Tyler Smith
@tylerismith.bsky.social
Western Canadian living in Ottawa. Urbanist. #YIMBY
Reposted by Tyler Smith
The never-spoken bit: Our school was slated to close about a decade ago but now has two kindergarten classes. Well done, infill, in saving us the expense of building a new school, community, and infrastructure at the city’s edge and instead refilling our emptying neighbourhoods.
December 18, 2025 at 6:01 PM
The never-spoken bit: Our school was slated to close about a decade ago but now has two kindergarten classes. Well done, infill, in saving us the expense of building a new school, community, and infrastructure at the city’s edge and instead refilling our emptying neighbourhoods.
Hot
Mega heat pumps are coming. It’s great to see that so many projects are now underway around the world.
There’s a real competition on who builds the biggest heat pump.
Technology has come a long way and keeps getting better.
There’s a real competition on who builds the biggest heat pump.
Technology has come a long way and keeps getting better.
December 17, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Hot
The light switches aren’t even level in the Whitehouse?
Oh my god y'all I had not seen the rest of the Vanity Fair photos holy shit. Christopher Anderson deserves a medal.
Look at this. He left the LIGHT SWITCHES in the edited photos! These assholes look like their well-meaning mom took a picture of them on their first day in a grown-up job.
Look at this. He left the LIGHT SWITCHES in the edited photos! These assholes look like their well-meaning mom took a picture of them on their first day in a grown-up job.
December 17, 2025 at 3:01 PM
The light switches aren’t even level in the Whitehouse?
Heart emoji
Merriam-Webster’s human editors have chosen ‘slop’ as the 2025 Word of the Year.
December 15, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Heart emoji
Reposted by Tyler Smith
“It's not my duty as Mayor to make sure you have a parking spot. For me it's the same as if you bought a cow, or a refrigerator, and then asked me where you're going to put them.” — Mayor of Pontevedra, Spain (re-elected 6 times)
December 13, 2025 at 12:55 AM
“It's not my duty as Mayor to make sure you have a parking spot. For me it's the same as if you bought a cow, or a refrigerator, and then asked me where you're going to put them.” — Mayor of Pontevedra, Spain (re-elected 6 times)
As an Ottawa resident I support this plan.
Canada is moving ahead with the first leg of ALTO high speed rail, between Montreal and our Capital Ottawa. Chosen for its easy geography, this segment of HSR will cut travel times on this route to under an hour from 2 hours today. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Montreal-Ottawa chosen as first leg of high-speed rail project | CBC News
The first segment of Canada's proposed high-speed rail network would connect Montreal and Ottawa, according to Radio-Canada.
Federal Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon is expected to make the announc...
www.cbc.ca
December 12, 2025 at 1:54 PM
As an Ottawa resident I support this plan.
Reposted by Tyler Smith
“No more sufferin on Dufferin!” Here’s a shining example from Toronto of what dedicated bus lanes can do for commuter traffic. This is what residents can experience on Baseline, or Merivale, or so many other transportation corridors.
Blasting past rush hour traffic on the completed portion of Dufferin RapidTO (up to Dundas)
November 27, 2025 at 12:15 PM
“No more sufferin on Dufferin!” Here’s a shining example from Toronto of what dedicated bus lanes can do for commuter traffic. This is what residents can experience on Baseline, or Merivale, or so many other transportation corridors.
Reposted by Tyler Smith
I know a lot of people for whom Rad was their gateway into the magic of bike life. This is sad for them and for the company, who are already in a bad financial situation. I am personally not regretting spending more on quality e-bikes with certified components.
CPSC Warns Consumers to Immediately Stop Using Batteries for E-Bikes from Rad Power Bikes Due to Fire Hazard; Risk of Serious Injury or Death www.cpsc.gov/Warnings/202...
November 24, 2025 at 7:50 PM
I know a lot of people for whom Rad was their gateway into the magic of bike life. This is sad for them and for the company, who are already in a bad financial situation. I am personally not regretting spending more on quality e-bikes with certified components.
<goose honking GIF>
*Who controls the health system funding Premier?*
*Who controls the health system funding Premier?*
“Smith gives the example that a surgeon might be limited to performing 1,000 surgeries annually, due to health system funding constraints, but could possibly perform even more if given the flexibility to do so privately.”
That’s almost 3 surgeries a day, 7 days a week.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
That’s almost 3 surgeries a day, 7 days a week.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Alberta premier confirms plans to allow physicians to work in both public and private health care systems | CBC News
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has confirmed her government's intention to allow physicians flexibility to work in both the public and private health care systems.
www.cbc.ca
November 20, 2025 at 2:19 AM
<goose honking GIF>
*Who controls the health system funding Premier?*
*Who controls the health system funding Premier?*
Reposted by Tyler Smith
Canadians should travel outside of North America more often
Once you stop using the United States as your only point of comparison for the state of this country, you quickly realize how basic our infrastructure is
Once you stop using the United States as your only point of comparison for the state of this country, you quickly realize how basic our infrastructure is
November 17, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Canadians should travel outside of North America more often
Once you stop using the United States as your only point of comparison for the state of this country, you quickly realize how basic our infrastructure is
Once you stop using the United States as your only point of comparison for the state of this country, you quickly realize how basic our infrastructure is
Reposted by Tyler Smith
fall and winter are the most obvious months to tell if your city cares about people walking or biking
Car lanes will be cleared of any snow or leaf litter almost immediately
While sidewalks and bike lanes will be full of snow and leaf litter for days
Car lanes will be cleared of any snow or leaf litter almost immediately
While sidewalks and bike lanes will be full of snow and leaf litter for days
November 16, 2025 at 6:07 PM
fall and winter are the most obvious months to tell if your city cares about people walking or biking
Car lanes will be cleared of any snow or leaf litter almost immediately
While sidewalks and bike lanes will be full of snow and leaf litter for days
Car lanes will be cleared of any snow or leaf litter almost immediately
While sidewalks and bike lanes will be full of snow and leaf litter for days
Reposted by Tyler Smith
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 Tyler Smith
Today marks the end of the Automated Speed Enforcement camera program across Ontario. For anyone concerned about the impact of speeding on the safety of vulnerable road users, and who believes in data-based decision-making, this day is filled with frustration, disappointment, and deep concern. 1/
November 14, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Today marks the end of the Automated Speed Enforcement camera program across Ontario. For anyone concerned about the impact of speeding on the safety of vulnerable road users, and who believes in data-based decision-making, this day is filled with frustration, disappointment, and deep concern. 1/
Reposted by Tyler Smith
If a worker is killed using manufacturing equipment, they don't just clean it up and get back to using it immediately. But that's what happens at road intersections.
Motonormativity is a dangerous disease.
Motonormativity is a dangerous disease.
what we should do now is of course close the intersection until it is redesigned. but we won't we will do nothing and wait for the next tragedy.
November 14, 2025 at 2:53 PM
If a worker is killed using manufacturing equipment, they don't just clean it up and get back to using it immediately. But that's what happens at road intersections.
Motonormativity is a dangerous disease.
Motonormativity is a dangerous disease.
As a regular on the 63 and 66 this will make a huge difference. I was routinely waiting extra for busses in the morning — despite going against the commute from Tunneys to Kanata N. — as the inbound bus was stuck in traffic.
The return downtown could be bad as I’d be stuck in the traffic often.
The return downtown could be bad as I’d be stuck in the traffic often.
The LRT Stage 2 team is preparing to re-open the Kichi Zìbì Mìkan to two lanes in both directions on Monday, November 17. Welcome news for OC Transpo customers who travel between Lincoln Fields and Dominion.
November 13, 2025 at 10:30 PM
As a regular on the 63 and 66 this will make a huge difference. I was routinely waiting extra for busses in the morning — despite going against the commute from Tunneys to Kanata N. — as the inbound bus was stuck in traffic.
The return downtown could be bad as I’d be stuck in the traffic often.
The return downtown could be bad as I’d be stuck in the traffic often.
This is shameful. I’m aghast at how ignorant some parents can be.
It's official: Canada has lost its measles elimination status because of an outbreak that has persisted for more than 12 months. Country can regain status only if on-going spread is of measles interrupted for more than a year. www.cbc.ca/news/health/... via @cbcnews.ca
November 10, 2025 at 7:16 PM
This is shameful. I’m aghast at how ignorant some parents can be.
Reposted by Tyler Smith
Ontario property assessments haven't been done since 2016 and it's getting ridiculous. Suburban homes are paying much lower property taxes than they should be.
Annual property taxes:
↙️ $8575 | $6360 ↘️
Annual property taxes:
↙️ $8575 | $6360 ↘️
November 9, 2025 at 12:09 AM
Ontario property assessments haven't been done since 2016 and it's getting ridiculous. Suburban homes are paying much lower property taxes than they should be.
Annual property taxes:
↙️ $8575 | $6360 ↘️
Annual property taxes:
↙️ $8575 | $6360 ↘️
Reposted by Tyler Smith
Tremendous to hear some veteran Ottawa city councillors argue that Lansdowne 2.0 is needed because the previous overhaul that they voted for is crap.
November 7, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Tremendous to hear some veteran Ottawa city councillors argue that Lansdowne 2.0 is needed because the previous overhaul that they voted for is crap.
This is super gross
I have been relatively quiet on here this week, because my office has been dealing with a barrage of email from people who attend a particular church, upset about the addition of paid parking on Saturdays nearby. BTW: there 525 free parking spots within the 400m zone (and 202 spots within 200m).
November 2, 2025 at 1:12 PM
This is super gross
Reposted by Tyler Smith
I know it’s too much to expect them to know their history, but if the American Revolution had a motto, it definitely would not have been “immigrants go home.”
It would have been “get your fucking soldiers out of our cities.”
It would have been “get your fucking soldiers out of our cities.”
October 28, 2025 at 1:48 PM
I know it’s too much to expect them to know their history, but if the American Revolution had a motto, it definitely would not have been “immigrants go home.”
It would have been “get your fucking soldiers out of our cities.”
It would have been “get your fucking soldiers out of our cities.”
Reposted by Tyler Smith
I wonder if the citation will note that a judge found that Jim Watson undermined city council to foist an unfinished and flawed LRT system onto the people of Ottawa and then lied to the inquiry into the scandal. www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/artic...
Former Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson named to Order of Ottawa
Former Ottawa mayor Jim Watson has been included in the list of inductees to the Order of Ottawa this year.
www.ctvnews.ca
October 27, 2025 at 1:44 PM
I wonder if the citation will note that a judge found that Jim Watson undermined city council to foist an unfinished and flawed LRT system onto the people of Ottawa and then lied to the inquiry into the scandal. www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/artic...
Smart home devices should be mandated to have local access in addition to cloud access.
Home Internet down? Local access.
Live in the deep woods? Local access.
Don’t want monetization of your usage patterns? Local access.
(This last point is the main reason devices don’t have local access.)
Home Internet down? Local access.
Live in the deep woods? Local access.
Don’t want monetization of your usage patterns? Local access.
(This last point is the main reason devices don’t have local access.)
Eight Sleep adds ‘outage mode’ to smart beds after AWS problems left them frozen
Eight Sleep adds ‘outage mode’ to smart beds after AWS problems left them frozen
Eight Sleep became No Sleep
buff.ly
October 22, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Smart home devices should be mandated to have local access in addition to cloud access.
Home Internet down? Local access.
Live in the deep woods? Local access.
Don’t want monetization of your usage patterns? Local access.
(This last point is the main reason devices don’t have local access.)
Home Internet down? Local access.
Live in the deep woods? Local access.
Don’t want monetization of your usage patterns? Local access.
(This last point is the main reason devices don’t have local access.)
Reposted by Tyler Smith
Hallowe'en is just around the corner and it is one of the most dangerous days for children. Here are some safety tips:
1) Avoid hitting children with your pickup truck, SUV or other motor vehicle. It is technically against the law to harm or kill a child with your vehicle and you could be charged.
1) Avoid hitting children with your pickup truck, SUV or other motor vehicle. It is technically against the law to harm or kill a child with your vehicle and you could be charged.
October 22, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Hallowe'en is just around the corner and it is one of the most dangerous days for children. Here are some safety tips:
1) Avoid hitting children with your pickup truck, SUV or other motor vehicle. It is technically against the law to harm or kill a child with your vehicle and you could be charged.
1) Avoid hitting children with your pickup truck, SUV or other motor vehicle. It is technically against the law to harm or kill a child with your vehicle and you could be charged.
Reposted by Tyler Smith
Unfortunately data is never enough for people who make decisions based on culture wars.
The data could show 100% compliance and 0 accidents after installation and they would still try to rip these cameras out to make our streets more dangerous.
It is still amazing to see how clearly these work!
The data could show 100% compliance and 0 accidents after installation and they would still try to rip these cameras out to make our streets more dangerous.
It is still amazing to see how clearly these work!
City wide graphs of the effects of ASE camera installation on the percent of high-end speeders, and general speed limit compliance. These cameras work
October 16, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Unfortunately data is never enough for people who make decisions based on culture wars.
The data could show 100% compliance and 0 accidents after installation and they would still try to rip these cameras out to make our streets more dangerous.
It is still amazing to see how clearly these work!
The data could show 100% compliance and 0 accidents after installation and they would still try to rip these cameras out to make our streets more dangerous.
It is still amazing to see how clearly these work!
Reposted by Tyler Smith
The existence of food banks points to a policy failure.
October 15, 2025 at 3:49 PM
The existence of food banks points to a policy failure.