Kurt Dresner 🚲🚌
@kurt.social
Software engineer, computer scientist, polyamorist, runner, PEV enthusiast, urbanist, YIMBY, community activist, music lover, cat adopter, father, pizza-maker, vegetarian, ASL user, and other things as well.
Johnny Harris is on a kick lately and I'm here for it.
How billionaires stole America's elections
YouTube video by Johnny Harris
youtu.be
November 25, 2025 at 11:57 PM
Johnny Harris is on a kick lately and I'm here for it.
This kind of shit is not only factually wrong, but incredibly counterproductive.
November 25, 2025 at 10:29 PM
This kind of shit is not only factually wrong, but incredibly counterproductive.
And here I thought the hoops I had to jump through for Bixi when visiting Montreal were onerous. It was cheap, though!
$10.69 for a 15-minute ride?
For visitors, public bikeshare often feels like a ripoff.
In CityLab, I explored why.
For visitors, public bikeshare often feels like a ripoff.
In CityLab, I explored why.
Bikeshare Shouldn’t Kick Tourists to the Curb
Barcelona’s bikeshare program excludes non-Spanish visitors. Other cities charge tourists much higher fees to rent two-wheelers. Which policy makes more sense?
www.bloomberg.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:50 PM
And here I thought the hoops I had to jump through for Bixi when visiting Montreal were onerous. It was cheap, though!
Reposted by Kurt Dresner 🚲🚌
Funded inclusionary zoning is good!
Good news: New data suggest that Portland's inclusionary zoning program is finally working as intended, after being fully funded in 2024 www.sightline.org/2025/11/25/p...
Portland’s Inclusionary Zoning Program Is Finally Performing, New Data Suggests | Sightline Institute
Because for the first time, the city fully funded it.
www.sightline.org
November 25, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Funded inclusionary zoning is good!
I was one of these people, because NYC Penn Station to New Haven, CT for $8? Yes please. I wish we had this in more of our metropolitan areas.
To quote my friend Justin, "Trains are great. America could do a better job, though."
To quote my friend Justin, "Trains are great. America could do a better job, though."
Amtrak's annual ridership was up 5%, hitting an all-time record high of 34.5 million rides nationwide over the last year. Amtrak Cascades also hit a record high, reporting 1.4% growth and coming in just short of crossing the million-ride mark for the year.
Story: www.theurbanist.org/2025/11/24/a...
Story: www.theurbanist.org/2025/11/24/a...
Amtrak Breaks Ridership Records Nationally and in Pacific Northwest » The Urbanist
# Amtrak's annual ridership was up 5%, hitting an all-time record high of 34.5 million rides nationwide over the last year. Amtrak Cascades also hit a record high, reporting 1.4% growth and coming in ...
www.theurbanist.org
November 25, 2025 at 6:11 PM
I was one of these people, because NYC Penn Station to New Haven, CT for $8? Yes please. I wish we had this in more of our metropolitan areas.
To quote my friend Justin, "Trains are great. America could do a better job, though."
To quote my friend Justin, "Trains are great. America could do a better job, though."
Reposted by Kurt Dresner 🚲🚌
good work guys you picked a fight in which Dems can stand up out of their permanent defensive crouch and go “our guy is a fucking astronaut and you’re an alcoholic tv host”
Gallego to Hegseth: "You will never ever be half the man that Sen. Kelly is. You, sir, are a coward. And the fact that you are following this order from the president shows how big of a coward you are. I can't wait until you are no longer the secretary of defense."
November 24, 2025 at 9:49 PM
good work guys you picked a fight in which Dems can stand up out of their permanent defensive crouch and go “our guy is a fucking astronaut and you’re an alcoholic tv host”
It is amazing to me that people try to argue for outlawing smaller homes by saying "One size does not fit all."
Exactly. It's why we need to allow smaller homes.🤦
Exactly. It's why we need to allow smaller homes.🤦
Following an intense debate over the future of Sammamish's fledgling Town Center area in this month's elections, three growth skeptics are set to join the city council. Now the question is just how dramatically things get scaled back in 2026.
Story: www.theurbanist.org/2025/11/24/s...
Story: www.theurbanist.org/2025/11/24/s...
Sammamish Hits Pause on Town Center Planning after Backlash Election » The Urbanist
# Following an intense debate over the future of Sammamish's fledgling Town Center area in this month's elections, three growth skeptics are set to join the city council. Now the question is just how ...
www.theurbanist.org
November 24, 2025 at 7:09 PM
It is amazing to me that people try to argue for outlawing smaller homes by saying "One size does not fit all."
Exactly. It's why we need to allow smaller homes.🤦
Exactly. It's why we need to allow smaller homes.🤦
Listening to this episode, I just kept thinking back to what I've said many times:
The thing about unsustainable things is that they cannot be sustained.
It's just a matter of how we're going to get there, and how painful we're going to make it for ourselves and future generations.
The thing about unsustainable things is that they cannot be sustained.
It's just a matter of how we're going to get there, and how painful we're going to make it for ourselves and future generations.
Today on Volts: the subset of cleantech known as "electrotech" -- solar, batteries, heat pumps, etc. -- is marching toward inevitable victory, not because it's low-emissions (though it is), but because it's more efficient & cheaper. I discuss the good news with @kingsmillbond.bsky.social.
Clean electrification is inevitable
Kingsmill Bond explains why the global march of "electrotech" has moved beyond the reach of US political interference.
www.volts.wtf
November 24, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Listening to this episode, I just kept thinking back to what I've said many times:
The thing about unsustainable things is that they cannot be sustained.
It's just a matter of how we're going to get there, and how painful we're going to make it for ourselves and future generations.
The thing about unsustainable things is that they cannot be sustained.
It's just a matter of how we're going to get there, and how painful we're going to make it for ourselves and future generations.
Reposted by Kurt Dresner 🚲🚌
I get why people are excited about Waymos. I really do.
But, I think we can also look back at the effects of a century of enthusiasm for cars and say, “Going all in for cars hasn’t worked out well at all.” And from that, try to see what the next century holds, and try to do better *now*.
But, I think we can also look back at the effects of a century of enthusiasm for cars and say, “Going all in for cars hasn’t worked out well at all.” And from that, try to see what the next century holds, and try to do better *now*.
Waymo privatized another public street:
Chanel approaching 4th, San Francisco
Possibly queued for a Billie Eilish show at Chase Center ~half mile away.
The light rail train on 4th seen passing in front of this roboherd has more passenger capacity than all of them combined.
OP: .tiktok.renaspam18
Chanel approaching 4th, San Francisco
Possibly queued for a Billie Eilish show at Chase Center ~half mile away.
The light rail train on 4th seen passing in front of this roboherd has more passenger capacity than all of them combined.
OP: .tiktok.renaspam18
November 24, 2025 at 5:51 PM
I get why people are excited about Waymos. I really do.
But, I think we can also look back at the effects of a century of enthusiasm for cars and say, “Going all in for cars hasn’t worked out well at all.” And from that, try to see what the next century holds, and try to do better *now*.
But, I think we can also look back at the effects of a century of enthusiasm for cars and say, “Going all in for cars hasn’t worked out well at all.” And from that, try to see what the next century holds, and try to do better *now*.
Reposted by Kurt Dresner 🚲🚌
Love to see this in the wild! Thanks for supporting #BuildTheDamnTrains
If you want a mug like Kurt's: www.bonfire.com/store/transp...
If you want a mug like Kurt's: www.bonfire.com/store/transp...
November 24, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Love to see this in the wild! Thanks for supporting #BuildTheDamnTrains
If you want a mug like Kurt's: www.bonfire.com/store/transp...
If you want a mug like Kurt's: www.bonfire.com/store/transp...
Reposted by Kurt Dresner 🚲🚌
20 before and afters of streets in Paris in one minute.
November 24, 2025 at 3:13 PM
20 before and afters of streets in Paris in one minute.
The worst part is that most of the damage done to our cities was after we already understood this.
November 23, 2025 at 6:34 PM
The worst part is that most of the damage done to our cities was after we already understood this.
Reposted by Kurt Dresner 🚲🚌
Journalist challenge: Use “Machine Learning” when you mean machine learning and “LLM” when you mean LLM. Ditch “AI” as a catch-all term, it’s not useful for readers and it helps companies trying to confuse the public by obscuring the roles played by different technologies. 🧪
November 22, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Journalist challenge: Use “Machine Learning” when you mean machine learning and “LLM” when you mean LLM. Ditch “AI” as a catch-all term, it’s not useful for readers and it helps companies trying to confuse the public by obscuring the roles played by different technologies. 🧪
Further evidence that "luxury" just means "new" now.
this billboard at the apartment building around the corner from my mom's condo in MD would break so many brains in the SF bay area
November 23, 2025 at 10:02 AM
Further evidence that "luxury" just means "new" now.
Everyone quits smoking eventually.
November 23, 2025 at 2:09 AM
Everyone quits smoking eventually.
My friend Barron has a talk that I think gets at the heart of why I'm an urbanist.
Please give it a watch! 👀
Please give it a watch! 👀
Designing spaces that bring people together | Barron Peper | TEDxWilsonPark
YouTube video by TEDx Talks
youtu.be
November 22, 2025 at 6:48 PM
My friend Barron has a talk that I think gets at the heart of why I'm an urbanist.
Please give it a watch! 👀
Please give it a watch! 👀
Reposted by Kurt Dresner 🚲🚌
November 22, 2025 at 11:33 AM
November 22, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Reposted by Kurt Dresner 🚲🚌
Despite significant spending to steer the Kirkland City Council toward a more slow growth direction, voters elected progressives in 3 out of 4 races. In the end, the election seemed to show Kirkland residents are happy with the city's current direction.
Story: www.theurbanist.org/2025/11/21/k...
Story: www.theurbanist.org/2025/11/21/k...
Kirkland Voters Maintain the City’s Course, Rejecting Anti-Growth Push » The Urbanist
# Despite significant spending to steer the Kirkland City Council toward a more slow growth direction, voters elected progressives in three out of four races. In the end, the election seemed to show m...
www.theurbanist.org
November 21, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Despite significant spending to steer the Kirkland City Council toward a more slow growth direction, voters elected progressives in 3 out of 4 races. In the end, the election seemed to show Kirkland residents are happy with the city's current direction.
Story: www.theurbanist.org/2025/11/21/k...
Story: www.theurbanist.org/2025/11/21/k...
Reposted by Kurt Dresner 🚲🚌
In @nytopinion.nytimes.com
Is it possible to build a better internet? Patreon’s CEO, Jack Conte, thinks so. He outlined his vision for an internet that puts people, not ad revenues, first.
Is it possible to build a better internet? Patreon’s CEO, Jack Conte, thinks so. He outlined his vision for an internet that puts people, not ad revenues, first.
Opinion | Patreon’s C.E.O.: My Vision for a Better Internet
The internet should enrich people, not advertisers.
nyti.ms
November 20, 2025 at 4:40 AM
In @nytopinion.nytimes.com
Is it possible to build a better internet? Patreon’s CEO, Jack Conte, thinks so. He outlined his vision for an internet that puts people, not ad revenues, first.
Is it possible to build a better internet? Patreon’s CEO, Jack Conte, thinks so. He outlined his vision for an internet that puts people, not ad revenues, first.
Reposted by Kurt Dresner 🚲🚌
NEW // Book Review: How a Highway Map Wrecked Baltimore
Book review by Valentina Vaneeva via @theurbanist.org // 🔗 www.theurbanist.org/2025/11/19/b...
Book review by Valentina Vaneeva via @theurbanist.org // 🔗 www.theurbanist.org/2025/11/19/b...
Book Review: How a Highway Map Wrecked Baltimore » The Urbanist
# Road to Nowhere author Emily Lieb is speaking at Elliott Bay Books on November 20. Here's a sneak peek at her book, which covers the plight of the Rosemont neighborhood of West Baltimore, as it was ...
www.theurbanist.org
November 19, 2025 at 4:34 PM
NEW // Book Review: How a Highway Map Wrecked Baltimore
Book review by Valentina Vaneeva via @theurbanist.org // 🔗 www.theurbanist.org/2025/11/19/b...
Book review by Valentina Vaneeva via @theurbanist.org // 🔗 www.theurbanist.org/2025/11/19/b...
Saw The Beths last night at the Moore. Great show! If you don't listen to The Beths, what are you doing with your life?
November 16, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Saw The Beths last night at the Moore. Great show! If you don't listen to The Beths, what are you doing with your life?
Reposted by Kurt Dresner 🚲🚌
a “Space Force”, if you will
November 13, 2025 at 2:27 PM
a “Space Force”, if you will