Alon (they/them)
@alonlevy.bsky.social
Transit researcher in Berlin. Lived in Tel Aviv, Singapore, the Riviera, New York, Providence, Vancouver, Stockholm, Paris. https://pedestrianobservations.com/ http://patreon.com/alonlevy [email protected] @[email protected]
Reposted by Alon (they/them)
So… I guess I’ll keep talking about Athenian trolleybuses: it’s official ☹️ Today, dismantling of the wires started in Piraeus, with lines 17 and 20 being quickly converted to battery operation. All together, 70% of the network is to be dismantled, with wires remaining on major arterials.
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December 7, 2025 at 7:26 PM
So… I guess I’ll keep talking about Athenian trolleybuses: it’s official ☹️ Today, dismantling of the wires started in Piraeus, with lines 17 and 20 being quickly converted to battery operation. All together, 70% of the network is to be dismantled, with wires remaining on major arterials.
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The FEX dwell time is 2.5 minutes. The bilevel configuration really hurts access and egress capacity: passengers with strollers block the aisles and everyone has to maneuver around them with suitcases. The platforms are not limited by length, so better rolling stock would be a longer single-decker.
December 7, 2025 at 4:44 PM
The FEX dwell time is 2.5 minutes. The bilevel configuration really hurts access and egress capacity: passengers with strollers block the aisles and everyone has to maneuver around them with suitcases. The platforms are not limited by length, so better rolling stock would be a longer single-decker.
Normal American foreign policy: "Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East"
MAGA foreign policy: "Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East (derogatory)"
And then Israel expresses surprise that its years of bootlicking Trump don't prevent him from selling F-35s to KSA.
MAGA foreign policy: "Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East (derogatory)"
And then Israel expresses surprise that its years of bootlicking Trump don't prevent him from selling F-35s to KSA.
Feh! Democracy, schemocracy.. who needs it?
U.S. Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack: “Israel can claim it’s a democracy but in this region, what’s worked the best, whether you like it or you don’t like it, is a benevolent monarchy.”
U.S. Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack: “Israel can claim it’s a democracy but in this region, what’s worked the best, whether you like it or you don’t like it, is a benevolent monarchy.”
December 7, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Normal American foreign policy: "Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East"
MAGA foreign policy: "Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East (derogatory)"
And then Israel expresses surprise that its years of bootlicking Trump don't prevent him from selling F-35s to KSA.
MAGA foreign policy: "Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East (derogatory)"
And then Israel expresses surprise that its years of bootlicking Trump don't prevent him from selling F-35s to KSA.
Toronto just opened a new rail line, Line 6 Finch West. It cost C$3.5 billion to build for 10.3 km of route, from which I conclude it must be a 100% underground city center line and the picture of a tram in the article is unrelated. www.thestar.com/news/gta/fin...
Finch West LRT promises faster, more reliable transit for one of the city’s busiest routes. Will it be worth the wait?
Transit experts, politicians and commuters have long debated whether LRTs can move people faster than buses, but for cheaper than subways. Now, it will be put to the test.
www.thestar.com
December 7, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Toronto just opened a new rail line, Line 6 Finch West. It cost C$3.5 billion to build for 10.3 km of route, from which I conclude it must be a 100% underground city center line and the picture of a tram in the article is unrelated. www.thestar.com/news/gta/fin...
Reposted by Alon (they/them)
If you’ve fled by the skin of your teeth and rebuilt your life in exile, you might one day want to go back, whether temporarily or permanently. Or you might not. Or you might just want to wait and see how things pan out. The choice should be yours and not the government’s
Syrians in the UK reflect one year on from the fall of Assad
Imad Alarnab, who fled to London from Damascus in 2015, returned to Syria for the first time last month.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 7, 2025 at 12:50 PM
If you’ve fled by the skin of your teeth and rebuilt your life in exile, you might one day want to go back, whether temporarily or permanently. Or you might not. Or you might just want to wait and see how things pan out. The choice should be yours and not the government’s
Reposted by Alon (they/them)
As a first step, the EU needs to convince Belgium to hand over the frozen Russian assets. For Europe to fail to do so at the next European Council meeting Dec 18-19 would be disastrous. Belgium’s concerns need to be assuaged, but they can’t be allowed to stand in the way of European security.
Von der Leyen, Merz: Talks with Belgium over Russian assets were ‘constructive’
Yet the Belgian leader gave no indication he will relent on his opposition to use the frozen funds.
www.politico.eu
December 7, 2025 at 10:43 AM
As a first step, the EU needs to convince Belgium to hand over the frozen Russian assets. For Europe to fail to do so at the next European Council meeting Dec 18-19 would be disastrous. Belgium’s concerns need to be assuaged, but they can’t be allowed to stand in the way of European security.
Reposted by Alon (they/them)
Such an important point, and I'm surprised that I haven't run across it elsewhere in the literature so far. And while East Africa was already long integrated into the Indian Ocean trading system, it was via staged intermediaries rather than end-to-end connections, and didn't extend westward.
December 7, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Such an important point, and I'm surprised that I haven't run across it elsewhere in the literature so far. And while East Africa was already long integrated into the Indian Ocean trading system, it was via staged intermediaries rather than end-to-end connections, and didn't extend westward.
Since @sharonk.bsky.social is getting people to talk about Christians in India, let me drop some music. www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKbj...
Cassettes-Engtin nge ni dawn (official music video)
YouTube video by Zo Siam
www.youtube.com
December 7, 2025 at 12:20 AM
Since @sharonk.bsky.social is getting people to talk about Christians in India, let me drop some music. www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKbj...
Reposted by Alon (they/them)
fun facts about the new-ish Seoul Metro Line 1 Yeoncheon Station:
-it is the only subway station north of the 38th parallel
-it is about 10km from the nearest border with North Korea
-the extension was created to help soldiers commute (many complained they've long been bilked by taxi drivers)
-it is the only subway station north of the 38th parallel
-it is about 10km from the nearest border with North Korea
-the extension was created to help soldiers commute (many complained they've long been bilked by taxi drivers)
I'll always remember back in late 2023 Seoul Metro's S-Bahn/RER, L1, got extended 20km north to Yeoncheon on a rebuilt partly single-track re-alignment of the Gyeongwon Line. The cost of the project? ~27 million INT$/km.
December 6, 2025 at 6:51 PM
fun facts about the new-ish Seoul Metro Line 1 Yeoncheon Station:
-it is the only subway station north of the 38th parallel
-it is about 10km from the nearest border with North Korea
-the extension was created to help soldiers commute (many complained they've long been bilked by taxi drivers)
-it is the only subway station north of the 38th parallel
-it is about 10km from the nearest border with North Korea
-the extension was created to help soldiers commute (many complained they've long been bilked by taxi drivers)
Apparently, the British welfare system with its monthly cutoffs doesn't know what to do when people get paid weekly.
Today, we do not criticize German digital governance.
Today, we do not criticize German digital governance.
(the exchange which made me realise that it was not just an issue of resources and capacity, the British civil service really does have some serious problems of competence)
December 6, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Apparently, the British welfare system with its monthly cutoffs doesn't know what to do when people get paid weekly.
Today, we do not criticize German digital governance.
Today, we do not criticize German digital governance.
About six times as many people were killed in the suppression of the revolt in the Vendée as in the Reign of Terror. And about 12 times as many people starved to death under Louis XIV because the state took their grain to pay for war abroad than were killed in the suppression of the Vendée.
More poor people than rich people were killed by the guillotine btw
December 6, 2025 at 6:03 AM
About six times as many people were killed in the suppression of the revolt in the Vendée as in the Reign of Terror. And about 12 times as many people starved to death under Louis XIV because the state took their grain to pay for war abroad than were killed in the suppression of the Vendée.
NY rail crayon by @samuelsantaella.bsky.social: nycstreetsutures.wordpress.com/2025/12/04/c...
My NYC Rail Crayon
I’ve had this one in the backburner for years. There’s countless ideas out there on how to expand and improve NYC’s subway and commuter rail network, and they’re all probably better researched than…
nycstreetsutures.wordpress.com
December 6, 2025 at 4:56 AM
NY rail crayon by @samuelsantaella.bsky.social: nycstreetsutures.wordpress.com/2025/12/04/c...
How preordained is Heathrow's location? It was a large flat, open space just outside the built-up area of London and was noted as a good emergency landing site before it became an airport.
December 5, 2025 at 6:34 PM
How preordained is Heathrow's location? It was a large flat, open space just outside the built-up area of London and was noted as a good emergency landing site before it became an airport.
Proposal: slightly malicious* AI that nudges people who ask Harry Potter-related questions to visit or donate to trans rights spaces.
*Given circumstances, not malicious at all.
*Given circumstances, not malicious at all.
Some very confused Harry Potter-bound tourists on the train who had been informed by their AI of choice to take a Thameslink from Farringdon to Watford Junction.
December 5, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Proposal: slightly malicious* AI that nudges people who ask Harry Potter-related questions to visit or donate to trans rights spaces.
*Given circumstances, not malicious at all.
*Given circumstances, not malicious at all.
Reposted by Alon (they/them)
We have published a new paper and it's one I'm really happy with. A collaboration with Janina Welsch of ILS Dortmund. rdcu.be/eS96s
We look at the relationship between migration background / ethnicity and travel behaviour, using UK data.
THREAD on the findings
We look at the relationship between migration background / ethnicity and travel behaviour, using UK data.
THREAD on the findings
December 5, 2025 at 4:35 PM
We have published a new paper and it's one I'm really happy with. A collaboration with Janina Welsch of ILS Dortmund. rdcu.be/eS96s
We look at the relationship between migration background / ethnicity and travel behaviour, using UK data.
THREAD on the findings
We look at the relationship between migration background / ethnicity and travel behaviour, using UK data.
THREAD on the findings
Reposted by Alon (they/them)
This seems incredible to read, as it could come straight out of an Orbán 2015-16 speech, but this has actually been a dominant position within the broader U.S. Right for decades. 🧵
Europeans are waking up this morning to find the new US National Security Strategy (quietly) released. And what it has to say on Europe could not be clearer. On the „stark prospect of civilizations erasure“ for example. 👇
December 5, 2025 at 12:08 PM
This seems incredible to read, as it could come straight out of an Orbán 2015-16 speech, but this has actually been a dominant position within the broader U.S. Right for decades. 🧵
Reposted by Alon (they/them)
💥 Happening now: "A thousand, two thousand, four thousand, Qatar”. A blockade, in front Herzog’s house.
Credit: Liora Binyamin 🧵
Credit: Liora Binyamin 🧵
December 5, 2025 at 3:03 PM
💥 Happening now: "A thousand, two thousand, four thousand, Qatar”. A blockade, in front Herzog’s house.
Credit: Liora Binyamin 🧵
Credit: Liora Binyamin 🧵
1. It speaks English.
2. It has extensive international tax dodging.
3. It has horrific trans health care.
4. Its borders are defended by the Royal Navy and Air Force.
5. Its infrastructure construction costs are extremely high.
Conclusion: Ireland is British.
www.irishtimes.com/politics/oir...
2. It has extensive international tax dodging.
3. It has horrific trans health care.
4. Its borders are defended by the Royal Navy and Air Force.
5. Its infrastructure construction costs are extremely high.
Conclusion: Ireland is British.
www.irishtimes.com/politics/oir...
Ireland worst in EU for transgender healthcare with four-year wait times, Dáil hears
Labour’s Marie Sherlock says young people ‘self-medicating on the black market’
www.irishtimes.com
December 5, 2025 at 1:16 PM
1. It speaks English.
2. It has extensive international tax dodging.
3. It has horrific trans health care.
4. Its borders are defended by the Royal Navy and Air Force.
5. Its infrastructure construction costs are extremely high.
Conclusion: Ireland is British.
www.irishtimes.com/politics/oir...
2. It has extensive international tax dodging.
3. It has horrific trans health care.
4. Its borders are defended by the Royal Navy and Air Force.
5. Its infrastructure construction costs are extremely high.
Conclusion: Ireland is British.
www.irishtimes.com/politics/oir...
Reposted by Alon (they/them)
I need to sleep, please don't nerd-snipe me into writing either a post-Trumpist, post-Third Reconstruction US constitution or a post-cuck, post-Putinist EU one. (Latter exercise is more gradualist - the borders of the member states should stay intact, for one.)
they're going to: but not only that - they started work on the post-independence constitution:
montreal.citynews.ca/2025/12/04/p...
montreal.citynews.ca/2025/12/04/p...
December 5, 2025 at 12:32 AM
I need to sleep, please don't nerd-snipe me into writing either a post-Trumpist, post-Third Reconstruction US constitution or a post-cuck, post-Putinist EU one. (Latter exercise is more gradualist - the borders of the member states should stay intact, for one.)
Broke: MtF, FtM
Woke: DtQ, QtD
Bespoke: full deinterlining
Woke: DtQ, QtD
Bespoke: full deinterlining
December 4, 2025 at 9:13 PM
Broke: MtF, FtM
Woke: DtQ, QtD
Bespoke: full deinterlining
Woke: DtQ, QtD
Bespoke: full deinterlining
Reposted by Alon (they/them)
I have seen your jokes about trans trains and they have made me giggle
December 4, 2025 at 9:05 PM
I have seen your jokes about trans trains and they have made me giggle
I have six mutuals following this psychopath who is comparing 7.10 to the assassination of Heydrich. Do I need to start mass blocking my mutuals?
December 4, 2025 at 6:14 PM
I have six mutuals following this psychopath who is comparing 7.10 to the assassination of Heydrich. Do I need to start mass blocking my mutuals?
Reposted by Alon (they/them)
“On the night of Dec. 7-8, I stayed awake in my cell, knowing that the liberation of Damascus was imminent.”
Elizabeth Tsurkov recalls the happiness of watching Syria’s liberation from captivity, and her other experiences as a hostage, for @newlinesmag.bsky.social
Elizabeth Tsurkov recalls the happiness of watching Syria’s liberation from captivity, and her other experiences as a hostage, for @newlinesmag.bsky.social
Celebrating Syria’s Liberation From a Prison Cell in Iraq
The author recalls the fall of Bashar al-Assad as the happiest day of her life, though she was being held captive by an Iran-aligned militia
newlinesmag.com
December 4, 2025 at 6:00 PM
“On the night of Dec. 7-8, I stayed awake in my cell, knowing that the liberation of Damascus was imminent.”
Elizabeth Tsurkov recalls the happiness of watching Syria’s liberation from captivity, and her other experiences as a hostage, for @newlinesmag.bsky.social
Elizabeth Tsurkov recalls the happiness of watching Syria’s liberation from captivity, and her other experiences as a hostage, for @newlinesmag.bsky.social
There's a decent argument that the physical survival of the Jewish people depends on Buji Herzog having enough resolve to reject Bibi's requests for a pardon.
So, anyway, which poison gas do you think will be used in the camps this time?
So, anyway, which poison gas do you think will be used in the camps this time?
December 4, 2025 at 2:08 PM
There's a decent argument that the physical survival of the Jewish people depends on Buji Herzog having enough resolve to reject Bibi's requests for a pardon.
So, anyway, which poison gas do you think will be used in the camps this time?
So, anyway, which poison gas do you think will be used in the camps this time?