Michael McCarthy
@michaelmcc.com
urban planner from Chicago
Medill/Northwestern and UIC MUPP
Medill/Northwestern and UIC MUPP
Re: Grand I think the protected bike lane network got the “first bite“ at certain arterials, but fighting over bikes vs buses has only delayed improvements until leaders acknowledge that excess pavement is dedicated to cars. eg CTA opposed even painted bike lanes on Belmont per fmr 33rd Ald Deb Mell
November 13, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Re: Grand I think the protected bike lane network got the “first bite“ at certain arterials, but fighting over bikes vs buses has only delayed improvements until leaders acknowledge that excess pavement is dedicated to cars. eg CTA opposed even painted bike lanes on Belmont per fmr 33rd Ald Deb Mell
Reposted by Michael McCarthy
Urbanists anytime they step outside and immediately notice the problem of cars everywhere.
November 7, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Urbanists anytime they step outside and immediately notice the problem of cars everywhere.
Reposted by Michael McCarthy
Good news! Not only is Sydney’s new Oxford Street cycleway doing numbers (3,000+ trips p/d) the other *five lanes* of traffic everyone was *so worried* about appear to be *just fine*(!)
November 6, 2025 at 9:37 AM
Good news! Not only is Sydney’s new Oxford Street cycleway doing numbers (3,000+ trips p/d) the other *five lanes* of traffic everyone was *so worried* about appear to be *just fine*(!)
Reposted by Michael McCarthy
Day almost ruined by a few nulls sometimes I hate computers
October 31, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Day almost ruined by a few nulls sometimes I hate computers
Reposted by Michael McCarthy
alt headline: Illinois Legislature adopts transit revenues and reforms to ensure that drive times don't worsen
October 31, 2025 at 2:48 PM
alt headline: Illinois Legislature adopts transit revenues and reforms to ensure that drive times don't worsen
This is how it is always done lol. Last time Blagojevich was against a retail sales tax hike but ok with the gas sales tax going to transit, but only by throwing in the wrench of free transit for all seniors which adds to the costs. www.chicagotribune.com/2008/01/18/d...
October 31, 2025 at 3:26 AM
This is how it is always done lol. Last time Blagojevich was against a retail sales tax hike but ok with the gas sales tax going to transit, but only by throwing in the wrench of free transit for all seniors which adds to the costs. www.chicagotribune.com/2008/01/18/d...
Reposted by Michael McCarthy
Just got this action alert, I think from @betterstreetschicago.org
Sign a witness slip immediately for the transit funding bill. Info in alt text
mbl.ms/mKgZnW7m-BQ
Sign a witness slip immediately for the transit funding bill. Info in alt text
mbl.ms/mKgZnW7m-BQ
October 30, 2025 at 10:39 PM
Just got this action alert, I think from @betterstreetschicago.org
Sign a witness slip immediately for the transit funding bill. Info in alt text
mbl.ms/mKgZnW7m-BQ
Sign a witness slip immediately for the transit funding bill. Info in alt text
mbl.ms/mKgZnW7m-BQ
I think the legislators should be threatened with having to work on Friday if they fail to fund transit
October 30, 2025 at 10:39 PM
I think the legislators should be threatened with having to work on Friday if they fail to fund transit
Reposted by Michael McCarthy
please just tax food deliveries and force the collar counties to actually disburse their rta payments to the transit agencies instead of spending them on highways and cops
October 30, 2025 at 4:42 PM
please just tax food deliveries and force the collar counties to actually disburse their rta payments to the transit agencies instead of spending them on highways and cops
Now the city is claiming they can’t open a jpeg in 2025. (Deep breaths, these people are just operating within a bad system.) No wonder they don’t fix any bugs.
October 30, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Now the city is claiming they can’t open a jpeg in 2025. (Deep breaths, these people are just operating within a bad system.) No wonder they don’t fix any bugs.
Reposted by Michael McCarthy
It'd be so cool if the search bar in Outlook fucking worked but alas.
October 30, 2025 at 3:21 PM
It'd be so cool if the search bar in Outlook fucking worked but alas.
I just figured out the CHI311 app wont accept (newer?) iPhone camera images. I can only replicate this vague error when attaching a photo from iPhone 16. Makes the whole thing pretty useless.
October 30, 2025 at 3:45 PM
I just figured out the CHI311 app wont accept (newer?) iPhone camera images. I can only replicate this vague error when attaching a photo from iPhone 16. Makes the whole thing pretty useless.
Reposted by Michael McCarthy
The House and the governor's office had five months to get on the same page regarding revenue, and clearly they failed to do so. How the heck do we have a legislative supermajority + a generally agreeable governor and still fall short?? Advocates have been hounding them for MONTHS. So frustrating.
October 29, 2025 at 6:14 PM
The House and the governor's office had five months to get on the same page regarding revenue, and clearly they failed to do so. How the heck do we have a legislative supermajority + a generally agreeable governor and still fall short?? Advocates have been hounding them for MONTHS. So frustrating.
I wonder how the transportation lockbox amendment factors in here… or was that only for roads
According to Illinois Answers (a progressive news organization that's sort of the mirror image of right-wing Illinois policy), suburban counties used one weird trick to divert RTA tax revenue away from transit, contributing the fiscal cliff. 🤬
illinoisanswers.org/2025/10/28/l...
@stevevance.net
illinoisanswers.org/2025/10/28/l...
@stevevance.net
A Little-Known Legal Loophole Has Scrambled State Efforts to Save Transit Agencies From Financial Disaster
Suburban counties last year spent $83M in RTA sales taxes on jails and courts; they'll fight to keep the money as the state scrapes for cash.
illinoisanswers.org
October 28, 2025 at 11:44 PM
I wonder how the transportation lockbox amendment factors in here… or was that only for roads
I bought a Metra ticket, reloaded my Ventra card, and tapped on a bus this morning despite the Ventra scheduled maintenance. Metra conductor never came through and the bus driver didn’t wave us on
October 18, 2025 at 3:27 PM
I bought a Metra ticket, reloaded my Ventra card, and tapped on a bus this morning despite the Ventra scheduled maintenance. Metra conductor never came through and the bus driver didn’t wave us on
The Ventra app working flawlessly this morning lmao
October 18, 2025 at 1:27 PM
The Ventra app working flawlessly this morning lmao
Last night I’m waiting for the light to cross Irving and there’s an SUV opposite me, driver never turns on their signal despite waiting for a while. Light turns green, still no signal. I proceed straight as she turns left in front of me. Back to drivers ed!
it’s honestly just crazy to me that so many drivers simply choose not to use blinkers when turning
it literally takes the tiniest bit of effort and has the benefit of making yourself and everyone around you safer.
like, why wouldn’t you use them? that’s what they’re there for!
it literally takes the tiniest bit of effort and has the benefit of making yourself and everyone around you safer.
like, why wouldn’t you use them? that’s what they’re there for!
October 15, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Last night I’m waiting for the light to cross Irving and there’s an SUV opposite me, driver never turns on their signal despite waiting for a while. Light turns green, still no signal. I proceed straight as she turns left in front of me. Back to drivers ed!
Reposted by Michael McCarthy
I'm at the scene where ICE abducted multiple people from Lincoln and Foster this morning.
A WGN producer was among the people taken, allegedly because she was among a group of bystanders who tried to intervene. ICE agents hit this car while making their getaway.
A WGN producer was among the people taken, allegedly because she was among a group of bystanders who tried to intervene. ICE agents hit this car while making their getaway.
October 10, 2025 at 2:55 PM
I'm at the scene where ICE abducted multiple people from Lincoln and Foster this morning.
A WGN producer was among the people taken, allegedly because she was among a group of bystanders who tried to intervene. ICE agents hit this car while making their getaway.
A WGN producer was among the people taken, allegedly because she was among a group of bystanders who tried to intervene. ICE agents hit this car while making their getaway.
I went to post on Instagram and realized I never installed it on my new phone and maybe I want to keep it that way
October 10, 2025 at 12:18 PM
I went to post on Instagram and realized I never installed it on my new phone and maybe I want to keep it that way
Reposted by Michael McCarthy
stand for the flag / kneel for the cross
September 6, 2025 at 4:46 PM
stand for the flag / kneel for the cross
Reposted by Michael McCarthy
Your occasional Brewster.
October 9, 2025 at 11:05 PM
Your occasional Brewster.
In a backyard cubs on the radio mood tonight
October 10, 2025 at 12:42 AM
In a backyard cubs on the radio mood tonight
They should make a bike emoji that’s visible at night
October 10, 2025 at 12:34 AM
They should make a bike emoji that’s visible at night