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Lauren

@lpangborn.bsky.social

360 followers 190 following 370 posts

Urbanist and bike advocate in Spokane Columnist for @rangemedia.co

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Lauren @lpangborn.bsky.social · Nov 9

Alright new to the neighborhood.

Here’s some stuff that you might like:

- Spokane bicycle infrastructure project tracker: trello.com/b/eFMhFOsB/u...

- And a map of current and future infrastructure: felt.com/map/2030-Net...

Trello

Organize anything, together. Trello is a collaboration tool that organizes your projects into boards. In one glance, know what's being worked on, who's working on what, and where something is in a pro...

trello.com

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Lauren @lpangborn.bsky.social · 11h

Have yall been to Japan? What’d I miss?

Reposted by Lauren

Will Stancil @whstancil.bsky.social · 14h

This is the most important politics story in a long time. Twitter has radicalized the young GOP into overt Nazism and white supremacy and the news has spent years pretending not to see.

It’s a gleefully racist and antisemitic party now. Stop pretending otherwise www.politico.com/news/2025/10...

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Lauren @lpangborn.bsky.social · 11h

And of course the buildings have small elevators and single stairs!

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Lauren @lpangborn.bsky.social · 11h

Gentle density is the name of the game. Seemed like most of the housing within the cities is in 3-5 story buildings.

Streets are lined with tiny shops. There’s enough density surrounding them to support them and they are small enough to be runnable by only a couple people.

Lauren @lpangborn.bsky.social · 11h

There are folks on bikes everywhere, and because it’s such a high-trust society, very few of the bikes are locked up.

Lauren @lpangborn.bsky.social · 11h

And of course 180mph trains and 3min subway headways in pristine stations are amazing

Lauren @lpangborn.bsky.social · 11h

One particularly delightful detail is the manhole covers

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Lauren @lpangborn.bsky.social · 11h

I know everyone is probably tired of hearing this, but Japan’s streets/transportation/land use is pretty great.

Every street that is not an arterial is a shared street, where folks ride and walk in the middle and make way for the occasional car.

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Reposted by Lauren

Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 16h

“Once rare, 7-year car loans are fast becoming the norm. They’re often the only way buyers can afford new rides, with average sale prices surging 28% in 5 years to approach $50k.”

Designed-in car dependency, surging car prices, longer loan periods with more interest.

Sound like “freedom” to you?

Cars are so expensive that buyers need 7-year loans

Once rare, seven-year car loans are fast becoming the norm. They’re often the only way buyers can afford new rides, with average auto prices nearing $50,000.

www.seattletimes.com

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Reposted by Lauren

Spokane Reimagined @spokanereimagined.org · 16d

Something big is happening today...

A bench painted with the words "We <3 Spokane" sits at a bus stop in Spokane's Chief Garry Park neighborhood.

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Reposted by Lauren

Coach Mustard (aka velospence) @velospence.bsky.social · 19d

tapped sign courtesy of @tomflood.bsky.social

a busy driver drving a busy saying "don't make me tap the sign" with a finger tapping a sign that say s"we ask everyone out of the car to be safe that drivers can be dangerous" by Rovelo Creative

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Alex Harrison @alexhairysun.bsky.social · 20d

Flock around, find out: Flock apparently decided to reinstall all of the ALPRs they recently took down in Evanston. One problem though: they didn't consult Evanston about it. The city sent a cease & desist letter, and Flock has "committed to promptly removing the cameras." Full story here ⬇️

Evanston orders Flock to remove reinstalled cameras - Evanston RoundTable

Private surveillance vendor Flock Safety reinstalled all of its stationary license plate cameras in Evanston that had previously been removed, apparently

evanstonroundtable.com

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Reposted by Lauren

Spokane Rising @spokanerising.com · 21d

Subscribe to @rangemedia.co, ya'll!

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Lindsay Brown @lidsville.bsky.social · 24d

Has Disney actually seen Andor

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RANGE Media @rangemedia.co · 26d

Last year, the anti-queer worship pastor Sean Feucht sued the city of Spokane, saying the city council had damaged his reputation. Today, the Spokane County Superior Court dismissed the lawsuit, saying Feucht’s claims were baseless.

Read more here: my.spokanecity.org/news/release...

Statement on Feucht Lawsuit Dismissal

A Superior Court judge granted a motion from the City, dismissing and ultimately finding no legal merit to multiple claims made by Mr. Sean Feucht.

my.spokanecity.org

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Lauren @lpangborn.bsky.social · 26d

I can’t help but wonder if the lack of a traffic unit for several years has anything to do with this.

Lauren @lpangborn.bsky.social · 26d

This is a real problem in Spokane.

Tab fees are the only revenue source for resurfacing local access streets.

The revenue from tab fees is flat while costs of construction and damage done to roads (due to heavier cars) are increasing dramatically.

Goldy @goldy.horsesass.org · 26d

According to CARFAX, WA state had 593,000 cars with expired registration in 2025—about 1 out of every 10 passenger vehicles—and that doesn't even count the many thousands of vehicles illegally registered out of state! Assuming a similar ratio in the ST district, car tab evasion dwarfs fare evasion.

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Lauren @lpangborn.bsky.social · 29d

A 1000% better land use in a great little neighborhood center than a large, ugly parking lot.

Look at all these homes for new neighbors!

Inland Northwest Business Watch @inlandnwbusiness.bsky.social · 29d

www.inlandnwbusiness.com/2025/09/the-...

The District Lofts starts leasing in the Garland District

Courtesy photo We've been watching the new apartment building rise behind the Garland Theater for the last few months now. And, after much...

www.inlandnwbusiness.com

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Reposted by Lauren

Spokane Rising @spokanerising.com · Sep 12

I haven't seen this level of excitement for transit in Spokane in a while. STA's double-deckers are going to prove incredibly popular.

An inside look into STA's new double-decker buses as drivers prep for roll out

No, you aren’t seeing double – or maybe you are, if you’re looking at one of Spokane Transit Authority’s new double-decker buses cruising down the interstate.

www.spokesman.com

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Lauren @lpangborn.bsky.social · Sep 11

I don't know about y'all, but I wouldn't want the city of Spokane to absorb this water district -- why should city residents' water bills subsidize sprawl?

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Lauren @lpangborn.bsky.social · Sep 11

In case more evidence is needed, sprawl is a financially infeasible.

Each of the *only 26* houses "would be responsible for roughly $160- 180 thousand dollars if we were to take out a loan" to fix the water infrastructure.

The smallest lot here is over 1 acre, most are 1.75 or 2.

kxly.com @kxly.com · Sep 11

Heidi Ferre moved back to the Inland Northwest last year seeking more space for her family on Five Mile Prairie, but what was supposed to be a welcomed homecoming has turned into a daily struggle with failing water infrastructure.

The forgotten block on Five Mile: A Spokane community's plea for reliable water

FIVE MILE PRAIRIE, Wash -- Heidi Ferre moved back to the Inland Northwest last year seeking more space for her family on Five Mile Prairie, but what was supposed to

www.kxly.com

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Reposted by Lauren

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · Sep 4

"You're a charlatan. That's what you are." -- Cantwell to RFK Jr

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Reposted by Lauren

Spokane Rising @spokanerising.com · Sep 1

Spokane was the first (and I think still only?) city in Washington to authorize the Pavement to People tax incentive, which cuts the sales tax on new construction materials to 0 if developers build homes on a vacant parking lot.

Now it's finally bearing fruit! 🎉🏠

From parking to premises: Urbin Developments, Diamond Parking partner on redevelopment projects

A local real estate development company is partnering with Diamond Parking Services LLC to convert underused parking lots into residential housing.

www.spokanejournal.com

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Reposted by Lauren

Spokane Rising @spokanerising.com · Sep 3

A former masonic lodge and a vacant parking lot become 61 new homes and an adaptive reuse commercial space in Spokane’s Garland District. (2022 ➡️ 2025)

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Lauren @lpangborn.bsky.social · Aug 29

This is a beautiful tribute. I'm so so sorry for your loss.