Pinned Tweet
Welcome to my profile! Here you'll find:
-Transit and urbanism shenanigans
-Walking talking animals
-Random photos and thoughts
Kezl 🔜 🟦☁️ retweeted
Nostalgia is a terrible basis for transit planning.
L.A.'s modern bus network has like three times the level of service this map does.
And most of these lines were essentially just glorified buses. With the exception of a handful of trunk routes (which have largely been replicated by the modern Metro Rail, the A Line follows that big vertical route from Downtown to Long Beach), these weren't running in their own dedicated corridors like modern light rail. These were smack in the middle of streets in mixed traffic, and you had to dash across active lanes to board one.
L.A.'s streetcar system was a marvel in many ways, but let's not let nostalgia blinders mislead us. There's a reason it went under, and L.A.'s modern public transit system is in fact better than this.
Kezl 🔜 🟦☁️ retweeted
L.A.'s modern bus network has like three times the level of service this map does.
And most of these lines were essentially just glorified buses. With the exception of a handful of trunk routes (which have largely been replicated by the modern Metro Rail, the A Line follows that big vertical route from Downtown to Long Beach), these weren't running in their own dedicated corridors like modern light rail. These were smack in the middle of streets in mixed traffic, and you had to dash across active lanes to board one.
L.A.'s streetcar system was a marvel in many ways, but let's not let nostalgia blinders mislead us. There's a reason it went under, and L.A.'s modern public transit system is in fact better than this.
Kezl 🔜 🟦☁️ retweeted
I am still waiting for the leading opponent of the Bay Area transit funding measure RTM to cite examples where transit systems improved in response to their budgets being cut. I've been through many of these battles across the US and still can't think of one.
We're coming to the end of the Measure RTM campaign, so here's a concluding thought.
Proponents didn't understand or didn't care to understand our opposition group.
We're NOT against transit. Speaking for myself, I have used transit since I was a little kid growing up in Queens and know its value.
For us opponents, this has been about EFFICIENCY, or more precisely, the absence of it in Bay Area Transit.
Agencies are wasting billions on overpriced expansion projects, overpaying consultants in the process.
Executive compensation is often too high and not tied to results, while employee benefits are out of line with private sector packages.
The 14-year sales tax with its fake accountability provisions will lock in the status quo, allowing agencies to largely ignore opportunities for automation.
The only way for voters to demand more careful spending of their tax dollars is to refuse to pay more.
Kezl 🔜 🟦☁️ retweeted
This is how you should think about the deficits that are undermining public transit agencies in the US.
If there is fraud, prosecute.
If there is waste, elect leaders committed to attacking it.
But don't pretend that your transit will be better if it has less money.
When I post about Social Security running out of money in six years, many say we just need to cut waste, fraud, and abuse.
We should. But that only addresses a small fraction of the shortfall.
If your Congressman says that alone will fix Social Security, they aren't being straight with you. We need real solutions, not political talking points.
youtube.com/watch?v=PQmrPH5s…
Perfect example of everything wrong with the public understanding of public transit (ie. wanting rail for the sake of the vehicle rather than prioritizing mobility)
What causal evidence do we have that shows purely the difference in mode, rail vs bus, leads to more development?
How can we tell it's not that rapidly developing areas are better at attracting rail investment?
Kezl 🔜 🟦☁️ retweeted
In 35 years as a transit consultant I have seen very few cases where a monorail really is the right solution. This is not a bias against monorails. It is an ability to identify the goal before becoming fixated on a tool.
Kezl 🔜 🟦☁️ retweeted
Gotta go all out for these final day dances!
SUNDAY NIGHT DANCE DJs:
Juneth 7-8pm
Flywheel 8-9pm
KARA 9-10pm
Kezl 🔜 🟦☁️ retweeted
Check out our route for the Fursuit Parade on Saturday Oct 17th! Join the group chat for details: t.me/archcityfurs
Kezl 🔜 🟦☁️ retweeted
Come for a spooky night of music and art with Arch City Furs at ALT STL's The Crimson Carnival! Oct 31, 5-11PM at Red Flag. Join the group chat for details: t.me/archcityfurs
Kezl 🔜 🟦☁️ retweeted
I see they are closing down Superior for this though its totally unwarranted ruining many bus rider's day. The hell is going on @DowntownCLE and not respecting public transit? These events aren't Winterfest, stop closing @CLEPublicSquare unnecessarily!
Kezl 🔜 🟦☁️ retweeted
I'm getting tired of this. @DowntownCLE has been closing public square for the most mundane of circumstances like Yoga on the green then claiming it's for pedestrian safety which is silly considering it's literally only buses that go through Public Square that have stops.
Attention @GCRTA bus riders: The bus lanes through @CLEPublicSquare are and bus stops in the square are closed for an event and riders are reporting delays of up to 10 minutes.
Kezl 🔜 🟦☁️ retweeted
brothers and sisters i have SEEN the promised land. there is an apartment over a grocery store. the bus comes every six minutes. you can walk to a bar. there is no surface parking. glory be
Kezl 🔜 🟦☁️ retweeted
US public transit advocates: Don't just envy Europe. Start by envying Canada.
Find the Canadian city most comparable to yours and see what the Canadians do in a similar situation, with similar land use and economic history.
Replying to @humantransit
i always come back to this statistic about ridership in EDMONTON of all places. canada’s transit is completely on another level to 99% of us cities.



































