John Belshaw
@belshaw.bsky.social
Writer. Historian. Cyclist. Writing a history of cycling.
🛋️ Vancouver based
📚 Open textbooks https://opentextbc.ca/postconfederation/
🧭 Local stories https://www.anvilpress.com/books/vancouver-noir-1930-1960
Elbows up.
🛋️ Vancouver based
📚 Open textbooks https://opentextbc.ca/postconfederation/
🧭 Local stories https://www.anvilpress.com/books/vancouver-noir-1930-1960
Elbows up.
"Busted! Rustad Ousted!"
That's your headline for today. You're welcome
That's your headline for today. You're welcome
December 4, 2025 at 12:41 AM
"Busted! Rustad Ousted!"
That's your headline for today. You're welcome
That's your headline for today. You're welcome
Reposted by John Belshaw
If only there was a way we could consume all that steel domestically and somehow also address climate change and reduce cost of living ... Oh well
December 1, 2025 at 8:16 PM
If only there was a way we could consume all that steel domestically and somehow also address climate change and reduce cost of living ... Oh well
Reposted by John Belshaw
"But bike lanes cause cars to idle *more* and so, actually, *increase pollution*"
Paris: Va te faire voir!
Paris: Va te faire voir!
Pollution levels in Paris after they introduced bike lanes and car restrictions
Red = EU limits for Nitrogen Dioxide pollution
Original graphics by Atelier Parisien d'Urbanisme
www.apur.org
Red = EU limits for Nitrogen Dioxide pollution
Original graphics by Atelier Parisien d'Urbanisme
www.apur.org
December 2, 2025 at 3:18 AM
"But bike lanes cause cars to idle *more* and so, actually, *increase pollution*"
Paris: Va te faire voir!
Paris: Va te faire voir!
Reposted by John Belshaw
Paint is not infrastructure.
"Vancouver’s painted lanes were associated with higher cyclist KSI; Calgary’s cycle tracks with fewer KSI."
KSI = Killed or seriously injured
doi.org/10.1016/j.aa...
"Vancouver’s painted lanes were associated with higher cyclist KSI; Calgary’s cycle tracks with fewer KSI."
KSI = Killed or seriously injured
doi.org/10.1016/j.aa...
November 30, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Reposted by John Belshaw
Don't buy produce from the US.
The EPA has approved a new pesticide that contains PFAS, or 'forever chemicals', to be used on vegetables like lettuce, broccoli and potatoes.
November 24, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Don't buy produce from the US.
Reposted by John Belshaw
Unpacking history is rarely comfortable. "Sunday School children were used to raise money for the Anglican Missionary Fund, which supported Residential Schools."
Today’s post, by Evan J. Habkirk and Alanaise Ferguson, explores the responsibilities of churches, dioceses, and settlers in reconciliation.
This post is part of our Telling Truths about the Settler Colonial Project Series, check out the entire series!
This post is part of our Telling Truths about the Settler Colonial Project Series, check out the entire series!
Untangling the Web: Church and Public Accountability in National Reconciliation
All Catholic and Protestant churches in Canada need to undertake this painful work of disentangling the spiritual call to service from the presence of imperialism, colonialism, racism, and white su…
activehistory.ca
November 26, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Unpacking history is rarely comfortable. "Sunday School children were used to raise money for the Anglican Missionary Fund, which supported Residential Schools."
Reposted by John Belshaw
I like how the City of Vancouver’s response to the new PNE Amphitheatre being triple the original budget is to say “WORLD CLASS” like the phrase is a magical amulet that excuses any sins
November 26, 2025 at 4:09 PM
I like how the City of Vancouver’s response to the new PNE Amphitheatre being triple the original budget is to say “WORLD CLASS” like the phrase is a magical amulet that excuses any sins
Reposted by John Belshaw
🇺🇦 Zelensky: The crux of the entire diplomatic situation is that it was Russia, and only Russia, that started this war, and it is Russia, and only Russia, that has been refusing to end it throughout the full-scale invasion.
November 23, 2025 at 5:13 PM
🇺🇦 Zelensky: The crux of the entire diplomatic situation is that it was Russia, and only Russia, that started this war, and it is Russia, and only Russia, that has been refusing to end it throughout the full-scale invasion.
Reposted by John Belshaw
Vancouver drops from #19 to #30 under the so-called "leadership" of Chairman Sim and ABC. What an embarrassment.
Anyone who says "buuut the rain" should try winter cycling in Montreal and Quebec City sometime.
Anyone who says "buuut the rain" should try winter cycling in Montreal and Quebec City sometime.
November 20, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Vancouver drops from #19 to #30 under the so-called "leadership" of Chairman Sim and ABC. What an embarrassment.
Anyone who says "buuut the rain" should try winter cycling in Montreal and Quebec City sometime.
Anyone who says "buuut the rain" should try winter cycling in Montreal and Quebec City sometime.
The surveillance state is real.
November 15, 2025 at 1:00 AM
The surveillance state is real.
The legend lives on from the Snuneymuxw on down,
Of the great ship the Queen of Coquitlam....
@bcferrys.bsky.social
Of the great ship the Queen of Coquitlam....
@bcferrys.bsky.social
November 10, 2025 at 3:50 PM
The legend lives on from the Snuneymuxw on down,
Of the great ship the Queen of Coquitlam....
@bcferrys.bsky.social
Of the great ship the Queen of Coquitlam....
@bcferrys.bsky.social
Baseball shmaseball. Whitecaps are Canada's team now.
Tickets on sale SUNDAY at 10am! Vancouver Whitecaps FC will host the MLS Western Conference Semifinal at home at BC Place on November 22nd.
#MLSCupPlayoffs #Vancouver #VWFC @southsiders.ca
#MLSCupPlayoffs #Vancouver #VWFC @southsiders.ca
Whitecaps FC to Host Western Conference Semifinal in Vancouver
Vancouver Whitecaps FC are onto MLS Western Conference Semifinal at BC Place on Saturday, November 22, 2025 vs either LAFC or Austin FC.
miss604.com
November 2, 2025 at 5:16 AM
Baseball shmaseball. Whitecaps are Canada's team now.
Reposted by John Belshaw
Hey remind me, has Pierre Poilievre finally completed his standard security check yet and managed to get the normal, standard security clearance that everyone else even close to his position has?
No?
STILL REFUSES TO?
Hmm.
Wonder what the REAL reason for that is?
No?
STILL REFUSES TO?
Hmm.
Wonder what the REAL reason for that is?
November 1, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Hey remind me, has Pierre Poilievre finally completed his standard security check yet and managed to get the normal, standard security clearance that everyone else even close to his position has?
No?
STILL REFUSES TO?
Hmm.
Wonder what the REAL reason for that is?
No?
STILL REFUSES TO?
Hmm.
Wonder what the REAL reason for that is?
Reposted by John Belshaw
as a bird artist, in honor of tonight’s game i have attempted to draw the gorgeous blue jay as accurately as possible. as always please let me know if you have any constructive criticism
October 31, 2025 at 5:56 PM
as a bird artist, in honor of tonight’s game i have attempted to draw the gorgeous blue jay as accurately as possible. as always please let me know if you have any constructive criticism
Reposted by John Belshaw
Actually, seeing a man of color, getting scared, and calling The Police, is pretty typical racist behavior
sting? fucking STING? who in 2025 wants to see solo sting? this has to be a joke
www.yahoo.com/entertainmen...
www.yahoo.com/entertainmen...
NFL Succumbs To Bad Bunny Criticism And Announces Special Super Bowl Concert With Sting
In an unexpected bid to calm the frenzy over Bad Bunny headlining the 2026 Super Bowl show, the NFL has introduced a special feature.
www.yahoo.com
October 30, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Actually, seeing a man of color, getting scared, and calling The Police, is pretty typical racist behavior
This is a "gookie", perfected and performed by Harpo Marx. Practice it. Be ready. Brave Canadians, you know what to do.
October 26, 2025 at 8:20 PM
This is a "gookie", perfected and performed by Harpo Marx. Practice it. Be ready. Brave Canadians, you know what to do.
Reposted by John Belshaw
According to the rule, photos taken of foreign travellers will remain on a DHS database for up to 75 years.
www.cbc.ca/news/busines...
www.cbc.ca/news/busines...
U.S. to photograph Canadian travellers when they enter and exit at all land borders, airports | CBC News
The United States is expanding its facial identification program for travellers, with the goal of collecting images of non-U.S. citizens entering and exiting the country by all modes of transport.
www.cbc.ca
October 26, 2025 at 3:14 PM
According to the rule, photos taken of foreign travellers will remain on a DHS database for up to 75 years.
www.cbc.ca/news/busines...
www.cbc.ca/news/busines...
Reposted by John Belshaw
"Men are afraid women will laugh at them. Women are afraid men will kill them." -- Margaret Atwood
October 26, 2025 at 2:28 AM
"Men are afraid women will laugh at them. Women are afraid men will kill them." -- Margaret Atwood
I'm absolutely in favour of some form of PR. Also mandatory voting. Show up or face a fine.
"implementing a system of proportional representation would be the ultimate nation-building project. It would do more for Canada than any pipeline or port ever could, making govt more effective and efficient while also mitigating partisan hostility."
Hear, hear!
www.thestar.com/opinion/lett...
Hear, hear!
www.thestar.com/opinion/lett...
Forget pipelines. Here’s a better ‘nation-building project’
As the federal government talks infrastructure, Star readers get behind electoral reform.
www.thestar.com
October 25, 2025 at 4:34 PM
I'm absolutely in favour of some form of PR. Also mandatory voting. Show up or face a fine.
Reposted by John Belshaw
Worth reading! #UrbanistShoutOut
NEW: “Toderian says it’s easy to be distracted by futuristic innovations like electric cars, drone delivery networks & hyperloops. ‘The real solutions are a lot less sexy and a lot more common sense… Tech won’t save us if we get the fundamentals wrong.”
I was 1 of 3 urban experts asked to weigh in.
I was 1 of 3 urban experts asked to weigh in.
A world without traffic? Three urban experts rethink how cities move
Gridlock is costing us billions, but bold solutions like bus-only lanes, congestion charges and flexible work hours could get cities moving again
www.theglobeandmail.com
October 25, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Worth reading! #UrbanistShoutOut
Reposted by John Belshaw
October 23, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Reposted by John Belshaw
Reposted by John Belshaw
Updating my LEGO White House
October 23, 2025 at 2:51 AM
Updating my LEGO White House
Reposted by John Belshaw
What drivers see no matter what you wear:
October 16, 2025 at 2:40 PM
What drivers see no matter what you wear:
Reposted by John Belshaw
Pierre Poilievre says he wants to “restore merit.” He needed to be handed arguably the safest, most impossible to lose conservative seat in all of Canada after losing his own seat.
Seems like the opposite of merit. #Poilievre
(oh, and he still refuses to complete a check for a security clearance)
Seems like the opposite of merit. #Poilievre
(oh, and he still refuses to complete a check for a security clearance)
October 15, 2025 at 12:25 AM
Pierre Poilievre says he wants to “restore merit.” He needed to be handed arguably the safest, most impossible to lose conservative seat in all of Canada after losing his own seat.
Seems like the opposite of merit. #Poilievre
(oh, and he still refuses to complete a check for a security clearance)
Seems like the opposite of merit. #Poilievre
(oh, and he still refuses to complete a check for a security clearance)