helen (she/her)
@helenl.bsky.social
development professional working on vibrant, sustainable & inclusive communities
pro abundant & affordable housing, bike & bus lanes, & not getting hit by cars 🏡🏢🚎🚲 ❤️| posts & sarcasm my own |
Host of podcast urbanismvancouver.com
pro abundant & affordable housing, bike & bus lanes, & not getting hit by cars 🏡🏢🚎🚲 ❤️| posts & sarcasm my own |
Host of podcast urbanismvancouver.com
As I’m starting to venture into the anxiety inducing world of finding daycare and subsequently the school system, I am appalled to realize how much worse it is than I imagined
Not only do we not fund for schools & infrastructure, Vancouver’s school board is actively trying to sell public lands
1/
Not only do we not fund for schools & infrastructure, Vancouver’s school board is actively trying to sell public lands
1/
November 3, 2025 at 10:09 PM
As I’m starting to venture into the anxiety inducing world of finding daycare and subsequently the school system, I am appalled to realize how much worse it is than I imagined
Not only do we not fund for schools & infrastructure, Vancouver’s school board is actively trying to sell public lands
1/
Not only do we not fund for schools & infrastructure, Vancouver’s school board is actively trying to sell public lands
1/
people protesting an extra floor at the OV school because of congestion when I will quite literally buy a car to drive up to Ontario & 16th for his current catchment if he can’t get into the OV school
October 4, 2025 at 11:45 PM
people protesting an extra floor at the OV school because of congestion when I will quite literally buy a car to drive up to Ontario & 16th for his current catchment if he can’t get into the OV school
Why are all the city themed baby play mats just stroads and cars
where are the apartments and bike lanes and busses and SHADOWS
where are the apartments and bike lanes and busses and SHADOWS
September 16, 2025 at 11:21 PM
Why are all the city themed baby play mats just stroads and cars
where are the apartments and bike lanes and busses and SHADOWS
where are the apartments and bike lanes and busses and SHADOWS
Reposted by helen (she/her)
“A lot of what fire depts respond to is car crashes”
“Single family homes have 2x the fire death rate of multi fam”
“Single family homes have 2x the fire death rate of multi fam”
September 16, 2025 at 3:23 PM
“A lot of what fire depts respond to is car crashes”
“Single family homes have 2x the fire death rate of multi fam”
“Single family homes have 2x the fire death rate of multi fam”
It should actually be like 8 stories
The CBC did a story on the NIMBYs fighting the rezoning for the elementary school in the Olympic Village. I'm happy with the quote I got in at the end!
youtu.be/Z8j56MEne0c?...
youtu.be/Z8j56MEne0c?...
Olympic Village school project faces community backlash
YouTube video by CBC British Columbia
youtu.be
September 16, 2025 at 3:50 PM
It should actually be like 8 stories
Reposted by helen (she/her)
On Wed Sep 17, City of Vancouver Councillor @lucymaloney.bsky.social will intro a motion that aims to unlock new apartment buildings up to six floors, and corner stores, on quiet Vancouver streets, including cycling routes and local streets around parks. (1/3)
September 12, 2025 at 4:02 PM
On Wed Sep 17, City of Vancouver Councillor @lucymaloney.bsky.social will intro a motion that aims to unlock new apartment buildings up to six floors, and corner stores, on quiet Vancouver streets, including cycling routes and local streets around parks. (1/3)
Reposted by helen (she/her)
Great article by @helenl.bsky.social on non-market housing. One important point: demand for non-market housing is related to the supply of market housing.
1/
1/
August 11, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Great article by @helenl.bsky.social on non-market housing. One important point: demand for non-market housing is related to the supply of market housing.
1/
1/
Reposted by helen (she/her)
I’m here with @dannyoleksiuk.bsky.social @amoralorealis.bsky.social @denisagar.bsky.social and @ravikahlon.bsky.social to dig into the future of housing transit for our home of Vancouver!
March 18, 2025 at 2:11 AM
I’m here with @dannyoleksiuk.bsky.social @amoralorealis.bsky.social @denisagar.bsky.social and @ravikahlon.bsky.social to dig into the future of housing transit for our home of Vancouver!
Reposted by helen (she/her)
YIMBYism is wild because you start to ask questions like “why was single family zoning created?” and “are our regulations for building safety based on any actual safety data?” and soon realize that ~85% of the rules governing our cities are based on nothing but tradition and vibes.
We went through this with zoning, and now we're going through it with building code: trillion dollar industries depend on these things, yet a bunch of precocious bloggers can swoop in and expose these institutions as full of pseudoscience. Does nobody do their job? @aarmlovi.bsky.social
March 3, 2025 at 6:09 AM
YIMBYism is wild because you start to ask questions like “why was single family zoning created?” and “are our regulations for building safety based on any actual safety data?” and soon realize that ~85% of the rules governing our cities are based on nothing but tradition and vibes.
Reposted by helen (she/her)
Thank you to the Vancouver and District Labour Council for your support!
With our Mayor having cut wages for janitors and security guards, it couldn't be clearer that we need progressive fighters at City Hall who will call him out and fight back.
With our Mayor having cut wages for janitors and security guards, it couldn't be clearer that we need progressive fighters at City Hall who will call him out and fight back.
February 19, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Thank you to the Vancouver and District Labour Council for your support!
With our Mayor having cut wages for janitors and security guards, it couldn't be clearer that we need progressive fighters at City Hall who will call him out and fight back.
With our Mayor having cut wages for janitors and security guards, it couldn't be clearer that we need progressive fighters at City Hall who will call him out and fight back.
Reposted by helen (she/her)
I want to do a podcast episode on video games, the state of games and the state of the industry.
Who'd you recommend as a guest?
Who'd you recommend as a guest?
February 18, 2025 at 4:38 PM
I want to do a podcast episode on video games, the state of games and the state of the industry.
Who'd you recommend as a guest?
Who'd you recommend as a guest?
To the people who don’t read instructions labelled under “instructions” in emails:
why
why
February 19, 2025 at 8:50 PM
To the people who don’t read instructions labelled under “instructions” in emails:
why
why
really love how advocates for safer cycling and pedestrian infrastructure are radicals but people who want to drive fast & park wherever they want (at the risk of everyone else) are just normal reasonable humans
January 29, 2025 at 7:04 PM
really love how advocates for safer cycling and pedestrian infrastructure are radicals but people who want to drive fast & park wherever they want (at the risk of everyone else) are just normal reasonable humans
I am so excited to vote for @lucymaloney.bsky.social @onecityvan.bsky.social !!
Not only is Lucy brilliant & passionate she works tirelessly with entities to make our cities better, safer, more equitable, and sustainable for all. We would be lucky to have her on council to continue this work ❤️
Not only is Lucy brilliant & passionate she works tirelessly with entities to make our cities better, safer, more equitable, and sustainable for all. We would be lucky to have her on council to continue this work ❤️
If you want an affordable city, where everyone is safe and where everyone belongs, Ken Sim isn’t working for you.
We need leaders who are ready to stand up and fight back. That’s why I’m running with @onecityvan.bsky.social for City Council. www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGcI...
We need leaders who are ready to stand up and fight back. That’s why I’m running with @onecityvan.bsky.social for City Council. www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGcI...
Lucy Maloney for Vancouver City Council: Ready to work for you
YouTube video by OneCity Vancouver
www.youtube.com
January 28, 2025 at 6:20 PM
I am so excited to vote for @lucymaloney.bsky.social @onecityvan.bsky.social !!
Not only is Lucy brilliant & passionate she works tirelessly with entities to make our cities better, safer, more equitable, and sustainable for all. We would be lucky to have her on council to continue this work ❤️
Not only is Lucy brilliant & passionate she works tirelessly with entities to make our cities better, safer, more equitable, and sustainable for all. We would be lucky to have her on council to continue this work ❤️
I’m happy to stop going to trader joes to boycott travel/buying from the states but I desperately need that kerrygold butter
where can I get some in Canada?!
where can I get some in Canada?!
January 26, 2025 at 6:12 AM
I’m happy to stop going to trader joes to boycott travel/buying from the states but I desperately need that kerrygold butter
where can I get some in Canada?!
where can I get some in Canada?!
for those joining us after finally getting rid of that toxic bird ap: welcome, it’s nicer here 😊
January 25, 2025 at 11:21 PM
for those joining us after finally getting rid of that toxic bird ap: welcome, it’s nicer here 😊
Reposted by helen (she/her)
The @cityofvancouver.bsky.social says it prioritizes pedestrians, but recent changes at Kingsway & Dumfries and Adanac & Commercial tell a different story. These projects make walking less safe and convenient—at a cost. A thread. 🧵 1/
January 22, 2025 at 4:23 PM
The @cityofvancouver.bsky.social says it prioritizes pedestrians, but recent changes at Kingsway & Dumfries and Adanac & Commercial tell a different story. These projects make walking less safe and convenient—at a cost. A thread. 🧵 1/
Last week a truck driver decided to turn right from the middle lane nearly running over 3-4 pedestrians & he honked repeatedly as if it was his birthright
But no worries this is a regular weekly occurrence & there’s no need for enforcement bc the transit fare evaders are the real plight on society
But no worries this is a regular weekly occurrence & there’s no need for enforcement bc the transit fare evaders are the real plight on society
Fare enforcement team is out in force today on #Q53 line at 2 stops along route.At each a team of 4 netted several fare evaders. Probably added 8-10 min to my trip.
I would love to see that zealousness applied to drivers parked in bus stops & parked in bus lanes who are constant source of delays.
I would love to see that zealousness applied to drivers parked in bus stops & parked in bus lanes who are constant source of delays.
January 22, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Last week a truck driver decided to turn right from the middle lane nearly running over 3-4 pedestrians & he honked repeatedly as if it was his birthright
But no worries this is a regular weekly occurrence & there’s no need for enforcement bc the transit fare evaders are the real plight on society
But no worries this is a regular weekly occurrence & there’s no need for enforcement bc the transit fare evaders are the real plight on society
I like walkable neighbourhoods because I really dislike driving.
“I don't wanna go far for stuff"
My eloquent and powerful rebrand of the 15 minute city.
My eloquent and powerful rebrand of the 15 minute city.
January 10, 2025 at 3:55 PM
I like walkable neighbourhoods because I really dislike driving.
Reposted by helen (she/her)
“While Mayor, I was often asked ‘how have you been able to afford bike-lanes in #Copenhagen?’ I’d reply, ‘how have you been able to NOT afford it? 25 years ago we were a few days away from going bankrupt. So the city invested in the cheapest infrastructure… bicycling.” — @mortenkabell.bsky.social
December 14, 2024 at 5:24 PM
“While Mayor, I was often asked ‘how have you been able to afford bike-lanes in #Copenhagen?’ I’d reply, ‘how have you been able to NOT afford it? 25 years ago we were a few days away from going bankrupt. So the city invested in the cheapest infrastructure… bicycling.” — @mortenkabell.bsky.social
Reposted by helen (she/her)
How come taxpayers inside of motor vehicles are entitled to right-of-ways cleared at public expense, but taxpayers outside of motor vehicles are not?
#PlowSidewalksToo
#PlowSidewalksToo
"A city's priorities become as clear as the spaces they choose to maintain in the winter."
Content done with @thebikinglawyer.bsky.social
Content done with @thebikinglawyer.bsky.social
December 5, 2024 at 11:38 AM
How come taxpayers inside of motor vehicles are entitled to right-of-ways cleared at public expense, but taxpayers outside of motor vehicles are not?
#PlowSidewalksToo
#PlowSidewalksToo
Reposted by helen (she/her)
December 4, 2024 at 2:51 AM
Despite being an industry driven by important social outcomes, the non-market/non-profit housing industry is often also an industry where people are most underpaid & burnt out
🧵1/
🧵1/
December 4, 2024 at 2:44 AM
Despite being an industry driven by important social outcomes, the non-market/non-profit housing industry is often also an industry where people are most underpaid & burnt out
🧵1/
🧵1/
so cute how people are like peak freedom to me is being forced to sit with my hands strapped to a wheel trapped in a metal box surrounded by a bunch of other metal boxes in a giant tube
November 29, 2024 at 10:11 PM
so cute how people are like peak freedom to me is being forced to sit with my hands strapped to a wheel trapped in a metal box surrounded by a bunch of other metal boxes in a giant tube
ok fine I succumbed to bluesky
November 27, 2024 at 8:16 PM
ok fine I succumbed to bluesky