Good time playing last night! Thanks for this pic and for being my roadie, @bikehfxlobby.bsky.social 😘

Halifax TSC agenda is up a bit early, includes update on SGR transit-only changes. Recommendation: give up.

To celebrate Mayor Failmore not getting strong mayor powers I’ll be playing music with friends at the Moxy hotel on Cogswell Friday from 7 - 9. No cover or anything. I didn’t know this hotel existed until a couple weeks ago so not sure what the setup will be like!

A 🧵 of my reflections on #KidicalMassHfx. In 2022 (our first season) our Dartmouth ride had ~12 participants. In 2023 we had 76, and in 2024 we had 90. Yesterday, 130 people rode bikes with us in Dartmouth, in support of our kids safety and independence in their communities. 1/6

Car brain is taking the “driver wedged their car between two buses on Barrington” photo and turning it into a funny implying the buses and their drivers are somehow the aggressors

Love to see that Vernon 4 pm 💯

Out for a stroll this evening, I saw someone I know with what seemed to be a new e-scooter. Talked to them and they got one to replace their Halifax car commute downtown and back!!!! Said they got tired of spending 30 mins in the car while watching people on bikes and scooters cruising by. 1/2

Have been thinking about a very similar piece for Halifax, glad to see this one! Kids aren't even considered in the political stunts Houston/Fillmore/etc are pulling but they bear much of the fallout. They're capable of so much more than our cowardly leaders realize.

Our trip to last aqua fit of the season at the Halifax Commons pool this holiday morning: quiet, peaceful, easy. Our trip downtown for ice cream and a Public Gardens visit to see a heron after lunch (using mostly same routes): loud, stressful, difficult. What changed? Cars, and the drivers within.

Highly recommend visiting Lebanese Fest by bike! Parking enforcement were giving someone a ticket for blocking a hydrant as I was leaving.

Saw utility markings and things that indicate the BikeHfx Allan/Oak diverter construction is likely beginning soon

COLT is so back

Friday 6:11pm Terrible mayor works here. Critical Mass at 6:30 if possible.

@matt.godbolt.org 👋 another listener here! Listening to the latest ep and started thinking about content-addressable business. For example adding a new version of gcc would mean pushing up all new needed files to S3 named with content hash. Manifest could list needed files. Then concurrent fetch!

If you want to wait, drive. If you want to go, bike.

I’ve had my “bike good mayor bad” sign on my bike for three weeks now, since Critical Mass. (except for a few trips with my bass or to the bike shop) I’ve had zero negative interactions! Which has been a little surprising. But here are some of the direct positive ones I’ve had:

Alberta car insurers (and the climate/collision factors that contribute to their high rates), welcome to @thewaroncars.bsky.social

Mobility by trike? Houston don’t like! Good day for a London Fog sundae from Dairy Bar and a roll and stroll through the Public Gardens

At Espresso 46 yesterday I noticed a couple arrived on Muir hotel branded bikes. Talked to one of them and they were visiting from Waterloo. Seems weird we don’t talk much about improving Halifax cycling so visitors have more/better options to see the city.

Paul M of @downtownhalifax.bsky.social was on Todd V's show yesterday (starts around 0:39:00) and did a great job talking about Brunswick. Good points including how sidewalk cafes using parking spots no longer controversial and we have more downtown options (bike/scooter share) that need support.

Did a one hour bass chat with Adina Fraser Marsman at Ekko in Dartmouth today. Like to see new music orgs! ekkomusic.ca

I want cycling to be a big part of the response to the JRTA report!

HaliSky, I know we’re all tired of the distraction of fighting about bike lanes that this summer has become. But the motion about Morris St at council tomorrow really is about a threat to democracy. If you can muster the energy to send an email to council, the premier & your MLA, please do so!

Rides across the bridge without the noise and stress of cars is always a treat. Bummer the area near King’s Wharf was redone with no improvements. And they removed the desire line. It’ll be back, but such a waste.

Emails to get you started, find your MLA and add theirs! [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]

Write to the province. Share your stories with your MLA & the Premier. CC relevant ministers: Maguire (Education), Lohr (Muni Affairs), Halman (Enviro/Climate Change), Thompson (Health/Wellness), LeBlanc (Growth/Devel) or any others you can connect to your story. 4/5 nslegislature.ca/members/prof...

You can easily email all of council using this tool. Tell them to vote against the staff recommendation. Remind them that this is not about a bike lane. Houston is coming for Morris St now. What’s next? hfx.bike/email-council/

HaliSky, staff are bringing a motion of rescission on the Morris St bike lane for Tuesday. It’s incredibly frustrating that the premier says jump and some staff are willing to say “how high?”

@halifaxexaminer.ca I’m sure you’ve heard this before but it would be really nice if: After signing in I ended up at the article I was trying to read (in the FAQ, any update?), and I pretty much never had to sign in (like once a month or something?) These would sure improve my experience. Thanks!

So glad I made it to @coffeeoutside.hfx.bike this morning! Great new spot.

If you haven’t emailed the premier yet to tell him to stop meddling in Halifax municipal affairs, back away from strong mayor powers, and release the JRTA report, now is still a really good time to do that. [email protected]

Tomorrow!

This is Critical Mass in letter form. Like the CM ride, always good to have a reminder we are part of a big community and we all want things to be better.

The Mainstreet segment with @lecwhite.bsky.social from Friday on Morris is now available on demand:

Behold, all the correspondence submitted to the Halifax Clerks office for the mayor’s Jun 10 motion to pause cycling work.

Pretty convinced the approved plan for Morris would yield numbers approaching these. And boost South Park and other numbers even more. Tell [email protected] and your MLA.

"The greater the number of vehicles on the road, the more hostile those roads are for people who aren't driving," she said.

Music time again! I’ll be playing jazz with my friends Sue and Chris at @tridenthalifax.bsky.social Thursday from 6:30 - 8:30. $10 / PWYC.

😎

Bikes and dogs for democracy

Critical Mass Halifax is today! Meet at Grand Parade at 6pm. If you haven’t had a chance yet, please email the premier (and your MLA) and tell him to get his hands off Halifax. [email protected]

Brilliant video on safety science, featuring @jessiesinger.bsky.social! Watch the video and read her book, There Are No Accidents.

Important reminder from @suzannerent.bsky.social: “Houston has a way of pushing the envelope, backing off when there’s public outcry, and then saying he’s sorry.” I sent my email this morning to complain about his meddling with the Morris St bike lane. Have you sent one yet?

Morris has been reduced to one lane for water work. I assume the port has shut down and ambulances are refusing to even try answering calls in the area.

#BikeHfx and HaliSky, working on signs for our bikes for @criticalmasshfx.bsky.social and just generally to spread the word about Houston and Fillmore attacking our democracy. What slogans do you suggest? Here’s what we have so far: Hands Off Halifax No Kings in Halifax Bikes for Democracy

“It’s not about bike lanes.”

Can't decide how I should get to the waterfront for The Decemberists this evening so emailed the premier and mayor for their expert advice.

Congestion!!!!!

Thinking about how the Morris / South Park intersection was closed for 2+ months in 2022 making Morris much less usable for everyone, including drivers and port traffic. Somehow the world did not end. Also thinking about what we could do with real leaders as mayor and premier. Angry.

#KidicalMassHfx is the bestest