Ryan Richter, AICP
@ryanjrichter.com
Transportation/urban planner. Fascinated with cities, geography and the movement of people and goods. Chicagoan. ryanjrichter.com
Happy Chicago Parking Meter Day to those who celebrate. We chose to lease our parking meters for 75 years for a little over a billion dollars. The lessee has already made that money back with plenty more and still has another 58 years to go!
December 4, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Happy Chicago Parking Meter Day to those who celebrate. We chose to lease our parking meters for 75 years for a little over a billion dollars. The lessee has already made that money back with plenty more and still has another 58 years to go!
Jesus fuck they could have written this article years ago.
November 26, 2025 at 7:42 AM
Jesus fuck they could have written this article years ago.
Well this is suboptimal.
November 12, 2025 at 10:43 PM
Well this is suboptimal.
Weird way to describe a torture program. You can draw a direct line from Dick Cheney to Donald Trump, even if the former hates the latter.
November 4, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Weird way to describe a torture program. You can draw a direct line from Dick Cheney to Donald Trump, even if the former hates the latter.
Yes, it's centralized within NITA under a major capital projects prioritization process.
October 31, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Yes, it's centralized within NITA under a major capital projects prioritization process.
I understand the politics of offsetting road revenues being redirected towards transit with a toll increase on the IL Tollway, but...
The Tollway is a separate authority that receives no general funds.
So the Tollway, which is already flush with revenues, gets an extra $1B?
The Tollway is a separate authority that receives no general funds.
So the Tollway, which is already flush with revenues, gets an extra $1B?
October 31, 2025 at 11:09 AM
I understand the politics of offsetting road revenues being redirected towards transit with a toll increase on the IL Tollway, but...
The Tollway is a separate authority that receives no general funds.
So the Tollway, which is already flush with revenues, gets an extra $1B?
The Tollway is a separate authority that receives no general funds.
So the Tollway, which is already flush with revenues, gets an extra $1B?
Undisclosed Tuesday drinking location.
October 21, 2025 at 9:37 PM
Undisclosed Tuesday drinking location.
The site plan leaves a lot to be desired. On the one hand, the increased mixed-use density near Metra is good. On the other hand, the stadium's footprint, so far from transit, means that Metra is a secondary consideration to parking, of which the Bears will likely generate revenue.
October 2, 2025 at 6:47 PM
The site plan leaves a lot to be desired. On the one hand, the increased mixed-use density near Metra is good. On the other hand, the stadium's footprint, so far from transit, means that Metra is a secondary consideration to parking, of which the Bears will likely generate revenue.
I should say I learned about all of this but I don't understand it, lol. Take a look at the motor and chassis.
September 12, 2025 at 12:23 AM
I should say I learned about all of this but I don't understand it, lol. Take a look at the motor and chassis.
I love everything about B Line in Portland. Awesome PPP micro mobility business using e-cargo bikes (trucks?) for last mile delivery. Apparently quad cargo bikes coming soon.
September 11, 2025 at 11:50 PM
I love everything about B Line in Portland. Awesome PPP micro mobility business using e-cargo bikes (trucks?) for last mile delivery. Apparently quad cargo bikes coming soon.
Riding a bike in Portland, OR is far more relaxing than has been my experience in Chicago. Not news to many, but eye opening to me. What a lovely city.
September 11, 2025 at 11:40 PM
Riding a bike in Portland, OR is far more relaxing than has been my experience in Chicago. Not news to many, but eye opening to me. What a lovely city.
Perhaps a ghost train or missed run.
September 4, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Perhaps a ghost train or missed run.
A glimpse of what the transit cliff might look like with these headways.
September 4, 2025 at 8:25 PM
A glimpse of what the transit cliff might look like with these headways.
Big prediction, if true, as Jeff Park has a glut of underutilized and vacant property within a quarter mile of its train station. Fundamentally, parking is a geometry problem and a cost escalator. chicago.suntimes.com/real-estate/...
August 15, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Big prediction, if true, as Jeff Park has a glut of underutilized and vacant property within a quarter mile of its train station. Fundamentally, parking is a geometry problem and a cost escalator. chicago.suntimes.com/real-estate/...
I find the economics around bike delivery drivers fascinating while here in Paris. Lots of waiting around, presumably for food orders. Though I imagine barriers to entry are low with electric bikes and mopeds as opposed to cars in the US.
July 22, 2025 at 8:32 PM
I find the economics around bike delivery drivers fascinating while here in Paris. Lots of waiting around, presumably for food orders. Though I imagine barriers to entry are low with electric bikes and mopeds as opposed to cars in the US.
Present status. Check out Rex in Jeff Park. One of my favorite bars.
June 26, 2025 at 11:18 PM
Present status. Check out Rex in Jeff Park. One of my favorite bars.
Me, yapping about the benefit/cost and community mobility improvements of the CREATE Program.
June 13, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Me, yapping about the benefit/cost and community mobility improvements of the CREATE Program.
Incredible that this happened, but are any of us really surprised anymore?
May 23, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Incredible that this happened, but are any of us really surprised anymore?
They "invented" a bus. Great job, guys.
May 14, 2025 at 9:37 PM
They "invented" a bus. Great job, guys.
Today is the perfect day for a Metra train beer. It makes me sad that there's no longer bar cars 😔
May 13, 2025 at 9:13 PM
Today is the perfect day for a Metra train beer. It makes me sad that there's no longer bar cars 😔
The new communion wafer:
May 8, 2025 at 6:50 PM
The new communion wafer:
The body of Christ. The blood of Christ.
May 8, 2025 at 6:41 PM
The body of Christ. The blood of Christ.
I've been working on the railroad so now I'm drinking underneath it
April 25, 2025 at 4:34 AM
I've been working on the railroad so now I'm drinking underneath it