Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Joan Liu @joanliu.bsky.social · 1d

Ok either he's too old or was too checked out as a kid. I'll ask his elementary school classmates when I see them (it's so amazing that we live a block away from one of them and they're still friends!)

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Joan Liu @joanliu.bsky.social · 1d

They're taking down the fencing! New park/courtyard is here!

Two people removing fencing around a landscaped area across the street.

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Joan Liu @joanliu.bsky.social · 1d

Counting bicyclists and pedestrians this morning again. 🥰 This intersection has come a long way since last year and there is a parking protected bike lane coming later this week. Two new developments created three blocks of protected lanes.

A new building across the street with fencing still up. A curb and planting protected bike lane is barely visible. A wide crosswalk leads to a wide shared use path. Some temporary lines to indicate where the clear corners no parking will be, and the new parking protected bike lane (quick build). A no parking sign and a flyer about the coming changes are attached to a sign post.

A parking garage across the street with curb protected bike lanes on visible sides, including a protected intersection. Flex posts create the end of the quick build bike lane on this side of the street.

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Joan Liu @joanliu.bsky.social · 2d

Yes!

Reposted by Joan Liu

AB @ab-cabra.bsky.social · 2d

The deference we give to drivers is astonishing: speeding, blowing through red lights, crashing without a whisper; yet we jump on non-drivers the moment they step out of line.

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Joan Liu @joanliu.bsky.social · 2d

I found out this weekend that my husband doesn't know what the chicken dance is. Is this a regional thing?!!!

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Reposted by Joan Liu

Somerville Infrastructure @somervilleinfr1.bsky.social · 2d

Streetscape construction continues on Tufts Street between Cross Street and Glen Street.

New sidewalks on Tufts Street between Cross St and Glen St.

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Reposted by Joan Liu

Lindsay Beyerstein @beyerstein.bsky.social · 4d

The White House admits that they're trolling the Democrats, which is proof they're not negotiating in good faith. You don't push your counter-party away from the bargaining table if you want to make a deal.

Jonathan Cohn @jonathancohn.bsky.social · 4d

"Ms. Leavitt’s explanation that these unfortunate firings must be carried out was about as puzzling as her saying that no one at the White House was enjoying what was happening even as they were posting online, seeming very much to enjoy what was happening." www.nytimes.com/2025/10/03/u...

The White House Can’t Decide: Is the Shutdown Bad or Good?

www.nytimes.com

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Joan Liu @joanliu.bsky.social · 5d

Yesterday, someone asked me if I was counting bikes/peds at the same corner last year. 😂

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Reposted by Joan Liu

Community Pedal Power @communitypedalpower.org · 7d

This gets us access to dedicated space; access to a comms platform that we can better manage things with, and comfortable ability to purchase more bikes to stock a new location.

To hit that goal, we need your help.

donorbox.org/grow-the-lib...

Grow The Library | Community Pedal Power (Powered by Donorbox)

Two years ago, the E-Bike Lending Library started with just 4 bikes in a backyard. Today, we’ve completed more than 1000 loans, grown to 40 bikes and a team of more than a dozen volunteers, lending 15...

donorbox.org

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Reposted by Joan Liu

Community Pedal Power @communitypedalpower.org · 7d

Celebrating two years of the E-Bike Lending Library!

In the past two years, the E-Bike Lending Library has grown from 4 bikes in a backyard to 40 bikes serving hundreds of riders across Greater Boston. We've completed more than 1000 loans... and we have an ambitious plan to complete even more. 🧵

A lineup of cargo bikes, each with pink milk crates on the front labeled "Community Pedal Power".

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Joan Liu @joanliu.bsky.social · 7d

This is what we've used at the MBTA for accessibility audits for our websites and apps, and they have some guides: www.wgbh.org/foundation/s...

NCAM

www.wgbh.org

Joan Liu @joanliu.bsky.social · 8d

It's my favorite time of year: bike/ped counting!

Sunrise at an intersection. A bicyclist pedals through the intersection.

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Joan Liu @joanliu.bsky.social · 9d

Well, also @reportermatt.bsky.social videos are such a delight. It's too bad he doesn't post here.

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Joan Liu @joanliu.bsky.social · 9d

Same, except if it's about cats. Then definitely video, but only if it has video of cats. Like the recent cat mayoral race: video was so much better than articles.

darth™️ @darthbluesky.bsky.social · 9d

i am firmly on the prefer to read the article side of this divide tbh

Kat Tenbarge @kattenbarge.bsky.social · 9d

The real generational divide is people who refuse to watch a video if it could be an article versus people who refuse to read an article if it could be a video

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Joan Liu @joanliu.bsky.social · 9d

Well, it's not a place I'd think of recommending; found it dull. But I grew up there and my parents still live there so I occasionally still go and discover pleasant pockets of liveability.

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Joan Liu @joanliu.bsky.social · 9d

I get very excited by street markings. I don't know exactly what they mean, other than some sort of exciting construction work might be coming! Currently my street is marked up for pending sewer work. Last time it was speed humps.

BeijingPalmer @beijingpalmer.bsky.social · 9d

oh lord I hadn't put it together, but tons of people like this must have confused utility markings and gang signs.

99percentinvisible.org/article/colo...

Reposted by Joan Liu

Deb Chachra @debcha.bsky.social · 9d

A ‘random tag on a utility box’ is almost certainly in the sense of graffiti art, not utility markings, but…f you’re not really familiar with either, I can see how spray-paint on the sidewalk could easily be misinterpreted.

BeijingPalmer @beijingpalmer.bsky.social · 9d

oh lord I hadn't put it together, but tons of people like this must have confused utility markings and gang signs.

99percentinvisible.org/article/colo...

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Joan Liu @joanliu.bsky.social · 9d

To be fair, the thing I miss most about San Antonio are the breakfast tacos. Also on a mission to find that flock of wild monk parrots who hang out...at one of the missions. 😂
Just did not expect it to be called the worst city or smelly.

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Joan Liu @joanliu.bsky.social · 9d

Oh ok yeah those areas are not my favorite.

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Joan Liu @joanliu.bsky.social · 9d

...what? Where were you?

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Joan Liu @joanliu.bsky.social · 9d

I have heard more than one elderly landlord say they aren't selling because of the new millionaires tax. But they also complain about the property taxes going up, completely unconnected to the fact their property's market value went up by even more.

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Joan Liu @joanliu.bsky.social · 9d

Hope to see the missing noise barriers installed along 93 in Somerville when the viaduct work is completed.

David Zipper @davidzipper.bsky.social · 9d

New NBER paper on traffic noise:

🔹 Highway noise barriers increase adjecent property values by 6.8%
🔹 Traffic noise in the US imposes annual costs of $110 billion, largely in low-income/minority neighborhoods

www.nber.org/papers/w3429...

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Joan Liu @joanliu.bsky.social · 9d

I donate to immigrant rights groups and abortion groups. I donate to my local community organizations. I focus on the infrastructure being built in my neighborhood.
I'm going to sign up to write more postcards.
Let's look out for each other, focus your efforts where you can.

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Joan Liu @joanliu.bsky.social · 9d

Occasional reminder I like to put out there in hopes that others are inspired: I am scared of what's happening in this country, in my neighborhood.
In response, I do things that I think will help in ways I can help: donate money to mission-based organizations and pay attention to local politics.

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