Closed parks major blow for suburban kids

May 6, 2020 Hansonthebike 1

Reading Time: 4 minutes The longer it takes, the harder it becomes for people to stick to the rules, says social psychologist Tom Postmes, connected to the university in Groningen (big bike city btw), Netherlands in an on line article on Dutch news site NOS.nl. He continues by explaining that “on one hand the usually bold and libertarian Dutch have been following the rules surprisingly obediently, but on the other hand it isn’t surprising because it is a natural human reaction to a disaster“. He explains that every crisis has three phases: Phase 1: Fear rules and many people are willing to obey and [Read more…]

How Bad Rules Affect Our Road to Vision Zero

April 14, 2020 Hansonthebike 0

Reading Time: 10 minutes Carling Ave at Burke St is a very dangerous crossing in the @NCC_CCN #ottbike and #ottwalk pathway system. Despite several advocacy attempts, someone likely has to die on this #ottcity road before things will change….

ghost bike ottawa

New Billings Bridge Cycling Underpass Partly Avoids Dangerous Intersection

August 6, 2019 Hansonthebike 2

Reading Time: 3 minutes For many years the Bank Street – Riverside intersection in Ottawa was (and still is) considered one of the worst intersections, with many collisions happening annually. It is an ugly part of post war suburban design with way too much road. The entire area between the railway track and the Rideau River is unsightly and dangerous for all road users. It is very pedestrian unfriendly with narrow sidewalks (if any) right next to fast going traffic and the corners are tight. Sadly, Meg Dussault lost her life in 2014 in the north west section of the intersection on that narrow [Read more…]

Toronto’s international bicycle show

April 1, 2019 Hansonthebike 1

Reading Time: 5 minutes Some impressions from the Toronto international bike show last month, the “world’s largest consumer bicycle show”. Lots of road bikes, but also some other interesting nuggets. #ottbike