@sidestreets.bsky.social
Radically pedestrian urban planning.
Chicago-centric.
Chicago-centric.
Pinned
I'll be putting on a bike ride for Black Friday, along a route that closely follows the course of the first-ever automobile race on its 130th anniversary.
11/28/25 at 10am, starting at the Thomas Garrigue Masaryk Monument at 59th/Dorchester.
More details: ridewithgps.com/routes/53085...
11/28/25 at 10am, starting at the Thomas Garrigue Masaryk Monument at 59th/Dorchester.
More details: ridewithgps.com/routes/53085...
Reposted
last month, 68 groups with the illinois network for pretrial justice called on cook county commissioners to freeze spending on law enforcement to preserve vital programs that have been slashed by the trump admin.
instead, the county board voted to give the sheriff and the state's attorney a raise.
instead, the county board voted to give the sheriff and the state's attorney a raise.
sixty-eight chicago community, faith, + social service organizations are calling on cook county commissioners to “protect and increase social service spending” amid drastic cuts nationally from the trump admin.
they suggest freezing all law enforcement spending, which has “unjustifiably increased.”
they suggest freezing all law enforcement spending, which has “unjustifiably increased.”
November 25, 2025 at 9:16 PM
last month, 68 groups with the illinois network for pretrial justice called on cook county commissioners to freeze spending on law enforcement to preserve vital programs that have been slashed by the trump admin.
instead, the county board voted to give the sheriff and the state's attorney a raise.
instead, the county board voted to give the sheriff and the state's attorney a raise.
Here is the Rockford Mass Transit District east transfer bus station.
Greyhound only knows why I’m here.
Greyhound only knows why I’m here.
November 25, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Here is the Rockford Mass Transit District east transfer bus station.
Greyhound only knows why I’m here.
Greyhound only knows why I’m here.
There’s a lot of old rail stations around here.
November 25, 2025 at 8:43 PM
There’s a lot of old rail stations around here.
Here we have where Moline is ready to receive their end of the passenger rail connection.
November 25, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Here we have where Moline is ready to receive their end of the passenger rail connection.
The Iowa River right now feels like commentary on the state of water quality in Iowa.
November 25, 2025 at 8:05 PM
The Iowa River right now feels like commentary on the state of water quality in Iowa.
Reposted
Studies show: up to 80% drivers believe that are above average drivers. Our database shows that is not the case.
November 25, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Studies show: up to 80% drivers believe that are above average drivers. Our database shows that is not the case.
Also, for an urban-friendly college town, these pedestrian overpasses are numerous and not ADA-compliant.
November 25, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Also, for an urban-friendly college town, these pedestrian overpasses are numerous and not ADA-compliant.
Hey, it’s the bus system everyone is talking about.
The headways are about what you’d expect, it is not turn-up-and-go.
The headways are about what you’d expect, it is not turn-up-and-go.
November 25, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Hey, it’s the bus system everyone is talking about.
The headways are about what you’d expect, it is not turn-up-and-go.
The headways are about what you’d expect, it is not turn-up-and-go.
Today’s bus ride.
Destination sign not indicative of actual destination.
Destination sign not indicative of actual destination.
November 25, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Today’s bus ride.
Destination sign not indicative of actual destination.
Destination sign not indicative of actual destination.
“Additional reforms are also necessary everywhere in Illinois: curbing delays and additional costs from project-by-project exactions for perceived impacts that aren’t based on empirical standards;”
Don’t let the suburbs act like mobsters.
Don’t let the suburbs act like mobsters.
Of all the major cities in the United States, Chicago provides the greatest value, with robust amenities and culture without correlated housing costs. But if Chicago wants to retain that status, some things need to change.
op-ed by me, Stef, and Jasmine (co-leads for @abundanthousingil.bsky.social)
op-ed by me, Stef, and Jasmine (co-leads for @abundanthousingil.bsky.social)
Commentary: Make 2026 the year to achieve real progress on reforming housing affordability
Growth in and around Chicago depends on lawmakers getting it done, write leaders of Abundant Housing Illinois.
www.chicagobusiness.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:44 PM
“Additional reforms are also necessary everywhere in Illinois: curbing delays and additional costs from project-by-project exactions for perceived impacts that aren’t based on empirical standards;”
Don’t let the suburbs act like mobsters.
Don’t let the suburbs act like mobsters.
“This is not about a lack of money. Rather, laws written decades ago for a very different (circumstance) continue to dictate what our government can and cannot do. So-called “solutions" are fractured among numerous and inconsistent programs.”
It’s time to end ‘move slowly but still break things’.
It’s time to end ‘move slowly but still break things’.
When did the New York Minute become the New York Decade? It shouldn't take as long as it does to implement busways, bus lanes, bike lanes, open streets, pedestrian plazas, day-lit intersections, red light cameras, speed cameras, outdoor dining sheds, etc.
OPINION: How to Fix the City’s Slothful Agencies - Streetsblog New York City
Curing our government of its ills does not require a lot of money but rather executive leadership and political courage.
buff.ly
November 25, 2025 at 4:38 PM
“This is not about a lack of money. Rather, laws written decades ago for a very different (circumstance) continue to dictate what our government can and cannot do. So-called “solutions" are fractured among numerous and inconsistent programs.”
It’s time to end ‘move slowly but still break things’.
It’s time to end ‘move slowly but still break things’.
Ride Your Bike
November 25, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Ride Your Bike
This was tonight’s top story on the local news.
November 25, 2025 at 4:03 AM
This was tonight’s top story on the local news.
The most ridiculous bike lane design I've ever ridden is one where parking is explicitly allowed.
November 24, 2025 at 10:42 PM
The most ridiculous bike lane design I've ever ridden is one where parking is explicitly allowed.
Farmers of Iowa, suburbia is coming for your land.
(But sure, complain about solar farms taking farmland...)
(But sure, complain about solar farms taking farmland...)
November 24, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Farmers of Iowa, suburbia is coming for your land.
(But sure, complain about solar farms taking farmland...)
(But sure, complain about solar farms taking farmland...)
Truly impressive pruning.
November 24, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Truly impressive pruning.
The Des Moines metro has a population of 779,000, the 79th-largest in the country.
It does not need this many lanes of interstate highway, especially not on a bypass route like this.
It does not need this many lanes of interstate highway, especially not on a bypass route like this.
November 24, 2025 at 6:12 PM
The Des Moines metro has a population of 779,000, the 79th-largest in the country.
It does not need this many lanes of interstate highway, especially not on a bypass route like this.
It does not need this many lanes of interstate highway, especially not on a bypass route like this.
This nondescript, pragmatic candidate has worked to ensure efficiency and transparency in the state's bureaucracy.
He's the most moderate moderate you could possibly find, and should probably be the next governor of Iowa.
He's the most moderate moderate you could possibly find, and should probably be the next governor of Iowa.
November 24, 2025 at 5:42 PM
This nondescript, pragmatic candidate has worked to ensure efficiency and transparency in the state's bureaucracy.
He's the most moderate moderate you could possibly find, and should probably be the next governor of Iowa.
He's the most moderate moderate you could possibly find, and should probably be the next governor of Iowa.
This is why kids don't walk to school anymore.
Urbandale put an elementary school on the outskirts of town, but most nearby housing is on the other side of this road. The only crossing that connects to the neighborhood has no stop sign, stoplight, or refuge space on a four-lane speedway.
Urbandale put an elementary school on the outskirts of town, but most nearby housing is on the other side of this road. The only crossing that connects to the neighborhood has no stop sign, stoplight, or refuge space on a four-lane speedway.
November 24, 2025 at 4:22 PM
This is why kids don't walk to school anymore.
Urbandale put an elementary school on the outskirts of town, but most nearby housing is on the other side of this road. The only crossing that connects to the neighborhood has no stop sign, stoplight, or refuge space on a four-lane speedway.
Urbandale put an elementary school on the outskirts of town, but most nearby housing is on the other side of this road. The only crossing that connects to the neighborhood has no stop sign, stoplight, or refuge space on a four-lane speedway.
A suburban murmuration
November 24, 2025 at 3:52 PM
A suburban murmuration
From Des Moines, where the water quality is a political landmine, it's #ManholeCoverMonday
November 24, 2025 at 3:32 PM
From Des Moines, where the water quality is a political landmine, it's #ManholeCoverMonday
This is the Krause Gateway Center in downtown Des Moines, by starchitect Renzo Piano. It used to be the HQ of the infamously-named Kum & Go gas stations, but the family sold that and now it's the home of their USL League Two and Italian Serie A side soccer teams, a trucking firm, and a sheep farm.
November 24, 2025 at 4:48 AM
This is the Krause Gateway Center in downtown Des Moines, by starchitect Renzo Piano. It used to be the HQ of the infamously-named Kum & Go gas stations, but the family sold that and now it's the home of their USL League Two and Italian Serie A side soccer teams, a trucking firm, and a sheep farm.
Ok this is a cute idea.
November 23, 2025 at 11:50 PM
Ok this is a cute idea.
The IRS has determined it to cost $0.70/mile to drive, and the IRS usually has a good idea of what it costs to do something. That’s before parking costs.
The misconception that driving is free for individuals (not to mention society), is very prevalent and very silly
i wonder how much of Americans' views on driving vs. transit would change if they had to pay for gas/insurance/etc every time they turned on the engine
"i'm not paying $5 to take the train to work twice a day when i can just drive" is a genuine opinion held by so many people
"i'm not paying $5 to take the train to work twice a day when i can just drive" is a genuine opinion held by so many people
November 23, 2025 at 9:33 PM
The IRS has determined it to cost $0.70/mile to drive, and the IRS usually has a good idea of what it costs to do something. That’s before parking costs.