Ben S
@bensh3.bsky.social
Transit planning & geospatial analysis
Ed Bacon fan | 平均地权 upholder | Philadelphia maneto
Posts are mine only and don't reflect anyone else
Ed Bacon fan | 平均地权 upholder | Philadelphia maneto
Posts are mine only and don't reflect anyone else
The lack of desirability is a bad thing, sorry! It means that more renters will not ultimately want to stay in Philly
January 4, 2026 at 5:11 PM
The lack of desirability is a bad thing, sorry! It means that more renters will not ultimately want to stay in Philly
Reposted by Ben S
"A city that values the pursuits that create beauty and community, whether or not they ever turn into careers. A city that thinks you should have time to read a book and lay on the grass looking up at the clouds." -Katie Wilson
January 2, 2026 at 9:36 PM
"A city that values the pursuits that create beauty and community, whether or not they ever turn into careers. A city that thinks you should have time to read a book and lay on the grass looking up at the clouds." -Katie Wilson
Reposted by Ben S
NEW: Mayor Mamdani chose the third full day of his tenure to announce that he will complete the full safety redesign of deadly McGuinness Boulevard in Greenpoint — a project that was created under Mayor Bill de Blasio, but watered down by Mayor Adams in a corruption scandal. buff.ly/T2rESWz
Mamdani Announces Full McGuinness Road Diet, Finishing a Job Halted by Adams - Streetsblog New York City
Mayor Mamdani chose the third full day of his tenure to announce that he will complete the full safety redesign of deadly McGuinness Boulevard in Greenpoint — a project that was created under Mayor…
nyc.streetsblog.org
January 3, 2026 at 11:12 PM
NEW: Mayor Mamdani chose the third full day of his tenure to announce that he will complete the full safety redesign of deadly McGuinness Boulevard in Greenpoint — a project that was created under Mayor Bill de Blasio, but watered down by Mayor Adams in a corruption scandal. buff.ly/T2rESWz
Reposted by Ben S
Wait a minute, if I’m reading this correctly, the US didn’t do regime change in Venezuela, but instead, we helped the army-connected VP stage a coup???
January 3, 2026 at 8:36 PM
Wait a minute, if I’m reading this correctly, the US didn’t do regime change in Venezuela, but instead, we helped the army-connected VP stage a coup???
Reposted by Ben S
this admin is profoundly and absolutely detached from reality, in a directly internet and slop-enabled way that I do think is genuinely unique in history.
Yeah uhhhhhh I'm not sure there's any precedent at all for a war that literally just didn't have public buy-in, or a material effort at generating same? In like, all of American history??
January 3, 2026 at 7:27 AM
this admin is profoundly and absolutely detached from reality, in a directly internet and slop-enabled way that I do think is genuinely unique in history.
Reposted by Ben S
There's your Nobel Peace Prize winner, btw. Hats off to everyone involved. Great job.
January 3, 2026 at 10:03 AM
There's your Nobel Peace Prize winner, btw. Hats off to everyone involved. Great job.
"Attorney General Matt Platkin expressed disapproval over the position’s high salary last month, noting that Gloucester’s County administrator was making more than the governor, whose salary is $175,000 and will raise to $210,000 this year when Sherrill takes office."
Former New Jersey Senate President Steve Sweeney, who came in last in the Democratic primary for governor, is expected to be appointed as Gloucester County administrator Friday night.
Steve Sweeney could be paid up to $287K in new Gloucester County job he’s expected to be appointed to Friday night
www.inquirer.com
January 3, 2026 at 3:36 AM
"Attorney General Matt Platkin expressed disapproval over the position’s high salary last month, noting that Gloucester’s County administrator was making more than the governor, whose salary is $175,000 and will raise to $210,000 this year when Sherrill takes office."
For the Philly comparison, it's like applying CMX-2 citywide but at a manageable 42 ft instead of a punishing 38 ft (increased through IH)
January 2, 2026 at 8:43 PM
For the Philly comparison, it's like applying CMX-2 citywide but at a manageable 42 ft instead of a punishing 38 ft (increased through IH)
Reposted by Ben S
Nice restoration and re-exhibition story
Article has images of the mural in its original home in WSFS in Wilmington ca. 1932 and ads which used parts of it
share.inquirer.com/rbPuWN
Article has images of the mural in its original home in WSFS in Wilmington ca. 1932 and ads which used parts of it
share.inquirer.com/rbPuWN
A colossal 1932 N.C. Wyeth mural is reborn
Packed away in 2007, a 60 feet long and 19 feet high mural has been brought back to life and given a swanky new home in Wilmington.
share.inquirer.com
January 2, 2026 at 5:39 PM
Nice restoration and re-exhibition story
Article has images of the mural in its original home in WSFS in Wilmington ca. 1932 and ads which used parts of it
share.inquirer.com/rbPuWN
Article has images of the mural in its original home in WSFS in Wilmington ca. 1932 and ads which used parts of it
share.inquirer.com/rbPuWN
Reposted by Ben S
FTA's mandate that all National Transit Database reporters have static GTFS feeds was a huge step forward, as it really pushed operators to adopt more modern timetabling systems.
Mobile ticketing was also a huge step foward. Masabi, Bytemark, Token Transit have really made it easy and affordable.
Mobile ticketing was also a huge step foward. Masabi, Bytemark, Token Transit have really made it easy and affordable.
Now, with passenger info systems, real time arrival information, and trip planning apps, riding buses is far easier and more approachable than it's ever been in my lifetime.
We're finally seeming to leave behind the era when riding a local bus system meant having to be a master of arcane knowledge.
We're finally seeming to leave behind the era when riding a local bus system meant having to be a master of arcane knowledge.
January 2, 2026 at 3:40 PM
FTA's mandate that all National Transit Database reporters have static GTFS feeds was a huge step forward, as it really pushed operators to adopt more modern timetabling systems.
Mobile ticketing was also a huge step foward. Masabi, Bytemark, Token Transit have really made it easy and affordable.
Mobile ticketing was also a huge step foward. Masabi, Bytemark, Token Transit have really made it easy and affordable.
Really depends: if the peak route demand is not higher than 14 seats/vehicle, then a CDL is not required, and a specialized AV is probably not worth the cost. The niche is at 20-30 seat vehicles, beyond which AV is not yet possible for 40-ft bus maneuverability
🧵(1/2) Spotted a Beep AV Shuttle in DC. I believe these have a place in the mobility hierarchy like moving people on medical/college/airport campuses or serving as downtown shuttles. Might be a good way for smaller cities to have a more robust transit network.
January 2, 2026 at 2:49 PM
Really depends: if the peak route demand is not higher than 14 seats/vehicle, then a CDL is not required, and a specialized AV is probably not worth the cost. The niche is at 20-30 seat vehicles, beyond which AV is not yet possible for 40-ft bus maneuverability
Reposted by Ben S
glad to see that my “lyman stone gives off hitler particles” intuition was correct
I was wondering why their is so much random racist discourse on Somalis on the TL rn but oh it’s election season for governor rn lol
January 2, 2026 at 12:50 PM
glad to see that my “lyman stone gives off hitler particles” intuition was correct
Reposted by Ben S
One underrated thing Mamdani has going for him is that he has always known he is ineligible for the presidency
The profession of elected official attracts a lot of people with delusions of grandeur and an agenda built around getting to the job they want rather than doing the job they actually have
The profession of elected official attracts a lot of people with delusions of grandeur and an agenda built around getting to the job they want rather than doing the job they actually have
January 1, 2026 at 9:08 PM
One underrated thing Mamdani has going for him is that he has always known he is ineligible for the presidency
The profession of elected official attracts a lot of people with delusions of grandeur and an agenda built around getting to the job they want rather than doing the job they actually have
The profession of elected official attracts a lot of people with delusions of grandeur and an agenda built around getting to the job they want rather than doing the job they actually have
Reposted by Ben S
Holy shit it's real
January 1, 2026 at 11:12 PM
Holy shit it's real
Reposted by Ben S
Love that Bernie Wagenblast voice of the NYC subway is the announcer for Zohran’s inauguration.
www.them.us/story/bernie...
www.them.us/story/bernie...
Bernie Wagenblast Is Our MTA Princess
Pari Kim of ‘Love on the Spectrum’ fame talks to the trans MTA voice actor about trains, online bullying, and LGBTQ+ representation.
www.them.us
January 1, 2026 at 6:41 PM
Love that Bernie Wagenblast voice of the NYC subway is the announcer for Zohran’s inauguration.
www.them.us/story/bernie...
www.them.us/story/bernie...
Reposted by Ben S
This is a great point from Joshua Freeman's Garden Apartments The History of a Low-Rent Utopia.
Garden apartments, despite being a widespread national housing type primarily for lower middle classes, have not drawn the scrutiny of other types of homes. press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/bo...
Garden apartments, despite being a widespread national housing type primarily for lower middle classes, have not drawn the scrutiny of other types of homes. press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/bo...
January 1, 2026 at 6:50 PM
This is a great point from Joshua Freeman's Garden Apartments The History of a Low-Rent Utopia.
Garden apartments, despite being a widespread national housing type primarily for lower middle classes, have not drawn the scrutiny of other types of homes. press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/bo...
Garden apartments, despite being a widespread national housing type primarily for lower middle classes, have not drawn the scrutiny of other types of homes. press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/bo...
Reposted by Ben S
The whole trip feels implausible to the family, yet the only natural outcome.
She’s 93, from Wales, and obsessed with the Mummers. She flew to Philadelphia to meet them.
www.inquirer.com
January 1, 2026 at 3:19 PM
The whole trip feels implausible to the family, yet the only natural outcome.
Reposted by Ben S
Bluesky should support a 4kb MIDI leitmotif for every profile
September 9, 2024 at 11:10 PM
Bluesky should support a 4kb MIDI leitmotif for every profile
The clear and obvious solution to prevent the horserace between preservationists and developers every time is to fund a citywide demolition delay survey that gives a baseline expectation of potentially historic properties, so everyone knows how to proceed with a proposal rationally and calmly
Preservationists Worry of a Demolition Loophole in Squilla Bill
It could become the most consequential change to Philadelphia’s historic building protections in a generation and, if opponents are correct, to great detriment. Just how did the bill come to be?
hiddencityphila.org/2025/12/pres...
It could become the most consequential change to Philadelphia’s historic building protections in a generation and, if opponents are correct, to great detriment. Just how did the bill come to be?
hiddencityphila.org/2025/12/pres...
Preservationists Worry of a Demolition Loophole in Squilla Bill
It could become the most consequential change to Philadelphia’s historic building protections in a generation and, if opponents are correct, to great detriment. Just how did the bill come to be?
hiddencityphila.org
December 31, 2025 at 11:51 PM
The clear and obvious solution to prevent the horserace between preservationists and developers every time is to fund a citywide demolition delay survey that gives a baseline expectation of potentially historic properties, so everyone knows how to proceed with a proposal rationally and calmly
Reposted by Ben S
Over the last few years, we have lost (or soon will lose):
🪦30-day unlimited
🪦Monthly unlimited w/ 2% disc
🪦Same farecard for NYCT and PATH
🪦Joint railroad + NYCT tickets (2-trip, $50, solo 2-trip)
🪦Joint railroad + AirTrain tickets
🪦Bulk sales
🪦Half fares for senior/disabled without pre-enrollment
🪦30-day unlimited
🪦Monthly unlimited w/ 2% disc
🪦Same farecard for NYCT and PATH
🪦Joint railroad + NYCT tickets (2-trip, $50, solo 2-trip)
🪦Joint railroad + AirTrain tickets
🪦Bulk sales
🪦Half fares for senior/disabled without pre-enrollment
December 31, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Over the last few years, we have lost (or soon will lose):
🪦30-day unlimited
🪦Monthly unlimited w/ 2% disc
🪦Same farecard for NYCT and PATH
🪦Joint railroad + NYCT tickets (2-trip, $50, solo 2-trip)
🪦Joint railroad + AirTrain tickets
🪦Bulk sales
🪦Half fares for senior/disabled without pre-enrollment
🪦30-day unlimited
🪦Monthly unlimited w/ 2% disc
🪦Same farecard for NYCT and PATH
🪦Joint railroad + NYCT tickets (2-trip, $50, solo 2-trip)
🪦Joint railroad + AirTrain tickets
🪦Bulk sales
🪦Half fares for senior/disabled without pre-enrollment
Reposted by Ben S
So, the passenger had to be able to swipe their card _themselves_, holding on to the card the whole time.
Why does this matter? MetroCard, like all card-based AFC systems, stores the card value _on the card_. This means that every swipe is actually a complete read-verify-write cycle.
Why does this matter? MetroCard, like all card-based AFC systems, stores the card value _on the card_. This means that every swipe is actually a complete read-verify-write cycle.
December 31, 2025 at 6:11 PM
So, the passenger had to be able to swipe their card _themselves_, holding on to the card the whole time.
Why does this matter? MetroCard, like all card-based AFC systems, stores the card value _on the card_. This means that every swipe is actually a complete read-verify-write cycle.
Why does this matter? MetroCard, like all card-based AFC systems, stores the card value _on the card_. This means that every swipe is actually a complete read-verify-write cycle.
Reposted by Ben S
i am losing my mind over this listing that staged a condemned philly trap house with AI
December 31, 2025 at 2:40 PM
i am losing my mind over this listing that staged a condemned philly trap house with AI
Reposted by Ben S
A bunch of nerds from the MCU (@milesintransit.com Cinematic Universe) went on one last MetroCard odyssey and dragged two @nytimes.com employees with them. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/31/n...
To Say Goodbye to the MetroCard, We Spent a Day Riding Every Transit System That Uses It
www.nytimes.com
December 31, 2025 at 3:52 PM
A bunch of nerds from the MCU (@milesintransit.com Cinematic Universe) went on one last MetroCard odyssey and dragged two @nytimes.com employees with them. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/31/n...
Reposted by Ben S
IMO one of the things that holds Philadelphia back is that we have absolutely zero branding rizz for anything, and our transit branding is truly, genuinely bad to mediocre.
It's the final day of MetroCard sales—so as we say farewell to an icon, let's take a look at how it all started.
Thank you, MetroCard, for moving New York to the very last swipe.
Thank you, MetroCard, for moving New York to the very last swipe.
December 31, 2025 at 4:18 PM
IMO one of the things that holds Philadelphia back is that we have absolutely zero branding rizz for anything, and our transit branding is truly, genuinely bad to mediocre.
It's highly suspect that automated open road tolling & pay-by-mail that eliminates toll workers would be so much more expensive as to cost double E-ZPass. More likely this is a backdoor way to pay for the ridiculous AC Expressway widening!
December 30, 2025 at 7:42 PM
It's highly suspect that automated open road tolling & pay-by-mail that eliminates toll workers would be so much more expensive as to cost double E-ZPass. More likely this is a backdoor way to pay for the ridiculous AC Expressway widening!