Alec
@alecondesbus.bsky.social
Urbanism in Iowa…yeah I know.
Founder of www.momentumdsm.org
Founder of www.momentumdsm.org
Reposted by Alec
It’s frustrating. It was a process intended to stop roughshod highway projects and has been twisted in a pretzel to make transit projects vastly more difficult to achieve while state DOTs get to rubber stamp their own highway environmentals.
January 18, 2026 at 6:14 PM
It’s frustrating. It was a process intended to stop roughshod highway projects and has been twisted in a pretzel to make transit projects vastly more difficult to achieve while state DOTs get to rubber stamp their own highway environmentals.
New transit system unlocked 🔓
January 18, 2026 at 12:43 AM
New transit system unlocked 🔓
Oh darn I’m leaving for Southern California tomorrow guess I’ll have to miss out 🤷♂️
January 17, 2026 at 12:05 AM
Oh darn I’m leaving for Southern California tomorrow guess I’ll have to miss out 🤷♂️
Taking the bus from the Capitol today! (Though was there to talk about water quality not transit)
January 13, 2026 at 3:03 PM
Taking the bus from the Capitol today! (Though was there to talk about water quality not transit)
I was today years old when I learned it was called a Cashtag
January 12, 2026 at 11:40 PM
I was today years old when I learned it was called a Cashtag
Six months from now we will 15 min service frequencies on the weekend.
Until then it’s me yelling at my partner “we HAVE to leave in 5 minutes!”
Until then it’s me yelling at my partner “we HAVE to leave in 5 minutes!”
January 10, 2026 at 9:57 PM
Six months from now we will 15 min service frequencies on the weekend.
Until then it’s me yelling at my partner “we HAVE to leave in 5 minutes!”
Until then it’s me yelling at my partner “we HAVE to leave in 5 minutes!”
Iowa represents 10% of the top 20 lol
Ames still fascinates me. The data is what it is I suppose but I’ve never gotten that level of transit vibes when I’ve been there compared to IC and other college towns. 🤷♂️
Ames still fascinates me. The data is what it is I suppose but I’ve never gotten that level of transit vibes when I’ve been there compared to IC and other college towns. 🤷♂️
Here are the 20 US urban areas that had the highest per-capita transit ridership in 2024.
New York, unsurprisingly, dominated. Among the big urban areas, the other leaders were SF, DC & Boston.
A lot of small towns—like Ames, IA or Champaign, IL—did well, too. That's because they're college towns!
New York, unsurprisingly, dominated. Among the big urban areas, the other leaders were SF, DC & Boston.
A lot of small towns—like Ames, IA or Champaign, IL—did well, too. That's because they're college towns!
January 9, 2026 at 2:44 AM
Iowa represents 10% of the top 20 lol
Ames still fascinates me. The data is what it is I suppose but I’ve never gotten that level of transit vibes when I’ve been there compared to IC and other college towns. 🤷♂️
Ames still fascinates me. The data is what it is I suppose but I’ve never gotten that level of transit vibes when I’ve been there compared to IC and other college towns. 🤷♂️
Maybe they should have made it legal to build more housing…
From 2020-2024 nearly 4% of California's population (in 2020) moved to a new state
January 8, 2026 at 9:05 PM
Maybe they should have made it legal to build more housing…
Down a wiki rabbit hole on the upcoming Winter Olympics and was surprised find out the current IOC President is both a woman and an African born in Harare....and wait...nope nevermind...that tracks
January 4, 2026 at 4:41 PM
Down a wiki rabbit hole on the upcoming Winter Olympics and was surprised find out the current IOC President is both a woman and an African born in Harare....and wait...nope nevermind...that tracks
Seasons Greetings Gillig today. Wish it was 40 feet of greetings instead of 30 foot
January 3, 2026 at 5:42 PM
Seasons Greetings Gillig today. Wish it was 40 feet of greetings instead of 30 foot
My 2025 transit year wrapped 🧵
Honestly a pretty good year
1) Des Moines
Honestly a pretty good year
1) Des Moines
December 31, 2025 at 5:41 PM
My 2025 transit year wrapped 🧵
Honestly a pretty good year
1) Des Moines
Honestly a pretty good year
1) Des Moines
Post a transit selfie from 2025
December 31, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Post a transit selfie from 2025
Ahahahaha
Merle Hay auto mile living up to its name
Merle Hay auto mile living up to its name
Vehicle crashes into Merle Hay Mall sign in Des Moines
Vehicle crashes into Merle Hay Mall sign in Des Moines
A crash damaged a Merle Hay Mall sign Tuesday afternoon.
www.kcci.com
December 23, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Ahahahaha
Merle Hay auto mile living up to its name
Merle Hay auto mile living up to its name
Every boomer environmentalist - “we need to protect and restore our native landscapes from the endless destructive sprawl of mankind”
“Great let’s build more dense housing in our existing urban areas!”
“no…not like that”
“Great let’s build more dense housing in our existing urban areas!”
“no…not like that”
December 20, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Every boomer environmentalist - “we need to protect and restore our native landscapes from the endless destructive sprawl of mankind”
“Great let’s build more dense housing in our existing urban areas!”
“no…not like that”
“Great let’s build more dense housing in our existing urban areas!”
“no…not like that”
I really hope the ferry is still running this summer when we go, I want to ride an Iowa/Wisconsin ferry!
KCCI Investigates: Beloved northeast Iowa landmark, major bridge gets imploded
KCCI Investigates: Beloved northeast Iowa landmark, major bridge gets imploded
The Black Hawk Bridge, first opened in 1931, fell as the Iowa Department of Transportation set explosives and imploded the structure that connects Lansing, Iowa, to Clarke County, Wisconsin.
www.kcci.com
December 20, 2025 at 7:20 PM
I really hope the ferry is still running this summer when we go, I want to ride an Iowa/Wisconsin ferry!
My transit app wrapped was better than I expected considering I rarely use GO, need to work on that going forward
December 13, 2025 at 6:58 PM
My transit app wrapped was better than I expected considering I rarely use GO, need to work on that going forward
Since @dieworkwear.bsky.social is talking about where to move to instead of Aplington Iowa, let's talk about a couple towns where you should move to if you were moving to small town Iowa. (hint: it's not Aplington)
If you want to do something like this, why not buy a $150k home in a small town in Italy, France, Spain, or Mexico, instead of having nine people share one bathroom after they eat at a restaurant called "Stinky's?"
December 13, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Since @dieworkwear.bsky.social is talking about where to move to instead of Aplington Iowa, let's talk about a couple towns where you should move to if you were moving to small town Iowa. (hint: it's not Aplington)
Small sample size but the geographic concentration of the replies is pretty interesting
What city do you think has the worst transit agency for its size?
December 12, 2025 at 12:46 PM
Small sample size but the geographic concentration of the replies is pretty interesting
Go Cubs go! ⚾️
The Chicago Cubs got a permit to "install safety bollards along the perimeter of the stadium including fixed, removable, & operable bollards". Learn more about the project 🚘 buff.ly/wy1fJwC
December 11, 2025 at 11:20 PM
Go Cubs go! ⚾️
I realize it’s probably a non starter but what’s the discourse like around property tax exemptions for non-profits? Seems like ultimately bad policy but not even sure where reforms would need to happen
Here is $340,000 gone because the postal service decides to purchase its building in Des Moines.
Here is $340,000 gone because the postal service decides to purchase its building in Des Moines.
December 10, 2025 at 2:11 PM
I realize it’s probably a non starter but what’s the discourse like around property tax exemptions for non-profits? Seems like ultimately bad policy but not even sure where reforms would need to happen
Here is $340,000 gone because the postal service decides to purchase its building in Des Moines.
Here is $340,000 gone because the postal service decides to purchase its building in Des Moines.
We hosted a Transit Crawl in Des Moines Iowa this weekend. It snowed. It was fun. 🚌
December 10, 2025 at 1:08 AM
We hosted a Transit Crawl in Des Moines Iowa this weekend. It snowed. It was fun. 🚌
Eff it I’ll say it. I’m simply, having, a wonderful Christmas time
December 7, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Eff it I’ll say it. I’m simply, having, a wonderful Christmas time
My bike share ride home at the end of the night was actually quite pretty ❄️…also pretty dangerous almost ate it several times
December 7, 2025 at 5:20 PM
My bike share ride home at the end of the night was actually quite pretty ❄️…also pretty dangerous almost ate it several times
Reposted by Alec
(The point is that we rely too heavily on traffic signals instead of other intersection designs.)
December 7, 2025 at 4:36 PM
(The point is that we rely too heavily on traffic signals instead of other intersection designs.)
Cheers to Canada for opening up both the best and worst new transit projects on the continent within weeks of each other. Truly a country of contrasts 🇨🇦
December 7, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Cheers to Canada for opening up both the best and worst new transit projects on the continent within weeks of each other. Truly a country of contrasts 🇨🇦