Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by RealCrozetVA

Ebony Elizabeth Thomas @ebonyteach.blacksky.app · 1d

No money in the red kettles. Mutual aid instead.
(And no, I'm not taking questions about this.)

kat, ghost of helenruthsghost @chaoskat.bsky.social · 1d

Salvation Army seen feeding ICE today. For anyone who doesn't already know about their bigotry, here is more, No need to give them your money this Christmas, or ever.

unraveled @unraveledpress.com · 1d

It’s dinner time for the police. Appears to be pizza from a Salvation Army van.

Broadview’s “free speech” curfew starts soon, at 6pm.

370 950

RealCrozetVA @realcrozetva.bsky.social · 2d

The bus is dramatically more efficient - nearly 4x better in terms of fuel consumption and cost per person for this scenario.

5/5

1 1

RealCrozetVA @realcrozetva.bsky.social · 2d

Comparison Summary:

Savings per person: $2.86 (75% cheaper by bus)
Total group savings: $42.88 (74% cheaper)
Fuel savings: 13.4 gallons (74% reduction)
CO2 reduction: 268 lbs (74% reduction)

4/x

1

RealCrozetVA @realcrozetva.bsky.social · 2d

16-Person Bus (carrying 15 passengers):

A typical bus gets 6-7 mpg; let's use 6.5 mpg
Fuel needed: 30 ÷ 6.5 = 4.6 gallons
Total cost: 4.6 × $3.20 = $14.72
Cost per person: $0.98
Total fuel consumed: 4.6 gallons
CO2 emissions: ~92 lbs

3/x

1

RealCrozetVA @realcrozetva.bsky.social · 2d

15 people traveling 30 miles - Bus vs. Personal Vehicles:

(15 cars)

Distance per person: 30 miles
Fuel needed per car: 30 ÷ 25 = 1.2 gallons
Cost /person: 1.2 × $3.20 = $3.84
Total cost for 15 people: $57.60
Total fuel consumed: 18 gallons
CO2 emissions: ~360 lbs (at ~20 lbs per gallon)

1

RealCrozetVA @realcrozetva.bsky.social · 2d

I asked Claude for some help.

Cost to drive 15 miles in an average American car:
The average American car gets about 25-27 mpg. Using 25 mpg and a current national average gas price of around $3.20/gallon:
15 miles ÷ 25 mpg = 0.6 gallons × $3.20 = $1.92

1/x

1

RealCrozetVA @realcrozetva.bsky.social · 2d

He did the research by calling Jaunt. A good value, in my opinion. We need more riders!

screenshot of a facebook commenter named Matthew to RealCrozetVA.

"Cost Per Hour: $124.21
Crozet Connect Budgeted Hours: 6048.46
6048.46 * $124.21 = $751,279.22
Crozet Connect averages 25,000 rides per year, which comes to approximately $30/ride."

1 1

RealCrozetVA @realcrozetva.bsky.social · 2d

A highlight of this morning’s ride:

I was at one stop sign coming back from my ride.

Cargo bike at the other coming back from dropping off kids at school

Cargo bike at the other one. Taking kids to school

3

Reposted by RealCrozetVA

Jim Duncan @jimduncan.bsky.social · 3d

And if it’s done only in the city and not tied in with the county, it’s not sufficient

Livable Cville @livablecville.bsky.social · 3d

Good bike infrastructure will make the Charlottesville area a better and safer place to live. We are tired of waiting for it to become a reality. It’s not that hard. We need the city to deliver on its promises asap.

Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 4d

“When streets became calmer & safer, more people felt comfortable trying a bike commute for the first time. Families began pedaling to the park…Local businesses saw new life…And cycling stopped feeling like a niche activity—it became part of everyday Parisian life.”

Via @momentummag.bsky.social

1 3 10

RealCrozetVA @realcrozetva.bsky.social · 3d

Holy cow. Traffic into Charlottesville 250 is backed up to Northridge. I think it’s tied to the damage to bridge but I could be wrong.

Either way, if you have to go into Charlottesville right now, maybe don’t?

1

RealCrozetVA @realcrozetva.bsky.social · 3d

A good reminder.

"When you break the numbers down, visitors to Albemarle spent $587.2 million in direct spending, up 6.5 percent from 2023.

...

... there are 7,172 tourism jobs in the area. Tourism generated $27.7 million in local taxes for Albemarle ...

infocville.com/2025/10/09/t...

Tourists and business visitors spent nearly $1 billion in Charlottesville area in 2024

Direct spending in Albemarle County was up 6.5 percent while down 0.8 percent in Charlottesville

infocville.com

RealCrozetVA @realcrozetva.bsky.social · 5d

Windy Knoll - back to the table. Now with 18 units and not 22.

communityengagement.substack.com/i/175561786/...

October 7, 2025: Albemarle Planning Commission passes AC44 on to Board of Supervisors following discussion on future growth area adjustments

Plus: Charlottesville City Manager has hired an assistant

communityengagement.substack.com

1

RealCrozetVA @realcrozetva.bsky.social · 8d

A good morning to ride bicycles outside around Crozet.

Mountain Road. Ribbon of pavement with mountains in the background

Shadows of three people on bicycles on pavement, with morning light

Orange-red sunrise, steam rising off a pond, trees and field

Blue sky, silhouettes of trees and silos in the background

1 1 4

RealCrozetVA @realcrozetva.bsky.social · 9d

Rode to Yellow Mug for another entry into #WeekWithoutDriving

I have an e-bike in Charlottesville. Are my regular bikes acoustic bikes? Analog bikes? Just bikes?

Foreground: Sticky bun, a yellow mug on a table
Background: Trees and my bicycle

4

RealCrozetVA @realcrozetva.bsky.social · 11d

Writing is fun. Wrapping up my day of riding the bus, walking, and riding a bicycle.

www.realcentralva.com/2025/10/01/w...

#WeekWithoutDriving – in Charlottesville

My world does not really allow for being car-free. I can have car-light days, or car-free days when I’m working at home. This week is the national #WeekWithoutDriving. Livable Charlottesville…

www.realcentralva.com

1

RealCrozetVA @realcrozetva.bsky.social · 11d

It’s the guns. It’s always the guns.

CBS19 News: Charlottesville News First @cbs19news.bsky.social · 11d

#BreakingNews: The Southport, North Carolina, Police Department says one of the victims from Saturday's shooting was a Charlottesville resident.

Officials identify Southport shooting victims, including one from Charlottesville

The Southport Police Department says the victims of Saturday’s shooting were 36-year-old Solomon Banjo of Charlottesville, Va.; 64-year-old Joy Rogers of Southport; and 56-year-old Michael Durbin of Galena, Ohio.

www.cbs19news.com

RealCrozetVA @realcrozetva.bsky.social · 11d

Hahahaha. Nope.

But -- after reading a bit more, it's no Flock.

How does the camera registry work?

ACPD's camera registry is a way to easily identify the nearest camera in a designated area during the course of an investigation or an emergency event/response. The information provided allows detectives to quickly identify a map of relevant cameras that could provide actionable evidence for crimes and life-saving data.
Can ACPD remotely access my cameras?

No. Registering cameras means the police department will know where your cameras are located in the event of a crime or critical incident. There is no direct access to any privately-owned cameras, and the registry is only used to request footage if an incident occurs in their vicinity.
Who has access to my information?

Only authorized ACPD detectives will have access to the camera registry.

2

RealCrozetVA @realcrozetva.bsky.social · 11d

Several years ago, I asked VDOT to fix the dropoff on the corner of Tabor and Park. This morning riding back home, I noticed that they had not addressed the drop on the right.

So I've asked VDOT again to fix it.

New pavement on Tabor/Park. With the same dropoff that's been there for years

Submission to VDOT asking for the to fix the road

There is a constant and persistent drainage/dropoff that has been ongoing for many years. When I reported this a couple of years ago, I was told that
a) there's nothing that can be done
b) it would be addressed in a few years when the road was paved.

Assuming the paving is complete; what is the plan to address/fix this problem?

RealCrozetVA @realcrozetva.bsky.social · 11d

And now we are all sitting in the bus waiting at the roundabout construction traffic.

By definition, we are less traffic now.

Jim Duncan @jimduncan.bsky.social · 11d

Two stops later, and we are 90% full.

One woman sat down next to another woman and said, “hi bus buddy!”

15 people + driver. I’d bet every one of us would had been sole occupants in our respective cars.

#WeekWithoutDriving

3

RealCrozetVA @realcrozetva.bsky.social · 12d

Welp.

“After initially rejecting the proposal from Western Albemarle High School’s Turning Point USA club, the school will allow conservative activist Victoria Cobb to speak at the club’s lunchtime meeting Wednesday.”

cvillerightnow.com/news/208802-...

Reposted by RealCrozetVA

Information Charlottesville @infocville.bsky.social · 12d

For the first time in 18 months, the newsletter and podcast versions are fused together. That gives you a choice of how you want to consume three stories with one being an update on climate action initiatives in Albemarle County.

September 30, 2025: Albemarle Supervisors briefed on climate action initiatives, FY2026 spending

Plus: Albemarle and Charlottesville are preparing for the 2026 General Assembly

communityengagement.substack.com

2 2

Reposted by RealCrozetVA

Amanda Katz @katzish.bsky.social · 12d

He means us

NPR @npr.org · 12d

JUST IN: President Trump has told top U.S. commanders that the military would be used against "enemy within."

Trump defends use of U.S. military against 'enemy within'

Earlier, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the purpose of the department would exclusively be "war fighting."

n.pr

14 82 290

RealCrozetVA @realcrozetva.bsky.social · 13d

I mean, good?

Patch —

News we're reading
• Virginia high school bans Christian speaker from TPUSA event (americanthinker.com) — A Christian speaker was banned from an event at Western Albemarle High School in Crozet due to concerns over disruption. This decision has sparked discussions on censorship and the ongoing legal issues surrounding local students.

1 2

RealCrozetVA @realcrozetva.bsky.social · 13d

Be mindful when trying to get home today/tonight, Crozet.

CBS19 News: Charlottesville News First @cbs19news.bsky.social · 13d

Crash closes Old Ivy and Route 29 Bypass

The Albemarle County Police Department reports Old Ivy Road is closed in both directions near the ramp from Route 29.

www.cbs19news.com

1 2

RealCrozetVA @realcrozetva.bsky.social · 13d

A few thoughts about Albemarle's concluding comp plan process, with plenty of help received from Charlottesville Community Engagement.

www.realcrozetva.com/2025/09/29/a...

Albemarle’s Comp Plan Process Concluding?

There’s just so much that goes into the Albemarle County Comprehensive Plan process. Slowly the sausage is made … or they attempt to make it. (here’s the RealCrozetVA FB post on t…

www.realcrozetva.com