Alon (they/them)
@alonlevy.bsky.social
Transit researcher in Berlin. Lived in Tel Aviv, Singapore, the Riviera, New York, Providence, Vancouver, Stockholm, Paris. https://pedestrianobservations.com/ http://patreon.com/alonlevy [email protected] @[email protected]
STOP talking shit about 2028 Democratic presidential primary candidates:
Walz is PERSONABLE
Shapiro is RHETORICALLY GIFTED
AOC is CHARISMATIC
Pritzker is SUCCESSFUL
Newsom
Buttigieg has EXECUTIVE EXPERIENCE
Walz is PERSONABLE
Shapiro is RHETORICALLY GIFTED
AOC is CHARISMATIC
Pritzker is SUCCESSFUL
Newsom
Buttigieg has EXECUTIVE EXPERIENCE
February 4, 2026 at 11:23 PM
STOP talking shit about 2028 Democratic presidential primary candidates:
Walz is PERSONABLE
Shapiro is RHETORICALLY GIFTED
AOC is CHARISMATIC
Pritzker is SUCCESSFUL
Newsom
Buttigieg has EXECUTIVE EXPERIENCE
Walz is PERSONABLE
Shapiro is RHETORICALLY GIFTED
AOC is CHARISMATIC
Pritzker is SUCCESSFUL
Newsom
Buttigieg has EXECUTIVE EXPERIENCE
Reposted by Alon (they/them)
"For Golan, the war in Gaza could have ended with a hostage-release deal as early as February 2024, 'when we defeated Hamas’s military force,' he told me. The lives of thousands of Palestinians and hundreds of Israeli soldiers could have been spared."
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/04/m...
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/04/m...
‘We Are Going to Live With Scars’: Yair Golan’s Battle for a Two-State Solution
www.nytimes.com
February 4, 2026 at 10:53 PM
"For Golan, the war in Gaza could have ended with a hostage-release deal as early as February 2024, 'when we defeated Hamas’s military force,' he told me. The lives of thousands of Palestinians and hundreds of Israeli soldiers could have been spared."
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/04/m...
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/04/m...
If we interpret the three bears from the original story as gay bears, then Silver Hair/Goldilocks represents the straight woman who infringes on gay spaces.
February 4, 2026 at 10:08 PM
If we interpret the three bears from the original story as gay bears, then Silver Hair/Goldilocks represents the straight woman who infringes on gay spaces.
Reposted by Alon (they/them)
Full story: We have a deal on the €90 billion loan for Ukraine, funded through joint debt.
EU countries seal deal on €90bm loan for Ukraine funded by joint debt
Under the loan, Ukraine will receive €30 billion to support its budgetary needs and €60 billion to purchase weapons and ammunition. #EuropeNews
www.euronews.com
February 4, 2026 at 4:02 PM
Full story: We have a deal on the €90 billion loan for Ukraine, funded through joint debt.
Romania can build a domestic network with some international connections at much lower length than Spain, and probably a comparable tunneling percentage. The domestic network length (to Cluj, not Oradea) is 950 km.
February 4, 2026 at 4:06 PM
Romania can build a domestic network with some international connections at much lower length than Spain, and probably a comparable tunneling percentage. The domestic network length (to Cluj, not Oradea) is 950 km.
Reposted by Alon (they/them)
You'd think people could grasp that unemployment isn't localized where the economic activity is, so you can have both areas of high unemployment and worker shortages. Especially in a big country with poor connective infrastructure
February 4, 2026 at 12:56 PM
You'd think people could grasp that unemployment isn't localized where the economic activity is, so you can have both areas of high unemployment and worker shortages. Especially in a big country with poor connective infrastructure
1.7B€ for 11 km of tunnel between Böblingen west of Stuttgart and the airport, bypassing the city.
Pfaffensteig Tunnel included in €2·5bn German funding package https://bit.ly/49YwsNE
February 4, 2026 at 3:08 PM
1.7B€ for 11 km of tunnel between Böblingen west of Stuttgart and the airport, bypassing the city.
A book on pet dogs would be called Maslow's Hierarchy of Breeds.
Racking my brains for another joke to add to this thread, but I'm coming up empty. I got nothing. Just a Maslow's hierarchy of tumbleweeds
A book on livestock care called Maslow’s Hierarchy of Feeds
February 4, 2026 at 2:56 PM
A book on pet dogs would be called Maslow's Hierarchy of Breeds.
Moral superiority is nice. Spending those 2-3.5% of GDP defense budgets on a single EU army capable of defeating the Russian Army in the field and telling the Americans "no" without having to manage that relationship is even better.
Slovak PM Fico, a right wing russian supporting grifter, canns his long time allay and supporter Lajčák because of connection to Epstein. Because even vatniks know pedos are bad!
In US mean time? EU claims moral superiority for the next century
In US mean time? EU claims moral superiority for the next century
February 4, 2026 at 2:51 PM
Moral superiority is nice. Spending those 2-3.5% of GDP defense budgets on a single EU army capable of defeating the Russian Army in the field and telling the Americans "no" without having to manage that relationship is even better.
Reposted by Alon (they/them)
Market restrictions that limit supply of housing units can, somewhat paradoxically, induce added demand for square feet of housing.
Zoning commonly limits a lot to 1 housing unit but allows 5000 sq ft & 6 bedrooms. People buy a bigger house than they really want to live in a desirable location.
Zoning commonly limits a lot to 1 housing unit but allows 5000 sq ft & 6 bedrooms. People buy a bigger house than they really want to live in a desirable location.
February 4, 2026 at 2:27 PM
Market restrictions that limit supply of housing units can, somewhat paradoxically, induce added demand for square feet of housing.
Zoning commonly limits a lot to 1 housing unit but allows 5000 sq ft & 6 bedrooms. People buy a bigger house than they really want to live in a desirable location.
Zoning commonly limits a lot to 1 housing unit but allows 5000 sq ft & 6 bedrooms. People buy a bigger house than they really want to live in a desirable location.
Reposted by Alon (they/them)
see: literally every approving post about some "farmer's protest" in Europe where they dump manure on the local Agricultural Ministry building, where the actual message of the protest is "how dare those Jewish Bolsheviks in Brussels tell us we can't hunt Roma people for our amusement"
February 3, 2026 at 3:13 PM
see: literally every approving post about some "farmer's protest" in Europe where they dump manure on the local Agricultural Ministry building, where the actual message of the protest is "how dare those Jewish Bolsheviks in Brussels tell us we can't hunt Roma people for our amusement"
After an AfD conspiracy against the constitution was exposed, 3% of Germany's population went out to protest. After the most perfunctory CDU-AfD collaboration a year ago, 2% did.
This is because our protests are run by normal people, not alt-left. We fly Ukraine and EU flags and don't burn things.
This is because our protests are run by normal people, not alt-left. We fly Ukraine and EU flags and don't burn things.
February 3, 2026 at 11:53 PM
After an AfD conspiracy against the constitution was exposed, 3% of Germany's population went out to protest. After the most perfunctory CDU-AfD collaboration a year ago, 2% did.
This is because our protests are run by normal people, not alt-left. We fly Ukraine and EU flags and don't burn things.
This is because our protests are run by normal people, not alt-left. We fly Ukraine and EU flags and don't burn things.
When you play Social Democracy, if you get a turn with the interior ministry early, you should ban RFB - the communists will never support you anyway, and banning RFB increases both police loyalty and support for you from the other Weimar parties.
February 3, 2026 at 11:15 PM
When you play Social Democracy, if you get a turn with the interior ministry early, you should ban RFB - the communists will never support you anyway, and banning RFB increases both police loyalty and support for you from the other Weimar parties.
Reposted by Alon (they/them)
Extending the Second Avenue subway across 125th St is a great concept, but the current project is deeply flawed:
* At $7.7B for 1.3mi, it will cost an order of magnitude more than similar lines in other global cities.
* Deep stations will waste a lot of time—over 10 min across 125th.
* At $7.7B for 1.3mi, it will cost an order of magnitude more than similar lines in other global cities.
* Deep stations will waste a lot of time—over 10 min across 125th.
The western extension of the Second Avenue Subway has a $7.7-billion price tag that calls into question the very logic of building it at all — but advocates and researchers say the train is a good idea that could cost a lot less with some minor alterations.
Does Hochul's 125th Street Subway Have to Be That Expensive? - Streetsblog New York City
The next phase of New York City's Second Avenue Subway carries a huge price tag, but advocates say the train could cost less with some minor changes.
buff.ly
February 3, 2026 at 6:36 PM
Extending the Second Avenue subway across 125th St is a great concept, but the current project is deeply flawed:
* At $7.7B for 1.3mi, it will cost an order of magnitude more than similar lines in other global cities.
* Deep stations will waste a lot of time—over 10 min across 125th.
* At $7.7B for 1.3mi, it will cost an order of magnitude more than similar lines in other global cities.
* Deep stations will waste a lot of time—over 10 min across 125th.
Reposted by Alon (they/them)
Text of lawsuit by Gateway project vs. US government for failure to fund the cross-Hudson tunnel.
The key issue: The US government suspended funding for this vital infrastructure project because that project used DBE contracting, but the DBE contracting was *required* by the US DOT's own rules!
The key issue: The US government suspended funding for this vital infrastructure project because that project used DBE contracting, but the DBE contracting was *required* by the US DOT's own rules!
www.gatewayprogram.org
February 3, 2026 at 2:56 PM
Text of lawsuit by Gateway project vs. US government for failure to fund the cross-Hudson tunnel.
The key issue: The US government suspended funding for this vital infrastructure project because that project used DBE contracting, but the DBE contracting was *required* by the US DOT's own rules!
The key issue: The US government suspended funding for this vital infrastructure project because that project used DBE contracting, but the DBE contracting was *required* by the US DOT's own rules!
Genuinely curious: if you're in Europe and have any migration background, what brought your family here?
Me: academic postdoc in Stockholm and research in Paris and then I ended up staying because I have EU citizenship through my yekke grandfather.
Me: academic postdoc in Stockholm and research in Paris and then I ended up staying because I have EU citizenship through my yekke grandfather.
February 3, 2026 at 2:03 PM
Genuinely curious: if you're in Europe and have any migration background, what brought your family here?
Me: academic postdoc in Stockholm and research in Paris and then I ended up staying because I have EU citizenship through my yekke grandfather.
Me: academic postdoc in Stockholm and research in Paris and then I ended up staying because I have EU citizenship through my yekke grandfather.
Reposted by Alon (they/them)
How shocking. A new investigation finds that major Swiss banks had more ties to the Nazis than they have acknowledged publicly. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/03/u...
Investigation Finds Credit Suisse Had Wider Nazi Ties Than Previously Known
www.nytimes.com
February 3, 2026 at 1:28 PM
How shocking. A new investigation finds that major Swiss banks had more ties to the Nazis than they have acknowledged publicly. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/03/u...
Reposted by Alon (they/them)
Berlin, Brussels, Paris & Zurich, see you soon!!
The fight is not over — we still have a lot of work to do. We’re coming to Europe to chat with you about this moment in Israel-Palestine and what we’re doing on the ground to fight for justice, equality and peace.
Registration links 🔗⬇️
The fight is not over — we still have a lot of work to do. We’re coming to Europe to chat with you about this moment in Israel-Palestine and what we’re doing on the ground to fight for justice, equality and peace.
Registration links 🔗⬇️
February 3, 2026 at 11:55 AM
Berlin, Brussels, Paris & Zurich, see you soon!!
The fight is not over — we still have a lot of work to do. We’re coming to Europe to chat with you about this moment in Israel-Palestine and what we’re doing on the ground to fight for justice, equality and peace.
Registration links 🔗⬇️
The fight is not over — we still have a lot of work to do. We’re coming to Europe to chat with you about this moment in Israel-Palestine and what we’re doing on the ground to fight for justice, equality and peace.
Registration links 🔗⬇️
Reposted by Alon (they/them)
Always nice to see the Brits catching up with everyone else in Europe 😂
But I am sure putting batteries in a former 1960s built London Underground train will be "world leading" or some such 🎉
www.railjournal.com/technology/b...
But I am sure putting batteries in a former 1960s built London Underground train will be "world leading" or some such 🎉
www.railjournal.com/technology/b...
Battery train enters passenger service in Britain
British operator Great Western Railway has brought its class 230 battery train into passenger service, following 22 months of testing.
www.railjournal.com
February 3, 2026 at 11:46 AM
Always nice to see the Brits catching up with everyone else in Europe 😂
But I am sure putting batteries in a former 1960s built London Underground train will be "world leading" or some such 🎉
www.railjournal.com/technology/b...
But I am sure putting batteries in a former 1960s built London Underground train will be "world leading" or some such 🎉
www.railjournal.com/technology/b...
Reposted by Alon (they/them)
Britain is a very centralised country. Britain is also a very expensive place to build new infrastructure.
Are these two facts linked? @alonlevy.bsky.social, one of the world’s top experts on infrastructure costs doesn’t think so. Here’s why I disagree.
open.substack.com/pub/samdumit...
Are these two facts linked? @alonlevy.bsky.social, one of the world’s top experts on infrastructure costs doesn’t think so. Here’s why I disagree.
open.substack.com/pub/samdumit...
Is centralisation to blame for Britain's high construction costs?
A response to Alon Levy of Transit Costs Project
open.substack.com
February 3, 2026 at 8:50 AM
Britain is a very centralised country. Britain is also a very expensive place to build new infrastructure.
Are these two facts linked? @alonlevy.bsky.social, one of the world’s top experts on infrastructure costs doesn’t think so. Here’s why I disagree.
open.substack.com/pub/samdumit...
Are these two facts linked? @alonlevy.bsky.social, one of the world’s top experts on infrastructure costs doesn’t think so. Here’s why I disagree.
open.substack.com/pub/samdumit...
Broke: teaching My Cousin Vinny in law school
Woke: teaching My Cousin Vinny in a class about working-class femininity
Woke: teaching My Cousin Vinny in a class about working-class femininity
February 3, 2026 at 2:48 AM
Broke: teaching My Cousin Vinny in law school
Woke: teaching My Cousin Vinny in a class about working-class femininity
Woke: teaching My Cousin Vinny in a class about working-class femininity
Reposted by Alon (they/them)
I just read a very strange article by someone arguing some things about Hebrew (and linguistics) that to me range from pointless to pretty much insane, some are listed here with my rating from 1-10 on that scale, and then expanded upon later in the thread.
February 3, 2026 at 1:04 AM
I just read a very strange article by someone arguing some things about Hebrew (and linguistics) that to me range from pointless to pretty much insane, some are listed here with my rating from 1-10 on that scale, and then expanded upon later in the thread.
Reposted by Alon (they/them)
Guest opinion: Electrify the Metrolink Antelope Valley Line (L.A. to Palmdale at least) for an initial relatively cheap high-speed rail connection. cal.streetsblog.org/2026/01/29/o...
OpEd: How High-Speed Rail Could Reach LA by 2039...Without Waiting for the Mountains - Streetsblog California
California high-speed rail’s biggest unresolved problem is not in the Central Valley. It is south of Palmdale. Under current plans, high-speed trains are expected to reach San Francisco by 2039 while ...
cal.streetsblog.org
February 2, 2026 at 7:39 PM
Guest opinion: Electrify the Metrolink Antelope Valley Line (L.A. to Palmdale at least) for an initial relatively cheap high-speed rail connection. cal.streetsblog.org/2026/01/29/o...
Reposted by Alon (they/them)
The most unrealistic thing about #starfleet Academy is that San Francisco and Sausalito will have changed their anti-tall building policies by the 32th century.
The NIMBYs are going to be anti-density and anti-skyscrapers in perpetuity
The NIMBYs are going to be anti-density and anti-skyscrapers in perpetuity
February 2, 2026 at 7:32 PM
The most unrealistic thing about #starfleet Academy is that San Francisco and Sausalito will have changed their anti-tall building policies by the 32th century.
The NIMBYs are going to be anti-density and anti-skyscrapers in perpetuity
The NIMBYs are going to be anti-density and anti-skyscrapers in perpetuity
Reposted by Alon (they/them)
Our A Better Billion report is up on our site. It’s a great site. @27a01.bsky.social, @eensari.bsky.social, @vanshnookenraggen.com, and @alonlevy.bsky.social did a great job: transitcosts.com/a-better-bil...
A Better Billion
transitcosts.com
February 2, 2026 at 7:17 PM
Our A Better Billion report is up on our site. It’s a great site. @27a01.bsky.social, @eensari.bsky.social, @vanshnookenraggen.com, and @alonlevy.bsky.social did a great job: transitcosts.com/a-better-bil...