Vivek Ayer
@vsayer.com
Advocating for all things infra in the Bay Area and elsewhere! 🚇🚃🚎⛴️
Reposted by Vivek Ayer
A reminder that cars aren’t a technology problem. They’re a geometry problem.
Waymo privatized another public street:
Chanel approaching 4th, San Francisco
Possibly queued for a Billie Eilish show at Chase Center ~half mile away.
The light rail train on 4th seen passing in front of this roboherd has more passenger capacity than all of them combined.
OP: .tiktok.renaspam18
Chanel approaching 4th, San Francisco
Possibly queued for a Billie Eilish show at Chase Center ~half mile away.
The light rail train on 4th seen passing in front of this roboherd has more passenger capacity than all of them combined.
OP: .tiktok.renaspam18
November 25, 2025 at 4:16 AM
A reminder that cars aren’t a technology problem. They’re a geometry problem.
Reposted by Vivek Ayer
If we had the train network we ALREADY HAD 80-100 years ago, the auto industry as we know it would be decimated.
A growing number of Americans are rolling into the holidays by train with Amtrak reporting an increase in riders after federally mandated flight reductions led to thousands of delays and cancellations at major airports nationwide. NBC News' Emilie Ikeda reports.
November 22, 2025 at 2:55 AM
If we had the train network we ALREADY HAD 80-100 years ago, the auto industry as we know it would be decimated.
Reposted by Vivek Ayer
What if you had to take your drivers test at least every 10 years?
A lot changes over time. Including knowledge/memory of the road rules, driver skills and ability, and the size and deadliness of vehicles.
A lot changes over time. Including knowledge/memory of the road rules, driver skills and ability, and the size and deadliness of vehicles.
October 10, 2025 at 4:21 PM
What if you had to take your drivers test at least every 10 years?
A lot changes over time. Including knowledge/memory of the road rules, driver skills and ability, and the size and deadliness of vehicles.
A lot changes over time. Including knowledge/memory of the road rules, driver skills and ability, and the size and deadliness of vehicles.
I ended up getting this book thanks to Not Just Bikes’ video on vehicular cycling: youtu.be/pRPduRHBhHI
I’m not even an urban planner but what can I do to get this book into every American urban planner’s reading list?
I’m not even an urban planner but what can I do to get this book into every American urban planner’s reading list?
November 13, 2025 at 9:03 PM
I ended up getting this book thanks to Not Just Bikes’ video on vehicular cycling: youtu.be/pRPduRHBhHI
I’m not even an urban planner but what can I do to get this book into every American urban planner’s reading list?
I’m not even an urban planner but what can I do to get this book into every American urban planner’s reading list?
Reposted by Vivek Ayer
A complete, connected, comfortable network of protected bike-lanes is a climate mitigation strategy. It’s a healthy cities strategy. It’s a social equity strategy. It’s an affordability strategy. It’s an economic devt strategy. It’s a smart mobility & space saving strategy.
Etc. Etc. Etc.
Etc.
Etc. Etc. Etc.
Etc.
November 10, 2025 at 11:23 PM
A complete, connected, comfortable network of protected bike-lanes is a climate mitigation strategy. It’s a healthy cities strategy. It’s a social equity strategy. It’s an affordability strategy. It’s an economic devt strategy. It’s a smart mobility & space saving strategy.
Etc. Etc. Etc.
Etc.
Etc. Etc. Etc.
Etc.
Reposted by Vivek Ayer
This breaks some people’s brains.
In most cities, Costco stores fuel sprawl & car dependency.
In Vancouver, our full-sized downtown Costco has residential towers above & a skytrain station next door. LOTS of customers don’t drive to it.
We live a block from it. We call it “the convenience store.”
In most cities, Costco stores fuel sprawl & car dependency.
In Vancouver, our full-sized downtown Costco has residential towers above & a skytrain station next door. LOTS of customers don’t drive to it.
We live a block from it. We call it “the convenience store.”
November 8, 2025 at 3:03 AM
This breaks some people’s brains.
In most cities, Costco stores fuel sprawl & car dependency.
In Vancouver, our full-sized downtown Costco has residential towers above & a skytrain station next door. LOTS of customers don’t drive to it.
We live a block from it. We call it “the convenience store.”
In most cities, Costco stores fuel sprawl & car dependency.
In Vancouver, our full-sized downtown Costco has residential towers above & a skytrain station next door. LOTS of customers don’t drive to it.
We live a block from it. We call it “the convenience store.”
Reposted by Vivek Ayer
The Mamdani text generator has some important messages to share.
November 10, 2025 at 5:14 AM
The Mamdani text generator has some important messages to share.
Reposted by Vivek Ayer
Luxembourg touts free transit in an FT ad. And they’re not even socialist!
October 22, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Luxembourg touts free transit in an FT ad. And they’re not even socialist!
Reposted by Vivek Ayer
Finish this sentence: “The biggest obstacle to actually turning MY city into a better city for people is __________________________.”
October 15, 2025 at 1:39 AM
Finish this sentence: “The biggest obstacle to actually turning MY city into a better city for people is __________________________.”
To all my peeps in the Bay, help me get some traction with this petition: c.org/jHwSck4pQQ
This campaign needs you now
Add BART service along I-680
c.org
October 17, 2025 at 1:02 AM
To all my peeps in the Bay, help me get some traction with this petition: c.org/jHwSck4pQQ
Reposted by Vivek Ayer
In the US, even a “cheap” transit bus costs 2-3x more than in Asia or Europe -- and one agency may pay twice as much as another for nearly identical vehicles.
In Bloomberg, I explored a ripe opportunity to improve transportation by applying Abundance-coded, supply-side reforms.
🧵
In Bloomberg, I explored a ripe opportunity to improve transportation by applying Abundance-coded, supply-side reforms.
🧵
Why US Cities Pay Too Much for Transit Buses
A new paper argues that lack of competition, demand for custom features and “Buy America” rules have driven up costs for transit agencies in the US.
www.bloomberg.com
September 26, 2025 at 12:21 PM
In the US, even a “cheap” transit bus costs 2-3x more than in Asia or Europe -- and one agency may pay twice as much as another for nearly identical vehicles.
In Bloomberg, I explored a ripe opportunity to improve transportation by applying Abundance-coded, supply-side reforms.
🧵
In Bloomberg, I explored a ripe opportunity to improve transportation by applying Abundance-coded, supply-side reforms.
🧵
Reposted by Vivek Ayer
can the north american mind even comprehend microcars that cost less than €10,000?
Chinese Startup Wants to Bring Its Tiny EVs to European Streets
Chinese electric vehicle brands led by BYD are winning over European customers with sleek, high-tech models at competitive prices. Now, a startup is looking to muscle in on a more modest market: micro...
www.bloomberg.com
September 18, 2025 at 6:51 PM
can the north american mind even comprehend microcars that cost less than €10,000?
Reposted by Vivek Ayer
NEW: @bradlander.bsky.social joins us to talk political courage, from defending bike lanes early in his career to his efforts to rein in reckless drivers to his cross endorsement of @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social. We are thrilled to welcome Brad to The War on Cars!
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/p...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/p...
September 9, 2025 at 1:51 PM
NEW: @bradlander.bsky.social joins us to talk political courage, from defending bike lanes early in his career to his efforts to rein in reckless drivers to his cross endorsement of @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social. We are thrilled to welcome Brad to The War on Cars!
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/p...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/p...
Reposted by Vivek Ayer
Hats off to advocates in SF for fighting for transit funding. (And nice shirt.)
With Bay Area transit funding on ‘life support,’ advocates rally in S.F. for state money
While there’s concern Gov. Newsom’s office will table a key transit loan until next year, politicians suggest there’s still hope for the funding measure to find approval before this week’s...
www.sfchronicle.com
September 9, 2025 at 3:46 AM
Hats off to advocates in SF for fighting for transit funding. (And nice shirt.)
Reposted by Vivek Ayer
For more than a decade, Andrew Cuomo pretended he had nothing to do with deteriorating subways and endless delays — even as he siphoned off funding from the MTA he controlled.
September 3, 2025 at 3:51 PM
For more than a decade, Andrew Cuomo pretended he had nothing to do with deteriorating subways and endless delays — even as he siphoned off funding from the MTA he controlled.
Reposted by Vivek Ayer
here’s a version where the POV is blacked out whenever the driver takes their eyes off the road
August 31, 2025 at 12:07 AM
here’s a version where the POV is blacked out whenever the driver takes their eyes off the road
Reposted by Vivek Ayer
Life After Cars begins...
This couple is having a picnic in the median of Lake Shore Drive
August 31, 2025 at 10:12 PM
Life After Cars begins...
Reposted by Vivek Ayer
Jon Lovett’s face when LA City Councilmember Imelda Padilla said she forced an affordable housing project to go down from six stories to three stories and add in EV charging spaces
August 27, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Jon Lovett’s face when LA City Councilmember Imelda Padilla said she forced an affordable housing project to go down from six stories to three stories and add in EV charging spaces
Reposted by Vivek Ayer
Aggressive rock, welcome to The War on Cars.
An aggressive rock is attacking drivers, even an ambulance, in Aurora, Colorado.
August 16, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Aggressive rock, welcome to The War on Cars.
Reposted by Vivek Ayer
Heard this one? The City of Barcelona traded 3 lanes of vehicle traffic for an exceptional 4.7km green pedestrian corridor in the heart of the Eixample grid. Businesses sued, & eventually won in court. Then they admitted that they actually like the change.
Streets for people are good for business.
Streets for people are good for business.
The Legal Attack on Superblock Barcelona - City Lab Barcelona
In this blog post, I attempt to unpack what this court ruling is about, the legal arguments, and who is behind it. Did the city really do something wrong? What will happen to the Consell de Cent proj...
citylabbcn.org
July 29, 2025 at 7:13 AM
Heard this one? The City of Barcelona traded 3 lanes of vehicle traffic for an exceptional 4.7km green pedestrian corridor in the heart of the Eixample grid. Businesses sued, & eventually won in court. Then they admitted that they actually like the change.
Streets for people are good for business.
Streets for people are good for business.
Reposted by Vivek Ayer
Bike investment vs. car investment.
July 27, 2025 at 1:30 AM
Bike investment vs. car investment.
Reposted by Vivek Ayer
We invited our biggest fans to show us their favorite things to do on BART during summer break!
Lucy took us on a tour of her favorite stations and told us about her amazing BART themed graduation photos and cap.
Lucy took us on a tour of her favorite stations and told us about her amazing BART themed graduation photos and cap.
July 22, 2025 at 9:08 PM
We invited our biggest fans to show us their favorite things to do on BART during summer break!
Lucy took us on a tour of her favorite stations and told us about her amazing BART themed graduation photos and cap.
Lucy took us on a tour of her favorite stations and told us about her amazing BART themed graduation photos and cap.
Reposted by Vivek Ayer
BART’s efforts to enhance safety, cleanliness, and the customer experience are paying off as June 2025 saw a 13.4% increase in ridership over a year ago, bolstered by steadily growing weekend ridership.
www.bart.gov/news/article...
www.bart.gov/news/article...
July 17, 2025 at 8:58 PM
BART’s efforts to enhance safety, cleanliness, and the customer experience are paying off as June 2025 saw a 13.4% increase in ridership over a year ago, bolstered by steadily growing weekend ridership.
www.bart.gov/news/article...
www.bart.gov/news/article...
Reposted by Vivek Ayer
reasonably sure this is the first time a regional government agency has launched a new service with an elaborate broadway musical parody
July 19, 2025 at 6:06 PM
reasonably sure this is the first time a regional government agency has launched a new service with an elaborate broadway musical parody
Reposted by Vivek Ayer
After mismanaging the MTA for 10+ years as Governor, Andrew Cuomo would now like to mismanage it as Mayor.
July 16, 2025 at 8:05 PM
After mismanaging the MTA for 10+ years as Governor, Andrew Cuomo would now like to mismanage it as Mayor.