Brianinja
@brianinja.bsky.social
Professional Chicagoland suburban transportation planner by day. Cargo ebike suburban dad by night. Enjoys birds and cute art. 🏳️🌈 He/him.
Pinned
Brianinja
@brianinja.bsky.social
· Mar 24
Updated my stats to include a monthly summary which better illustrates how much an eBike has increased my bike riding habit. I was even surprised my riding remained so high during winter. Find what lets you do your thing more often!
My friend who was a French translator lost her job because the employer was like "AI can do it more efficiently" and I really hope for what Courtney is advocating below.
I really hope the French translators get together and agree that the going rate for fixing AI translation is 1.5x the cost to do the translation in the first place.
December 18, 2025 at 10:42 PM
My friend who was a French translator lost her job because the employer was like "AI can do it more efficiently" and I really hope for what Courtney is advocating below.
Reposted by Brianinja
Holding the door for someone is a common courtesy. Stopping your car + not hitting someone with it while they cross a street is not an act of kindness or courtesy to be praised but the bare minimum of responsibility as a driver. Let's not mistake responsibility for courtesy.
December 18, 2025 at 10:20 PM
Holding the door for someone is a common courtesy. Stopping your car + not hitting someone with it while they cross a street is not an act of kindness or courtesy to be praised but the bare minimum of responsibility as a driver. Let's not mistake responsibility for courtesy.
I feel this way when I lock up my bike at the grocery store - it extends into the walkway but it's also the only rack.
It's better to provide options to accommodate all types of rides!
It's better to provide options to accommodate all types of rides!
Great example of why bike racks shouldn’t be perpendicular to the carriageway. And yes, it’s a big bike. But even ignoring that, perpendicular bike racks are a danger for visually impaired people. If it was parallel to the carriageway it wouldn’t be an issue, irrespective of it being a bakfiets.
December 18, 2025 at 9:55 PM
I feel this way when I lock up my bike at the grocery store - it extends into the walkway but it's also the only rack.
It's better to provide options to accommodate all types of rides!
It's better to provide options to accommodate all types of rides!
Reposted by Brianinja
Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth on Thursday submitted a criminal referral to the Justice Department over alleged constitutional violations — including warrantless arrests and the use of excessive force — by federal immigration agents during Operation Midway Blitz.
Durbin, Duckworth seek criminal probe of Chicago's immigration blitz — even after Trump leaves office
chicago.suntimes.com
December 18, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth on Thursday submitted a criminal referral to the Justice Department over alleged constitutional violations — including warrantless arrests and the use of excessive force — by federal immigration agents during Operation Midway Blitz.
Reposted by Brianinja
Corktown, Detroit, before-and-after federal highway construction and “urban renewal” in the 1960s and 70s, which leveled much of the neighborhood and displaced thousands of residents. More photos and information: www.segregationbydesign.com/detroit/cork...
December 18, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Corktown, Detroit, before-and-after federal highway construction and “urban renewal” in the 1960s and 70s, which leveled much of the neighborhood and displaced thousands of residents. More photos and information: www.segregationbydesign.com/detroit/cork...
Just a note about what Illinois did when some soon-disgraced pol renamed things after themselves:
Blagojevich's name removed from tollway signs
by Emily Miller, Daily Vidette Staff Writer
www.videtteonline.com
December 18, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Just a note about what Illinois did when some soon-disgraced pol renamed things after themselves:
Reposted by Brianinja
New book, "A History of Bicycling in Illinois: 160 Years of Booms and Busts," out early next month: "Bicycles were once a top export from the state of Illinois with manufacturing centers in the state...making two-thirds of all bicycles sold in the country in 1898." www.wglt.org/local-news/2...
Rediscovering an overlooked linchpin of Illinois industry: Bicycling
A Bloomington-Normal historian says bicycles were once a top export from the state of Illinois. Manufacturing centers in the state, including Peoria and Chicago, made two-thirds of all bicycles sold i...
www.wglt.org
December 18, 2025 at 5:15 PM
New book, "A History of Bicycling in Illinois: 160 Years of Booms and Busts," out early next month: "Bicycles were once a top export from the state of Illinois with manufacturing centers in the state...making two-thirds of all bicycles sold in the country in 1898." www.wglt.org/local-news/2...
Reposted by Brianinja
One nice thing about lists is a single person made a conscious decision to include you and that’s a nice feeling. For us it’s generally going to be like 6 best American sahtis with a bear on the label currently being brewed or 10 breweries to avoid if you really like hazy ipas 😘
December 18, 2025 at 3:21 PM
One nice thing about lists is a single person made a conscious decision to include you and that’s a nice feeling. For us it’s generally going to be like 6 best American sahtis with a bear on the label currently being brewed or 10 breweries to avoid if you really like hazy ipas 😘
Reposted by Brianinja
🧵
The responsibility for sidewalk snow removal hinges on one question: are sidewalks public or private property? In my city, they are part of the public right-of-way. They are not private property.
#PlowSidewalksToo
The responsibility for sidewalk snow removal hinges on one question: are sidewalks public or private property? In my city, they are part of the public right-of-way. They are not private property.
#PlowSidewalksToo
December 18, 2025 at 3:38 PM
🧵
The responsibility for sidewalk snow removal hinges on one question: are sidewalks public or private property? In my city, they are part of the public right-of-way. They are not private property.
#PlowSidewalksToo
The responsibility for sidewalk snow removal hinges on one question: are sidewalks public or private property? In my city, they are part of the public right-of-way. They are not private property.
#PlowSidewalksToo
Reposted by Brianinja
Does this to adults too
It turns out vehicular traffic does something else, too, more subtle but equally pernicious: It changes the way children see and experience the world by diminishing their connection to community and neighbors.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Kids Who Get Driven Everywhere Don't Know Where They're Going
A new study suggests vehicular travel affects children's ability to navigate their neighborhood and connect to their community.
www.bloomberg.com
December 18, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Does this to adults too
Reposted by Brianinja
I keep thinking about that one bit of lore in the Cyberpunk franchise about the internet. That it was flooded and wrecked by AI and now only safe to use in small partitioned segments. Only there it was malicious super intelligences and in our world itll be like self replicating spam bots n shit
December 18, 2025 at 1:39 PM
I keep thinking about that one bit of lore in the Cyberpunk franchise about the internet. That it was flooded and wrecked by AI and now only safe to use in small partitioned segments. Only there it was malicious super intelligences and in our world itll be like self replicating spam bots n shit
Reposted by Brianinja
went to see for myself
December 18, 2025 at 1:39 AM
went to see for myself
Someone knows their history.
This is great. Need such signs on CTA viaduct on West Sheridan, and Metra over Devon, Pratt, and Howard as well.
December 17, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Someone knows their history.
Reposted by Brianinja
ILLINOIS! Today is the first day to apply for a Vote-By-Mail ballot for the 2026 General Primary Election on March 17.
Voting by mail is quick, safe, and easy!
Visit ildems.com/vote to download an application today.
Voting by mail is quick, safe, and easy!
Visit ildems.com/vote to download an application today.
December 17, 2025 at 6:42 PM
ILLINOIS! Today is the first day to apply for a Vote-By-Mail ballot for the 2026 General Primary Election on March 17.
Voting by mail is quick, safe, and easy!
Visit ildems.com/vote to download an application today.
Voting by mail is quick, safe, and easy!
Visit ildems.com/vote to download an application today.
Reposted by Brianinja
The holiday train beats traffic everywhere
December 17, 2025 at 5:30 PM
The holiday train beats traffic everywhere
Reposted by Brianinja
The city of Indianapolis would like to remind you that it’s your responsibility to shovel the sidewalks on land you own within 24 hours after the last snow falls.
Anyway here’s the sidewalk in front of the city-owned Broad Ripple Park 86 hours after the last snow fell.
Anyway here’s the sidewalk in front of the city-owned Broad Ripple Park 86 hours after the last snow fell.
December 17, 2025 at 4:44 PM
The city of Indianapolis would like to remind you that it’s your responsibility to shovel the sidewalks on land you own within 24 hours after the last snow falls.
Anyway here’s the sidewalk in front of the city-owned Broad Ripple Park 86 hours after the last snow fell.
Anyway here’s the sidewalk in front of the city-owned Broad Ripple Park 86 hours after the last snow fell.
Reposted by Brianinja
If you spend any amount of time in the suburbs within the Indianapolis city limits, you’ll start to notice something I call the IndyGo Intersection: an area without sidewalks where IndyGo has installed them to help riders make connections.
December 17, 2025 at 3:40 PM
If you spend any amount of time in the suburbs within the Indianapolis city limits, you’ll start to notice something I call the IndyGo Intersection: an area without sidewalks where IndyGo has installed them to help riders make connections.
Reposted by Brianinja
The city used to run ambulances for free (like the rest of the fire department) but then discovered that they can recover $2k per ambulance ride from people's insurance. So they bill you for $2k.
If insurance doesn't pay, they should just forgive the debt.
If insurance doesn't pay, they should just forgive the debt.
$2.3-ish billion in fines related to motor vehicles!!!!
December 16, 2025 at 10:55 PM
The city used to run ambulances for free (like the rest of the fire department) but then discovered that they can recover $2k per ambulance ride from people's insurance. So they bill you for $2k.
If insurance doesn't pay, they should just forgive the debt.
If insurance doesn't pay, they should just forgive the debt.
Reposted by Brianinja
These two are my favorites:
Friends! Countrymen! We descend from immigrants and revolutionaries!
Friends! Countrymen! Opposition to the machinations of tyranny stares you in the face (Again!)
Friends! Countrymen! We descend from immigrants and revolutionaries!
Friends! Countrymen! Opposition to the machinations of tyranny stares you in the face (Again!)
December 17, 2025 at 12:47 PM
These two are my favorites:
Friends! Countrymen! We descend from immigrants and revolutionaries!
Friends! Countrymen! Opposition to the machinations of tyranny stares you in the face (Again!)
Friends! Countrymen! We descend from immigrants and revolutionaries!
Friends! Countrymen! Opposition to the machinations of tyranny stares you in the face (Again!)
Reposted by Brianinja
You're a Frank in the year 814 when you learn that your beloved emperor Charlemagne has died. You're so distraught that you grab your bicycle and just start riding. You finally stop in 2025 after 1,211 years.
You still have a decade of riding left before you've done the damage of one pickup truck.
You still have a decade of riding left before you've done the damage of one pickup truck.
December 16, 2025 at 8:41 PM
You're a Frank in the year 814 when you learn that your beloved emperor Charlemagne has died. You're so distraught that you grab your bicycle and just start riding. You finally stop in 2025 after 1,211 years.
You still have a decade of riding left before you've done the damage of one pickup truck.
You still have a decade of riding left before you've done the damage of one pickup truck.
This is actually a great comparison tool, so when folks are like "but what about the trucks compared to cars?" you can compare the number of cars to number of trucks.
For example, there's 460 residential parking spots along the road that's used by the grocery store truck. Or 3x the impact.
For example, there's 460 residential parking spots along the road that's used by the grocery store truck. Or 3x the impact.
December 16, 2025 at 8:02 PM
This is actually a great comparison tool, so when folks are like "but what about the trucks compared to cars?" you can compare the number of cars to number of trucks.
For example, there's 460 residential parking spots along the road that's used by the grocery store truck. Or 3x the impact.
For example, there's 460 residential parking spots along the road that's used by the grocery store truck. Or 3x the impact.
Congratulations, it's an Agency!
I'm a real agency!
December 16, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Congratulations, it's an Agency!
Reposted by Brianinja
🎉 It's official – @govpritzker.illinois.gov has signed the NITA Act into law!
This transformative legislation not only fully funds public transit, but delivers critical reforms to ensure our systems serve us better.
Take a moment and join us in thanking our leaders at thanks.savetransit.org!
This transformative legislation not only fully funds public transit, but delivers critical reforms to ensure our systems serve us better.
Take a moment and join us in thanking our leaders at thanks.savetransit.org!
Thank your leaders for saving transit!
The NITA Act is now LAW! Send an email to your elected officials and thank them for taking action to fix AND fund transit in Illinois!
thanks.savetransit.org
December 16, 2025 at 5:53 PM
🎉 It's official – @govpritzker.illinois.gov has signed the NITA Act into law!
This transformative legislation not only fully funds public transit, but delivers critical reforms to ensure our systems serve us better.
Take a moment and join us in thanking our leaders at thanks.savetransit.org!
This transformative legislation not only fully funds public transit, but delivers critical reforms to ensure our systems serve us better.
Take a moment and join us in thanking our leaders at thanks.savetransit.org!
Reposted by Brianinja
Proud to be a tenacious environmental and transit advocate 🥹
NITA Act officially signed! This provides us the landmark investment and reforms to build the transit system Illinoisans deserve!
NITA Act officially signed! This provides us the landmark investment and reforms to build the transit system Illinoisans deserve!
Shoutout to "the tenacious environmental and transit advocates"!
- @awennink.bsky.social of MPC
- Dany Robles of @ilenviro.bsky.social
- Jacky Grimshaw of @cnt.org
- Amy Rynell of @atalliance.bsky.social
- @awennink.bsky.social of MPC
- Dany Robles of @ilenviro.bsky.social
- Jacky Grimshaw of @cnt.org
- Amy Rynell of @atalliance.bsky.social
December 16, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Proud to be a tenacious environmental and transit advocate 🥹
NITA Act officially signed! This provides us the landmark investment and reforms to build the transit system Illinoisans deserve!
NITA Act officially signed! This provides us the landmark investment and reforms to build the transit system Illinoisans deserve!
Reposted by Brianinja
A lot of people deserve to take a victory lap today but perhaps no one deserves to more than @metroplanning.bsky.social and @atalliance.bsky.social. Today is the culmination of years and years of hard work by extremely dedicated, passionate professionals and advocates at MPC and ATA.
Onward!
Onward!
December 16, 2025 at 6:38 PM
A lot of people deserve to take a victory lap today but perhaps no one deserves to more than @metroplanning.bsky.social and @atalliance.bsky.social. Today is the culmination of years and years of hard work by extremely dedicated, passionate professionals and advocates at MPC and ATA.
Onward!
Onward!