@sidestreets.bsky.social
Radically pedestrian urban planning.
Chicago-centric.
Chicago-centric.
Pinned
On Nov. 28, 1895, 6 vehicles set off from Jackson Park in the U.S.'s first automobile race. The course was 54.36 miles.
The winning time: 10 hours and 23 minutes.
Only two cars finished.
130 years later, I'm celebrating the anniversary by biking the route.
It's time to race some cars!
The winning time: 10 hours and 23 minutes.
Only two cars finished.
130 years later, I'm celebrating the anniversary by biking the route.
It's time to race some cars!
Reposted
For the 2nd year in a row, #treebybike was really #treebybikeshare - the whole round trip was done in 47 minutes, and a 7’ tree provides a natural buffer from cars! 😊 Thanks @bikeshare.bsky.social! #bikedc 🎄🚲
November 30, 2025 at 10:03 PM
For the 2nd year in a row, #treebybike was really #treebybikeshare - the whole round trip was done in 47 minutes, and a 7’ tree provides a natural buffer from cars! 😊 Thanks @bikeshare.bsky.social! #bikedc 🎄🚲
So, if anyone knows the risk of unshoveled sidewalks, it has to be State Farm Insurance, right?
@shovelshamechicago.bsky.social
@shovelshamechicago.bsky.social
December 1, 2025 at 2:50 AM
So, if anyone knows the risk of unshoveled sidewalks, it has to be State Farm Insurance, right?
@shovelshamechicago.bsky.social
@shovelshamechicago.bsky.social
The opposite of a snekdown is seeing tire tracks over sidewalk side of the curb at an intersection.
December 1, 2025 at 1:17 AM
The opposite of a snekdown is seeing tire tracks over sidewalk side of the curb at an intersection.
Looks like there’s been a water pipe break in Chicago Ave right at the Ashland intersection. Repair crew around it now.
So that should be fun for commute time tomorrow.
So that should be fun for commute time tomorrow.
December 1, 2025 at 1:11 AM
Looks like there’s been a water pipe break in Chicago Ave right at the Ashland intersection. Repair crew around it now.
So that should be fun for commute time tomorrow.
So that should be fun for commute time tomorrow.
Plow the crosswalks.
Because the sidewalk doesn’t end at the street.
Because the sidewalk doesn’t end at the street.
November 30, 2025 at 11:19 PM
Plow the crosswalks.
Because the sidewalk doesn’t end at the street.
Because the sidewalk doesn’t end at the street.
This recent video about Victoria's booming bike modeshare from @ohtheurbanity.bsky.social reminded me of a bunch of bike infrastructure pictures I had from 2023. The region has a fascinating cross-section of some colonial-era street and development patterns and brand-new suburban growth centers.
November 30, 2025 at 9:04 PM
This recent video about Victoria's booming bike modeshare from @ohtheurbanity.bsky.social reminded me of a bunch of bike infrastructure pictures I had from 2023. The region has a fascinating cross-section of some colonial-era street and development patterns and brand-new suburban growth centers.
Maybe we could get a handful of these in the hands of some neighborhood organizations or ward offices...
November 30, 2025 at 4:25 AM
Maybe we could get a handful of these in the hands of some neighborhood organizations or ward offices...
Love what Nick Cave did with the Garfield Green Line refresh!
Free|Formal (2018)
“Inspired by Frederick Law Olmsted's historic design of neighboring Washington Park, the artist's expression through flowers, vines and birds transforms the station with the lushness of nature.”
Free|Formal (2018)
“Inspired by Frederick Law Olmsted's historic design of neighboring Washington Park, the artist's expression through flowers, vines and birds transforms the station with the lushness of nature.”
November 30, 2025 at 12:56 AM
Love what Nick Cave did with the Garfield Green Line refresh!
Free|Formal (2018)
“Inspired by Frederick Law Olmsted's historic design of neighboring Washington Park, the artist's expression through flowers, vines and birds transforms the station with the lushness of nature.”
Free|Formal (2018)
“Inspired by Frederick Law Olmsted's historic design of neighboring Washington Park, the artist's expression through flowers, vines and birds transforms the station with the lushness of nature.”
One of the best things about #plowthesidewalks is that sidewalks are for everybody. You can't dibs a sidewalk, and once it's cleared, anyone can use it.
Ok people, let's get one thing straight. Whether you love dibs or hate dibs, we all agree on one thing: you don't get to claim dibs because you were parked and blocking snowfall. You have to actually SHOVEL THE SPOT.
November 30, 2025 at 12:33 AM
One of the best things about #plowthesidewalks is that sidewalks are for everybody. You can't dibs a sidewalk, and once it's cleared, anyone can use it.
Reposted
New research from @rockymtninst.bsky.social and @itdp-hq.bsky.social shows that if states make a similar shift as IL did by diverting road funding towards transit they could save over $1T in roadway maintnece by diverting demand to more sustainable modes of travel
rmi.org/building-sma...
rmi.org/building-sma...
November 29, 2025 at 8:33 PM
New research from @rockymtninst.bsky.social and @itdp-hq.bsky.social shows that if states make a similar shift as IL did by diverting road funding towards transit they could save over $1T in roadway maintnece by diverting demand to more sustainable modes of travel
rmi.org/building-sma...
rmi.org/building-sma...
After biking a 54-mile loop in the city yesterday, here's ten thoughts I had in a 🧵
November 29, 2025 at 9:21 PM
After biking a 54-mile loop in the city yesterday, here's ten thoughts I had in a 🧵
The truckers want their own Critical Mass too I guess
November 29, 2025 at 6:46 PM
The truckers want their own Critical Mass too I guess
You can't act death. It's just a man failing to reappear, that's all — now you see him, now you don't, here one minute and gone the next and never coming back — an exit, unobtrusive and unannounced, a disappearance gathering weight as it goes on, until, finally, it is heavy with death.
November 29, 2025 at 6:17 PM
You can't act death. It's just a man failing to reappear, that's all — now you see him, now you don't, here one minute and gone the next and never coming back — an exit, unobtrusive and unannounced, a disappearance gathering weight as it goes on, until, finally, it is heavy with death.
Reposted
Minimum parking requirements create financially insolvent land use patterns.
The two apartment buildings on the right generate six times more in property taxes than the big box store on the left, while occupying almost half the space!
#BlackFridayParking
The two apartment buildings on the right generate six times more in property taxes than the big box store on the left, while occupying almost half the space!
#BlackFridayParking
November 28, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Minimum parking requirements create financially insolvent land use patterns.
The two apartment buildings on the right generate six times more in property taxes than the big box store on the left, while occupying almost half the space!
#BlackFridayParking
The two apartment buildings on the right generate six times more in property taxes than the big box store on the left, while occupying almost half the space!
#BlackFridayParking
This line for entering a capacity-restricted Chriskindlmarket is the epitome of “No one goes there anymore, it’s too popular”.
November 29, 2025 at 1:20 AM
This line for entering a capacity-restricted Chriskindlmarket is the epitome of “No one goes there anymore, it’s too popular”.
Celebrating victory over cars with Chicago’s best sandwich:
A Turkey Lingonberry on Dutch Crunch from Cafe 53.
A Turkey Lingonberry on Dutch Crunch from Cafe 53.
November 29, 2025 at 12:25 AM
Celebrating victory over cars with Chicago’s best sandwich:
A Turkey Lingonberry on Dutch Crunch from Cafe 53.
A Turkey Lingonberry on Dutch Crunch from Cafe 53.
Reposted
Time of completion: 5:56pm
November 28, 2025 at 11:56 PM
Time of completion: 5:56pm
On Nov. 28, 1895, 6 vehicles set off from Jackson Park in the U.S.'s first automobile race. The course was 54.36 miles.
The winning time: 10 hours and 23 minutes.
Only two cars finished.
130 years later, I'm celebrating the anniversary by biking the route.
It's time to race some cars!
The winning time: 10 hours and 23 minutes.
Only two cars finished.
130 years later, I'm celebrating the anniversary by biking the route.
It's time to race some cars!
November 28, 2025 at 2:00 PM
On Nov. 28, 1895, 6 vehicles set off from Jackson Park in the U.S.'s first automobile race. The course was 54.36 miles.
The winning time: 10 hours and 23 minutes.
Only two cars finished.
130 years later, I'm celebrating the anniversary by biking the route.
It's time to race some cars!
The winning time: 10 hours and 23 minutes.
Only two cars finished.
130 years later, I'm celebrating the anniversary by biking the route.
It's time to race some cars!
Some of these people living outside Brighton Park include Ald. Raymond Lopez.
November 27, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Some of these people living outside Brighton Park include Ald. Raymond Lopez.
@crainschicago.bsky.social finds the most expensive, least effective ways to make housing affordable are the most popular in Cook County.
www.chicagobusiness.com/crains-forum...
www.chicagobusiness.com/crains-forum...
November 27, 2025 at 3:54 AM
@crainschicago.bsky.social finds the most expensive, least effective ways to make housing affordable are the most popular in Cook County.
www.chicagobusiness.com/crains-forum...
www.chicagobusiness.com/crains-forum...
It's crazy to hear how many people are driving into this neighborhood recklessly.
November 27, 2025 at 1:10 AM
It's crazy to hear how many people are driving into this neighborhood recklessly.
Coming up Friday!
The weather looks cold, but dry and sunny. It's a good day to race some cars from 130 years ago.
The weather looks cold, but dry and sunny. It's a good day to race some cars from 130 years ago.
I'll be putting on a bike ride for Black Friday, along a route that closely follows the course of the first-ever automobile race on its 130th anniversary.
11/28/25 at 10am, starting at the Thomas Garrigue Masaryk Monument at 59th/Dorchester.
More details: ridewithgps.com/routes/53085...
11/28/25 at 10am, starting at the Thomas Garrigue Masaryk Monument at 59th/Dorchester.
More details: ridewithgps.com/routes/53085...
November 27, 2025 at 12:13 AM
Coming up Friday!
The weather looks cold, but dry and sunny. It's a good day to race some cars from 130 years ago.
The weather looks cold, but dry and sunny. It's a good day to race some cars from 130 years ago.
The most important way to have a conversation about gentrification is to ask whether you are talking about cultural gentrification or financial gentrification. They are not the same, but they are often interchanged.
There are a lot of people who seem to think gentrification is an aesthetic & not a property relation. My pottery teacher insinuated that my house was gentrification & I’m like bitch how can you gentrify an abandoned horse track?? Who am I displacing, a jockey’s ghost??
November 27, 2025 at 12:04 AM
The most important way to have a conversation about gentrification is to ask whether you are talking about cultural gentrification or financial gentrification. They are not the same, but they are often interchanged.
Reposted
The bus is the only casual place I know of to show off your 4-labubu fashion statement to strangers.
November 26, 2025 at 11:38 PM
The bus is the only casual place I know of to show off your 4-labubu fashion statement to strangers.