Karl Otterstrom
@pedestrianman.bsky.social
Nothing pedestrian about making better communities through public transportation. Honored to lead Spokane Transit as CEO.
The number of Avista Utilities customers without power grew from 3,800 at 5am to nearly 70,000 at 7:15am. Power was out around Manito Park and as pictured, 14th Ave at Grand Blvd when I passed by on northbound 4. Gusts remain problematic. Stay safe out there!
December 17, 2025 at 3:24 PM
The number of Avista Utilities customers without power grew from 3,800 at 5am to nearly 70,000 at 7:15am. Power was out around Manito Park and as pictured, 14th Ave at Grand Blvd when I passed by on northbound 4. Gusts remain problematic. Stay safe out there!
Detour induced by busted water main is showing up in @transit.app. Such a great added value to Spokane Transit riders to have some clarity during service disruptions.
December 16, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Detour induced by busted water main is showing up in @transit.app. Such a great added value to Spokane Transit riders to have some clarity during service disruptions.
A vibrant downtown thrives on a robust transit network. 12/23/25 ridership topped 19,000, a first for Spokane Transit on a Saturday in the month of December.
Reports of downtown’s demise have been extraordinarily exaggerated.
December 16, 2025 at 1:51 AM
A vibrant downtown thrives on a robust transit network. 12/23/25 ridership topped 19,000, a first for Spokane Transit on a Saturday in the month of December.
Reposted by Karl Otterstrom
The future of transportation isn’t the #Hyperloop* or self-driving cars. It’s the bus, the bike and the elevator. Via @slate.com.
AND it’s better land-use & infrastructure decisions, reprioritizing space & budgets, accessible streets, & smart pricing mechanisms.
*hyperloop was always a distraction
AND it’s better land-use & infrastructure decisions, reprioritizing space & budgets, accessible streets, & smart pricing mechanisms.
*hyperloop was always a distraction
The Future of Transportation Is Not the Hyperloop or the Self-Driving Car. It’s the Bus, the Bike, and the Elevator.
Getting people around in new, different ways relies mostly on technologies that we have had for a while.
slate.com
December 13, 2025 at 9:29 PM
The future of transportation isn’t the #Hyperloop* or self-driving cars. It’s the bus, the bike and the elevator. Via @slate.com.
AND it’s better land-use & infrastructure decisions, reprioritizing space & budgets, accessible streets, & smart pricing mechanisms.
*hyperloop was always a distraction
AND it’s better land-use & infrastructure decisions, reprioritizing space & budgets, accessible streets, & smart pricing mechanisms.
*hyperloop was always a distraction
While waiting for my bus at 8 o'clock at night is a good time to study and admire the GOAT Bus Network Diagram.
December 11, 2025 at 4:04 AM
While waiting for my bus at 8 o'clock at night is a good time to study and admire the GOAT Bus Network Diagram.
Today's Spokesman-Review endeavors to provide detail on Spokane Transit's proposed revisions to bus service, expanding some routes and shifting resources from a low ridership route segment. Maps suggest precedent. Public input is essential: www.spokanetransit.com/projects/202...
December 8, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Today's Spokesman-Review endeavors to provide detail on Spokane Transit's proposed revisions to bus service, expanding some routes and shifting resources from a low ridership route segment. Maps suggest precedent. Public input is essential: www.spokanetransit.com/projects/202...
Sitting in the crowded sanctuary of the South Hill Seventh Day Adventist Church this evening, waiting our turn for their outdoor Christmas play, "Journey to Bethlehem," listening to a performance and a young boy comes up and whispers, 1/
December 6, 2025 at 2:24 AM
Sitting in the crowded sanctuary of the South Hill Seventh Day Adventist Church this evening, waiting our turn for their outdoor Christmas play, "Journey to Bethlehem," listening to a performance and a young boy comes up and whispers, 1/
Reposted by Karl Otterstrom
Think much of the over-parenting we despise stems from the early on fear of the driver.
If parents weren't terrified of our streets kids would have so much more freedom and independence which might get them comfortable with their children's ability to navigate the world without them.
If parents weren't terrified of our streets kids would have so much more freedom and independence which might get them comfortable with their children's ability to navigate the world without them.
December 5, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Think much of the over-parenting we despise stems from the early on fear of the driver.
If parents weren't terrified of our streets kids would have so much more freedom and independence which might get them comfortable with their children's ability to navigate the world without them.
If parents weren't terrified of our streets kids would have so much more freedom and independence which might get them comfortable with their children's ability to navigate the world without them.
Another snowy morning. Close to 50 people on the bus during my commute in this morning.
December 4, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Another snowy morning. Close to 50 people on the bus during my commute in this morning.
First time on the KCM 7 in a very long time.
November 29, 2025 at 4:21 PM
First time on the KCM 7 in a very long time.
Reposted by Karl Otterstrom
Many thanks to all of the transit legends that are still working today and keeping us moving 🫶🚂🚈🚌🚎⛴️🫶
November 27, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Many thanks to all of the transit legends that are still working today and keeping us moving 🫶🚂🚈🚌🚎⛴️🫶
Happy Thanksgiving! I am thankful for public transportation and its workforce, wherever they may be. Today I am thankful specially thankful for Community Transit Route 109 and its first southbound trip from Lake Stevens.
November 27, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Happy Thanksgiving! I am thankful for public transportation and its workforce, wherever they may be. Today I am thankful specially thankful for Community Transit Route 109 and its first southbound trip from Lake Stevens.
In other new, Spokane Transit was recently accepted as a transit agency member of @nacto.bsky.social!
STA has long benefited from their resources for bus stop design. Membership is next level collaboration.
nacto.org/latest/nacto...
STA has long benefited from their resources for bus stop design. Membership is next level collaboration.
nacto.org/latest/nacto...
NACTO Welcomes Five Cities and Transit Agencies as New Members - NACTO
Belgrade, Montana; the Jacksonville Transportation Authority; the Montgomery Department of Transportation; the Spokane Transit Authority; and the Toronto Transit Commission join network of more than 1...
nacto.org
November 21, 2025 at 4:07 PM
In other new, Spokane Transit was recently accepted as a transit agency member of @nacto.bsky.social!
STA has long benefited from their resources for bus stop design. Membership is next level collaboration.
nacto.org/latest/nacto...
STA has long benefited from their resources for bus stop design. Membership is next level collaboration.
nacto.org/latest/nacto...
Reposted by Karl Otterstrom
Spokane Transit just bought Transit app’s premium tier subscription (Royale) for every resident.
Our small city’s transit agency is punching waaaaay above its weight
www.spokanetransit.com/press-releas...
Our small city’s transit agency is punching waaaaay above its weight
www.spokanetransit.com/press-releas...
STA Partners With Transit App to Bring Premium Trip-Planning Features to Local Riders - Spokane Transit Authority
Spokane Transit is announcing a new partnership with Transit App, one of the world’s most popular apps for navigating cities by bus, walking, or biking.
www.spokanetransit.com
November 4, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Spokane Transit just bought Transit app’s premium tier subscription (Royale) for every resident.
Our small city’s transit agency is punching waaaaay above its weight
www.spokanetransit.com/press-releas...
Our small city’s transit agency is punching waaaaay above its weight
www.spokanetransit.com/press-releas...
Reposted by Karl Otterstrom
Great overview of Illinois’ just-passed transit bill, which sets a national standard by combining:
—New funds to meaningfully improving service
—Coordination of planning & fares across agencies
—Action on TOD through elimination of parking rules & mechanism for transit agencies to lead projects
—New funds to meaningfully improving service
—Coordination of planning & fares across agencies
—Action on TOD through elimination of parking rules & mechanism for transit agencies to lead projects
Here's a quick and dirty one-page overview of the Northern Illinois Transit Authority legislation that the Illinois General Assembly passed early this morning. Reply w/questions. Link to bill: ilga.gov/documents/le...
October 31, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Great overview of Illinois’ just-passed transit bill, which sets a national standard by combining:
—New funds to meaningfully improving service
—Coordination of planning & fares across agencies
—Action on TOD through elimination of parking rules & mechanism for transit agencies to lead projects
—New funds to meaningfully improving service
—Coordination of planning & fares across agencies
—Action on TOD through elimination of parking rules & mechanism for transit agencies to lead projects
Good morning from Transit Town! I ran down the hill fast enough to have the opportunity to observe the 5:20 am pulse of buses that extend across the region. The added bus trips that come in at 5:15 am have injected more ridership into this pulse.
October 24, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Good morning from Transit Town! I ran down the hill fast enough to have the opportunity to observe the 5:20 am pulse of buses that extend across the region. The added bus trips that come in at 5:15 am have injected more ridership into this pulse.
The reserved CEO parking spot is no more. The stall is now reserved for the monthly employee recognition award winner, with an comparable alternative benefit for winners who don't drive.
October 21, 2025 at 6:24 PM
The reserved CEO parking spot is no more. The stall is now reserved for the monthly employee recognition award winner, with an comparable alternative benefit for winners who don't drive.
More housing now available near transit! 96 units total where my kids and I used to cut through the forest between our home and the transit station.
October 2, 2025 at 2:53 PM
More housing now available near transit! 96 units total where my kids and I used to cut through the forest between our home and the transit station.
Another great morning to be a bus rider in Spokane. #WeekWithoutDriving
September 30, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Another great morning to be a bus rider in Spokane. #WeekWithoutDriving
Just another morning on the Spokane Transit Route 4. Transit moves community.
September 26, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Just another morning on the Spokane Transit Route 4. Transit moves community.
I caught the inaugural run of the first 4 Monroe Regal bus that begins at 4:52 am.
September 22, 2025 at 12:13 PM
I caught the inaugural run of the first 4 Monroe Regal bus that begins at 4:52 am.
Reposted by Karl Otterstrom
It’s difficult to put numbers on the total economic cost of an increasingly erratic water cycle but single flood events last year caused billions in damages, Stefan Uhlenbrook, a lead author of the report, said. https://cnn.it/3IhoS5E
September 18, 2025 at 10:01 AM
It’s difficult to put numbers on the total economic cost of an increasingly erratic water cycle but single flood events last year caused billions in damages, Stefan Uhlenbrook, a lead author of the report, said. https://cnn.it/3IhoS5E