It’s hard to believe it’s been more than two months since the World Health Organization declared Covid-19 to be a pandemic. I’m sure many can relate to the disorienting experience time warp since things became “real” and cities around the world went into lockdown. Some days never seem to end, while some weeks fly by … Continue reading We Don’t Know What to Expect, but We Know What’s Possible.
L’été dernier je publiais cette série de tweets à dérouler: https://twitter.com/RobinMazumder/status/1145712865158021122 Une chose m’a toujours interloqué : dans les villes, l’idée de transports en commun gratuits fait tiquer, alors que le parking gratuit semble tomber sous le sens. Partant de ce constat, je me suis demandé quel processus psychologique se cachait derrière une telle attitude, … Continue reading Notre addiction à la voiture
The end of my PhD is in sight. I think. I've got a year of funding left, and I'm very motivated to complete within that timeframe. Accordingly, I'm racing to finish my experiments so that I can get into the thick of dissertation writing. For those who aren't familiar with my research, I study the … Continue reading We Need To Talk About Privately Owned Public Space
In January, I agreed to go on a local radio show after a months of tiresome back and forth on Twitter with the radio host. The majority of our online debates centred around how cities should function, from sidewalk snow clearance to cycling infrastructure. I figured an in-person conversation could be more productive, and perhaps … Continue reading Share the Road. Actually.
Another winter, another raging debate in my city about who should take responsibility for sidewalk snow clearance. Currently, residents are expected to clear their own sidewalks. Most of the people who are arguing against city sponsored sidewalk snow clearance are able bodied, so I imagine that it is easy for them to take this position. … Continue reading Sidewalk Snow Clearance is a Human Rights Issue
Who in their right mind rides a bike in the cold? Well, it turns out that riding a bike in the winter can actually help keep the mind “right”. It certainly did for me. Winter has always been challenging for me. I experience seasonal affective disorder, which amplifies the depression I normally deal with. With … Continue reading How Winter Cycling Saved My Mental Health
Do you live in a city? Do you reflect on how it makes you feel? I do. I’m actually doing my PhD in cognitive neuroscience examining that exact topic. I chose to spend 5 years in grad school exploring this issue because of my frontline work as a mental health occupational therapist. Occupational therapists look … Continue reading Building A Happy City May Be Easier Than You Think
I’ve been trying to meditate more. It’s not a New Year’s Resolution. It’s a necessity. I think too much. Partly because my PhD requires it. But, a lot of my “thinking” is actually just worrying. Often about things I can do nothing about. It’s always been this way for me. I’ve learned to “cope” with … Continue reading Moving Meditation: How Riding A Bike Can Keep You Grounded
This past January, I finished my first year on the City of Kitchener's Cycling and Trails Advisory Committee. And I was considering quitting. Like many volunteers on city committees everywhere, I had a full plate of other responsibilities and commitments. Time was a precious commodity, and I was unsure as to whether my presence on … Continue reading Aiming for Bare Minimum: Why Cycletrack Networks Are the Only Way Forward
About a year ago, I wrote a post about how urban design can impact a person's sense of dignity. The issue has been on my mind regularly since. I think about it every day, actually. My research involves understanding how people perceive urban environments. A study I wrapped up this semester examined how being in the presence … Continue reading Put Yourself In Our Shoes: Using Empathy to Build Walkable Cities
