Cassie Smith (she/her)
@cassiesmith.bsky.social
Feminist geographer and cargo bike mom.
Volunteer: Bike Ottawa VP, For Our Kids, Kidical Mass championing safe, sustainable, fun, and equitable spaces especially for kids.
Work: Transportation strategy and solutions with EnviroCentre. Views my own.
Volunteer: Bike Ottawa VP, For Our Kids, Kidical Mass championing safe, sustainable, fun, and equitable spaces especially for kids.
Work: Transportation strategy and solutions with EnviroCentre. Views my own.
Pinned
What a week BlueSky! Welcome new followers! 👋🏻 I mostly post about kids, bikes, & kid-carrying bikes along with climate action and local happenings in Ottawa.
This all ramped up 3.5 years ago, when (in the span of ONE month) I:
- had a (2nd) baby
- got a cargo bike
- was accepted into grad school
This all ramped up 3.5 years ago, when (in the span of ONE month) I:
- had a (2nd) baby
- got a cargo bike
- was accepted into grad school
Reposted by Cassie Smith (she/her)
It‘s not great that the best gloss on Carney’s pipeline deal is that he’s either pulling a fast one on the premier of Alberta or on the people of Canada.
Democracies can’t function if citizens have to resort to guessing what their leaders are actually doing.
Democracies can’t function if citizens have to resort to guessing what their leaders are actually doing.
November 28, 2025 at 2:42 AM
It‘s not great that the best gloss on Carney’s pipeline deal is that he’s either pulling a fast one on the premier of Alberta or on the people of Canada.
Democracies can’t function if citizens have to resort to guessing what their leaders are actually doing.
Democracies can’t function if citizens have to resort to guessing what their leaders are actually doing.
Reposted by Cassie Smith (she/her)
Slow news day.
To catch you up, here's our universe of stories published and still to come on today's political tsunami.
To catch you up, here's our universe of stories published and still to come on today's political tsunami.
November 28, 2025 at 12:25 AM
Slow news day.
To catch you up, here's our universe of stories published and still to come on today's political tsunami.
To catch you up, here's our universe of stories published and still to come on today's political tsunami.
Reposted by Cassie Smith (she/her)
so our government made a big deal about banning speed cameras but one city left theirs running to see what difference the ban would make and you are not going to believe this
November 28, 2025 at 12:56 AM
so our government made a big deal about banning speed cameras but one city left theirs running to see what difference the ban would make and you are not going to believe this
Reposted by Cassie Smith (she/her)
highly recommend anyone new in this space to buy pylons and just put them out - drivers care much more about pylons than children on the street
November 27, 2025 at 2:56 PM
highly recommend anyone new in this space to buy pylons and just put them out - drivers care much more about pylons than children on the street
This morning a bouncy ball bounced into my mug full of coffee.
The bouncy ball era is officially over.
The bouncy ball era is officially over.
The sound of a bouncy ball bouncing indoors may be one of the most irritating noises I've ever encountered.
November 27, 2025 at 2:05 PM
This morning a bouncy ball bounced into my mug full of coffee.
The bouncy ball era is officially over.
The bouncy ball era is officially over.
Reposted by Cassie Smith (she/her)
it can be hard work being an active citizen and lots of people don't have the time or capacity to do it. which means opportunities to participate in civic life are not equally distributed.
November 27, 2025 at 9:44 AM
it can be hard work being an active citizen and lots of people don't have the time or capacity to do it. which means opportunities to participate in civic life are not equally distributed.
Reposted by Cassie Smith (she/her)
Ultimately this is a regulatory problem that serious people in transport department offices dismissed because bikes are thought of as a child’s toy, a rich man’s hobby, or a poor man’s last resort. (Gender deliberate, bc women don’t ride bikes). What other problemAtIc unreguted tech is out there?
CPSC urges consumers to immediately remove the battery from the e-bike and dispose of the battery following local hazardous waste disposal procedures. Do not sell or give away these hazardous batteries.
November 24, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Ultimately this is a regulatory problem that serious people in transport department offices dismissed because bikes are thought of as a child’s toy, a rich man’s hobby, or a poor man’s last resort. (Gender deliberate, bc women don’t ride bikes). What other problemAtIc unreguted tech is out there?
Reposted by Cassie Smith (she/her)
I have been pushing OC Transpo to adopt a youth pass, for free transit for 18 and under and compliment the existing U-Pass in Ottawa. A big step in that direction today is before transit commission with free service after 5pm, on weekends and holidays for 18-under. Would love to see summers added.
November 24, 2025 at 5:04 PM
I have been pushing OC Transpo to adopt a youth pass, for free transit for 18 and under and compliment the existing U-Pass in Ottawa. A big step in that direction today is before transit commission with free service after 5pm, on weekends and holidays for 18-under. Would love to see summers added.
The sound of a bouncy ball bouncing indoors may be one of the most irritating noises I've ever encountered.
November 24, 2025 at 12:48 PM
The sound of a bouncy ball bouncing indoors may be one of the most irritating noises I've ever encountered.
I had a kid and it felt like I had to drive everywhere at the same time I really really really didn't want to drive.
November 23, 2025 at 8:39 PM
I had a kid and it felt like I had to drive everywhere at the same time I really really really didn't want to drive.
I helped with @envirocentre.bsky.social's "extend your cycling season" #OttBike Tour this afternoon. We welcomed cyclists looking to try #WinterBiking for the first time and some new to Ottawa residents with hands-on tips and tricks about year-round cycling and the winter maintained network. 1/2
November 22, 2025 at 8:40 PM
I helped with @envirocentre.bsky.social's "extend your cycling season" #OttBike Tour this afternoon. We welcomed cyclists looking to try #WinterBiking for the first time and some new to Ottawa residents with hands-on tips and tricks about year-round cycling and the winter maintained network. 1/2
Reposted by Cassie Smith (she/her)
For centuries, cities have been planned by and for able-bodied, gainfully-employed men.
Feminist urban planning isn’t proposing the opposite, but a model that considers all stages of human life, from infancy to old age, without giving greater importance to the productive-work stage.
bit.ly/49uev9N
Feminist urban planning isn’t proposing the opposite, but a model that considers all stages of human life, from infancy to old age, without giving greater importance to the productive-work stage.
bit.ly/49uev9N
November 22, 2025 at 2:27 PM
For centuries, cities have been planned by and for able-bodied, gainfully-employed men.
Feminist urban planning isn’t proposing the opposite, but a model that considers all stages of human life, from infancy to old age, without giving greater importance to the productive-work stage.
bit.ly/49uev9N
Feminist urban planning isn’t proposing the opposite, but a model that considers all stages of human life, from infancy to old age, without giving greater importance to the productive-work stage.
bit.ly/49uev9N
Reposted by Cassie Smith (she/her)
Reducing emissions without phasing out fossil fuels is like being full after a big restaurant meal and telling the waiter to keep delivering new dishes to the table with a promise that your kids and your neighbor who is not even at the table will pay the bill.
November 22, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Reducing emissions without phasing out fossil fuels is like being full after a big restaurant meal and telling the waiter to keep delivering new dishes to the table with a promise that your kids and your neighbor who is not even at the table will pay the bill.
Reposted by Cassie Smith (she/her)
Kids know best. Look at these bikes! Front basket, long-tail cargo bike or bike with a bucket out front to carry lots of people. Our politicians would do well to build cities for them.
Yesterday at a Hintonburg community event.
Yesterday at a Hintonburg community event.
November 21, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Kids know best. Look at these bikes! Front basket, long-tail cargo bike or bike with a bucket out front to carry lots of people. Our politicians would do well to build cities for them.
Yesterday at a Hintonburg community event.
Yesterday at a Hintonburg community event.
Reposted by Cassie Smith (she/her)
As I argue in The Language of Climate Politics: we are stuck not because climate politics are polarized, but because they’re UNIFIED (across the right and center-left) on the lie that we can keep using oil and gas but still deal with climate change anyway.
Here’s a good example of that discourse.
Here’s a good example of that discourse.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said today that the fight against climate change was not against the fuels that cause it — only the pollution they emit.
Von der Leyen says EU is not fighting fossil fuels, only emissions
The comment could undermine European countries’ push at COP30 to move away from coal, oil and gas.
www.politico.eu
November 21, 2025 at 7:24 PM
As I argue in The Language of Climate Politics: we are stuck not because climate politics are polarized, but because they’re UNIFIED (across the right and center-left) on the lie that we can keep using oil and gas but still deal with climate change anyway.
Here’s a good example of that discourse.
Here’s a good example of that discourse.
Reposted by Cassie Smith (she/her)
Science will often take you to unexpected and delightful places. In this study, researchers hypothesized that riders in a crowded subway car would be more likely to offer their seat to a pregnant person if there were someone in the subway car dressed as Batman 🧪🦇
www.nature.com/articles/s44...
www.nature.com/articles/s44...
November 21, 2025 at 11:14 PM
Science will often take you to unexpected and delightful places. In this study, researchers hypothesized that riders in a crowded subway car would be more likely to offer their seat to a pregnant person if there were someone in the subway car dressed as Batman 🧪🦇
www.nature.com/articles/s44...
www.nature.com/articles/s44...
I had a fun time playing bike tour guide with @bikehfxlobby.bsky.social in a special #KidicalMassHfx meets #KidicalMassOttawa mash-up today 🎉.
Jillian (& @envirojen.bsky.social) really ignited my spark for doing this movement building here. It was so nice to chat and share wins & challenges.
Jillian (& @envirojen.bsky.social) really ignited my spark for doing this movement building here. It was so nice to chat and share wins & challenges.
November 21, 2025 at 2:11 AM
I had a fun time playing bike tour guide with @bikehfxlobby.bsky.social in a special #KidicalMassHfx meets #KidicalMassOttawa mash-up today 🎉.
Jillian (& @envirojen.bsky.social) really ignited my spark for doing this movement building here. It was so nice to chat and share wins & challenges.
Jillian (& @envirojen.bsky.social) really ignited my spark for doing this movement building here. It was so nice to chat and share wins & challenges.
Reposted by Cassie Smith (she/her)
Oh, so they can act decisively in the case of emergency afterall?
BREAKING: The UN climate talks COP30 have been evacuated due to a fire breaking out inside the venue in Belém, Brazil.
November 21, 2025 at 1:35 AM
Oh, so they can act decisively in the case of emergency afterall?
Reposted by Cassie Smith (she/her)
What ever happened to Ottawa's self-cleaning public toilets? ottawacitizen.com/news/local-n...
November 19, 2025 at 5:25 PM
What ever happened to Ottawa's self-cleaning public toilets? ottawacitizen.com/news/local-n...
Reposted by Cassie Smith (she/her)
🚨No loss of life or serious injury on our roads is acceptable.
📣 We want those who govern our transportation systems to fully embrace Vision Zero
👇Join the Vision Zero Ottawa project!
📅 December 2nd 6:30-8:30pm
For details on Day Zero of Vision Zero
schoolstreetsottawa.ca/day-zero-of-...
📣 We want those who govern our transportation systems to fully embrace Vision Zero
👇Join the Vision Zero Ottawa project!
📅 December 2nd 6:30-8:30pm
For details on Day Zero of Vision Zero
schoolstreetsottawa.ca/day-zero-of-...
Day Zero of Vision Zero Ottawa
We are reaching out to ask for your support in starting a Vision Zero Team for Ottawa. This will be our Day Zero—the first step toward building a safer city for everyone. What is Vision Zero?Vision…
schoolstreetsottawa.ca
November 18, 2025 at 12:05 PM
🚨No loss of life or serious injury on our roads is acceptable.
📣 We want those who govern our transportation systems to fully embrace Vision Zero
👇Join the Vision Zero Ottawa project!
📅 December 2nd 6:30-8:30pm
For details on Day Zero of Vision Zero
schoolstreetsottawa.ca/day-zero-of-...
📣 We want those who govern our transportation systems to fully embrace Vision Zero
👇Join the Vision Zero Ottawa project!
📅 December 2nd 6:30-8:30pm
For details on Day Zero of Vision Zero
schoolstreetsottawa.ca/day-zero-of-...
Reposted by Cassie Smith (she/her)
My good friend Jess reading out names of innocent ppl who have a lost their lives to road violence.
Candles represent lives lost.
It’s so wrong when our elected reps place the convenience of drivers over prioritizing the safety of vulnerable road users.
via @ffsafestreets.bsky.social #WDoR2025
Candles represent lives lost.
It’s so wrong when our elected reps place the convenience of drivers over prioritizing the safety of vulnerable road users.
via @ffsafestreets.bsky.social #WDoR2025
November 16, 2025 at 11:50 PM
My good friend Jess reading out names of innocent ppl who have a lost their lives to road violence.
Candles represent lives lost.
It’s so wrong when our elected reps place the convenience of drivers over prioritizing the safety of vulnerable road users.
via @ffsafestreets.bsky.social #WDoR2025
Candles represent lives lost.
It’s so wrong when our elected reps place the convenience of drivers over prioritizing the safety of vulnerable road users.
via @ffsafestreets.bsky.social #WDoR2025
Reposted by Cassie Smith (she/her)
Almost everywhere in the City of Toronto has fewer people that it did 50 years ago
November 15, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Almost everywhere in the City of Toronto has fewer people that it did 50 years ago
Reposted by Cassie Smith (she/her)
Drivers: I know you think you’re doing cyclists a favour by stopping & waving us through an intersection while you’ve got right of way, but you really aren’t. You’re being unpredictable and screwing up the flow of traffic for everyone and just causing further delays for us to safely cross. Stop it.
November 13, 2025 at 11:47 PM
Drivers: I know you think you’re doing cyclists a favour by stopping & waving us through an intersection while you’ve got right of way, but you really aren’t. You’re being unpredictable and screwing up the flow of traffic for everyone and just causing further delays for us to safely cross. Stop it.
Reposted by Cassie Smith (she/her)
We need to legislate full-sized dump trucks OFF urban streets. Get them out of here. NOW.
There are smaller dump, garbage, delivery, and salting trucks available; many municipalities use and mandate them successfully. The problem isn't that we can't do anything: it's that we just can't be bothered.
There are smaller dump, garbage, delivery, and salting trucks available; many municipalities use and mandate them successfully. The problem isn't that we can't do anything: it's that we just can't be bothered.
Horrifying news from Hamilton about a crossing guard killed by a dump truck driver.
But not surprising. I see dangerous driving of dump trucks regularly. At least 3 of the road fatalities in Ottawa this year involve dump trucks.
We need more housing and intensification but it has to be safer.
But not surprising. I see dangerous driving of dump trucks regularly. At least 3 of the road fatalities in Ottawa this year involve dump trucks.
We need more housing and intensification but it has to be safer.
November 14, 2025 at 4:02 PM
We need to legislate full-sized dump trucks OFF urban streets. Get them out of here. NOW.
There are smaller dump, garbage, delivery, and salting trucks available; many municipalities use and mandate them successfully. The problem isn't that we can't do anything: it's that we just can't be bothered.
There are smaller dump, garbage, delivery, and salting trucks available; many municipalities use and mandate them successfully. The problem isn't that we can't do anything: it's that we just can't be bothered.