peter k
@peterskim.org
Living the car-free dream in Philly. Philly public school parent. Brompton Bicycles are the ultimate urban life hack. I only really care about Philly issues; it’s not my job to provide context to my posts for non-Philly folks.
My church hosted this meetup. I’ve said before that I think my church has the most urbanist cred in Philly. Come worship at the church of urbanism where we believe in a God who loves cities. 😁
Thank you to the 100 folks who attended our first ever Urbanist PowerPoint Party last night!
We had a great time deep diving into just a few topics covering our built environment.
We had a great time deep diving into just a few topics covering our built environment.
January 16, 2026 at 5:28 PM
My church hosted this meetup. I’ve said before that I think my church has the most urbanist cred in Philly. Come worship at the church of urbanism where we believe in a God who loves cities. 😁
Should I buy Super Duolingo? I took a French class in person last year and I was so impressed with one of my classmates who learned a lot just through Duolingo.
January 15, 2026 at 6:39 PM
Should I buy Super Duolingo? I took a French class in person last year and I was so impressed with one of my classmates who learned a lot just through Duolingo.
I don't know why anyone in Philly bothers with Comcast. Verizon FIOS is pretty amazing.
January 15, 2026 at 2:53 AM
I don't know why anyone in Philly bothers with Comcast. Verizon FIOS is pretty amazing.
It's scary how many people have an unhealthy relationship with ChatGPT. I know people who literally talk about their conversations with ChatGPT as if it was a real person.
What we need are real friends. Sadly, people would rather talk with ChatGPT bc it won't ever offend us.
What we need are real friends. Sadly, people would rather talk with ChatGPT bc it won't ever offend us.
January 14, 2026 at 5:08 PM
It's scary how many people have an unhealthy relationship with ChatGPT. I know people who literally talk about their conversations with ChatGPT as if it was a real person.
What we need are real friends. Sadly, people would rather talk with ChatGPT bc it won't ever offend us.
What we need are real friends. Sadly, people would rather talk with ChatGPT bc it won't ever offend us.
My church’s Sunday service has a time for “Prayers of the People” where anyone can pray out loud. We have liberals and conservatives attend our church but on average, it’s pretty centrist, so people generally know not to get political during that time.
But today’s PotP was pretty spicy.
But today’s PotP was pretty spicy.
January 11, 2026 at 8:55 PM
My church’s Sunday service has a time for “Prayers of the People” where anyone can pray out loud. We have liberals and conservatives attend our church but on average, it’s pretty centrist, so people generally know not to get political during that time.
But today’s PotP was pretty spicy.
But today’s PotP was pretty spicy.
Reminder that Jacksonville is not a real city. Go into Apple Maps, turn on 3D view, and take a look at Jacksonville, especially “downtown”. Makes you wonder how they have an NFL team.
January 11, 2026 at 6:25 PM
Reminder that Jacksonville is not a real city. Go into Apple Maps, turn on 3D view, and take a look at Jacksonville, especially “downtown”. Makes you wonder how they have an NFL team.
Reposted by peter k
Karen took this nice photo of the group gathering at the start (a.k.a. Wawa #1). I found it pretty inspiring that about 100 people showed up to ride bikes past Wawas and remember Andrea
January 8, 2026 at 1:35 PM
Karen took this nice photo of the group gathering at the start (a.k.a. Wawa #1). I found it pretty inspiring that about 100 people showed up to ride bikes past Wawas and remember Andrea
Just added the Build More Housing! sticker to my laptop. Thanks @5thsqadvocacy.org! You can get one by becoming a member! www.5thsqadvocacy.org/membership
January 7, 2026 at 10:12 PM
Just added the Build More Housing! sticker to my laptop. Thanks @5thsqadvocacy.org! You can get one by becoming a member! www.5thsqadvocacy.org/membership
This is Avis’ version of Spotify Wrapped. 😁 My family of 4 is car-free but we occasionally rent a car to run errands, go on road trips, etc. My *annual* car expense of $1,425 (includes insurance) is less than what some households pay per month for automobile usage.
January 7, 2026 at 7:15 PM
This is Avis’ version of Spotify Wrapped. 😁 My family of 4 is car-free but we occasionally rent a car to run errands, go on road trips, etc. My *annual* car expense of $1,425 (includes insurance) is less than what some households pay per month for automobile usage.
Reposted by peter k
A Washington Post article suggests that, beyond a certain threshold, larger homes don't make people happier. Instead, well-being is correlated with affordable housing in walkable neighborhoods where they feel socially connected.
www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...
www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...
![Excerpt reads: "Prioritize your neighborhood
Neighborhoods drive our happiness (or unhappiness) more than we think.
When Lina Martinez, director of POLIS, the Center for Wellbeing Studies at Universidad Icesi in Colombia, studied the happiness of households in the city of Cali, she couldn’t find much difference between poorer and richer areas. “Their happiness is pretty much the same,” she said. But that changed when she isolated neighborhood conditions, such as access to transit, health care and parks. “The conditions of the neighborhood affect happiness,” she said. “I can’t link that to the space where [people] live.”
That aligns with findings from a 2023 study of the Vancouver metro area: Researchers found no significant differences in well-being between people living in single detached homes, duplexes, townhouses, laneway houses and apartment buildings (basement units smaller than 300 square feet were the only negative exception). What did people say they missed most in their neighborhood? Affordability, proximity to family and friends, and a sense of community. Home design was eighth on the list."](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ks3gpa6ftoyaq7hmf6c4qx4c/bafkreicapfknasylzk2lqzaxxeb5mchgnru75obggn45dusda6j5zogvuu@jpeg)
January 7, 2026 at 4:29 AM
A Washington Post article suggests that, beyond a certain threshold, larger homes don't make people happier. Instead, well-being is correlated with affordable housing in walkable neighborhoods where they feel socially connected.
www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...
www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...
I hate what our culture of generative AI, fake news, gaslighting, lying without consequences, etc. is doing to people. I can't be the only one and I feel crazy admitting this, but sometimes I have moments when I don't have full confidence of my understanding of reality.
January 7, 2026 at 2:55 AM
I hate what our culture of generative AI, fake news, gaslighting, lying without consequences, etc. is doing to people. I can't be the only one and I feel crazy admitting this, but sometimes I have moments when I don't have full confidence of my understanding of reality.
Until someone @inquirer.com lets me know they fixed this bug of their iPhone app's cache taking up all my storage, a good workaround is to add the website as an icon on your home screen. See section titled "Add a website icon to your Home Screen": support.apple.com/guide/iphone...
January 6, 2026 at 12:34 PM
Until someone @inquirer.com lets me know they fixed this bug of their iPhone app's cache taking up all my storage, a good workaround is to add the website as an icon on your home screen. See section titled "Add a website icon to your Home Screen": support.apple.com/guide/iphone...
Reposted by peter k
Our whole society is based on car ownership. Is it even possible to change that?
Cars are essential to American life. They’re also toxic for the environment, humans, and society, these authors say.
www.inquirer.com
January 3, 2026 at 1:50 PM
Our whole society is based on car ownership. Is it even possible to change that?
Can someone at the @inquirer.com take a look at why the iPhone app is taking up so much storage??? I’ve had the app storage usage go over 30GB! I get that apps need to cache data but it should limit the cache to no more than 1GB or so. I shouldn’t have to manually clear the cache.
January 1, 2026 at 8:29 PM
Can someone at the @inquirer.com take a look at why the iPhone app is taking up so much storage??? I’ve had the app storage usage go over 30GB! I get that apps need to cache data but it should limit the cache to no more than 1GB or so. I shouldn’t have to manually clear the cache.
Don't believe everything you read on Reddit. I don't know why this person thinks a digital subscription to the @inquirer.com is $40/mo. The website says it's ~$25/mo. And if you threaten to quit after your $1 for 6 months trial, you can get it cheaper than the $25/mo. www.reddit.com/r/philadelph...
From the philadelphia community on Reddit
Explore this post and more from the philadelphia community
www.reddit.com
December 31, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Don't believe everything you read on Reddit. I don't know why this person thinks a digital subscription to the @inquirer.com is $40/mo. The website says it's ~$25/mo. And if you threaten to quit after your $1 for 6 months trial, you can get it cheaper than the $25/mo. www.reddit.com/r/philadelph...
Reposted by peter k
Transit's main competition is cars. If you raise fares from $2.50 to $3, you're still way more affordable than driving. But if you cut the bus from every 15 to every 20, you're screwed because cars have infinity frequency and 24 hr service span.
I hate that we’re having to think in these terms, but the evidence seems to be bearing out that steep fare hikes are less damaging to ridership than service cuts.
2025 was brutal for US transit. Agencies faced budget deficits, flat ridership, and open hostility from the White House.
I wrote a series of stories outlining ways to help transit endure.
Lesson #1: Whatever you do, don’t cut service. Riders will leave – permanently.
Here are a few others 🧵
I wrote a series of stories outlining ways to help transit endure.
Lesson #1: Whatever you do, don’t cut service. Riders will leave – permanently.
Here are a few others 🧵
December 27, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Transit's main competition is cars. If you raise fares from $2.50 to $3, you're still way more affordable than driving. But if you cut the bus from every 15 to every 20, you're screwed because cars have infinity frequency and 24 hr service span.
This Phillies hat is 🔥. I already have too many hats… www.neweracap.com/products/phi...
Philadelphia Phillies Plaid Retro Crown 59FIFTY Fitted Hat
The Philadelphia Phillies Plaid Retro Crown 59FIFTY Fitted Cap features a stitch down applique Phillies logo at the front panels with a matching MLB Batterman logo at the rear and a gray undervisor.
www.neweracap.com
December 27, 2025 at 2:51 AM
This Phillies hat is 🔥. I already have too many hats… www.neweracap.com/products/phi...
This big bag of freshly made tortilla chips from a mom+pop tortilla shop was $7. Seems like a lot but it’s a lot of chips since there’s no extra air in the packaging. Probably ends up about the same price or even less than big brand chips but these taste so much better.
December 26, 2025 at 8:27 PM
This big bag of freshly made tortilla chips from a mom+pop tortilla shop was $7. Seems like a lot but it’s a lot of chips since there’s no extra air in the packaging. Probably ends up about the same price or even less than big brand chips but these taste so much better.
Most American cities and suburbs should just adopt golf carts as their primary mode of transportation like Peachtree City, Georgia. www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcVG...
The city of golf carts
YouTube video by Tom Scott
www.youtube.com
December 23, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Most American cities and suburbs should just adopt golf carts as their primary mode of transportation like Peachtree City, Georgia. www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcVG...
I wonder how many people bike-commute regularly from Center City to Conshy. It's nice you're on the SRT the whole time with the exception of Manayunk of course. I wouldn't be surprised to learn there are people who do this every day. Maybe a good candidate for a Philly Bike Train route? ;)
December 23, 2025 at 1:19 PM
I wonder how many people bike-commute regularly from Center City to Conshy. It's nice you're on the SRT the whole time with the exception of Manayunk of course. I wouldn't be surprised to learn there are people who do this every day. Maybe a good candidate for a Philly Bike Train route? ;)
I'm starting a new job next year and their office is in Conshohocken. It used to be in Center City but after they realized the tax consequences, they moved the office to Conshy.
December 23, 2025 at 1:23 AM
I'm starting a new job next year and their office is in Conshohocken. It used to be in Center City but after they realized the tax consequences, they moved the office to Conshy.
Apparently Stranger Things is most popular in the 18-29 age group. I’d think it’d do better with people in their 30s and 40s because of the 80s nostalgia.
There’s a Tiffany tape in one of the episodes in season 5. I still have the record for her hit single.
There’s a Tiffany tape in one of the episodes in season 5. I still have the record for her hit single.
December 22, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Apparently Stranger Things is most popular in the 18-29 age group. I’d think it’d do better with people in their 30s and 40s because of the 80s nostalgia.
There’s a Tiffany tape in one of the episodes in season 5. I still have the record for her hit single.
There’s a Tiffany tape in one of the episodes in season 5. I still have the record for her hit single.
Powerball is up to $1.6 billion. It’s really “just” $700 million or so if you take the lump sum payment which is what most people do. Then after taxes, ~$350 mil?
I’d like to think I’d keep a few million and give the rest away.
I’d like to think I’d keep a few million and give the rest away.
December 22, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Powerball is up to $1.6 billion. It’s really “just” $700 million or so if you take the lump sum payment which is what most people do. Then after taxes, ~$350 mil?
I’d like to think I’d keep a few million and give the rest away.
I’d like to think I’d keep a few million and give the rest away.
It’s wild how fast people drive on Lincoln Drive. Speed limit is 25mph because it’s a windy road with narrow lanes, yet most people are going 40+.
December 20, 2025 at 6:55 PM
It’s wild how fast people drive on Lincoln Drive. Speed limit is 25mph because it’s a windy road with narrow lanes, yet most people are going 40+.