Madeleine Bonsma-Fisher, PhD
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mbonsma.bsky.social
Madeleine Bonsma-Fisher, PhD
@mbonsma.bsky.social
12K followers 1.6K following 1.8K posts
Bikes + data, UofT biophys PhD, mom.
I post about bikes and safe streets, local politics, and sometimes science. She/her.
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mbonsma.bsky.social
Lowering speeds would save lives, but of course we can't do that, so a few deaths here and there is just the cost of doing business. (5 km/h isn't necessary, by the way, 30 km/h is all it takes to achieve this)
Mr. Ric Bresee: One of the things we’re talking about here today is safety, how people move around the entire province, and it brings me back to a conversation I had—I mentioned earlier that I was in municipal government for a long time. There was a council debate about a particular safety issue, and the engineer brought forward an idea at the time, and that was, if we could pass something that would guarantee that there would be no deaths on our streets, would we do it? Of course, everyone said—and I know this is going to sound like I’m being flippant, and I’m not; I just wanted to enter this into the conversation—and he said we could guarantee it if we limited all vehicles to a speed of no more than five kilometres per hour, then there would be no fatalities. And he’s not wrong. The idea is, unfortunately, while we strive to achieve Vision Zero, while we strive to achieve safety in as many cases as possible, there is a human element. There is a random element. As long as we’re wanting the efficiency of the vehicles that we’re using, whether they be bicycles, whether they be cars or transports or transit systems or planes, as long as we’re going over five kilometres an hour, there unfortunately will occasionally be injuries; there will occasionally be accidents. We can minimize those to the best of our ability, but we’re never going to eliminate them. It’s just not a reality statement. So what we are actually talking about is finding the best way, finding the best path to safety, recognizing that we still use all of these means of transportation, all of the types of vehicles that I just mentioned, including walking and pedalling and all of it, and finding the best way to go about doing that.
November 17, 2025 at 2:38 PM
mbonsma.bsky.social
This should be illegal
An ad for the Zootopia movie on the wall of Broadview subway station. The ad has movie characters pasted directly on the wall, not on an ad board, and a fake subway station name "BROADZOO" that is meant to mimic the real thing
November 16, 2025 at 6:11 PM
mbonsma.bsky.social
Pour one out for the 1950s-era passenger train between Smithville and Hamilton 😔

tales.wellandhistory.ca/2015/05/05/m...
Screenshot of a history of Wellandport blog post. "The daily bus service from Dunnville to Smithville was in operation by Bert Phillips. Villagers would avail themselves occasionally. for a special outing, ride the bus to Smithville. Purchase a special rated train ticket to Hamilton for the day from the Smithville railroad station office and off for a days shopping. Think this cost about 65 cents return. Many the trips I made with friends."
November 15, 2025 at 5:24 PM
mbonsma.bsky.social
I can't find the actual speech but I did find a Word doc with nothing but these photos which I think explains it pretty well
An old-fashioned street light with a bulb below the head A pixelated image of a street light where the bulb is flush with the bottom of the head (properly shaded) A split photo of a house at night with a sky orange with light pollution and the same sky with the milky way visible A photo of the milky way in a dark sky area
November 13, 2025 at 10:41 PM
mbonsma.bsky.social
10/10, trains rule
My son looking out the window of the GO train coming through downtown Toronto My son playing the Mastermind guessing game
November 8, 2025 at 7:01 PM
mbonsma.bsky.social
We don't own a car, but the best gas passenger car is a Mitsubishi Mirage (my dad's car, which he adores). We drive less than 10,000 km/year, but this estimate is for 10k-15k km/year, so my trip today could cost from $52-$78 for the cheapest owned gas car.

carcosts.caa.ca/results/onta...
CAA cost calculator for the Mitsubishi Mirage, 10,000-15,000 km per year, assuming $100 per month in insurance.
November 8, 2025 at 3:43 PM
mbonsma.bsky.social
Our round trip driving would be 175 km, and for the Communauto plan we have, the round trip would cost $82.50, a combination of distance and time. They give you the lowest rate between Flex and round-trip calculations when you use a Flex car.

toronto.communauto.com/rates/#calcu...
Communauto trip calculator showing a cost of $82.50 for a flex rate vehicle
November 8, 2025 at 3:43 PM
mbonsma.bsky.social
Stormwater retention, flood prevention, increased building efficiency, reduced emissions, reduced urban heat, job creation, habitat restoration? Who cares, my developer buddies think green roofs are annoying
Since the bylaw came into force in 2009, more than 1,200 green roofs have been installed across the city, totalling more than one million square metres and absorbing 550 million litres of stormwater annually, according to City Hall. Green roofs run the gamut from a layer of dirt with simple grasses to heavier installations that can include trees and shrubs, or even rooftop farms that produce vegetables. In addition to absorbing rainwater and preventing flooding by taking pressure off the city’s aging storm sewers, green roofs also provide a layer of insulation that reduces heating and cooling bills. The city says green roofs have led to energy savings equivalent to powering 430 homes for a year, and greenhouse gas emission reductions equivalent to taking 500 cars off the road. The local industry and expertise that has sprung up to help developers comply with the green roof bylaw has led to unexpected benefits: many green roofs are now being installed even where they aren’t obligatory — on relatively small garage and laneway house roofs. ‘No one had any clue this was happening’ Many of the estimated 1,600 jobs in the green roof industry are located in rural areas, said Jeremy Wright, co-owner of ZinCo Canada, a green roof manufacturer based in Carlisle, Ont. Most of the others are blue-collar workers, like roofers and landscapers. “Our industry is just getting wiped out. No one had any clue this was happening,” said Wright, who was at Queen’s Park on Monday speaking to MPPs. “I don’t think (Premier Doug) Ford and Flack appreciate the repercussions of what they’ve done.” Green roofs have also been found to reduce the urban heat island effect, helping keep people cool, both inside and out, during heat waves. According to a poll released last month by the Toronto Environmental Alliance, more than 90 per cent of Torontonians support requirements that make buildings safer from extreme heat and flooding.
November 4, 2025 at 5:33 PM
mbonsma.bsky.social
Nothing good in Toronto that Doug Ford won't try to ruin

www.thestar.com/news/gta/dou...
Doug Ford quietly kills Toronto’s green roof bylaw Since the bylaw came into force in 2009, more than 1,200 green roofs have been installed across the city. The province has quietly killed Toronto’s green roof bylaw, a policy that propelled the city to become a world leader in environmental construction. Even though the province had announced its intention to repeal the requirement for new large buildings to install green roofs in the omnibus Bill 60, the measure was passed via order-in-council, without public notice on the eve of the first game of the World Series. Last week, Ontario Housing Minister Rob Flack’s office denied any knowledge of the measure being passed via decree. After the Star obtained a copy of the order, Flack’s office said the city can still have a green roof policy, but it could no longer be mandatory. “By making green roofs voluntary, builders and taxpayers have the flexibility of choice, while reducing unnecessary costs and keeping Ontario workers on the job,” said Flack’s spokesperson, Alexandra Sanita, in an email.
November 4, 2025 at 5:24 PM
mbonsma.bsky.social
Kids are in bed, let the Standard Time games begin
Celestial seasonings Sleepytime bear with his little cap and cozy chair
November 3, 2025 at 12:34 AM
mbonsma.bsky.social
You look good today, Toronto!
The Toronto beaches with orange trees in the foreground, Lake Ontario in the background, and two people sitting on a bench beside the boardwalk Greektown on the Danforth looking west at sunset The CN tower from Lower Simcoe with beautiful fall trees at the base My husband with our Urban Arrow and two friends on Toronto bike share bikes at Biidaasige Park
November 2, 2025 at 12:45 AM
mbonsma.bsky.social
A William Shakespeare (I think bot) account, post text "Could not be wedg'd in more; I am stifled"
November 1, 2025 at 3:42 AM
mbonsma.bsky.social
Butterfly meme. "Me joining the bandwagon" [the butterfly] "lodged ball" [person] "is this an infield home run?"
November 1, 2025 at 3:32 AM
mbonsma.bsky.social
Studded tires are THE secret! Started using them in Ottawa and haven't looked back. It's true, in Toronto we only need them for 3 ish months, but they are a game changer for feeling confident on a snowy or icy day. Literally your boots will have less grip than your bike.
Our Tern GSD e-cargo bike on a completely ice-covered road
October 30, 2025 at 11:07 PM
mbonsma.bsky.social
Record highs in October
"Did you know? Toronto experiences an average of 28 smug alert days annually" from the stats_canada parody book
October 25, 2025 at 3:28 AM
mbonsma.bsky.social
Winner is unequivocally the Sky Dome and that's without even considering the CN tower views
The Rogers Centre, better known as the Sky Dome, beside the CN Tower in Downton Toronto as seen from the water A selfie of me at a Jays game with the dome open and the CN Tower behind me
October 24, 2025 at 7:55 PM
mbonsma.bsky.social
Reading material for the ride home. Her teeny voice drifts over me as we roll along: "Bahhh-y! Hop hop! Fwog! 'bit!"
My daughter sitting in our Urban Arrow cargo bike with the rain cover on, holding a baby book with pictures of animals.
October 24, 2025 at 6:01 PM
mbonsma.bsky.social
OMG 😭

@anglicandioto.bsky.social
A Facebook post from the Anglican Diocese of Toronto. Post text: "Lift up your hearts - and your rally towels! The liturgical colour for the Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost is officially blue! #jokingnotjoking #want it all" The photo is an edited picture of an open Anglican prayer book: "The Gathering of the Community The leader and people may stand, and say this canticle responsively Leader: Ok! (two claps) People: Ok! (two fist pumps) Leader: Blue Jays! (two claps) People: Blue Jays! (two fist pumps) Leader: Let's! (clap) People: Let's! (fist pump) Leader: Play! (clap) People: Play! (fist pump) All: Ball! (swing the bat)"
October 23, 2025 at 2:15 PM
mbonsma.bsky.social
I polled 100+ attendees of my talk about which modes of transportation they use most and which they would *like* to use most. The results are pretty striking: most people travel most often by car, but their preferences are nearly the opposite. 87 use cars most, but only 20 *want* to! #CIRPA2025
A menti poll: "Order the modes of transportation you use from most to least often." The crowdsourced order (118 rankings) is: car, walking, public transit, cycling, and other. A menti poll: "In an ideal world, which modes of transportation would you like to use most to least often?" The order is walking, cycling, public transit, car, other.
October 21, 2025 at 5:17 PM
mbonsma.bsky.social
VLADDYYYYYY 😭
Vladimir Guerrero Jr with tears in his eyes after winning the ALCS
October 21, 2025 at 3:07 AM
mbonsma.bsky.social
Anyway, this was my bike trip to music lessons:
Don Valley Elevated Wetlands planters - two huge concrete planters that look like elephants with trees growing in them. A stream of water is flowing from the taller one into the smaller one. Fall colours in the Don Valley A path with golden fall sunlight coming through the yellow, orange and green trees Fall colours beside Taylor Creek
October 18, 2025 at 9:00 PM
mbonsma.bsky.social
Active travel is "making memories of the otherwise mundane". Every trip is a little adventure.
My baby in a car seat in our Urban Arrow cargo bike. Her squishy cheeks are peeking out from under a little hat, and the bench seat has some orchids on it. Cross country skis sticking out the back of our Tern GSD e-cargo bike on a snowy day My son sitting in the back of our Tern GSD e-cargo bike with his small green bike strapped to the outside. My husband riding our Urban Arrow e-cargo bike with a Christmas tree in the front bucket
October 17, 2025 at 2:38 PM
mbonsma.bsky.social
I might feel differently if they win but you gotta hand it to them, this rocks
Two Seattle Mariners baseball players holding the home run trident, a large gold trident that looks cool as hell A Mariners fan holds an inflatable yellow trident
October 13, 2025 at 1:43 AM
mbonsma.bsky.social
Can't stop chuckling at the contrast between the Kirk and Judge strike zones
#Jays
Catcher Alejandro Kirk at bat for the Blue Jays in ALDS game 4. Kirk is a short guy and the strike zone is nearly a square. Aaron Judge at bat for the Yankees. He is a literal giant at 6'7" and his strike zone is very tall.
October 9, 2025 at 2:22 AM
mbonsma.bsky.social
Smug alert
"Did you know? Toronto experiences an average of 28 smug alert days annually." From the book "Stats Canada: satire on a national scale" by @stats_canada
October 6, 2025 at 2:36 PM