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!
Reposted by Brianinja
It's not that the city just hasn't gotten to it yet or they didn't do a good job; there is literally no plan to clear this stretch. The State will tell you it's the City's job; the City will say it's the State's; or CDOT will tell you it's Streets&San and S&S will tell you it's CDOT.
December 3, 2025 at 4:42 AM
Reposted by Brianinja
"Please drive everywhere; do not take the bus or bike or walk" --City of Chicago
Imagine getting off the bus at this stop on a major arterial street in Chicago.
The ramp comes down and you roll off with a wheelchair or walker.
I use this stop often with my kids.
The packed ice is about 4 inches thick. The trampled boot path is around 12 inches wide.
The ramp comes down and you roll off with a wheelchair or walker.
I use this stop often with my kids.
The packed ice is about 4 inches thick. The trampled boot path is around 12 inches wide.
December 3, 2025 at 4:13 AM
"Please drive everywhere; do not take the bus or bike or walk" --City of Chicago
Reposted by Brianinja
all i want for christmas is a tunnel for sexy, sexy 7.5 min frequency with through running metra trains 🚂
Now imagine if the train came every 7.5 minutes because we took four existing Metra lines, ran them half-hourly, coordinated their schedules, and connected them down the same corridor.
That’s CrossTowner regional rail.
And that’s why we need to #BuildTheTunnel.
🔗 www.yard-social.com/crosstowners
That’s CrossTowner regional rail.
And that’s why we need to #BuildTheTunnel.
🔗 www.yard-social.com/crosstowners
December 2, 2025 at 5:09 PM
all i want for christmas is a tunnel for sexy, sexy 7.5 min frequency with through running metra trains 🚂
Reposted by Brianinja
This morning’s bike commute felt sketchier than yesterday’s. The bike lanes are a mess, very icy. Avoid. On a plus note, I saw many more people on bikes and e-scooters than I have on past similar days. People clearly rely on micro mobility now, even in the winter.
December 2, 2025 at 2:56 PM
This morning’s bike commute felt sketchier than yesterday’s. The bike lanes are a mess, very icy. Avoid. On a plus note, I saw many more people on bikes and e-scooters than I have on past similar days. People clearly rely on micro mobility now, even in the winter.
Reposted by Brianinja
All the bike and pedestrian infrastructure in the world will not do people any good unless a city has an efficient and accountable maintenance plan.
December 2, 2025 at 1:35 PM
All the bike and pedestrian infrastructure in the world will not do people any good unless a city has an efficient and accountable maintenance plan.
Reposted by Brianinja
Reposted by Brianinja
Should be noted that crash reduction and a systemic safety analysis weren’t even the motivations for the project.
It was the need to draw a bold bike line on a map between two parts of the District. When you build a bike network, safer travel is just one of the many benefits.
It was the need to draw a bold bike line on a map between two parts of the District. When you build a bike network, safer travel is just one of the many benefits.
DDOT continues to publish before/after analyses of safety projects. The numbers for the 9th street NW bike lanes suggest that we should be doing these projects everywhere we can. Crashes plummeted, pedestrian and bike traffic skyrocketed, and vehicle travel times dropped.
December 2, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Should be noted that crash reduction and a systemic safety analysis weren’t even the motivations for the project.
It was the need to draw a bold bike line on a map between two parts of the District. When you build a bike network, safer travel is just one of the many benefits.
It was the need to draw a bold bike line on a map between two parts of the District. When you build a bike network, safer travel is just one of the many benefits.
Reposted by Brianinja
“Nearly 14,000 students who attend predominantly Latino schools, or about 12% of students, stayed home from school on Sept. 29, the Monday after Border Patrol agents marched through downtown.”
As immigration agents swept Chicago this fall, communities stepped in to get kids to school safely
A new WBEZ analysis finds student attendance briefly plummeted following intense moments of immigration enforcement, but overall rates are comparable to last year. Some credit “magic school buses” and...
chicago.suntimes.com
December 2, 2025 at 3:03 PM
“Nearly 14,000 students who attend predominantly Latino schools, or about 12% of students, stayed home from school on Sept. 29, the Monday after Border Patrol agents marched through downtown.”
Reposted by Brianinja
Currently dorking out over this graph about child mortality with my brother. Just mind boggling to take in.
December 2, 2025 at 5:00 AM
Currently dorking out over this graph about child mortality with my brother. Just mind boggling to take in.
Reposted by Brianinja
My enhanced plow tracker is almost done, but there are some improvements i want to add (mostly filtering by street, time since last update, vehicle information, etc...but also just making everything look a bit nicer) Check it out! plows.pgm.sh
Chicago Snowplows
plows.pgm.sh
December 2, 2025 at 6:00 AM
My enhanced plow tracker is almost done, but there are some improvements i want to add (mostly filtering by street, time since last update, vehicle information, etc...but also just making everything look a bit nicer) Check it out! plows.pgm.sh
Reposted by Brianinja
So cheap! See my thread below for a list of recommended books!
We’ve been inspiring change & proposing environmental solutions for 40+ years. Take advantage of our knowledge with our ebook sale at participating retailers. ALL ebooks just $6.99 now until December 19! islandpress.org
December 2, 2025 at 2:27 AM
So cheap! See my thread below for a list of recommended books!
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.