David Edmondson
@thegreatermarin.bsky.social
Urban planner, specializing in transportation, but posts a helluva lot about indigenous political cartography. aka theGreaterMarin. Find me as @OctaviusIV elsewhere, too. DC and SF.
Reposted by David Edmondson
If there's anyone who has worked harder to flip the script on the NIMBY history of Marin than Jenny, I don't know them.
Listen to the reformers: state law gets the goods.
(And you still need people like Jenny holding cities' feet to the fire)
Listen to the reformers: state law gets the goods.
(And you still need people like Jenny holding cities' feet to the fire)
I've done a lot of housing advocacy in Marin. We have 9,000 units in the pipeline. We'd have nothing without the state-level reforms.
I wrote about state-level ADU reform and the differences between @strongtowns.org and YIMBYism. www.maxdubler.com/blog/2025/11...
November 11, 2025 at 3:58 AM
If there's anyone who has worked harder to flip the script on the NIMBY history of Marin than Jenny, I don't know them.
Listen to the reformers: state law gets the goods.
(And you still need people like Jenny holding cities' feet to the fire)
Listen to the reformers: state law gets the goods.
(And you still need people like Jenny holding cities' feet to the fire)
Oh shit this is interesting. Most folks I talk to complain about the 1% or 5% fastest cars on their roads, so this would be very helpful there.
If I understand correctly, that contrasts strongly with New South Wales where there must be sufficient existing speed compliance before speed cameras are activated (they operate in a warning mode until sufficient compliance is achieved). This minimizes the fight between road design and speed limit.
October 30, 2025 at 2:44 AM
Oh shit this is interesting. Most folks I talk to complain about the 1% or 5% fastest cars on their roads, so this would be very helpful there.
Automated speed enforcement in a lot of states requires the 85th Percentile speeds to be at least 12 mph over the limit already.
And a speed camera there is really annoying and punishing bc the road is yelling at you one speed and then you get punished for it bc the sign says something else.
And a speed camera there is really annoying and punishing bc the road is yelling at you one speed and then you get punished for it bc the sign says something else.
Not very hot take (?): "Speed traps" are tacit acknowledgement by law enforcement and the public that road design encourages higher speeds.
That's why these law enforcement actions are usually done at certain locations, not randomly.
That's why these law enforcement actions are usually done at certain locations, not randomly.
October 30, 2025 at 2:37 AM
Automated speed enforcement in a lot of states requires the 85th Percentile speeds to be at least 12 mph over the limit already.
And a speed camera there is really annoying and punishing bc the road is yelling at you one speed and then you get punished for it bc the sign says something else.
And a speed camera there is really annoying and punishing bc the road is yelling at you one speed and then you get punished for it bc the sign says something else.
J’examine le corridor d’University Boulevard au Montgomery County, MD, et sa refonte proposé est nul. Le 16 pieds du terre-plein central a l’intention de fournir les voies pour tourner à gauche, mais ils sont des gâches.
October 21, 2025 at 3:30 PM
J’examine le corridor d’University Boulevard au Montgomery County, MD, et sa refonte proposé est nul. Le 16 pieds du terre-plein central a l’intention de fournir les voies pour tourner à gauche, mais ils sont des gâches.
I'm looking at the University Boulevard corridor in Montgomery County, MD, and its proposed redesign is bad y'all. The 16-foot median is intended to support left-turn lanes but that's such a waste.
October 21, 2025 at 3:29 PM
I'm looking at the University Boulevard corridor in Montgomery County, MD, and its proposed redesign is bad y'all. The 16-foot median is intended to support left-turn lanes but that's such a waste.
I have been around people who talk like this in private and they are not comfortable to be around.
Are they 100% serious? No, duh. Are they still bigoted? Yes, duh. You can be edgy and memelordy without the bigotry, but they choose lazy and hateful edginess on purpose.
Are they 100% serious? No, duh. Are they still bigoted? Yes, duh. You can be edgy and memelordy without the bigotry, but they choose lazy and hateful edginess on purpose.
last i checked these young republicans were like 25 years old. but this is a classic case of infantilization to diminish the significance of the offense. www.yahoo.com/news/article...
Vance downplays group chat messages: ‘Kids do stupid things, especially young boys.’
The vice president called the texts "edgy, offensive jokes."
www.yahoo.com
October 15, 2025 at 9:18 PM
I have been around people who talk like this in private and they are not comfortable to be around.
Are they 100% serious? No, duh. Are they still bigoted? Yes, duh. You can be edgy and memelordy without the bigotry, but they choose lazy and hateful edginess on purpose.
Are they 100% serious? No, duh. Are they still bigoted? Yes, duh. You can be edgy and memelordy without the bigotry, but they choose lazy and hateful edginess on purpose.
I realize there's good reason to hate the button, but spare a thought for the blind and deaf-blind pedestrians who need one whether it's required to change the signal or not.
The fact that the "Beg Button" exists in so many cities is messed up.
For the privilege of crossing the street, pedestrians are required to press a button, wait, and then scurry across while cars + trucks give them a few seconds of grace.
Here's one I'd press in a second...
🧵
For the privilege of crossing the street, pedestrians are required to press a button, wait, and then scurry across while cars + trucks give them a few seconds of grace.
Here's one I'd press in a second...
🧵
October 15, 2025 at 8:18 PM
I realize there's good reason to hate the button, but spare a thought for the blind and deaf-blind pedestrians who need one whether it's required to change the signal or not.
Reposted by David Edmondson
Several schools see a majority of students walking and rolling.
It's clear what those schools have in common:
-Nearby relatively dense housing (9+ DU/acre)
-Adjacent protected bike infrastructure
-Very little parking/auto circulation
It's clear what those schools have in common:
-Nearby relatively dense housing (9+ DU/acre)
-Adjacent protected bike infrastructure
-Very little parking/auto circulation
October 14, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Several schools see a majority of students walking and rolling.
It's clear what those schools have in common:
-Nearby relatively dense housing (9+ DU/acre)
-Adjacent protected bike infrastructure
-Very little parking/auto circulation
It's clear what those schools have in common:
-Nearby relatively dense housing (9+ DU/acre)
-Adjacent protected bike infrastructure
-Very little parking/auto circulation
The Columbus minivan was found guilty of crimes against God and the natural order but was pardoned by the King of Spain because omg look at it!
The 1992 Columbus minivan, which I think is more of a maxivan and looks malformed, but it's Italian
October 14, 2025 at 2:38 PM
The Columbus minivan was found guilty of crimes against God and the natural order but was pardoned by the King of Spain because omg look at it!
This spot has a lot wrong with it, but the primary issues are:
- Wide curve radii at the corners and in the middle
- The curb ramps don't point towards the crosswalks but towards the middle of the intersection
- Right-turn lanes facilitate unsafe turns
- Wide curve radii at the corners and in the middle
- The curb ramps don't point towards the crosswalks but towards the middle of the intersection
- Right-turn lanes facilitate unsafe turns
On Sun 12/8/24 6:10 pm
the driver (21/F) of a 2004 BMW X3
who was turning right from Observation Dr to Ridge Rd/28
hit & injured a pedestrian (56/F)
crossing properly in a marked crosswalk.
Police (MCP3037006R) found the driver at fault: failed to yield ROW.
the driver (21/F) of a 2004 BMW X3
who was turning right from Observation Dr to Ridge Rd/28
hit & injured a pedestrian (56/F)
crossing properly in a marked crosswalk.
Police (MCP3037006R) found the driver at fault: failed to yield ROW.
October 14, 2025 at 2:14 PM
This spot has a lot wrong with it, but the primary issues are:
- Wide curve radii at the corners and in the middle
- The curb ramps don't point towards the crosswalks but towards the middle of the intersection
- Right-turn lanes facilitate unsafe turns
- Wide curve radii at the corners and in the middle
- The curb ramps don't point towards the crosswalks but towards the middle of the intersection
- Right-turn lanes facilitate unsafe turns
Basically anyone who wasn't tried, convicted, and imprisoned for tyranny, the late medieval equivalent of crimes against humanity, or any related crimes.
name an italian more worthy of an american holiday than columbus
October 13, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Basically anyone who wasn't tried, convicted, and imprisoned for tyranny, the late medieval equivalent of crimes against humanity, or any related crimes.
I've been thinking a lot about U St NW and Florida Ave NW/NE and it struck me:
In a rational DC, we'd have just closed the roads off to trhough-traffic years ago and made the rest of the space busways, bikeways, and shared space. The busway plans are better but still bad. buspriority.ddot.dc.gov
In a rational DC, we'd have just closed the roads off to trhough-traffic years ago and made the rest of the space busways, bikeways, and shared space. The busway plans are better but still bad. buspriority.ddot.dc.gov
October 10, 2025 at 8:14 PM
I've been thinking a lot about U St NW and Florida Ave NW/NE and it struck me:
In a rational DC, we'd have just closed the roads off to trhough-traffic years ago and made the rest of the space busways, bikeways, and shared space. The busway plans are better but still bad. buspriority.ddot.dc.gov
In a rational DC, we'd have just closed the roads off to trhough-traffic years ago and made the rest of the space busways, bikeways, and shared space. The busway plans are better but still bad. buspriority.ddot.dc.gov
Reposted by David Edmondson
Six months on, the $41 million reinvention of Dave Thomas Circle seems like a success for the moment.
Dave Thomas Circle is dead. Long live Peanut Johnson Plaza.
View this post on ggwash.org
ggwash.org
October 6, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Six months on, the $41 million reinvention of Dave Thomas Circle seems like a success for the moment.
You need my kitty, Petunia Thumbelina Bláthnat, to cheer you up this evening.
October 5, 2025 at 11:57 PM
You need my kitty, Petunia Thumbelina Bláthnat, to cheer you up this evening.
Started taking creatine as a nootropic and it's freaking weird to have a mind this active. Like, this morning my brain woke up before the rest of me did, which kind of interrupted the last hour of sleep with problem solving. Now learning about project management techniques is entertainment? Somehow?
September 29, 2025 at 10:23 PM
Started taking creatine as a nootropic and it's freaking weird to have a mind this active. Like, this morning my brain woke up before the rest of me did, which kind of interrupted the last hour of sleep with problem solving. Now learning about project management techniques is entertainment? Somehow?
I've been reading up on universal design for pedestrians and it has radicalized me in favor of beg buttons (though signals should change even without them being pressed).
September 24, 2025 at 9:13 PM
I've been reading up on universal design for pedestrians and it has radicalized me in favor of beg buttons (though signals should change even without them being pressed).
Reposted by David Edmondson
In the nine months to July, 28.6m people took a train ride, a 6% increase on the same period last year. That puts America’s national railway firm on track this financial year to record the most journeys in its 54-year history
Rail travel is booming in America
More trains mean more riders
econ.st
September 24, 2025 at 9:00 PM
In the nine months to July, 28.6m people took a train ride, a 6% increase on the same period last year. That puts America’s national railway firm on track this financial year to record the most journeys in its 54-year history
People are getting fired for saying inflammatory things about a guy who became famous for (ostensibly) defending the right to say inflammatory things.
The hypocrisy is deafening to its victims but entirely silent to its cheerleaders.
I get the hypocrites but the cheer squad is baffling to me.
The hypocrisy is deafening to its victims but entirely silent to its cheerleaders.
I get the hypocrites but the cheer squad is baffling to me.
September 13, 2025 at 5:58 PM
People are getting fired for saying inflammatory things about a guy who became famous for (ostensibly) defending the right to say inflammatory things.
The hypocrisy is deafening to its victims but entirely silent to its cheerleaders.
I get the hypocrites but the cheer squad is baffling to me.
The hypocrisy is deafening to its victims but entirely silent to its cheerleaders.
I get the hypocrites but the cheer squad is baffling to me.
Everything about this thread, and the embedded threads, is wild stories, fantastic reporting, and all about the most obnoxious thing about SMART: 32 minute headways.
1300 homes are starting construction at the Novato San Marin SMART station.
MASCOTs/MTC ought to start planning speed or siding improvements to allow for 30m schedules pronto.
www.marinij.com/2025/09/06/n...
MASCOTs/MTC ought to start planning speed or siding improvements to allow for 30m schedules pronto.
www.marinij.com/2025/09/06/n...
September 9, 2025 at 11:35 PM
Everything about this thread, and the embedded threads, is wild stories, fantastic reporting, and all about the most obnoxious thing about SMART: 32 minute headways.
I just gotta declare it: I've successfully parsed and processed 159 pages of 90-year-old field notes collected over a 3-month, intensive summer field study in Mendocino and Sonoma counties. 389 unique entities were discussed (persons, places, polities) and another 771 were mentioned. A year's work!
September 1, 2025 at 8:45 PM
I just gotta declare it: I've successfully parsed and processed 159 pages of 90-year-old field notes collected over a 3-month, intensive summer field study in Mendocino and Sonoma counties. 389 unique entities were discussed (persons, places, polities) and another 771 were mentioned. A year's work!
Me, about to say what I've been up to today that doesn't involve transportation and whatnot, and then I saw this and I was like oops.
Anyway, just going back over 90-year-old field notes collected by a 27-year-old who was still 5 years away from being a doctor of anthropology.
As one does.
Anyway, just going back over 90-year-old field notes collected by a 27-year-old who was still 5 years away from being a doctor of anthropology.
As one does.
August 29, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Me, about to say what I've been up to today that doesn't involve transportation and whatnot, and then I saw this and I was like oops.
Anyway, just going back over 90-year-old field notes collected by a 27-year-old who was still 5 years away from being a doctor of anthropology.
As one does.
Anyway, just going back over 90-year-old field notes collected by a 27-year-old who was still 5 years away from being a doctor of anthropology.
As one does.
One of the things I'm good at, in my job as a transport planner, is making sure we have the plans to build the bikeways AND to build a culture of bicycling.
But, one of the things I'm bad at is making the soft infrastructure actually HAPPEN. It's a different skillset; hire other people who have it.
But, one of the things I'm bad at is making the soft infrastructure actually HAPPEN. It's a different skillset; hire other people who have it.
Good cycling infrastructure invites everyone to bike*. Even very young kids in skirts and a rain jacket on a cool grey day. #OttBike
*It also takes more than just building hard infrastructure
*It also takes more than just building hard infrastructure
August 29, 2025 at 2:03 PM
One of the things I'm good at, in my job as a transport planner, is making sure we have the plans to build the bikeways AND to build a culture of bicycling.
But, one of the things I'm bad at is making the soft infrastructure actually HAPPEN. It's a different skillset; hire other people who have it.
But, one of the things I'm bad at is making the soft infrastructure actually HAPPEN. It's a different skillset; hire other people who have it.
Bel Marin Keys is such a weird place in Marin.
It's the kind of stuff the Corridors Plan intended to stop, and did stop, but then everywhere did downzoning rather than the promised upzoning and we went from building disasters like this to building nothing anywhere.
It's the kind of stuff the Corridors Plan intended to stop, and did stop, but then everywhere did downzoning rather than the promised upzoning and we went from building disasters like this to building nothing anywhere.
How did this even happen?
(Bel Marin Keys in Marin County)
(Bel Marin Keys in Marin County)
August 25, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Bel Marin Keys is such a weird place in Marin.
It's the kind of stuff the Corridors Plan intended to stop, and did stop, but then everywhere did downzoning rather than the promised upzoning and we went from building disasters like this to building nothing anywhere.
It's the kind of stuff the Corridors Plan intended to stop, and did stop, but then everywhere did downzoning rather than the promised upzoning and we went from building disasters like this to building nothing anywhere.
Reading ND Wilson makes me want to read more Nietzsche.
These guys might have gotten along.
These guys might have gotten along.
August 25, 2025 at 4:32 AM
Reading ND Wilson makes me want to read more Nietzsche.
These guys might have gotten along.
These guys might have gotten along.