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Kate Lowe (she/hers)

@kateontransport.bsky.social

6.1K followers 2.5K following 580 posts

Mobility justice/transportation equity/urban planning and policy. Chicago!!! Proud union member (UIC United Faculty). Day job @ @uiccuppa.bsky.social

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Kate Lowe (she/hers) @kateontransport.bsky.social · Apr 7

Appreciate insightful coverage @keawilson.bsky.social @usa.streetsblog.org on our collaboration (@annalivia.bsky.social & Frechette) on walkability & inherent problems of Walk Score as tied to inequitable, racialized investment flows fueling destination proximity usa.streetsblog.org/2025/04/07/i...

Is 'Walk Score' Really Just a 'White Score'? — Streetsblog USA

A new paper argues that the popular real estate tools is driving investment to predominantly white urban neighborhoods, without expanding walkability for anyone else.

usa.streetsblog.org

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Kate Lowe (she/hers) @kateontransport.bsky.social · 13h

Delightful design (with impressive message) from my partner @ryanlindburg.bsky.social!

ryanlindburg.bsky.social @ryanlindburg.bsky.social · 13h

Spread the word! Carry your whistles! BE LOUD!!!

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Kate Lowe (she/hers) @kateontransport.bsky.social · 1d

Hi transportation friends! I have a class that is doing a pedestrian safety audit along an arterial. We'll use a customized instrument drawing from existing tools. What's your favorite safety audit tool? I'm looking at those reviewed by Safe Routes in 2018, but wondered about more recent favorites.

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Reposted by Kate Lowe (she/hers)

cta @chicagocta.bsky.social · 2d

We are excited to announce that the Racine Blue Line station will now be accessible for ALL riders!

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Kate Lowe (she/hers) @kateontransport.bsky.social · 4d

Yeah, was glad to see CTA events publicized but could have had brief content about the scope of possible cuts. Not every rider wants to go/has bandwidth for meetings but should know about potential for 40% cuts (albeit a little later with recent budget info).

Kate Lowe (she/hers) @kateontransport.bsky.social · 4d

Yes, very political! Maybe @chicagocta.bsky.social hesitant because legislators were mad about RTA spending on a campaign. But legit (and low cost) to email riders about what's at stake. More risky for agencies but riders should know who needs to act (& didn't during regular session): legislators.

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Kate Lowe (she/hers) @kateontransport.bsky.social · 4d

What's up on ridehail taxes and fees for Chi? (most rides aren't shared so disklike term rideSHARE). Lyft has no qualms about trying to mobilize its riders (Ventra emails about CTA townhall could have been more compelling about the risk of dire cuts? Or would there have been legislator pushback?).

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Kate Lowe (she/hers) @kateontransport.bsky.social · 4d

Great ideas for public transit funding by @chicagocta.bsky.social board member Requejo: www.linkedin.com/pulse/chicag... He notes tremendous economic benefits & transit gets crumbs from investment it spurs. Non-riders also have a lot at stake with the fiscal cliff! What's feasible for Oct?

Chicago's Transit Funding Gap Has a $1 Billion Solution Hiding in Plain Sight

Chicago’s transit agencies confront a stark reality: a $1.5 billion annual operating deficit that threatens service reliability, ridership, and ultimately the region’s economic competitiveness.

www.linkedin.com

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Kate Lowe (she/hers) @kateontransport.bsky.social · 5d

Thoughtful op-ed from @uofilsystem.bsky.social Springfield colleague Akash Belsare @chicago.suntimes.com chicago.suntimes.com/other-views/... Encouraging complex ideas and critical thinking, while acknowledging our positionality, instead of hiding power and forcing both sidesism

Walters is, perhaps unknowingly, defining neutrality as that which adheres to his worldview. This example demonstrates how the pursuit of neutrality in the classroom is a kind of appeasement to the norm, capitulation to the status quo and a reluctance to even interrogate issues that make us uncomfortable.

Neutrality is being weaponized as part of a larger attack on critical thinking and social emotional learning. Ultimately, it is nothing more than a smokescreen for state-sanctioned indoctrination. Educators are refigured as mere disseminators of information to be surveilled by students and administrators lest we might veer too far from the approved “apolitical” curriculum.

Reposted by Kate Lowe (she/hers)

Your Tiny Journalist Friend. @thewayoftheid.bsky.social · 8d

From @arielparrella.bsky.social:

Federal Agents Handcuff Chicago Alderperson At Hospital ER blockclubchicago.org/2025/10/03/f...

Federal Agents Handcuff Chicago Alderperson At Hospital ER

In another incident caught on video from Friday, federal agents inside a car threw smoke grenades into a street while people were outside nearby.

blockclubchicago.org

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Reposted by Kate Lowe (she/hers)

Lynda Lopez @lyndab08.bsky.social · 8d

State Representative Lilian Jimenez on the tear gassing of protesters near Rico Fresh on Armitage and Central Park.

Lilian Jimenez FB post:

ICE just tear gassed people near the grocery store Rico fresh on armitage- there are helicopters over our houses and armed agents stopping people in the streets, Walmart, Home Depot, all the places people congregate in Humboldt park, Logan square, and hermosa

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Kate Lowe (she/hers) @kateontransport.bsky.social · 8d

Kind of confused by some of the statements highly critical of RTA (e.g., trying to delay, downplaying dire risks). This statement calls for action now. It says risks of inaction are devasting cuts, while other regions have acted.

Kate Lowe (she/hers) @kateontransport.bsky.social · 8d

Revisiting some student work from Fall 2023 on mobility justice & the 157/Ogden bus in North Lawndale. Check out their excellent, holistic, and rigorous work!

Kate Lowe (she/hers) @kateontransport.bsky.social · 9d

Wow! Have only been on Instagram a month or two but there's already a fake account that has one of my pictures and an extra s on the handle. I'm kateontransport NOT kateontransports

Kate Lowe (she/hers) @kateontransport.bsky.social · 9d

@swcollectivechi.bsky.social hosting a bike ride Saturday!

Kate Lowe (she/hers) @kateontransport.bsky.social · 9d

Operating losses on Brightline Miami to Orlando airport. More shift from short flights to speedy rail would be ideal, but this scenario seems reinforce that for-profit model not promising in the current landscape & we might need to price air travel emissions? www.railwayage.com/passenger/in...

Brightline Loses Nearly $550MM in 2024, but Keeps on Going

There is a lot happening at Brightline Florida, the nation’s only private-sector intercity passenger railroad, which runs essentially hourly service between downtown Miami and Orlando International Ai...

www.railwayage.com

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Reposted by Kate Lowe (she/hers)

Sonja Drimmer @sonjadrimmer.bsky.social · 14d

“AI” isn’t a tool or technology or even a cluster of technologies with a misleading name. It’s the infrastructure at the foundation of a form of capitalism dependent on data brokering. We should be teaching our students about this and not teaching them about “responsible” use.

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Kate Lowe (she/hers) @kateontransport.bsky.social · 10d

Is anyone downloading census data? Some pages seem live but when I tried to download a zipped shapefile I got this message and was never redirect.

NOTICE:
Due to the lapse of federal funding, portions of this website will not be updated. Any inquiries submitted will not be answered until appropriations are enacted.
You will be redirected in 10 seconds...

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Kate Lowe (she/hers) @kateontransport.bsky.social · 10d

To avert the great harms of cuts (collective but most acute for disadvantaged) imperfect, feasible funding sources? Yet in Illinois we need long term visions of progressive (income, corporate) revenue & radically investing in our shared future via collective goods like public ed & transit.

Kyle Whitehead @ktwhitehead.bsky.social · 10d

This is such a good piece on why the politics of transit operating revenue and costs never work out.

"Politicians and voters tend to resist virtually any way of closing the funding gap, whether it be higher fares, higher taxes, or higher tolls or fees for cars." www.planetizen.com/features/136...

The Wave of Transit ‘Fiscal Cliffs,’ Explained

Covid and inflation played a role. But for many agencies, the crisis goes much deeper.

www.planetizen.com

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Reposted by Kate Lowe (she/hers)

Kendra K. Levine @kklevine.bsky.social · 11d

It's kind of weird (read: disappointing) to see academic research centers using AI to create art to highlight/advertise their research projects.

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Kate Lowe (she/hers) @kateontransport.bsky.social · 12d

UIC Heritage Gardens doing amazing intersectional work! Student interns gave a great tour for @uiccuppa.bsky.social undergrads today!

approximately 20 people in front our a mural

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Reposted by Kate Lowe (she/hers)

Alderman La Spata @aldermanlaspata.bsky.social · 12d

Today marks the start of #WeekWithoutDriving and the forecast looks great for walking, biking, & public transit!

WWD is a chance to challenge yourself to cut back on vehicle trips and try other ways of getting around.

Let’s build communities that are inclusive and accessible for everyone.

Week forecast featuring pedestrian signals, bikes, trains, and buses in place of odds of precipitation

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Kate Lowe (she/hers) @kateontransport.bsky.social · 12d

Thank you!!!

Kate Lowe (she/hers) @kateontransport.bsky.social · 12d

Any links you could share? Many thanks for the suggestion!

Kate Lowe (she/hers) @kateontransport.bsky.social · 13d

Thank you!

Kate Lowe (she/hers) @kateontransport.bsky.social · 13d

I really appreciate it!