Amy "rides an ebike" Zaiss
@thewildamy.bsky.social
you never give me your money, you only give me your funny paper
📍 Pittsburgh
📍 Pittsburgh
Pinned
Living car free 2024 transportation expenses:
eBike costs (I upgraded my ride!): $1,126.60
PRT and public transit: $617.50
Lyft: $138.65
Buying gas for people who drive me around: $229.30
Amtrak: $123
Total = $2,235.05
eBike costs (I upgraded my ride!): $1,126.60
PRT and public transit: $617.50
Lyft: $138.65
Buying gas for people who drive me around: $229.30
Amtrak: $123
Total = $2,235.05
Reposted by Amy "rides an ebike" Zaiss
I am looking respectfully at the lady cyclist who is noted for her athletic power
November 22, 2025 at 10:09 PM
I am looking respectfully at the lady cyclist who is noted for her athletic power
Spent my birthday doing all the nerdy things I love 🥰 went to a PRT board meeting, then visited the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum with my partner.
November 22, 2025 at 1:22 AM
Spent my birthday doing all the nerdy things I love 🥰 went to a PRT board meeting, then visited the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum with my partner.
Reposted by Amy "rides an ebike" Zaiss
It's not that people "hate" free fares. It's that people who believe in making transit a more reliable and quick option for more people recognize that in a resource-constrained context, every dollar spent to make fares free is a dollar that's not being used to improve the system
November 20, 2025 at 5:50 PM
It's not that people "hate" free fares. It's that people who believe in making transit a more reliable and quick option for more people recognize that in a resource-constrained context, every dollar spent to make fares free is a dollar that's not being used to improve the system
Reposted by Amy "rides an ebike" Zaiss
our local director of planning thinks it's trumpian to suggest that we should maybe not have so many local 'community organizations' who give nimbys a platform to oppose new housing and any impediments to driving archive.ph/fToKN
archive.ph
November 11, 2025 at 6:44 PM
our local director of planning thinks it's trumpian to suggest that we should maybe not have so many local 'community organizations' who give nimbys a platform to oppose new housing and any impediments to driving archive.ph/fToKN
Want to know more about Pittsburgh housing? Follow along at @prohousingpgh.org !
Though the housing market has tempered since the frenetic days of 2020, prices remain relentlessly high; the U.S. median topped $410,800 in the second quarter, a more than 50 percent climb in five years.
It’s $229,000 in the greater Pittsburgh area.
It’s $229,000 in the greater Pittsburgh area.
How this major city became one of America’s most affordable for homebuyers
While there are many yardsticks for calculating housing affordability, the western Pennsylvania city stands out as uniquely livable.
wapo.st
November 11, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Want to know more about Pittsburgh housing? Follow along at @prohousingpgh.org !
Reposted by Amy "rides an ebike" Zaiss
We need to build more homes in the places people want to live.
Though the housing market has tempered since the frenetic days of 2020, prices remain relentlessly high; the U.S. median topped $410,800 in the second quarter, a more than 50 percent climb in five years.
It’s $229,000 in the greater Pittsburgh area.
It’s $229,000 in the greater Pittsburgh area.
How this major city became one of America’s most affordable for homebuyers
While there are many yardsticks for calculating housing affordability, the western Pennsylvania city stands out as uniquely livable.
wapo.st
November 11, 2025 at 6:01 PM
We need to build more homes in the places people want to live.
Reposted by Amy "rides an ebike" Zaiss
So it turns out... the US air travel system was incredibly, deeply dependent on federal funding to just run day-to-day all this time, to the benefit of private airline shareholders, when everyone thinks that state-run trains are leeching off the government. Weird!
November 9, 2025 at 12:10 AM
So it turns out... the US air travel system was incredibly, deeply dependent on federal funding to just run day-to-day all this time, to the benefit of private airline shareholders, when everyone thinks that state-run trains are leeching off the government. Weird!
Reposted by Amy "rides an ebike" Zaiss
It basically always just means "whoever called the planner/council member" and/or "whoever showed up at the 10am Tuesday public hearing." That is to say, people not remotely representative of the broader public.
This is a completely random point, but I’ve never really liked the term “members of the public.” It gets used by city planners & city halls a fair bit. I’ve always thought it sounds odd & kinda begs the question “are there some of the public that aren’t members?”
Anyway, I just say “the public.”
Anyway, I just say “the public.”
November 6, 2025 at 7:39 PM
It basically always just means "whoever called the planner/council member" and/or "whoever showed up at the 10am Tuesday public hearing." That is to say, people not remotely representative of the broader public.
Reposted by Amy "rides an ebike" Zaiss
someone wrote that, someone edited that, someone reported that, someone paid for website hosting, someone copyedited it
if you think a publication is valuable enough to read, consider shelling out the price of a big mac or so per month to read that publication SO THEY CAN KEEP PUBLISHING
if you think a publication is valuable enough to read, consider shelling out the price of a big mac or so per month to read that publication SO THEY CAN KEEP PUBLISHING
October 17, 2025 at 9:32 PM
someone wrote that, someone edited that, someone reported that, someone paid for website hosting, someone copyedited it
if you think a publication is valuable enough to read, consider shelling out the price of a big mac or so per month to read that publication SO THEY CAN KEEP PUBLISHING
if you think a publication is valuable enough to read, consider shelling out the price of a big mac or so per month to read that publication SO THEY CAN KEEP PUBLISHING
I am cautiously hopeful! Read about the latest update on IZ in Pittsburgh from @prohousingpgh.org
www.prohousingpgh.org/blog/afforda...
www.prohousingpgh.org/blog/afforda...
The IZ Compromise — Pro-Housing Pittsburgh
(Update: the amendments to the bill were passed on a 5-4 vote and was then sent to Planning Commission. Pro-Housing Pittsburgh strongly supports the now amended bill.) On Wednesday, October 15th, C...
www.prohousingpgh.org
October 16, 2025 at 1:38 AM
I am cautiously hopeful! Read about the latest update on IZ in Pittsburgh from @prohousingpgh.org
www.prohousingpgh.org/blog/afforda...
www.prohousingpgh.org/blog/afforda...
Reposted by Amy "rides an ebike" Zaiss
Big day for the posting to policy pipeline.
October 10, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Big day for the posting to policy pipeline.
it's a beautiful day to support building housing near transit
Ladies and gentlemen, we did it. SB 79 has been signed.
October 10, 2025 at 5:43 PM
it's a beautiful day to support building housing near transit
What a bewildering update in the fight over IZ in Pittsburgh.... Our outgoing Mayor would rather self-own than accept a compromise on his zoning package www.wesa.fm/politics-gov...
Inclusionary zoning fight erupts in Pittsburgh City Council, dispute with Gainey looms
As Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey’s term enters its final three months, a battle over one of his administration’s signature affordable-housing initiatives — mandatory inclusionary zoning — boiled over in ...
www.wesa.fm
October 9, 2025 at 3:17 PM
What a bewildering update in the fight over IZ in Pittsburgh.... Our outgoing Mayor would rather self-own than accept a compromise on his zoning package www.wesa.fm/politics-gov...
Reposted by Amy "rides an ebike" Zaiss
Electric bicycles, and shared electric bicycles in particular, are a revolutionary transportation technology. Forward-looking cities should be building out the infrastructure necessary to make cycling safe and convenient for everyone who wants to do it.
i recently got a great deal on a barely used folding ebike and i have to say it has revolutionized my train travel. i can get from my front door to the amtrak station in a little less than 5 minutes!!!
October 7, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Electric bicycles, and shared electric bicycles in particular, are a revolutionary transportation technology. Forward-looking cities should be building out the infrastructure necessary to make cycling safe and convenient for everyone who wants to do it.
This is what PRT needs (and lacks) - the ability to raise local fund to allocate specifically to operations, use those funds to expand service in the way riders want, and invest in rider amenities. (The latter here is managed by the city, unfortunately!)
With both the Bengals and Reds floundering on primetime this week, I think my hometown could use some love. So I’m gonna talk about how Cincinnati's humble bus system has achieved ~120% of pre-Covid ridership—the best ridership recovery in the nation.
October 1, 2025 at 5:55 PM
This is what PRT needs (and lacks) - the ability to raise local fund to allocate specifically to operations, use those funds to expand service in the way riders want, and invest in rider amenities. (The latter here is managed by the city, unfortunately!)
Reposted by Amy "rides an ebike" Zaiss
It's a small thing, but very typical that we would build a new $1.7-billion airport terminal (which I support!) in which every piece of the passenger experience is carefully designed and thought out...
...except for the people arriving by bus. Then it's "huh... yeah, they can come too."
...except for the people arriving by bus. Then it's "huh... yeah, they can come too."
Pittsburgh Regional bus stop at new airport terminal could cause confusion - Pittsburgh Union Progress
Pittsburgh International Airport’s new terminal that opens later this year has many elements designed to make things easier or more convenient for travelers. It will eliminate the need to take a light...
www.unionprogress.com
September 26, 2025 at 4:11 PM
It's a small thing, but very typical that we would build a new $1.7-billion airport terminal (which I support!) in which every piece of the passenger experience is carefully designed and thought out...
...except for the people arriving by bus. Then it's "huh... yeah, they can come too."
...except for the people arriving by bus. Then it's "huh... yeah, they can come too."
Reposted by Amy "rides an ebike" Zaiss
The tech reporting we need: exposing how far society subsidizes car and (in the US) especially lethal cars. The tech reporting we have: free parking is a human right, here is a tool to avoid ever paying for the negative externalities of your driving
September 24, 2025 at 6:15 PM
The tech reporting we need: exposing how far society subsidizes car and (in the US) especially lethal cars. The tech reporting we have: free parking is a human right, here is a tool to avoid ever paying for the negative externalities of your driving
Reposted by Amy "rides an ebike" Zaiss
Today is Car-Free Day! It's Car-Free Day! 🚇🚌🚲🚶♂️🚶♀️
People who ride transit walk as much as 30 minutes more daily, increasing heart health, building muscle, & reducing risk of heart disease. Families using transit save about $2,800 annually on rideshare, parking, tolls, & $10,500 on car ownership.
People who ride transit walk as much as 30 minutes more daily, increasing heart health, building muscle, & reducing risk of heart disease. Families using transit save about $2,800 annually on rideshare, parking, tolls, & $10,500 on car ownership.
September 22, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Today is Car-Free Day! It's Car-Free Day! 🚇🚌🚲🚶♂️🚶♀️
People who ride transit walk as much as 30 minutes more daily, increasing heart health, building muscle, & reducing risk of heart disease. Families using transit save about $2,800 annually on rideshare, parking, tolls, & $10,500 on car ownership.
People who ride transit walk as much as 30 minutes more daily, increasing heart health, building muscle, & reducing risk of heart disease. Families using transit save about $2,800 annually on rideshare, parking, tolls, & $10,500 on car ownership.
Seeing the Mon incline overhead as I fly down the Mcardle on my bike feels like being blessed by Pittsburgh ✨
September 22, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Seeing the Mon incline overhead as I fly down the Mcardle on my bike feels like being blessed by Pittsburgh ✨
Reposted by Amy "rides an ebike" Zaiss
“Why does transit seem to be in an endless emergency? Why is it so easy to assume that transit’s financial situation is hopeless? Because we have constructed our transportation funding streams to make transit’s costs visible, while the costs of car dependence are mostly concealed.”
I have a major piece in Bloomberg Citylab today. Should the US let transit fail, as Pennsylvania is already doing? And if not, what are the arguments we need to let it succeed?
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Should We Let Public Transit Die?
Urban-rural hostility is fueling a public transportation crisis in US cities. But demands to abandon bus and train riders ignore the economic and social costs of cutting service.
www.bloomberg.com
September 20, 2025 at 12:49 PM
“Why does transit seem to be in an endless emergency? Why is it so easy to assume that transit’s financial situation is hopeless? Because we have constructed our transportation funding streams to make transit’s costs visible, while the costs of car dependence are mostly concealed.”
👀 mini Amazon delivery vehicle in NYC
September 18, 2025 at 11:18 PM
👀 mini Amazon delivery vehicle in NYC
Reposted by Amy "rides an ebike" Zaiss
Stephanie Pollack, fmr. deputy admin, FHWA: "[YIMBY] redefined what it meant to be a housing expert [...]" it's not about whether you're a real estate developer or a builder-- you're a tenant or a homeowner, which gives you the ability to get involved and make change.
@yimbytown.bsky.social
@yimbytown.bsky.social
September 16, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Stephanie Pollack, fmr. deputy admin, FHWA: "[YIMBY] redefined what it meant to be a housing expert [...]" it's not about whether you're a real estate developer or a builder-- you're a tenant or a homeowner, which gives you the ability to get involved and make change.
@yimbytown.bsky.social
@yimbytown.bsky.social
Maybe at YIMBYtown Pittsburgh 2026?!
Thank you to the 1,000 pro-homes advocates who joined us in New Haven this year. We'll see you next time!
September 18, 2025 at 2:35 AM
Maybe at YIMBYtown Pittsburgh 2026?!
Business owners don't know what's good for them and shouldn't benefit from the improvements (even though they will and I hope they happen!)
September 18, 2025 at 2:24 AM
Business owners don't know what's good for them and shouldn't benefit from the improvements (even though they will and I hope they happen!)
Reposted by Amy "rides an ebike" Zaiss
“It just won’t work,” says guy who runs a winery and has no background in transportation. Everything will be fine, if not improved for all road users. I hope the city stands firm.
September 18, 2025 at 1:40 AM
“It just won’t work,” says guy who runs a winery and has no background in transportation. Everything will be fine, if not improved for all road users. I hope the city stands firm.