Archive - Improving Ottawa

The Bank Street bus lanes delay proves the City of Ottawa can’t even do easy things

The Bank Street Transit Study is over a year behind schedule

Jun 3 •

Derrick Simpson

May 2025

Getting Creative to Support Bus Lanes on Bank Street

Strong Towns Ottawa is running ads before movies at the Mayfair Theatre until June 15 to encourage support for Bus Lanes on Bank Street.

May 20 •

Derrick Simpson

The NCC Summer Zone in Centretown had Overwhelming Support Last Year… and isn't Returning

Featuring official results from the NCC's unreleased 2024 Summer Zone survey.

May 11 •

Derrick Simpson

November 2024

Ottawa’s transit budget is neither fiscally conservative or socially helpful

Ottawa released their draft budget this week, and it’s neither fiscally conservative or helpful to those in our city who need it most. It’s truly the…

Nov 16, 2024 •

Derrick Simpson

What Ottawa can learn from Better Buses Better Cities

If there’s one book from the Book Club you read, I’d recommend Better Buses Better Cities.

Nov 9, 2024 •

Derrick Simpson

Takeaways from the Rural Summit

I attended yesterday’s Rural Summit at Sir Robert Borden High School in Ottawa.

Nov 3, 2024 •

Derrick Simpson

October 2024

Ideas for Ottawa's Nightlife Council

Ottawa is currently choosing its Nightlife Council, a group that will work with the Night Mayor to improve Ottawa’s nightlife.

Oct 13, 2024 •

Derrick Simpson

6 ways to improve Kent Street in Downtown Ottawa

As discussed in part 1 and part 2 of my Kent Street series, Kent Street is an urban arterial badly in need of improvement.

Oct 4, 2024 •

Derrick Simpson

September 2024

Why we should improve Kent Street in downtown Ottawa

A couple weeks ago I wrote about how the City of Ottawa blocks urban improvements, now I’m going to write about a specific urban improvement and why we…

Sep 26, 2024 •

Derrick Simpson

Debunking the myth that property tax increases hurt renters

This week at council, a few councillors said they were against property tax increases because they hurt renters.

Sep 22, 2024 •

Derrick Simpson

Why Ottawa’s 2025 budget approach basically guarantees transit cuts

Ottawa announced their 2025 budget direction this week, and it’s very bad news for Ottawa’s transit.

Sep 14, 2024 •

Derrick Simpson

How the City of Ottawa blocks urban improvements - and how to fix it

The City of Ottawa has long neglected downtown.

Sep 7, 2024 •

Derrick Simpson

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