Heliomass
@heliomass.com
🇨🇦🇬🇧 ex-Londoner in Montreal. It’s an experience.
Transit / retro gaming / politics / cats
Runs mainly on Yorkshire Tea and root beer.
Blog: https://heliomass.com
Correspondent at @lonrec.bsky.social
Creator of @mtltransitstatusen.bsky.social
Transit / retro gaming / politics / cats
Runs mainly on Yorkshire Tea and root beer.
Blog: https://heliomass.com
Correspondent at @lonrec.bsky.social
Creator of @mtltransitstatusen.bsky.social
Reposted by Heliomass
#OnThisDay 12 February 1987
In #BluePeter, Caron Keating takes "a mad dash across the Underground stopping at every single station."
In #BluePeter, Caron Keating takes "a mad dash across the Underground stopping at every single station."
February 12, 2026 at 3:58 PM
#OnThisDay 12 February 1987
In #BluePeter, Caron Keating takes "a mad dash across the Underground stopping at every single station."
In #BluePeter, Caron Keating takes "a mad dash across the Underground stopping at every single station."
Reposted by Heliomass
Reposted by Heliomass
PASSED: the House just passed the resolution to end Trump's tariffs on Canada.
Not many crosses from Republicans, a lot of vulnerable incumbents took a dumb vote here to stick with Trump and GOP leadership. Goes to the Senate, which is likely to pass it.
Will share the vote sheet when I have it!
Not many crosses from Republicans, a lot of vulnerable incumbents took a dumb vote here to stick with Trump and GOP leadership. Goes to the Senate, which is likely to pass it.
Will share the vote sheet when I have it!
February 11, 2026 at 11:18 PM
PASSED: the House just passed the resolution to end Trump's tariffs on Canada.
Not many crosses from Republicans, a lot of vulnerable incumbents took a dumb vote here to stick with Trump and GOP leadership. Goes to the Senate, which is likely to pass it.
Will share the vote sheet when I have it!
Not many crosses from Republicans, a lot of vulnerable incumbents took a dumb vote here to stick with Trump and GOP leadership. Goes to the Senate, which is likely to pass it.
Will share the vote sheet when I have it!
Reposted by Heliomass
anyway, i drew this for the nib in march 2023 lol
February 11, 2026 at 6:56 PM
anyway, i drew this for the nib in march 2023 lol
Reposted by Heliomass
It took me months, about 495 rides, recovering from a shattered right foot and hacking a folding scooter, but I finally own a Nintendo Switch 2 using points obtained from Citi Bike. Afterwards, it left me questioning the very nature of work. For @aftermath.site.
aftermath.site/switch-2-cit...
aftermath.site/switch-2-cit...
February 11, 2026 at 6:46 PM
It took me months, about 495 rides, recovering from a shattered right foot and hacking a folding scooter, but I finally own a Nintendo Switch 2 using points obtained from Citi Bike. Afterwards, it left me questioning the very nature of work. For @aftermath.site.
aftermath.site/switch-2-cit...
aftermath.site/switch-2-cit...
Reposted by Heliomass
Our directors from Ontario and Quebec are travelling to Ottawa to meet with MPs, and both trains are running late due to freight problems.
VIA Rail needs investment and regulatory support to operate its existing service effectively, and ensure the long term future of these routes alongside Alto.
VIA Rail needs investment and regulatory support to operate its existing service effectively, and ensure the long term future of these routes alongside Alto.
February 11, 2026 at 8:06 PM
Our directors from Ontario and Quebec are travelling to Ottawa to meet with MPs, and both trains are running late due to freight problems.
VIA Rail needs investment and regulatory support to operate its existing service effectively, and ensure the long term future of these routes alongside Alto.
VIA Rail needs investment and regulatory support to operate its existing service effectively, and ensure the long term future of these routes alongside Alto.
Reposted by Heliomass
Voici la carte qui superpose les décès à vélo aux zones d’audit.
1-La quasi-totalité des décès survient hors du réseau cyclable.
2-L’expansion récente du réseau cyclable répondait à un enjeu d’insécurité routière bien réel.
3-Un réseau cyclable, ça sauve des vies.
@velo.qc.ca
1-La quasi-totalité des décès survient hors du réseau cyclable.
2-L’expansion récente du réseau cyclable répondait à un enjeu d’insécurité routière bien réel.
3-Un réseau cyclable, ça sauve des vies.
@velo.qc.ca
February 11, 2026 at 12:24 AM
Voici la carte qui superpose les décès à vélo aux zones d’audit.
1-La quasi-totalité des décès survient hors du réseau cyclable.
2-L’expansion récente du réseau cyclable répondait à un enjeu d’insécurité routière bien réel.
3-Un réseau cyclable, ça sauve des vies.
@velo.qc.ca
1-La quasi-totalité des décès survient hors du réseau cyclable.
2-L’expansion récente du réseau cyclable répondait à un enjeu d’insécurité routière bien réel.
3-Un réseau cyclable, ça sauve des vies.
@velo.qc.ca
Reposted by Heliomass
Échantillon #VélodHiver du 11 février.
• Ça roule, même sans clous
• Pistes en général plutôt déneigées à l’heure de pointe
• #pontJacquesCartier plus rapide à vélo
• Ça sent le printemps 🌷😉
#wintercycling
• Ça roule, même sans clous
• Pistes en général plutôt déneigées à l’heure de pointe
• #pontJacquesCartier plus rapide à vélo
• Ça sent le printemps 🌷😉
#wintercycling
February 11, 2026 at 6:22 PM
Échantillon #VélodHiver du 11 février.
• Ça roule, même sans clous
• Pistes en général plutôt déneigées à l’heure de pointe
• #pontJacquesCartier plus rapide à vélo
• Ça sent le printemps 🌷😉
#wintercycling
• Ça roule, même sans clous
• Pistes en général plutôt déneigées à l’heure de pointe
• #pontJacquesCartier plus rapide à vélo
• Ça sent le printemps 🌷😉
#wintercycling
Reposted by Heliomass
This 384-metre route runs under the Montpelliers iconic square and is only for bikes. With this solution, cyclists can cross the center without conflicts or interaction with traffic. This increases safety and efficiency for cycle traffic.
📸 @arthur.lansonneur on Instagram
📸 @arthur.lansonneur on Instagram
February 11, 2026 at 4:17 PM
This 384-metre route runs under the Montpelliers iconic square and is only for bikes. With this solution, cyclists can cross the center without conflicts or interaction with traffic. This increases safety and efficiency for cycle traffic.
📸 @arthur.lansonneur on Instagram
📸 @arthur.lansonneur on Instagram
Well, the deep freeze has ended, to be replaced by a regular freeze.
February 11, 2026 at 6:28 PM
Well, the deep freeze has ended, to be replaced by a regular freeze.
Reposted by Heliomass
“Consider that the AI hype is true.”
My dude. Lots of us have considered this. We’ve tried it, put it through its paces, and found it seriously lacking. It’s impressive software with very limited real world applications. No amount of advertising money they throw at it will make it less of a hype.
My dude. Lots of us have considered this. We’ve tried it, put it through its paces, and found it seriously lacking. It’s impressive software with very limited real world applications. No amount of advertising money they throw at it will make it less of a hype.
I understand why people are exhausted by AI hype, and why those of us squarely in the corner of "human dignity uber alles" see AI doomerism as self-serving hype, but I *really* think people on the left broadly need to start thinking seriously about the possibiltiy of the hype being...true.
February 11, 2026 at 5:43 PM
“Consider that the AI hype is true.”
My dude. Lots of us have considered this. We’ve tried it, put it through its paces, and found it seriously lacking. It’s impressive software with very limited real world applications. No amount of advertising money they throw at it will make it less of a hype.
My dude. Lots of us have considered this. We’ve tried it, put it through its paces, and found it seriously lacking. It’s impressive software with very limited real world applications. No amount of advertising money they throw at it will make it less of a hype.
Reposted by Heliomass
February 11, 2026 at 5:55 PM
Reposted by Heliomass
Reposted by Heliomass
I am sensing companies may be struggling for product ideas this Spring.
February 11, 2026 at 1:00 PM
I am sensing companies may be struggling for product ideas this Spring.
Reposted by Heliomass
Reposted by Heliomass
Here it comes 👞⬇️
My main questions are:
1. Who will be conducting the review and by what criteria?
2. If a bike path is found to be too “dangerous” will that mean the infra is improved (difficult and correct solution) or it’s just removed (easy and crappy solution)?
My main questions are:
1. Who will be conducting the review and by what criteria?
2. If a bike path is found to be too “dangerous” will that mean the infra is improved (difficult and correct solution) or it’s just removed (easy and crappy solution)?
Côte-Ste-Catherine Rd., Rachel St. among a dozen bike lanes Montreal will review montrealgazette.com/news/local_p...
February 10, 2026 at 9:57 PM
Here it comes 👞⬇️
My main questions are:
1. Who will be conducting the review and by what criteria?
2. If a bike path is found to be too “dangerous” will that mean the infra is improved (difficult and correct solution) or it’s just removed (easy and crappy solution)?
My main questions are:
1. Who will be conducting the review and by what criteria?
2. If a bike path is found to be too “dangerous” will that mean the infra is improved (difficult and correct solution) or it’s just removed (easy and crappy solution)?
📖 “‘We feel kinda bad when a solo bird shows up’: Canada sees its first European robin – but how did it get there?” www.theguardian.com/environment/20…
#Montreal
#Montreal
‘We feel kinda bad when a solo bird shows up’: Canada sees its first European robin – but how did it get there?
Birdwatchers flock to Montréal for rare sighting of ‘vagrant’ bird that has made its home during a bitterly cold winter
www.theguardian.com
February 10, 2026 at 7:21 PM
📖 “‘We feel kinda bad when a solo bird shows up’: Canada sees its first European robin – but how did it get there?” www.theguardian.com/environment/20…
#Montreal
#Montreal
📖 “The Vetting Myth”
The Vetting Myth
Understanding the realities of Mandelson's pre-appointment checks
arthursnell.substack.com
February 10, 2026 at 4:44 PM
📖 “The Vetting Myth”
Reposted by Heliomass
Toronto's new Eglinton rail line shows the awakening of a new consciousness of what kind of city Toronto is. New from me: humantransit.org/2026/02/toro...
Toronto: What Eglinton Means — Human Transit
It’s been a long struggle, but Toronto’s Eglinton rail line is finally open. Now, the rapid transit network looks consists of the wide lines on this map, numbered 1-6. The internet is full of reviews...
humantransit.org
February 9, 2026 at 1:16 PM
Toronto's new Eglinton rail line shows the awakening of a new consciousness of what kind of city Toronto is. New from me: humantransit.org/2026/02/toro...
Reminds me of the frog from those Looney Tunes cartoons.
February 9, 2026 at 7:34 PM
Reminds me of the frog from those Looney Tunes cartoons.
Reposted by Heliomass
My critique of Toronto’s fantastical approach to urbanism:
February 9, 2026 at 4:56 PM
My critique of Toronto’s fantastical approach to urbanism:
Reposted by Heliomass
My least popular (and most correct) view is that cars should be automatically limited to the local speed limit. Put the pedal to the floor and you still can't go over 25mph in a residential area.
(15 in Manhattan btw)
(15 in Manhattan btw)
There is no possible justification for limiting e-bikes to 15mph but not cars.
New York Has a New E-Bike Speed Limit—and No Way to Enforce It
August 9, 2025 at 4:47 PM
My least popular (and most correct) view is that cars should be automatically limited to the local speed limit. Put the pedal to the floor and you still can't go over 25mph in a residential area.
(15 in Manhattan btw)
(15 in Manhattan btw)
Reposted by Heliomass
Monday's Friday Reads for 9 February:
Monday's Friday Reads for 9 February
* I inhaled traffic fumes to find out where air pollution goes in my body (BBC)
* Paddington could host TfL’s first sensory-friendly “quiet space” for travellers (Ian Visits)
* North America's Best Transit Cities – A Countdown: Video (Ray Delahanty | CityNerd)
* Germany reopens the Hermann-Hesse railway line: Video (Singapuu)
* The Second Lives
londonreconnections.com
February 9, 2026 at 9:00 AM
Monday's Friday Reads for 9 February:
Reposted by Heliomass
line 5 Eglinton final impressions: pleasantly surprised at the underground section & expectedly frustrated at the surface section
there are already capacity issues with doors & narrow standing areas between bogeys—issues predictable with low floor LRVs. this *really* should've been a full subway.
there are already capacity issues with doors & narrow standing areas between bogeys—issues predictable with low floor LRVs. this *really* should've been a full subway.
February 9, 2026 at 1:45 AM
line 5 Eglinton final impressions: pleasantly surprised at the underground section & expectedly frustrated at the surface section
there are already capacity issues with doors & narrow standing areas between bogeys—issues predictable with low floor LRVs. this *really* should've been a full subway.
there are already capacity issues with doors & narrow standing areas between bogeys—issues predictable with low floor LRVs. this *really* should've been a full subway.