Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

David Trueman

@davidwtrueman.bsky.social

180 followers 440 following 94 posts

I'm Co-Chair of Halifax Cycling Coalition, working hard to make cycling in Halifax safer, more convenient and more joyful. In this role, I focus first and foremost on the 60% of the population who would cycle more if it felt safe.

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

David Trueman @davidwtrueman.bsky.social · Aug 31

Cycling Guide is free, privacy-forward and available now to help you find low-stress cycling routes around HRM. #bikehfx

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Download it at CyclingGuide.org and give it a try. Your feedback will help to make it better.

Cycling in Halifax can be intimidating. A new app aims to change that | CBC News

The new Cycling Guide app may help ease the concerns of cyclists in Halifax.

www.cbc.ca

1 12 20

Reposted by David Trueman

Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 1d

Another reminder that a 13-year study found that protected bike-lanes led to a drastic decline in fatalities for all road users.

ALL ROAD USERS.

And painted bike-lanes? No safety improvement at all.

For sharrows, it’s actually safer to NOT have them.

Via @usa.streetsblog.org @nyc.streetsblog.org

Separated Bike Lanes Means Safer Streets, Study Says — Streetsblog USA

Cities that build protected lanes for cyclists end up with safer roads for people on bikes and people in cars and on foot, a new study of 12 large metropolises revealed Wednesday.

usa.streetsblog.org

7 190 550

Reposted by David Trueman

Bartek Ciszkowski @justbartek.ca · 9h

Nice to be greeted this morning with a WIP bi-directional bike lane on Brunswick (pictures after-the-fact when I went for a little walk)

Excellent re-allocation of space to people and a good reminder that bike infrastructure results in a safer environment for *all* users (yes, incl. vehicles)

An existing bi-directional bike lane transitions into a work in progress bi-directional bike lane. There are new concrete barriers joining the previous, with pylons and road markings setup along the way.

A newly painted pedestrian crossing is adjoined with concrete barriers for a bike lane. Pedestrians now begin crossing into a bike lane ahead of entering a shared space with vehicles.

Bike lane styled zebra markings are down on a work in progress bi-directional bike lane. Pylons consume the road area as the area is an active construction site.

4 22

Reposted by David Trueman

Raccoon in the sky @seebo429.bsky.social · 21d

I'd like to thank @samdraws.bsky.social for making a fantastic Andy. Her work held up very well for most of the ride (we won't talk about the pump track incident). And for asking me to be the spokes-person to get Andy around today.

5 8 59

David Trueman @davidwtrueman.bsky.social · 13h

It’s a little like “it’s unfair to catch us speeding”. Now it’s “unfair to catch us lying”. The solution is remarkably similar: stop speeding and stop lying.

Ken Donnelly🇨🇦 @novaken.bsky.social · 13h

I went to bed in Nova Scotia and woke up in Alberta.

Nova Scotia removes public’s ability to file complaints about municipal politicians | CBC News

Nova Scotia residents can no longer file complaints about their municipal elected officials, a move one advocate calls “dangerously undemocratic.”

www.cbc.ca

Reposted by David Trueman

Chris Geroux @cgeroux.bsky.social · 1d

Fillmore, the Mayor of Halifax, can't get is facts straight, from Costco's, to the cost of bike-lanes, to who the Mayor (Fillmore) is actually accountable to.

www.halifaxexaminer.ca/government/c...

Fact Checking Fillmore: Mayor told town hall Halifax's bike lane network will cost $165 million - Halifax Examiner

At a recent town hall, Andy Fillmore said there's a phase two to the AAA bike lane network that will cost an extra $65 million. But that's not correct.

www.halifaxexaminer.ca

2 10

David Trueman @davidwtrueman.bsky.social · 1d

He’s either careless or deliberately misleading, adding the remaining cost to the total cost to inventory a totally new figure. Not to mention that large chunks of the $93 million cost have nothing to do with cycling infrastructure — like the repaving of Brunswick or the new curbs on Isleville.

Tim Bousquet @timbousquet.bsky.social · 1d

Fact Checking Fillmore: Mayor told town hall Halifax’s bike lane network will cost $165 million

reported by @suzannerent.bsky.social

Fact Checking Fillmore: Mayor told town hall Halifax's bike lane network will cost $165 million - Halifax Examiner

At a recent town hall, Andy Fillmore said there's a phase two to the AAA bike lane network that will cost an extra $65 million. But that's not correct.

www.halifaxexaminer.ca

2 13

David Trueman @davidwtrueman.bsky.social · 1d

@samaustind5.bsky.social Sam Austin says it best:

Dartmouth Centre Coun. Sam Austin said during a meeting on Oct. 7 that the city could’ve been the one to mandate EV installations for developers in the municipality.

“But instead we seem to have one order of government saying, ‘No, we’re not allowed to mandate that’, and then another order of government that is now going to subsidize … that is going to get the rest of us to pay for it,” he said. “So, yeah, great stuff.”

This comes after the province rejected the city's regional plan for growth in August, saying certain environmental rules will stall development.

2 3

Reposted by David Trueman

miterstomp.bsky.social @miterstomp.bsky.social · 1d

www.saltwire.com/nova-scotia/...

Deny Sullivan: Halifax bridge toll blunder: Houston’s election gimmick worsens gridlock

The promise to save drivers time is backfiring. The reason? Simple economics.

www.saltwire.com

3 3

David Trueman @davidwtrueman.bsky.social · 2d

Looks like a nice trail (with wide tires). Where was it?

1 1

Reposted by David Trueman

Ecology Action Centre @ecologyaction.bsky.social · 2d

As we talk about the better future N.S. can have, it’s important to connect the dots on what the Houston government has been up to.

It's time to get organized! To help, we've created the Grassrooting Guide, a resource guide to organizing:.
ecologyaction.ca/grassrooting-guide-organizing

Yellow and white text overlaid on an image of a waterfront building in Nova Scotia. Text reads, "When we work together, we can build a better future for Nova Scotia. But to do this, we need to be able to spot the B.S. government tries to throw at us and connect the dots. Eroding democratic processes, scapegoating, overwhelming the public – these moves are part of a broader pattern of consolidating power and avoiding accountability in order to push a singular, corporate agenda. Get out your shovels; let’s dig in one more time..."

Orange and white text overlaid on an image of the coastline of northern Cape Breton. Text reads, "Overwhelming the public. Sometimes referred to as “flooding the zone,” this is when decision makers throw so much at the public, it becomes difficult to keep up. It’s harder to resist countless bad decisions or see what the government is really trying to push forward when we’re buried under a never ending pile of 💩. Sound familiar? No one can fight it all, but we can all do something. Get together with your community and find ways you can plug in!"

Blue and white text overlaid on an image of Sandy Lake in the HRM" Text reads, "Avoiding Transparency & Accountability. The Houston government keeps saying they want “mature discussions.” But it’s hard to do that when they keep hiding from the public and avoiding accountability. We saw this when the province used legislation to undermine democratic processes, tried to hide from the media, made sweeping decisions without consultation and when they used massive omnibus bills to sneak bad policy through with minimal debate. So Houston, where are our “mature discussions?”"

1 4 3

David Trueman @davidwtrueman.bsky.social · 3d

Are we learning from successful bike share programs? (Gift article) #bikehfx www.thestar.com/news/gta/how...

How Bike Share went from death’s door to one of Toronto’s fastest-growing ways to travel

How self-cleaning toilets, the pandemic and bike lanes made Toronto Bike Share a staple of the city, and how Doug Ford’s battle against bike lanes will shape its future.

www.thestar.com

David Trueman @davidwtrueman.bsky.social · 5d

Nocturne is Saturday evening, Oct 18.

David Trueman @davidwtrueman.bsky.social · 5d

Halifax Cycling Coalition is seeking volunteers to help with the bike valet at Nocturne, HRM’s nighttime arts festival. You can signup for one two-hour shift (6-8pm or 8-10pm): signup.com/go/ukQkGtQ

We will always have at least two people and will provide training. #bikehfx

Nocturne Bike Valet

signup.com

David Trueman @davidwtrueman.bsky.social · 5d

Nocturne Bike Valet

signup.com

2 4

David Trueman @davidwtrueman.bsky.social · 5d

I totally get this. FWIW Halifax Cycling Coalition regularly allies with Walk ‘n Roll HFX and It’s More than Buses to advocate for sustainable mobility. For example, for the Windsor St Exchange we spoke more strongly about dedicated bus lanes than cycleways.

1 10

David Trueman @davidwtrueman.bsky.social · 6d

It would be nice if you acknowledged that the bike valet is being run by Halifax Cycling Coalition.

1 6

Reposted by David Trueman

Tom Flood @tomflood.bsky.social · 6d

Just one more.

The Study
Every Study Ever:
Reliable transit, safe active transportation options and fewer cars will improve cities.
City:
Hmm, can we really trust every study ever done?

8 50 170

Reposted by David Trueman

Dale Smith @journodale.bsky.social · 7d

For the evening crowd, my @xtramagazine.com column on the conservative premiers who don't want the courts to weigh in when they use the Notwithstanding Clause to violate Charter rights #canqueer #cdnpoli

The premiers violating your Charter rights don’t want the courts to weigh in | Xtra Magazine

When it comes to the Notwithstanding Clause, premiers opposed to the federal government’s factum are showing their true colours

xtramagazine.com

1 24 28

David Trueman @davidwtrueman.bsky.social · 7d

This reporting, which pretty much just quotes the minister, misses the point — addressing bottlenecks may provide short-term relief but you can only dump so many cars on the peninsula before congestion gets so much worse. Better transit, connected bike lanes and safe walking are the only solutions.

The Chronicle Herald @thechronicleherald.bsky.social · 7d

Congestion on Halifax bridges needs more work, while crashes drop with no tolls

Preliminary data shows that the removal of toll plazas on Halifax's bridges has been positive, but there is still work to be done to improve congestion, said Fred Tilley, the province's Minister of Public Works.

bit.ly

David Trueman @davidwtrueman.bsky.social · 7d

Yeah. Personally I think if it is not a designated truck route it shouldn’t get special treatment. Even then, according to IMP, movement of commercial goods should be lower in priority than walking and cycling. But we all know how much the IMP is respected…

1 1

David Trueman @davidwtrueman.bsky.social · 7d

Osborne is a tertiary street and as such the province considers it a truck route.

David Trueman @davidwtrueman.bsky.social · 7d

The single best part of this project is elimination of the slip lanes at Walter Hamill. (They got permission from the province.) Still slip lanes at Osborne (the province wouldn’t give in here) but they are reconfigured to discourage taking them at speed.

1 1

Reposted by David Trueman

Brendan Dawe @dawe.bsky.social · 8d

I had missed this post from Marco but I broadly agree: Down with BRT, long live the Bus

Down with the BRT, long live the Bus

Why Bus Rapid Transit is a failed planning concept

marcochitti.substack.com

5 7 28

Reposted by David Trueman

The Beaverton @thebeaverton.com · 8d

PM Carney announces Charter of Rights to be renamed Charter of Optional Ideas

OTTAWA - Prime Minister Mark Carney held a press conference today to announce a renaming of the “Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms”, the document that enshrined our foundational set of rights in...

www.thebeaverton.com

10 78 380

Reposted by David Trueman

Melissa & Chris Bruntlett @modacitylife.com · 11d

Interestingly, the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association, who had previously opposed the infrastructure, eventually reversed their position and became one of the city’s most vocal cycling proponents—calling protected bike lanes “the way of the future” and a “win–win–win for all users”.

People of all ages and abilities ride bicycles on protected cycling infrastructure on the streets of Downtown Vancouver.

3 16 66

Reposted by David Trueman

Melissa & Chris Bruntlett @modacitylife.com · 11d

When newly-elected Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson started converting car lanes to bike lanes in 2009, pundits claimed it was political suicide. In 2018, he stepped down after three terms as the longest-serving mayor in the city's history. So what can this tale teach us about so-called "bikelash"?🧵

7 65 250