Andy Fenelon
@andyfenelon.bsky.social
Minneapolis transit rider. Associate Professor University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. Interested in housing, health, public policy, and coffee.
Reposted by Andy Fenelon
I moved to Minnesota in June 2023 during a day when the air smelled like a campfire. When I’ve asked longtime Minnesotans about the increasingly severe smoke during our summers, they all say it was never a problem until a few years ago. And wow, this graph has got the receipts.
November 14, 2025 at 9:17 PM
I moved to Minnesota in June 2023 during a day when the air smelled like a campfire. When I’ve asked longtime Minnesotans about the increasingly severe smoke during our summers, they all say it was never a problem until a few years ago. And wow, this graph has got the receipts.
Just occurred to me: Fall has the same hours of daylight as Winter, and Spring has the same hours of daylight as Summer
November 3, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Just occurred to me: Fall has the same hours of daylight as Winter, and Spring has the same hours of daylight as Summer
Trend that seems like it would have a simple explanation, but I'm not sure does - pedestrian deaths among US children:
1970 - ~2,400 deaths (4.2/100K)
1990 - ~950 deaths (1.8.100K)
2005 - ~380 deaths (0.6/100K)
2023 - ~260 deaths (0.4/100K)
1970 - ~2,400 deaths (4.2/100K)
1990 - ~950 deaths (1.8.100K)
2005 - ~380 deaths (0.6/100K)
2023 - ~260 deaths (0.4/100K)
October 30, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Trend that seems like it would have a simple explanation, but I'm not sure does - pedestrian deaths among US children:
1970 - ~2,400 deaths (4.2/100K)
1990 - ~950 deaths (1.8.100K)
2005 - ~380 deaths (0.6/100K)
2023 - ~260 deaths (0.4/100K)
1970 - ~2,400 deaths (4.2/100K)
1990 - ~950 deaths (1.8.100K)
2005 - ~380 deaths (0.6/100K)
2023 - ~260 deaths (0.4/100K)
This is great - the federal government supports both homeowners and renters. But support for low-income renters through rental assistance is a direct expenditure always on the budget chopping block.
In contrast the homeowner support is hidden in the tax code and people think it's just the default.
In contrast the homeowner support is hidden in the tax code and people think it's just the default.
Think federal government housing aid is focused on low-income families & largely funded by the Department of Housing & Urban Development?
Think again.
In new work @urbaninstitute.bsky.social, we provide a comprehensive account of the US government's many housing supports, which go far beyond HUD 🏘️
Think again.
In new work @urbaninstitute.bsky.social, we provide a comprehensive account of the US government's many housing supports, which go far beyond HUD 🏘️
How Does the Federal Government Support Housing?
The federal government supports the US housing market through dozens of initiatives administered by several agencies—in total, spending hundreds of billions …
www.urban.org
October 29, 2025 at 6:08 PM
This is great - the federal government supports both homeowners and renters. But support for low-income renters through rental assistance is a direct expenditure always on the budget chopping block.
In contrast the homeowner support is hidden in the tax code and people think it's just the default.
In contrast the homeowner support is hidden in the tax code and people think it's just the default.
The coveted 60 degree bike commute during peak foliage.
October 28, 2025 at 4:15 PM
The coveted 60 degree bike commute during peak foliage.
Flagship state universities with urban campuses in large cities*
HI CA WA AZ NM NE TX MN OH KY
Flagships that are in the state’s largest city:
WA HI UT NM MN OH VT
Did not expect it to skew so heavily west of the Mississippi
*subjective
HI CA WA AZ NM NE TX MN OH KY
Flagships that are in the state’s largest city:
WA HI UT NM MN OH VT
Did not expect it to skew so heavily west of the Mississippi
*subjective
October 17, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Flagship state universities with urban campuses in large cities*
HI CA WA AZ NM NE TX MN OH KY
Flagships that are in the state’s largest city:
WA HI UT NM MN OH VT
Did not expect it to skew so heavily west of the Mississippi
*subjective
HI CA WA AZ NM NE TX MN OH KY
Flagships that are in the state’s largest city:
WA HI UT NM MN OH VT
Did not expect it to skew so heavily west of the Mississippi
*subjective
A list of reasons for this in order of importance:
1. Even density. Few high-density neighborhood centers.
2. Streetcar corners. Fewer long main drags.
3. Ease of parking. You’d think this would be #1, but it’s downstream of 1 and 2
4. Winter (minor)
But I think we have the bones for walkabillity
1. Even density. Few high-density neighborhood centers.
2. Streetcar corners. Fewer long main drags.
3. Ease of parking. You’d think this would be #1, but it’s downstream of 1 and 2
4. Winter (minor)
But I think we have the bones for walkabillity
…it is really shocking how there is almost no culture of walking to things here compared to a lot of MSP’s peer cities. Whether people here drive, bike, or take transit, almost everyone seems to consider it a major inconvenience to have to walk more than two blocks on either end.
October 12, 2025 at 2:38 PM
A list of reasons for this in order of importance:
1. Even density. Few high-density neighborhood centers.
2. Streetcar corners. Fewer long main drags.
3. Ease of parking. You’d think this would be #1, but it’s downstream of 1 and 2
4. Winter (minor)
But I think we have the bones for walkabillity
1. Even density. Few high-density neighborhood centers.
2. Streetcar corners. Fewer long main drags.
3. Ease of parking. You’d think this would be #1, but it’s downstream of 1 and 2
4. Winter (minor)
But I think we have the bones for walkabillity
Reposted by Andy Fenelon
Was in Northeast by the river and North Loop and both were *hopping*. It’s like I say about Uptown: it was once an epicenter but if you look at all the new smaller epicenters that have sprung up in the last 15 years, it explains a lot of the falloff beyond “someone fucked something up.”
Just took a rare weekend walk across downtown Minneapolis because the light rail stations are all closed after US Bank Stadium and I truly cannot comprehend why anyone would want to live downtown. Absolute dead zone.
September 28, 2025 at 12:47 AM
Was in Northeast by the river and North Loop and both were *hopping*. It’s like I say about Uptown: it was once an epicenter but if you look at all the new smaller epicenters that have sprung up in the last 15 years, it explains a lot of the falloff beyond “someone fucked something up.”
This weekend, my son and I took the B-Line to Downtown St. Paul to the Science Museum. It took about 40 min from Nicollet.
On the way back we took the Green Line. To my surprise, it took about the same amount of time - 43 minutes to downtown MPLS.
Why? The Green Line waited at several red lights.
On the way back we took the Green Line. To my surprise, it took about the same amount of time - 43 minutes to downtown MPLS.
Why? The Green Line waited at several red lights.
September 23, 2025 at 7:07 PM
This weekend, my son and I took the B-Line to Downtown St. Paul to the Science Museum. It took about 40 min from Nicollet.
On the way back we took the Green Line. To my surprise, it took about the same amount of time - 43 minutes to downtown MPLS.
Why? The Green Line waited at several red lights.
On the way back we took the Green Line. To my surprise, it took about the same amount of time - 43 minutes to downtown MPLS.
Why? The Green Line waited at several red lights.
Reposted by Andy Fenelon
We in Minnesota have not shrugged and moved on. And we in Minneapolis are still reeling from the school shooting at Annunciation, which I assume is already long gone from the news cycle. America.
For everyone saying political violence has no place in this country…
Remember two Democratic legislators were shot in Minnesota just this year.
And America shrugged and moved on.
Remember two Democratic legislators were shot in Minnesota just this year.
And America shrugged and moved on.
September 10, 2025 at 9:05 PM
We in Minnesota have not shrugged and moved on. And we in Minneapolis are still reeling from the school shooting at Annunciation, which I assume is already long gone from the news cycle. America.
Circling back on this, I think I’m vindicated! Attendance this year topped both 2024 and 2023 despite only one record day and rising entry fees. The beautiful weather just spread it out.
www.mnstatefair.org/about/attend...
www.mnstatefair.org/about/attend...
September 3, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Circling back on this, I think I’m vindicated! Attendance this year topped both 2024 and 2023 despite only one record day and rising entry fees. The beautiful weather just spread it out.
www.mnstatefair.org/about/attend...
www.mnstatefair.org/about/attend...
Reposted by Andy Fenelon
But seriously Portland Airport, what is up with this signage?!?!
August 30, 2025 at 12:59 PM
But seriously Portland Airport, what is up with this signage?!?!
Granted I’m often an over enthusiastic booster of the cities, but I wonder if MSP has underlying structural characteristics that hinder a transit recovery. More job sprawl, more remote-potential jobs, cheaper parking? I don’t know, I just don’t want to quickly lay this at the feet of metro transit.
“The falloff was largely driven by a drop in light-rail ridership, down about 15% from last year.” www.startribune.com/metro-transi...
Twin Cities transit ridership still struggling post-pandemic, lags behind most major cities
Ridership fell during the pandemic, and it’s still roughly half of what it once was in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. It’s bouncing back faster elsewhere.
www.startribune.com
August 21, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Granted I’m often an over enthusiastic booster of the cities, but I wonder if MSP has underlying structural characteristics that hinder a transit recovery. More job sprawl, more remote-potential jobs, cheaper parking? I don’t know, I just don’t want to quickly lay this at the feet of metro transit.
Three South Minneapolis public schools of the past that closed and are now housing.
1. Louis Agassiz - 38th and Harriet. Closed in 1981 after sustaining tornado damage. Now the site of a few dozen townhouses.
1. Louis Agassiz - 38th and Harriet. Closed in 1981 after sustaining tornado damage. Now the site of a few dozen townhouses.
August 16, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Three South Minneapolis public schools of the past that closed and are now housing.
1. Louis Agassiz - 38th and Harriet. Closed in 1981 after sustaining tornado damage. Now the site of a few dozen townhouses.
1. Louis Agassiz - 38th and Harriet. Closed in 1981 after sustaining tornado damage. Now the site of a few dozen townhouses.
The Berry Budget! Berries happen to be the only food at the union of ‘healthy’ and ‘things kids will reliably eat’
among the many things they don’t tell you about having kids is the amount of money you will shell out to buy various berries
July 20, 2025 at 10:14 PM
The Berry Budget! Berries happen to be the only food at the union of ‘healthy’ and ‘things kids will reliably eat’
Milwaukee Ave. Minneapolis. More pedestrian streets!
July 10, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Milwaukee Ave. Minneapolis. More pedestrian streets!
“Seemingly every diverse cultural facet in the city can be found riding the B Line, and it’s the kind of thing that makes you fall in love with cosmopolitanism.”
Beautifully said by @blindeke.bsky.social
www.minnpost.com/cityscape/20...
Beautifully said by @blindeke.bsky.social
www.minnpost.com/cityscape/20...
New B and Green Lines illustrate possibility for bus rapid transit
The costly BRT lines that debuted in the Twin Cities over the past two months could not be more different.
www.minnpost.com
June 26, 2025 at 1:19 AM
“Seemingly every diverse cultural facet in the city can be found riding the B Line, and it’s the kind of thing that makes you fall in love with cosmopolitanism.”
Beautifully said by @blindeke.bsky.social
www.minnpost.com/cityscape/20...
Beautifully said by @blindeke.bsky.social
www.minnpost.com/cityscape/20...
A reprise: some insights after 2 years in Minneapolis.
1. As a Minneapolis and Minnesota booster, I appreciate the local spirit and enthusiasm. But I can see how it would get tiresome. However, I think knowing nothing about Minneapolis is far more common than being annoyed at the boosterism.
1. As a Minneapolis and Minnesota booster, I appreciate the local spirit and enthusiasm. But I can see how it would get tiresome. However, I think knowing nothing about Minneapolis is far more common than being annoyed at the boosterism.
June 25, 2025 at 3:43 PM
A reprise: some insights after 2 years in Minneapolis.
1. As a Minneapolis and Minnesota booster, I appreciate the local spirit and enthusiasm. But I can see how it would get tiresome. However, I think knowing nothing about Minneapolis is far more common than being annoyed at the boosterism.
1. As a Minneapolis and Minnesota booster, I appreciate the local spirit and enthusiasm. But I can see how it would get tiresome. However, I think knowing nothing about Minneapolis is far more common than being annoyed at the boosterism.
Some lakes are great. This one is Superior
June 17, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Some lakes are great. This one is Superior
Ordinarily I think people overreact about weather, but a tornado in South Minneapolis isn’t unheard of
www.dnr.state.mn.us/climate/jour...
www.dnr.state.mn.us/climate/jour...
The Har Mar Tornado: June 14, 1981
www.dnr.state.mn.us
May 15, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Ordinarily I think people overreact about weather, but a tornado in South Minneapolis isn’t unheard of
www.dnr.state.mn.us/climate/jour...
www.dnr.state.mn.us/climate/jour...
Reposted by Andy Fenelon
We had a little protest of UMN faculty and researchers to raise awareness of what this administration is doing to science and universities.
Apparently lots of students have no clue. We’ve gotta break through our information bubbles and get the word out to the youngins’.
Apparently lots of students have no clue. We’ve gotta break through our information bubbles and get the word out to the youngins’.
May 5, 2025 at 7:36 PM
We had a little protest of UMN faculty and researchers to raise awareness of what this administration is doing to science and universities.
Apparently lots of students have no clue. We’ve gotta break through our information bubbles and get the word out to the youngins’.
Apparently lots of students have no clue. We’ve gotta break through our information bubbles and get the word out to the youngins’.
Great piece about the state of the Washington Avenue Bridge. We need to fix it. This should be one of the most stunning places on campus, but right now it's not. And a security guard sits in a running car at one end 24 hours a day.
Also a photo by @evanrobertsnz.bsky.social
Also a photo by @evanrobertsnz.bsky.social
I wrote about the need for safety fencing on the Washington Avenue Bridge. The legislature has a chance to fix this now, and they should. www.minnpost.com/cityscape/20...
Why a Washington Avenue Bridge fix should be a legislative priority
Addressing the neglected link between the two sides of the University of Minnesota campus would fix an eyesore and could save lives.
www.minnpost.com
April 29, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Great piece about the state of the Washington Avenue Bridge. We need to fix it. This should be one of the most stunning places on campus, but right now it's not. And a security guard sits in a running car at one end 24 hours a day.
Also a photo by @evanrobertsnz.bsky.social
Also a photo by @evanrobertsnz.bsky.social
Pretty ridiculous April Fools joke here
April 1, 2025 at 11:24 PM
Pretty ridiculous April Fools joke here
43rd and Nicollet is really becoming a South Minneapolis destination. What it really needs now is a stoplight or 4-way stop
www.startribune.com/steven-brown...
www.startribune.com/steven-brown...
Celebrated chef plans ‘really cool’ woodfire pizza restaurant in south Minneapolis
Steven Brown plans an intimate setting, urban courtyard and maybe a mirror ball oven for Marrone’s.
www.startribune.com
March 30, 2025 at 7:25 PM
43rd and Nicollet is really becoming a South Minneapolis destination. What it really needs now is a stoplight or 4-way stop
www.startribune.com/steven-brown...
www.startribune.com/steven-brown...