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Advertising the Automobile
Up until 1997, it was legal in Canada to advertise cigarettes. The ads that I remember from childhood consistently promised the smoker...
Aug 18, 20213 min read


The Transformative Power of a Foot Bridge
"A footbridge makes it practical for the non-driving population to work, live or attend school on the other side of the bridge."
Jul 7, 20213 min read


Banking on a Bathroom at Bank and Riverside
"I say we ask for something outrageous on this corner: a truly public bathroom. Right on the corner, with signage, open all year round..."
May 27, 20213 min read


Just Who Deserves Those 15 Minute Neighbourhoods?
Of all the arguments put forward against 15 minute neighbourhoods, the most cynical, is that they will be bad for low-income people.
May 27, 20212 min read


Walking to School: Not as Easy as it Sounds
"...a lot of Ottawa’s school-age population attends school out of range of what would be a reasonable walk on a January morning."
May 4, 20213 min read


Why 15 Minute Neighbourhoods are Good for Drivers
"...I’ve set myself the task in this blog to present the advantages of a 15 minute neighbourhood from the perspective of a driver."
May 4, 20213 min read


The Thing About Change...
I've become increasingly sedentary. Most of us have... Over the past few months I've come to the dawning realization that I must change...
Apr 23, 20213 min read


The Useful Walk... To A Neighbourhood Shop
The unrelenting segregation of housing from retail that characterized post WWII planning, left people with no destination for a useful walk.
Apr 19, 20213 min read


The Ballad of the Soccer Mom
In the beginning, was the City. And the City was without order. People, wagons, horses and oxen filled the streets. People produced wares...
Apr 15, 20212 min read


Training Wheels for Walkable Neighbourhoods: Why We Need Transitional Parking
"You can't just jump on a bicycle for the first time and go for a ride! It's time for Walkable Neighbourhood Training Wheels."
Mar 31, 20213 min read


Density and Infill: A Solution Hiding in Plain Sight
Are dark looming towers and cold apartment blocks the only way forward? Could it be possible that a simple solution, a win for all, is...
Mar 26, 20214 min read


The Death of Retail has been Greatly Exaggerated
I’m told we’re witnessing the Third Great Extinction of Retail. First, Shopping Malls killed the Main Street stores. Then Big Boxes...
Mar 24, 20213 min read


When You Wish Upon a Driverless Car
The advent of Autonomous Vehicles promises to put us all in a state of perpetual toddlerhood, sitting in the back seat playing Candy Crush..
Mar 15, 20213 min read


Redrafting the Draft Official Plan
It's been a long road but we've finally completed our Response to the City of Ottawa's Draft Official Plan.
Mar 5, 20212 min read


Density - Comparing Apples to Apples
"It's really important to know what density calculations we are comparing and be sure to compare apples to apples."
Feb 19, 20213 min read

Vision for a Walkable Alta Vista
"I have lived in 15 minute communities elsewhere, and know from experience that walkability is achievable." Janet Mark Wallace (contributor)
Feb 5, 20213 min read


Planning - Cutting Through the Fog
"One of my major concerns has been that the City’s planning process is opaque and impenetrable for most people" Ken Hoffman (contributor)
Feb 2, 20212 min read


Environment Crisis Fatigue
I think I've been suffering from a condition I call ECF ( Environmental Crisis Fatigue). Environmental Crisis! The World Is On Fire!...
Nov 19, 20202 min read


Definitions Matter! What is a Walkable Neighbourhood Anyway?
On Halloween night I informed my kids that they were to eat only 3 candies a day. My 8 year old looked down at her loot...
Nov 19, 20203 min read


The Joy of Walking to Small Shops
Whether you stop by on the walk home to pick up supper ingredients or visit on a Saturday afternoon outing with family or friends...
Oct 22, 20202 min read