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Ryan Packer

@typewriteralley.bsky.social

10K followers 420 following 6.5K posts

Pedestrian Reporting at The Urbanist as Contributing Editor Transportation advocate Probably covering a random public meeting (they-them) 📍Puget Sound https://www.patreon.com/typewriteralley

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Ryan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · Nov 24

Hi new followers-
Several years ago I decided to start documenting how regularly people in my city of Seattle were getting hurt while trying to get around via walking or biking, in as close to real-time as possible.

In response to consistent feedback I'm going to continue on this platform.

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Ryan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · 27m

Get used to seeing that Bruce Harrell TV ad: the PAC that paid for it to be produced just reported spending nearly $700,000 to run ads through election day.

10/13/25 10/13/25 CERILLION N4 PARTNERS
1326 5TH AVE STE 334
SEATTLE, WA 98101
TELEVISION ADS 10/13-11/4 $683,855.00
10/13/25 10/15/25 CERILLION N4 PARTNERS
1326 5TH AVE STE 334
SEATTLE, WA 98101
NEWSPAPER AD 10/15 AND 10/29 $11,834.00

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Ryan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · 57m

We've had two libraries on that same site, a 1960s modernist building and a 1906 Carnegie that was reportedly very cramped as the city grew.

Modernist library building surrounded by 1960s cars. The library included a drive through book drop and a parking lot

Carnegie library that resembles the 42nd Street branch in New York City

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Ryan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · 1h

Sometimes it really comes in handy that a county councilmember used to be on the city council.

Fix the L8 @fixthel8.bsky.social · 2h

Thank you for your support, @cmtmosqueda.bsky.social!

Page 1 of letter from Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda in support of bus lanes on Denny Way

Page 2 of letter from Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda in support of bus lanes on Denny Way

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Ryan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · 1h

Sometimes I remember there are folks who don't like Seattle's central library. It is a little hard for me to wrap my head around.

View of teen area at the library from floor five

Living room stacks with windows behind flooded with light

Internal shaft of the building with light filtering through

View of the teen area from the living room closer to fifth avenue

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Ryan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · 1h

SDOT plans to make improvements to Occidental Ave in advance of the World Cup, but we definitely can't change parking on the street, so we're going to get a "walkway" between the road and parked cars.

Graphic showing cars parked on Occidental facing the buildings with the location of a "walkway test" between the road and the cars

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Ryan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · 4h

Kirkland will just need to put something on the ballot for a special election...

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Ryan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · 4h

After an automatic update, Wordpress now has an option to "generate an image" when I'm working on a news story and it makes me want to throw something across the room every single time I almost click on that button.

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Ryan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · 5h

Yes, that's the date for full wire coverage.

Ryan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · 5h

Washington really representing here!

Parking Reform Network @parkingreform.org · 6h

So far in 2025, 11 cities have clearly signaled that the era of mandatory parking is coming to an end! 🎉

parkingreform.org/mandates-map/

A table titled "Cities That Abolished Parking Mandates in 2025". It lists cities and the dates they removed mandatory parking requirements. The cities are Toledo, OH (Sep 9); Oak Forest, IL (Aug 26); Shoreline, WA (Aug 11); Denver, CO (Aug 5); Boulder, CO (Jul 24); Botnell, WA (Jul 8); Bremerton, WA (Jun 4); Fairview, OR (Jun 4); Franklin, WI (May 6); Fitchburg, WI (Apr 8); and Sherbrooke, QC (Apr 8).

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Ryan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · 6h

We have such a robust commitment to maintaining infrastructure that we're spending $1 billion less than we should be spending every single year, and spending that money on highway widening instead.

Gov. Bob Ferguson @governorferguson.bsky.social · 7h

Reopening this bridge reflects our continued commitment to maintaining safe, reliable infrastructure across Washington.

Thank you to the teams who worked hard to quickly restore this vital connection for the region.

SR 169 Green River bridge south of Black Diamond reopens following repairs

The State Route 169 Green River Dan Evans Bridge reopened to two-way traffic Tuesday morning after repairs were completed.

komonews.com

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Ryan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · 7h

The problem with starting services like this as a "pilot" is that pulling the plug is going to be unpopular, even if Metro could be providing more cost-efficient transit service in the area. Could $600,000 add a fixed route bus in Juanita or boost existing frequencies?

Ryan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · 7h

At current usage levels, the Metro Flex zone in Juanita costs $49 per ride, which is double the cost of Metro Flex boardings in Seattle's Rainier Valley.

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Ryan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · 7h

King County had been planning to phase out service in its lowest-performing microtransit service area, in Kirkland's Juanita and Finn Hill.

But CM Rod Dembowski wants to continue this service, started as a pilot, using $600,000 in county funds.

Map showing the Metro flex area in Juanita

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Ryan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · 8h

As mentioned in the piece, Metro is looking into this specifically for the 12.

Reposted by Ryan Packer

Jarrett Walker @humantransit.bsky.social · 8h

Seattle's transit agency is pivoting away from battery electric buses, and looking to reinvest in a well-tested technology: trolleybuses. www.theurbanist.org/2025/10/13/m...

Metro Plans Trolleybus Investments, with Long Implementation Timelines » The Urbanist

# After pivoting away from an aggressive schedule for battery-bus adoption, King County Metro plans to focus attention on the tried-and-true trolley network. But limited staff, delays obtaining materi...

www.theurbanist.org

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Ryan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · 19h

An affordable housing project in Bainbridge Island is getting delayed for weeks if not months due to an appeal of a DNS; will this get appealed?

Andy Randles @andyrandles.bsky.social · 20h

What is even the purpose of SEPA if a 594-stall parking garage is able to receive a "determination of non-significance"
www.djc.com/news/ae/1217...

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Ryan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · 20h

Working on one now!

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Ryan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · 20h

But I think the most surreal question was one that assumed a Sound Transit 4 measure would go to voters in four years.

Creative imaginations over in Kirkland.

Ryan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · 20h

Other things I learned at the forum: Kirkland came within one vote at council from "eliminating residential zoning" and that the current Kirkland council is on a path to creating "intense urban density" everywhere within city limits.

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Ryan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · 20h

Another flawed set of questions involved the La Quinta Inn, which King County is converting to permanent supportive housing.

Moderator Rick Van Cise's question framed a similar facility in Bellevue as a hotbed of crime & drug use, when in fact crime is down around Plymouth Crossing since it opened.

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Ryan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · 20h

Just sat through a two hour city council forum in Kirkland hosted by the Houghton Neighborhood Association, where a retired TV host asked questions that assumed things like "the majority" of nearby residents don't want bus lanes or buildings taller than three stories near them.

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Ryan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · 23h

What are we "taking Kirkland back" from, Ken?

Yard sign for Ken MacKenzie in Kirkland that reads "Take Kirkland Back"

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Reposted by Ryan Packer

Stephen Jackson @fortyoddcrows.bsky.social · 23h

Happy Indigenous Peoples’ Day! Please spend a little time with these stunning images by Matika Wilbur of Project 562, accompanied by the stories of the people portrayed. www.project562.com/11397500-gal...

562 Gallery - Project 562

562 Gallery on Project 562

www.project562.com

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Ryan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · 1d

Story: Sound Transit is increasing its property tax levy next year by 1%, something that happens every year and isn't even close to keeping up with inflation, while the actual assessed levy rate is set to go DOWN.

Headline: "Sound Transit weighs property-tax hike"

www.king5.com/article/news...

Sound Transit weighs property-tax hike to ease $30 billion shortfall

The agency’s financial planners say the increase would help maintain construction timelines for the planned system extension.

www.king5.com

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Ryan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · 1d

FYI: A stalled train between Beacon Hill and Mount Baker is causing delays up and down the 1 Line.

Alert dated 9:46am states that 1 Line trains are sharing one track between Beacon Hill and Mount Baker

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