Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Bryan @bryanformhals.com · 6h

"Once the E Line is operational, the Metro system of light rail and bus rapid transit will cover 120 miles with a station within half a mile of 38% of the region’s carfree households"

Streets.mn @streets.mn · 6h

"People should ask experienced transit riders in their lives for tips on how to get started, or reach out to advocacy organizations in their communities for advice on bus routes and protected bike lanes. Move Minnesota recommends trying transit for special events and building from there."

How easy is it to be car free in the Twin Cities? A new campaign urges more people to try.

The transportation nonprofit, Move Minnesota, is starting the “No Car, No Problem” campaign to urge Twin Cities residents to use transit instead of car.

sahanjournal.com

4 16

Bryan @bryanformhals.com · 7h

Looking like the Dodgers are on course to repeat.

Lot of baseball left but they are going to be tough to beat with this pitching.

Bryan @bryanformhals.com · 7h

You could sit close with a speed graphic!

Photo of a speed graphic camera and flash

1 2

Bryan @bryanformhals.com · 7h

Taylor going with the heavy duty photo gear

1 2

Bryan @bryanformhals.com · 14h

Lunch hour walk in the Skyway. The lighting and smells always hit me hard.

The entire sensory experience is like instantly catching a cold. The body feels off.

Spent several walks photographing the bridges from street level to mix with the interior and map photos.

Working on the edit...

1

Bryan @bryanformhals.com · 20h

Oliver really hit this one out of the park.

jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 20h

one of my takeaways from this great piece is that weiss just doesn’t…sound like an intelligent person? or at least, not someone who has thought even a little bit about how and why they think the things that they do. www.youtube.com/watch?v=gieT...

Bari Weiss: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)

YouTube video by LastWeekTonight

www.youtube.com

1 5

Bryan @bryanformhals.com · 20h

Maybe they should turn the planning over to Meow Wolf.

meowwolf.com

1 4

Bryan @bryanformhals.com · 20h

Roper does a good job illuminating what's great and where there are serious problems.

They need more RICO cases against the organized crime rings responsible for the drug trade.

It's startling to see how brazen drug dealers are in downtown Minneapolis.

Streets.mn @streets.mn · 20h

"I think the bike improvements are making the city much more desirable, and downright Amsterdam-ish at times. Watch the parents delivering kids to school on cargo bikes and you start to realize there’s an interesting shift going on."

www.startribune.com/roper-doomsd...

Roper: Doomsday docs aside, Minneapolis’ lush urbanity makes it a special place to call home

The city blossoms in the warmer months, even when bad headlines drown out what makes it great.

www.startribune.com

1 3

Bryan @bryanformhals.com · 1d

Hard to conceptualize that over 1 million Americans have died from car violence since 2000.

Car dependency is why so many are in debt, miserable and unhealthy.

Matthew Lewis is ready for progressive federalism @mateosfo.bsky.social · 1d

This is literally an oil pipeline and not only do we massively subsidize it with our tax dollars but it is our leading cause of disabling injury and premature death.

We are not an especially clever people.

3 15

Bryan @bryanformhals.com · 1d

Ending Northstar will end being a historically stupid decision.

Ian Gaida @trainsfan.bsky.social · 1d

Christ, just heard the number that Metro Transit's gonna have to pay to demolish the Northstar stations.

TWENTY
MILLION

and that DOESN'T include the money owed to the FTA. Fiscal responsibility my ass!

2 22

Bryan @bryanformhals.com · 1d

I have talked with my pal in NYC about both of us flying into Cincinnati, doing a 4 hour walk and then leaving the same day.

The transit tourism folks do this stuff with trains.

2

Bryan @bryanformhals.com · 1d

Fun project would be to collaborate with five people and agree to meet at a specific time and place a few months in the future. Once you set it, there are no reminders or any communication about it.

The only way to find out is to show up.

Craig Calcaterra @craigcalcaterra.bsky.social · 1d

Everyone's sharing that post about remembering phone numbers -- and I write about it in tomorrow's newsletter -- but there are so many things I can't remember how we did in the pre-digital age. Like I honestly don't remember the logistics of meeting up with people from out of town and stuff.

1 3

Bryan @bryanformhals.com · 1d

Yeah it only works if more people want to live Downtown. We need more family-friendly housing but even with that I don't think we have enough people that want to live in the city.

Bryan @bryanformhals.com · 1d

Are they even trying anything to lure and incentivize businesses to move from suburban office parks to downtown? I recall one article about a company ditching the burns for a downtown office building because the younger employees want to be near the action.

4

Bryan @bryanformhals.com · 1d

One year of testing smells like too much red tape to me.

They should move up the opening date by 4-5 months.

But yeah, better make sure it's safe and functioning so I can wait!

Streets.mn @streets.mn · 1d

"Metro Transit will begin a safety campaign along the corridor. Messages to alert residents, businesses, motorists and those who bike, walk or roll near where trains will run will be delivered through in-person outreach, direct mailings, digital advertising and two fully-wrapped light-rail cars."

Green Line light-rail extension reaches major milestone

Metro Transit will soon begin testing trains on the tracks.

www.startribune.com

2

Bryan @bryanformhals.com · 1d

18 years #carfree (NYC living 12 years standard deduction)

Easily the best financial, spiritual and health decision I have made as an adult.

It's like entering a new dimension of human existence.

Rich @hoxtonrich.bsky.social · 2d

About 5 years #carfree for us. Well north of £10k saved. I’m used to it now but ‘free’ is the right term. It honestly felt like having a weight lifted. No stressing about insurance, huge unexpected bills & money wasted at petrol pumps. Journeys are now fun. 🚆 🚊 🚃 🚌 🚲 🚶‍♀️

Kirsten de Vos 🚶🏻‍♀️💚🚲🍃 @kirstendevos.bsky.social · 2d

3+ years #carfree for me too 🚶🏻‍♀️🚲🚌🚖

Walk, ride, public transport, and the occasional car share (Co-Wheels) or taxi when needed. Honestly? It’s nowhere near as hard as we thought it would be

Still saving money, still getting places, still feeling good.
#CarFree #NoRegrets #ActiveTravel #BrumbyBike

1 7

Bryan @bryanformhals.com · 1d

Cool project! It's important we have photographers making these projects. Sure, we are saturated with photos these days but good photo projects require research, dedication and passionate intent.

MPR News @mprnews.org · 1d

There are thousands of towns across Minnesota that time forgot. They are unincorporated communities, places that have no local government. Photographer Laura Grisamore has been to them all. She has pictures, stories and a burning desire to preserve memories of towns in their twilight.

Minnesota woman on a quest to preserve stories of disappearing towns

Have you ever been to Basswood, Oylen or Luce, Minnesota? Photographer Laura Grisamore has been to them all. She has pictures, stories and a burning desire to preserve memories of towns in their twili...

www.mprnews.org

5

Bryan @bryanformhals.com · 2d

Wow, didn't even realize I wrote smelling and not Snelling, but it still works.

1

Bryan @bryanformhals.com · 2d

Every large city should have a big mural of a frog that says Dear Leader.

The New York Times @nytimes.com · 2d

President Trump has used apocalyptic language to describe Portland, Oregon. Some demonstrators protesting ICE are responding with colorful animal suits. “It was just to contrast the narrative that we are violent extremists. The best way to show that for me is being in a frog costume.”

Among Portland Protests, It’s Frogs and Sharks and Bears, Oh My!

Images of anarchists clad in black gave the city a bad name in 2020. Now, demonstrators in Portland are poking fun at President Trump’s apocalyptic talk with colorful animal suits.

nyti.ms

2

Bryan @bryanformhals.com · 2d

You absolutely do not want to get me going on urbanism and cities. Feel bad for this server listening to my riff on LA/NYC/TC.

Next up The Gnome? 😬

2

Bryan @bryanformhals.com · 2d

Typing this over a sour beer at Bad Weather. Trying Waldmann next.

1 3

Bryan @bryanformhals.com · 2d

It's not really accurate to compare it to anywhere in NYC but my walks this year in St. Paul have picked up the East Coast vibes more strongly.

Still needs a lot of work but that's kind of the appeal too.

What's tragic about St. Paul is that the terrible decisions decades ago are tough to rectify.

1 2

Bryan @bryanformhals.com · 2d

The itch for moving to Downtown St. Paul is too strong at this point. Curiosity and novelty will probably get the best of me next year.

It's also a pattern. I generally only live in one neighborhood for 3 years before moving.

One reason I was cold on St. Paul was it felt too much like Queens/BK.

1 6

Bryan @bryanformhals.com · 2d

Ended up in Downtown St Paul because we skipped the Snelling stop.

Guess I'll roam around the gem of the Twin Cities.

1 6

Bryan @bryanformhals.com · 2d

And I didn't know 94 was closed this weekend because I don't drive lol

So the 94 is a weird local bus now.

2 4