Samuel
@safestreets4lfk.bsky.social
Organizing for safe streets in Lawrence, Kansas. He/him.
Related topics: parking reform, zoning reform
Related topics: parking reform, zoning reform
Reposted by Samuel
It's funny IMO that Berkeley, California was one of very first jurisdictions to ban straws/plastic bags -- you know, for the environment --
But soon as we learned the actual leading source of plastic pollution?
Crickets. Performative progressivism. www-pbs-org.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.pbs....
But soon as we learned the actual leading source of plastic pollution?
Crickets. Performative progressivism. www-pbs-org.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.pbs....
One of the biggest microplastic pollution sources isn’t straws or grocery bags – it’s your tires
Every few years, the tires on your car wear thin and need to be replaced. But where does that lost tire material go? The answer, unfortunately, is often waterways, where the tiny microplastic particle...
www-pbs-org.cdn.ampproject.org
December 24, 2025 at 5:33 PM
It's funny IMO that Berkeley, California was one of very first jurisdictions to ban straws/plastic bags -- you know, for the environment --
But soon as we learned the actual leading source of plastic pollution?
Crickets. Performative progressivism. www-pbs-org.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.pbs....
But soon as we learned the actual leading source of plastic pollution?
Crickets. Performative progressivism. www-pbs-org.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.pbs....
“When Wall Street catches a cold, Harlem gets pneumonia”
The unemployment rate for Black workers soared to 8.3% in November. That's more than double the rate for white workers.
December 20, 2025 at 10:30 PM
“When Wall Street catches a cold, Harlem gets pneumonia”
Reposted by Samuel
single stair stans salivate over significant safety study
A new bombshell modeling report by the State of Minnesota has found that small single-stair buildings with smoke-separated stairwells are likely to be SIGNIFICANTLY SAFER than typical double-loaded apartment buildings
December 18, 2025 at 12:34 AM
single stair stans salivate over significant safety study
Reposted by Samuel
A few thoughts on why the latent popularity of car-free living hasn’t translated to the funding changes necessary to make it possible:
The millions of people who would like to drive less aren’t organized, so elected officials rarely hear from them, allowing the car-dominated status quo to fester.
The millions of people who would like to drive less aren’t organized, so elected officials rarely hear from them, allowing the car-dominated status quo to fester.
An astonishing percentage of Americans are open to car-free living.
The problem isn't attitudes. The problem is the failure to invest in viable options.
humantransit.org/2025/12/many...
The problem isn't attitudes. The problem is the failure to invest in viable options.
humantransit.org/2025/12/many...
Many Americans Are Open to Car-Free Living — Human Transit
Is Americans a “car culture” or are they “car dependent”? Do they drive because they love driving, or are they in an unhealthy relationship with a substance it would be happy to do without? Obviousl...
humantransit.org
December 17, 2025 at 1:11 PM
A few thoughts on why the latent popularity of car-free living hasn’t translated to the funding changes necessary to make it possible:
The millions of people who would like to drive less aren’t organized, so elected officials rarely hear from them, allowing the car-dominated status quo to fester.
The millions of people who would like to drive less aren’t organized, so elected officials rarely hear from them, allowing the car-dominated status quo to fester.
Reposted by Samuel
Convenient low cost storage for private vehicles is a huge part of their competitive advantage as a mode of transportation.
No wonder people fight so hard to maintain it. Otherwise they may have to face the reality that cars don't work well in cities without a ton of public subsidy.
No wonder people fight so hard to maintain it. Otherwise they may have to face the reality that cars don't work well in cities without a ton of public subsidy.
December 5, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Convenient low cost storage for private vehicles is a huge part of their competitive advantage as a mode of transportation.
No wonder people fight so hard to maintain it. Otherwise they may have to face the reality that cars don't work well in cities without a ton of public subsidy.
No wonder people fight so hard to maintain it. Otherwise they may have to face the reality that cars don't work well in cities without a ton of public subsidy.
I’ve come to the same conclusion just by looking at the history of zoning in Lawrence—and how much that history is concealed in our own public histories.
The history of zoning in Lawrence is dreadful, disgusting stuff. It is a harmful legacy that really should be abolished.
The history of zoning in Lawrence is dreadful, disgusting stuff. It is a harmful legacy that really should be abolished.
See, here's the thing. I'm not against zoning because it's a constraint on building. I'm against zoning because it is an unmitigated evil and cannot be reformed. The idea of zoning itself is abhorrent to me.
Fernando is the real deal. Some of you probably read that quote and thought, “left NIMBY” and tuned out. You’re the one who needs to read it most! It can be comforting to think some zoning tweaks are all we have to do and we’re good, no need for deeper, harder changes. But that’s a road to nowhere.
December 3, 2025 at 9:36 PM
I’ve come to the same conclusion just by looking at the history of zoning in Lawrence—and how much that history is concealed in our own public histories.
The history of zoning in Lawrence is dreadful, disgusting stuff. It is a harmful legacy that really should be abolished.
The history of zoning in Lawrence is dreadful, disgusting stuff. It is a harmful legacy that really should be abolished.
Reposted by Samuel
We’re thankful for this annual meme 😂
November 27, 2025 at 9:34 PM
We’re thankful for this annual meme 😂
Listening to How I Got Over by the Roots 💥💥💥
November 15, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Listening to How I Got Over by the Roots 💥💥💥
Reposted by Samuel
Looks like all the candidates endorsed by [email protected] are going to win handedly. Big boost for inclusive abundance in Johnson County.
November 5, 2025 at 2:42 AM
Looks like all the candidates endorsed by [email protected] are going to win handedly. Big boost for inclusive abundance in Johnson County.
Reposted by Samuel
Legalize it
October 29, 2025 at 12:52 AM
Legalize it
Legalize it! #lfk
single stair FTW
no parcel assembly
faster construction timelines
more diverse housing stock
de-risked development
www.sightline.org/2025/10/28/t...
no parcel assembly
faster construction timelines
more diverse housing stock
de-risked development
www.sightline.org/2025/10/28/t...
To Build Fast, Think Small | Sightline Institute
How re-legalizing small apartment buildings would spur the homes city dwellers need now.
www.sightline.org
October 28, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Legalize it! #lfk
Reposted by Samuel
You probably cannot afford a car, and you almost certainly can't afford not to have one. This is the definition of a policy failure.
AAA estimates the average cost of owning a car is $12,297 a year, and recommends drivers spend no more than 10 percent of their income on car costs. This means you should make 120K to afford the average cost. Median *household* income in the US is $77K. The math just doesn't work.
October 14, 2025 at 6:47 PM
You probably cannot afford a car, and you almost certainly can't afford not to have one. This is the definition of a policy failure.
Reposted by Samuel
Important article from Beck Johnson on Kansas City's fundamental economic quagmire: www.linkedin.com/pulse/kansas...
Kansas City Built a City We Can't Afford - And How We Might Fix It
For decades, The City of Kansas City, MO has been celebrated as one of America’s most affordable and livable cities. This has lead to a prosperous period with lots of positive momentum, but buried in ...
www.linkedin.com
October 14, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Important article from Beck Johnson on Kansas City's fundamental economic quagmire: www.linkedin.com/pulse/kansas...
Reposted by Samuel
"The single most important behaviour, design or regulation for creating streets conducive to walking and cycling, was physical separation between the modes"
We've got a new study out, learning from a broad mixture of street users, planners and designers
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
We've got a new study out, learning from a broad mixture of street users, planners and designers
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
October 7, 2025 at 7:18 AM
"The single most important behaviour, design or regulation for creating streets conducive to walking and cycling, was physical separation between the modes"
We've got a new study out, learning from a broad mixture of street users, planners and designers
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
We've got a new study out, learning from a broad mixture of street users, planners and designers
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by Samuel
"Over half of the e-cargo bike mileage ridden during trials substituted for car use."
doi.org/10.1016/j.jc...
doi.org/10.1016/j.jc...
October 4, 2025 at 3:33 PM
"Over half of the e-cargo bike mileage ridden during trials substituted for car use."
doi.org/10.1016/j.jc...
doi.org/10.1016/j.jc...
Reposted by Samuel
Good thread explaining the census data on housing vacancy.
Vacant units come up a lot in discussions around the housing crisis
This is a good opportunity to go over what the data actually shows 🧵
This is a good opportunity to go over what the data actually shows 🧵
Yeah, that’s what I thought. Keep your dishonest framing to yourself.
Klein’s housing policy fails to address the fundamental cause of this housing crisis.
In the US, there are currently 15mil vacant homes. There are ~650,000 homeless.
Klein’s housing policy fails to address the fundamental cause of this housing crisis.
In the US, there are currently 15mil vacant homes. There are ~650,000 homeless.
September 29, 2025 at 11:22 PM
Good thread explaining the census data on housing vacancy.
Reposted by Samuel
Tactical urbanism award in Atlanta allows neighbors to plan a bike lane and after a year, and fundraising 10k, to build that sucker in 2 days
The demand for safe movement in cities is high. We're only limited by our imaginations and political will
share.google/AaScU0QA5vvr...
The demand for safe movement in cities is high. We're only limited by our imaginations and political will
share.google/AaScU0QA5vvr...
These Residents Built a $10,000 Bike Lane in Atlanta
Dozens of community members came together to build the pop-up bike lane through the city's tactical urbanism initiative.
share.google
September 26, 2025 at 2:42 AM
Tactical urbanism award in Atlanta allows neighbors to plan a bike lane and after a year, and fundraising 10k, to build that sucker in 2 days
The demand for safe movement in cities is high. We're only limited by our imaginations and political will
share.google/AaScU0QA5vvr...
The demand for safe movement in cities is high. We're only limited by our imaginations and political will
share.google/AaScU0QA5vvr...
Reposted by Samuel
Few days late but wanted to be sure to shout out this great convo I had with Ashton Rohmer, who points out that all the deaths and damage that flows from car culture isn't dissimilar from the horrors of war, and what it would mean to apply "peace building" strategies to urbanism.
Our Streets Look Like War Zones — But What if They Were 'Sites of Peacebuilding' Instead? — Streetsblog USA
A peace and conflict studies scholar weighs in on what car culture has in common with global conflicts — and why we need to confront violence on our roads if we want to end violence around the globe.
usa.streetsblog.org
September 25, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Few days late but wanted to be sure to shout out this great convo I had with Ashton Rohmer, who points out that all the deaths and damage that flows from car culture isn't dissimilar from the horrors of war, and what it would mean to apply "peace building" strategies to urbanism.
Reposted by Samuel
"it's just more deregulation"
the regulations:
- single family zoning
- single use zoning
- lot size minimums
- parking mandates
- height limits
- sqft minimums
- floor area ratio
- setback mandates
- lot coverage maximums
- occupancy limits
- high permit/development fees
- manufactured home bans
the regulations:
- single family zoning
- single use zoning
- lot size minimums
- parking mandates
- height limits
- sqft minimums
- floor area ratio
- setback mandates
- lot coverage maximums
- occupancy limits
- high permit/development fees
- manufactured home bans
September 6, 2025 at 8:56 PM
"it's just more deregulation"
the regulations:
- single family zoning
- single use zoning
- lot size minimums
- parking mandates
- height limits
- sqft minimums
- floor area ratio
- setback mandates
- lot coverage maximums
- occupancy limits
- high permit/development fees
- manufactured home bans
the regulations:
- single family zoning
- single use zoning
- lot size minimums
- parking mandates
- height limits
- sqft minimums
- floor area ratio
- setback mandates
- lot coverage maximums
- occupancy limits
- high permit/development fees
- manufactured home bans
I’ve come to the conclusion that Historic Resources Codes seek primarily to reproduce R1 zoning in a much, much more intractable form.
September 18, 2025 at 12:01 AM
I’ve come to the conclusion that Historic Resources Codes seek primarily to reproduce R1 zoning in a much, much more intractable form.
Climate change is a local issue.
"I consider it an extremely dangerous doctrine, because the more likely we are to assume that the solution comes from the outside, the less likely we are to solve our problems ourselves."
- Carl Sagan
- Carl Sagan
September 17, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Climate change is a local issue.
Reposted by Samuel
Many of our land use / building codes are rooted in exclusion + prejudice, even if they are facially anodyne and widely accepted as common sense today
Case in point: early 1900 fire safety reforms were primarily designed to ⬆️ the cost of tenements / MF apts (old and new) to reduce immigration
Case in point: early 1900 fire safety reforms were primarily designed to ⬆️ the cost of tenements / MF apts (old and new) to reduce immigration
September 14, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Many of our land use / building codes are rooted in exclusion + prejudice, even if they are facially anodyne and widely accepted as common sense today
Case in point: early 1900 fire safety reforms were primarily designed to ⬆️ the cost of tenements / MF apts (old and new) to reduce immigration
Case in point: early 1900 fire safety reforms were primarily designed to ⬆️ the cost of tenements / MF apts (old and new) to reduce immigration
Similar to parking benefit districts!
Once people experience the benefits of a policy like congestion pricing, support for it grows.
Great numbers for congestion pricing in this YouGov poll, with 59% of voters indicating they "strongly support" or "somewhat support" the program.
Further breakdowns here:
www.uml.edu/docs/2025-NY...
Further breakdowns here:
www.uml.edu/docs/2025-NY...
September 11, 2025 at 4:56 AM
Similar to parking benefit districts!