derricksimpson.bsky.social - Profile | ThreadSky | a Reddit-style client for Bluesky

Rest in Peace to Donald Shoup, an absolute legend. The High Cost of Free Parking was a huge inspiration for the Ottawa Urbanism Book Club, taking a complex and traditionally boring idea and showing how it can improve lives and connect neighbours.

submitted 19 days ago • 0 comments

We managed to get some data from the survey of the Bank Street Transportation Study. It's very clear that most responders want less space for parking, and more space for better transit!

submitted 22 days ago • 6 comments

Centretown Community Association's Transportation Committee voted on our priorities for 2025: 1. Getting Centretown included in the Glebe Bank Street transit study 2. Kent Street Improvement 3. Queen Elizabeth Drive and the Summer Zone Looking forward to a safer and more sustainable Centretown!

submitted 23 days ago • 0 comments

A recording of our latest Ottawa Urbanism Book Club Q&A with Home Truths author @cwhitzman.bsky.social is now available youtu.be/7BDVY-nQ5IY

submitted 24 days ago • 0 comments

For anyone considering cancelling their American owned streaming services: The Ottawa Public Library (and probably all libraries) has 1000s of DVDs available to rent for free!

submitted 26 days ago • 2 comments

Counted over 15 bikers on my short walk to work today. Considering it’s -20 in Ottawa I’d say that’s pretty impressive. Winter cycling is a legitimate commuting method!

submitted 29 days ago • 5 comments

If you’re in Ottawa, the Urbanism Book Club is great! If you aren’t, start one up in your city! @derricksimpson.bsky.social is a brilliant facilitator.

submitted 30 days ago • 1 comment

Thanks to everyone who came out to yesterday’s Ottawa Urbanism Book Club, especially author @cwhitzman.bsky.social! Was great to discuss the Canadian Housing Crisis and how we can help fix it. If you haven’t yet, I highly recommend reading Home Truths.

submitted 30 days ago • 1 comment

The American Dream: Suburban house with a big backyard The Canadian Dream: Outdoor rink a short walk from your missing middle apartment

submitted 34 days ago • 3 comments

Great video by @casualcommuter.bsky.social on how OC Transpo got so unreliable. Most important point to me is that good public transit can save people money in the long run. youtu.be/0QKjoO5HWCE

submitted 39 days ago • 1 comment

Reading Home Truths by @cwhitzman.bsky.social for the next Ottawa Urbanism Book Club and this section just hit way too close to home.

submitted 52 days ago • 3 comments

I wrote an essay about our bottomless thirst for diversion and how avoiding boredom is the engine of modern life. It’s based on the research I did for my book. www.nytimes.com/2025/01/03/o...

submitted 56 days ago • 192 comments

2025 will be the year I finally make videos, first one is already in the works. What’s a topic or place in Ottawa you’d like to see covered on video?

submitted 58 days ago • 1 comment

Me at a suburban New Year’s Eve celebration

submitted 59 days ago • 3 comments

2024 was quite the year for public transit. In 2025 may your buses be on time and your trains be frequent.

submitted 60 days ago • 1 comment

Many such cases

submitted 61 days ago • 9 comments

BOOK ALERT: One of the most interesting cities to learn from when it comes to smart city-building is Oslo, Norway. My old friend @OsloUrban.bsky.social has a new book ready for pre-order on Oslo urbanism, and I wrote the forward. Spread the word. #UrbanismBookClub ao-publishing.com/product/oslo...

submitted 102 days ago • 4 comments

Let's be thoughtful about how #Ottawa welcomes newcomers. Simple solutions won't bring the positive outcomes we want for newcomers and won't unite our communities. Let's engage in more complete conversations and build on our strong legacy as a welcoming city. ottawacitizen.com/opinion/fleu...

submitted 79 days ago • 1 comment

A video of our latest Ottawa Urbanism Book Club with Steven Higashide, writer of Better Buses Better Cities, is now available. Really enjoyed this discussion on how Ottawa can work towards fixing its transit problems. youtu.be/JskjTzEoV2Q?...

submitted 78 days ago • 1 comment

I absolutely love Winter. Even surface parking lots look beautiful in the snow.

submitted 85 days ago • 3 comments

One of these is a luxury condo for the rich that must be stopped in all communities. The other is the humble abode of the middle class that must be protected and subsidized at all costs. How did we end up here?

submitted 90 days ago • 1 comment

What’s your most ridiculous take about your city? Mine is that when they built the Shaw Centre in Downtown Ottawa, they should’ve put in an NHL arena.

submitted 91 days ago • 6 comments

A friend of mine put together a documentary on OC Transpo and how service ended up getting this bad. Definitely recommend watching for anyone interested in public transit or urbanism. youtu.be/cPaOPAguLxg

submitted 92 days ago • 1 comment

The Centretown Community Association's budget letter was included in CityNews Ottawa's article on issues with the transit budget. Glad to see Ottawa news covering the concerns with this year's disappointing transit budget. ottawa.citynews.ca/2024/11/27/o...

submitted 93 days ago • 0 comments

After years of thinking about it, I've finally started reading the Power Broker by Robert Caro. Will report back on my findings in 1-2 years 😅

submitted 96 days ago • 6 comments

These are both LRT stations in Ottawa. Which one do you think will bring in more riders?

submitted 97 days ago • 4 comments

Super excited to announce that the Ottawa Urbanism Book Club will be hosting a virtual author Q&A with Steven Higashide, writer of Better Buses Better Cities, on December 4 at 6pm. Reading is optional and you don't have to be from Ottawa to participate. DM me or reply if you'd like to attend.

submitted 98 days ago • 2 comments

Some say “15 minute cities” are trying to control you, but it’s literally the opposite. In Ottawa’s Findlay Creek suburb there’s no safe way to leave the neighbourhood on foot. Only 2 clear exits and neither of them have sidewalks.

submitted 99 days ago • 1 comment

The Centretown Community Association has sent a letter to Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe opposing Ottawa's transit budget. This budget will make traffic worse, force children and seniors to stay home, and is financially reckless to the billions already invested in the O-Train system.

submitted 99 days ago • 1 comment

NEW STARTER PACK ALERT: Here’s my new “Canadian Urbanism” Starter Pack with city-building experts and practitioners, elected leaders, activists, media, etc. There are other packs on Canadian Urbanism & this one’s mine. Let me know who I missed and please share. #UrbanistShoutOut go.bsky.app/QWdmJjk

submitted 100 days ago • 19 comments