dark (and pouring rain) outside.

Our local goes maximalist for Christmas. It's so cozy.

I always suggest that people think about what urban centres like New York or London were like 150 years ago — dangerous, unbelievably polluted air and water, desperately inequitable, few trees or green space.

And then imagine building the cities where we look back to *today* and see the same thing.