Borners
@borners.bsky.social
Transit Costs Project Researcher
英国基進主義者 (English state buildingism...its better in the Sino-Japanese).
Profile pic is Nagasawa Ryosetsu's picture of Crane (the virtuous man) staring at your soul.
英国基進主義者 (English state buildingism...its better in the Sino-Japanese).
Profile pic is Nagasawa Ryosetsu's picture of Crane (the virtuous man) staring at your soul.
Pinned
Borners
@borners.bsky.social
· Oct 17
This Himeji city's current land use plan, 6 sides of A4 for a city of 500,000 people, an industrial city with Japan's largest intact castle west of Osaka. Use rights, FAR ratios, light-rights, set-back all, here.
If your city plan can't be summarised like this, you have to ask why.
If your city plan can't be summarised like this, you have to ask why.
Preview from report for @egoldwyn.bsky.social @alonlevy.bsky.social showing that very high cost UK....also managed to build an entire light metro 1987-2011 for...very very low costs. Even Bank is cheap considering its a nasty tight gradient + deep platforms under...Bank.
January 31, 2026 at 5:45 PM
Preview from report for @egoldwyn.bsky.social @alonlevy.bsky.social showing that very high cost UK....also managed to build an entire light metro 1987-2011 for...very very low costs. Even Bank is cheap considering its a nasty tight gradient + deep platforms under...Bank.
Just looking on British Museum shop website, discover not only can you get the usual Hokusai's Wave stuff but now....Gundam gquuuuuux (I'd prefer Aerial from WfM BM).
January 31, 2026 at 4:57 PM
Just looking on British Museum shop website, discover not only can you get the usual Hokusai's Wave stuff but now....Gundam gquuuuuux (I'd prefer Aerial from WfM BM).
Reposted by Borners
We do, regretfully, have to give her this.
January 31, 2026 at 3:57 PM
We do, regretfully, have to give her this.
Reposted by Borners
The best first mile / last mile transit technology even invented is a good sidewalk. That’s how all the world’s successful transit systems work.
Recent Danish paper suggests that transit's first-mile/last-mile discourse is overblown.
Pretty much any FM/LM "solution" fails to improve total welfare for distances <1km.
A big reason: Walking is really healthy!
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Pretty much any FM/LM "solution" fails to improve total welfare for distances <1km.
A big reason: Walking is really healthy!
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
January 31, 2026 at 2:30 PM
The best first mile / last mile transit technology even invented is a good sidewalk. That’s how all the world’s successful transit systems work.
Reposted by Borners
"Wow, what made you decide to pursue a degree in Japanese Studies?"
idk. your country's cultural soft power played right into my poor decision-making skills, I guess??
idk. your country's cultural soft power played right into my poor decision-making skills, I guess??
January 31, 2026 at 10:12 AM
"Wow, what made you decide to pursue a degree in Japanese Studies?"
idk. your country's cultural soft power played right into my poor decision-making skills, I guess??
idk. your country's cultural soft power played right into my poor decision-making skills, I guess??
1. He was always tankie.
2. His love of Xi's Far Right regime and Nazi economic planning is no accident.
3. Spoken Chinese has a poor record as a Lingua franca. Written Classical slightly different. But compare spread of Sanskrit, Persian, Arabic, Latin, Greek, French and English.
2. His love of Xi's Far Right regime and Nazi economic planning is no accident.
3. Spoken Chinese has a poor record as a Lingua franca. Written Classical slightly different. But compare spread of Sanskrit, Persian, Arabic, Latin, Greek, French and English.
Broke: hating tooze because he’s become a bit of a tankie
Woke: hating tooze because he said Chinese can’t become a lingua Franca because it’s too hard to learn
Woke: hating tooze because he said Chinese can’t become a lingua Franca because it’s too hard to learn
January 31, 2026 at 2:13 PM
1. He was always tankie.
2. His love of Xi's Far Right regime and Nazi economic planning is no accident.
3. Spoken Chinese has a poor record as a Lingua franca. Written Classical slightly different. But compare spread of Sanskrit, Persian, Arabic, Latin, Greek, French and English.
2. His love of Xi's Far Right regime and Nazi economic planning is no accident.
3. Spoken Chinese has a poor record as a Lingua franca. Written Classical slightly different. But compare spread of Sanskrit, Persian, Arabic, Latin, Greek, French and English.
I mean the closest to us is Japan. Its more market oriented, lower tax, lower reg than UK or EU. And its poorer and now importing smiilar level of immigrants.
Brexit only makes sense if you believe the UK is a nation state (it isn't) and has unique special powers to defy its limitations.
Brexit only makes sense if you believe the UK is a nation state (it isn't) and has unique special powers to defy its limitations.
I just adore the idea that the ‘Canada’ model is still being proudly held aloft as as post Brexit exemplum of ‘independence’ when the Canada model doesn’t work for the *actual* Canada anymore.
January 31, 2026 at 2:03 PM
I mean the closest to us is Japan. Its more market oriented, lower tax, lower reg than UK or EU. And its poorer and now importing smiilar level of immigrants.
Brexit only makes sense if you believe the UK is a nation state (it isn't) and has unique special powers to defy its limitations.
Brexit only makes sense if you believe the UK is a nation state (it isn't) and has unique special powers to defy its limitations.
Reposted by Borners
I'm no europhile but "Europe mocks us when they're one election away from electing Nazis" is such a weird American dunk. We are like, 2 elections into electing Nazis. We have liberal intelligentsia who say it's an embarrassment for liberals that the cordon sanitaire hasn't been dropped far enough
January 31, 2026 at 5:52 AM
I'm no europhile but "Europe mocks us when they're one election away from electing Nazis" is such a weird American dunk. We are like, 2 elections into electing Nazis. We have liberal intelligentsia who say it's an embarrassment for liberals that the cordon sanitaire hasn't been dropped far enough
I really recommend to Transport professionals and enthusists this book first comprehensive history of Tube signalling. Hard going but comprehensive about an underrated subject.
January 31, 2026 at 12:34 PM
I really recommend to Transport professionals and enthusists this book first comprehensive history of Tube signalling. Hard going but comprehensive about an underrated subject.
Reposted by Borners
Canada is the odd country where 'Whig Men and Tory Measures' is actually a pretty workable formula for power.
January 31, 2026 at 3:00 AM
Canada is the odd country where 'Whig Men and Tory Measures' is actually a pretty workable formula for power.
Reposted by Borners
New revenue sources can go to either capital or operating budgets. New revenue sources can go to either capital or operating budgets. New revenue sources can go to either capital or operating budgets. New revenue sources can go to either capital or operating budgets.
January 31, 2026 at 5:08 AM
New revenue sources can go to either capital or operating budgets. New revenue sources can go to either capital or operating budgets. New revenue sources can go to either capital or operating budgets. New revenue sources can go to either capital or operating budgets.
1. Its Telegraph, these headline reaction opinion pieces are how its makes money now. Best to not rise to the bait (looking at you Americans).
2. Self-pity is the dominant emotion in UK politics as @duncanrobinson.bsky.social has observed. Here Telegraph is not that much different from the Guardian.
2. Self-pity is the dominant emotion in UK politics as @duncanrobinson.bsky.social has observed. Here Telegraph is not that much different from the Guardian.
Right I did have to double check because I thought "no, that's too Sophia Money-Coutts" and it actually isn't the worst one she's done recently.
January 31, 2026 at 11:54 AM
1. Its Telegraph, these headline reaction opinion pieces are how its makes money now. Best to not rise to the bait (looking at you Americans).
2. Self-pity is the dominant emotion in UK politics as @duncanrobinson.bsky.social has observed. Here Telegraph is not that much different from the Guardian.
2. Self-pity is the dominant emotion in UK politics as @duncanrobinson.bsky.social has observed. Here Telegraph is not that much different from the Guardian.
Reposted by Borners
American transit planners! Madrid is planning to build a bus-rail hub in the coming years. Here is the project. Can you guess the initial budget?
January 30, 2026 at 7:20 PM
American transit planners! Madrid is planning to build a bus-rail hub in the coming years. Here is the project. Can you guess the initial budget?
Reposted by Borners
We're proud to present A Better Billion: how New York should be spending an extra $1b a year on subway expansion, in lieu of Zohran Mamdani's free bus proposal. transitcosts.com/a-better-bil...
See gift article for a New York Times writeup here:
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/30/n...
See gift article for a New York Times writeup here:
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/30/n...
Free Buses? How About Expanding the Subway by 41 Miles Instead?
www.nytimes.com
January 30, 2026 at 12:17 PM
We're proud to present A Better Billion: how New York should be spending an extra $1b a year on subway expansion, in lieu of Zohran Mamdani's free bus proposal. transitcosts.com/a-better-bil...
See gift article for a New York Times writeup here:
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/30/n...
See gift article for a New York Times writeup here:
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/30/n...
Reposted by Borners
41 miles of new subway for the cost of free buses. Here’s an audacious, expansive plan to expand the subway’s reach & catalyze housing to attack the affordability crisis. An incredible effort from NYU Marron team. Excited for this to be out in the world:
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/30/n...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/30/n...
Free Buses? How About Expanding the Subway by 41 Miles Instead?
www.nytimes.com
January 30, 2026 at 2:37 PM
41 miles of new subway for the cost of free buses. Here’s an audacious, expansive plan to expand the subway’s reach & catalyze housing to attack the affordability crisis. An incredible effort from NYU Marron team. Excited for this to be out in the world:
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/30/n...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/30/n...
Reposted by Borners
‘It’s just greedy councils trying to make money!’ > ‘It’s a waste of public money!’
CAZs are intended to lose money quite quickly. A flaw with such high fixed costs. Should just be a congestion charge with an air quality impact multiplier. EV traffic and particulates still nasty externality to tame
CAZs are intended to lose money quite quickly. A flaw with such high fixed costs. Should just be a congestion charge with an air quality impact multiplier. EV traffic and particulates still nasty externality to tame
🗞️ Our latest issue is out today! Don't miss the city's top stories, take a look at what's on and so much more...
📍 Pick-up locations: bathecho.co.uk/pickup
📱 Read online: issuu.com/mediabath/do...
📍 Pick-up locations: bathecho.co.uk/pickup
📱 Read online: issuu.com/mediabath/do...
January 30, 2026 at 10:21 AM
‘It’s just greedy councils trying to make money!’ > ‘It’s a waste of public money!’
CAZs are intended to lose money quite quickly. A flaw with such high fixed costs. Should just be a congestion charge with an air quality impact multiplier. EV traffic and particulates still nasty externality to tame
CAZs are intended to lose money quite quickly. A flaw with such high fixed costs. Should just be a congestion charge with an air quality impact multiplier. EV traffic and particulates still nasty externality to tame
The only time my state doesn't deadname my nationality is when its telling me to pay taxes.
January 30, 2026 at 12:58 PM
The only time my state doesn't deadname my nationality is when its telling me to pay taxes.
Nicest thing anybody has said about the UK this decade.
Russians regard Poland and Lithuania as their greatest enemies among a list of 12 countries (not including Ukraine) presented to them in a survey by the Levada Center published this week.
For more on the findings, read our report here: bit.ly/46lFIZE
For more on the findings, read our report here: bit.ly/46lFIZE
January 30, 2026 at 12:23 PM
Nicest thing anybody has said about the UK this decade.
Reposted by Borners
🇲🇽🇵🇱🇺🇦 Absolute scenes in a nearby "eastern" supermarket when a group of Mexican tourists ask a Ukrainian cashier which chocolates and sweets are iconic Polish treats that they could bring back home. She answers with an very one thousand Eastern European yards stare: "None."
January 30, 2026 at 12:16 PM
🇲🇽🇵🇱🇺🇦 Absolute scenes in a nearby "eastern" supermarket when a group of Mexican tourists ask a Ukrainian cashier which chocolates and sweets are iconic Polish treats that they could bring back home. She answers with an very one thousand Eastern European yards stare: "None."
Reposted by Borners
Let's do this for Rome which, being a sort of rushed makeshift capital never really had an embassies area, so they are scattered around the city.
January 29, 2026 at 2:25 PM
Let's do this for Rome which, being a sort of rushed makeshift capital never really had an embassies area, so they are scattered around the city.
Reposted by Borners
Tbh you gotta do policy for its own sake because thermostatic reaction is just baked in
January 30, 2026 at 10:05 AM
Tbh you gotta do policy for its own sake because thermostatic reaction is just baked in
Reposted by Borners
i do like how rather than opt for the quasi-futuristic outfit look, the expanse let avasarala express her indian heritage in how she dressed
January 29, 2026 at 1:07 PM
i do like how rather than opt for the quasi-futuristic outfit look, the expanse let avasarala express her indian heritage in how she dressed
Reposted by Borners
Trump: "I don't want to drive housing prices down. I want to drive housing prices up for people who own homes."
January 29, 2026 at 5:41 PM
Trump: "I don't want to drive housing prices down. I want to drive housing prices up for people who own homes."
Reposted by Borners
Reposted by Borners
Huge week for housing policy: Planning & Infrastructure Act now law, Leasehold Reform draft out, New Homes Accelerator 2 live, big social housing updates, construction regulator, Section 106 changes and new design guidance. A real flurry of new (and nerdy) changes - and dare I say a bit of optimism?
January 29, 2026 at 6:16 PM
Huge week for housing policy: Planning & Infrastructure Act now law, Leasehold Reform draft out, New Homes Accelerator 2 live, big social housing updates, construction regulator, Section 106 changes and new design guidance. A real flurry of new (and nerdy) changes - and dare I say a bit of optimism?