Brianinja
@brianinja.bsky.social
Professional Chicagoland suburban transportation planner by day. Cargo ebike suburban dad by night. Enjoys birds and cute art. 🏳️🌈 He/him.
Pinned
Brianinja
@brianinja.bsky.social
· Mar 24
Updated my stats to include a monthly summary which better illustrates how much an eBike has increased my bike riding habit. I was even surprised my riding remained so high during winter. Find what lets you do your thing more often!
That my 2x transfer transit commute can range from 30 minutes to over an hour and averages ~ 55 minutes just depending on the time of day and transfer windows, really points out that for transit, Frequency is Freedom.
December 1, 2025 at 9:56 PM
That my 2x transfer transit commute can range from 30 minutes to over an hour and averages ~ 55 minutes just depending on the time of day and transfer windows, really points out that for transit, Frequency is Freedom.
Reposted by Brianinja
Reposted by Brianinja
I think another weird facet to this is if you say "I was driving today & there are so many terrible, dangerous drivers," people tend to be like "ugh, I know" but if you say "I was cycling today & there are so many terrible, dangerous drivers," they furiously disagree & imply it was your own fault.
Something I've been thinking about a lot lately is how when a driver does something wrong, the public and media don't smear all drivers as reckless assholes. But when a cyclist — and especially an e-biker — does something wrong, all bicyclists get attacked and blamed.
December 1, 2025 at 6:23 PM
I think another weird facet to this is if you say "I was driving today & there are so many terrible, dangerous drivers," people tend to be like "ugh, I know" but if you say "I was cycling today & there are so many terrible, dangerous drivers," they furiously disagree & imply it was your own fault.
Reposted by Brianinja
Join us Thursday for our Suburban Advocacy connect at 12!
Neil Holdway, former Daily Herald Editor who now runs SuburbanChicagoBicycling.org, will be joining to share a run down of bikeway projects in the suburbs.
Register here:
#/gkDC6gQ#/" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400 no-card-link" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-link="bsky">https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_7RgDlEodQ1eYt0ogkDC6gQ#/
Neil Holdway, former Daily Herald Editor who now runs SuburbanChicagoBicycling.org, will be joining to share a run down of bikeway projects in the suburbs.
Register here:
#/gkDC6gQ#/" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400 no-card-link" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-link="bsky">https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_7RgDlEodQ1eYt0ogkDC6gQ#/
December 1, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Join us Thursday for our Suburban Advocacy connect at 12!
Neil Holdway, former Daily Herald Editor who now runs SuburbanChicagoBicycling.org, will be joining to share a run down of bikeway projects in the suburbs.
Register here:
#/gkDC6gQ#/" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400 no-card-link" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-link="bsky">https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_7RgDlEodQ1eYt0ogkDC6gQ#/
Neil Holdway, former Daily Herald Editor who now runs SuburbanChicagoBicycling.org, will be joining to share a run down of bikeway projects in the suburbs.
Register here:
#/gkDC6gQ#/" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400 no-card-link" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-link="bsky">https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_7RgDlEodQ1eYt0ogkDC6gQ#/
Reposted by Brianinja
"Electric ladies love electric bikes! It’s such a fun ride to have."
- Singer/actor Janelle Monáe
#BicycleBirthday
Born December 1, 1985
- Singer/actor Janelle Monáe
#BicycleBirthday
Born December 1, 1985
December 1, 2025 at 4:19 PM
"Electric ladies love electric bikes! It’s such a fun ride to have."
- Singer/actor Janelle Monáe
#BicycleBirthday
Born December 1, 1985
- Singer/actor Janelle Monáe
#BicycleBirthday
Born December 1, 1985
Reposted by Brianinja
The City of San Diego doesn't give a second thought to blocking the unprotected bike lanes on 55+ mph Pacific Highway in places where there are no alternate routes for bikes. They still do it even after a $2.95 M settlement with the family of a cyclist killed by a city truck blocking a bike lane.
December 1, 2025 at 4:10 PM
The City of San Diego doesn't give a second thought to blocking the unprotected bike lanes on 55+ mph Pacific Highway in places where there are no alternate routes for bikes. They still do it even after a $2.95 M settlement with the family of a cyclist killed by a city truck blocking a bike lane.
Reposted by Brianinja
Stay safe by not driving.
Ride transit.
Ride transit.
From Alaska to Maine, winter weather watches, warnings, and advisories are in effect today (December 1) across over 20 states due to ongoing or expected snow/ice. Make sure you're taking time to ready yourself for winter driving!
weather.gov/safety
weather.gov/safety
December 1, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Stay safe by not driving.
Ride transit.
Ride transit.
Reposted by Brianinja
This is the enrollment story of community colleges.
The remaining decline is in part related to the fact that community college enrollment is countercyclical.
In recessions, when jobs are scarce, some folks choose community college because that's the best available option.
When jobs are plentiful, those potential students instead choose jobs.
In recessions, when jobs are scarce, some folks choose community college because that's the best available option.
When jobs are plentiful, those potential students instead choose jobs.
December 1, 2025 at 2:09 PM
This is the enrollment story of community colleges.
Metra and Pace today for me, too.
Good morning to everyone not biking in Chicago this morning, I am one of you today.
December 1, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Metra and Pace today for me, too.
Dang Evanston you getting even more nice bus stuff
Route 93 bus @chicagocta.bsky.social getting more service improvements later this month. Will link Davis Street CTA Station in Evanston to the Blue Line Station in Logan Square in Chicago with a stop along the way at the Kedzie Station on the Brown Line. evanstonroundtable.com/2025/11/30/c...
Dodge Avenue bus extension to Logan Square coming Dec. 21 - Evanston RoundTable
West Evanston bus riders will be getting an early holiday gift this year. On Dec. 21, CTA bus route 93, which primarily serves the street that's called
evanstonroundtable.com
December 1, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Dang Evanston you getting even more nice bus stuff
In other words, and as Star:Line already reshared this morning, we need leadership with vision.
While we’re figuring out financials (since a certain project will suck all the oxygen out of the room for the next decade), we need to explore a more holistic reimagining the Ike *and* the Blue Line as a whole, ready to hit the ground running with a 21st-Century vision once funds are allocated.
December 1, 2025 at 3:29 PM
In other words, and as Star:Line already reshared this morning, we need leadership with vision.
Reposted by Brianinja
This explains something that has always mystified me about drivers who rail against bike lanes and transit. Why WOULDN'T you want people to have options not to drive? It would make your own driving better! But they don't just want good traffic, they want to reinforce the NORM of driving
This is actually quite brilliant, up to and including the final sentence 🔥
December 1, 2025 at 1:04 PM
This explains something that has always mystified me about drivers who rail against bike lanes and transit. Why WOULDN'T you want people to have options not to drive? It would make your own driving better! But they don't just want good traffic, they want to reinforce the NORM of driving
Reposted by Brianinja
Mark Twain said "Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example," and to that point I think the boots-on-the-ground legislative delegation trip to Germany last year was a crucial component in getting NITA's #RevenuesAndReform across the finish line eleven-ish months later.
One of the many reasons change is hard when it comes to better cities is that the ability to picture your city being and working very differently than it does now, aka “having vision,” is not nearly as common as we think. And it’s sadly not a prerequisite for leadership, although it should be.
November 30, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Mark Twain said "Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example," and to that point I think the boots-on-the-ground legislative delegation trip to Germany last year was a crucial component in getting NITA's #RevenuesAndReform across the finish line eleven-ish months later.
Reposted by Brianinja
Transit should be at forefront of any climate resiliency plan. Take snow. A bus is heavy and piloted by a trained driver; much safer in snow (or heavy rainfall) than the relatively light vehicles driven by civilians. Bus riders take vehicles off the streets, which speeds plowing, emergency response.
November 30, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Transit should be at forefront of any climate resiliency plan. Take snow. A bus is heavy and piloted by a trained driver; much safer in snow (or heavy rainfall) than the relatively light vehicles driven by civilians. Bus riders take vehicles off the streets, which speeds plowing, emergency response.
Reposted by Brianinja
Yesterday saw a group of 4 young adults at bus stop working out what tickets they would need for their journey, calculating (correctly) that it would be significantly cheaper to get a taxi, and calling a taxi instead of getting on the bus right in front of them.
"Raising the cost of driving EVs discourages people from adopting the more sustainable option."
Cool, now do public transport.
Cool, now do public transport.
It'd be cool if the "increasing the cost of motoring hurts poor people" people cared anything like as much about cost to people who rely on public transport - who are disproportionately likely to be poor and disabled, and who consistently face far greater increases in cost.
November 30, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Yesterday saw a group of 4 young adults at bus stop working out what tickets they would need for their journey, calculating (correctly) that it would be significantly cheaper to get a taxi, and calling a taxi instead of getting on the bus right in front of them.
Reposted by Brianinja
Same shot different day
November 30, 2025 at 2:56 AM
Same shot different day
I've fallen into Narnia. Where's Mr Tumnus?
November 30, 2025 at 2:47 AM
I've fallen into Narnia. Where's Mr Tumnus?
Goals.
The life I want to live is ending up at a random neighborhood bar no one has been to before with colleagues at partner agencies after an organized event at a fancy brewpub and then taking the L home
November 30, 2025 at 1:31 AM
Goals.
Reposted by Brianinja
my wife grew up in Southern California and one time we were in Boulder and we went out to dinner while it was snowing and had to scrape off the car on the way there
I will never forget her outraged "what do you mean we have to do it AGAIN" when we came back to the car after dinner
I will never forget her outraged "what do you mean we have to do it AGAIN" when we came back to the car after dinner
I have nothing against you or your regional culture but there is an unbreakable spiritual bond between anyone who has ever had to scrape ice off a windshield while hungover
the annual snowfall required for me to take your city seriously is like 11” minimum. nobody is using 300 days of sun to serve the lord
November 30, 2025 at 12:27 AM
my wife grew up in Southern California and one time we were in Boulder and we went out to dinner while it was snowing and had to scrape off the car on the way there
I will never forget her outraged "what do you mean we have to do it AGAIN" when we came back to the car after dinner
I will never forget her outraged "what do you mean we have to do it AGAIN" when we came back to the car after dinner
The separation of municipal and district fiefdoms will one day be my mental undoing.
1. No, we don't
2. This was park district, not city, so it is cleared
3. They actually did plow as I was walking, I had to push the stroller off into the grass for them to get by.
2. This was park district, not city, so it is cleared
3. They actually did plow as I was walking, I had to push the stroller off into the grass for them to get by.
November 30, 2025 at 12:44 AM
The separation of municipal and district fiefdoms will one day be my mental undoing.
Made a gallon of turkey broth from Thanksgiving leftovers, turned some more leftovers and some of the broth into turkey noodle soup, and now doing a cleanse with some southwest tofu scramble, before I do some night snowshoeing.
November 30, 2025 at 12:42 AM
Made a gallon of turkey broth from Thanksgiving leftovers, turned some more leftovers and some of the broth into turkey noodle soup, and now doing a cleanse with some southwest tofu scramble, before I do some night snowshoeing.
Reposted by Brianinja
In Western New York, excursion trains don’t take dainty strolls through the snowflakes. They obliterate snowdrifts to smithereens. This is the Arcade & Africa’s GE 65-Ton Switcher #112. Photo by Jackson Henneberry-Gregoire.
📸❄️🛤️
📸❄️🛤️
November 29, 2025 at 6:52 PM
In Western New York, excursion trains don’t take dainty strolls through the snowflakes. They obliterate snowdrifts to smithereens. This is the Arcade & Africa’s GE 65-Ton Switcher #112. Photo by Jackson Henneberry-Gregoire.
📸❄️🛤️
📸❄️🛤️
Reposted by Brianinja
Reposted by Brianinja
Tired: tree by car
Wired: tree by bike
Inspired: tree by sleeper train
Wired: tree by bike
Inspired: tree by sleeper train
Like the previous years, the Christmas tree for the European parliament arrived by NightJet in Brussels today
November 29, 2025 at 12:16 AM
Tired: tree by car
Wired: tree by bike
Inspired: tree by sleeper train
Wired: tree by bike
Inspired: tree by sleeper train
I wish sales tax numbers were easily accessible so one could do a more accurate comparison of total revenue, and especially space comparison between big box commercial and main street commercial.
Minimum parking requirements create financially insolvent land use patterns.
The two apartment buildings on the right generate six times more in property taxes than the big box store on the left, while occupying almost half the space!
#BlackFridayParking
The two apartment buildings on the right generate six times more in property taxes than the big box store on the left, while occupying almost half the space!
#BlackFridayParking
November 28, 2025 at 10:20 PM
I wish sales tax numbers were easily accessible so one could do a more accurate comparison of total revenue, and especially space comparison between big box commercial and main street commercial.