Erik Jensen
LightNews LightNews
banner
eriktakestransit.bsky.social
Erik Jensen
@eriktakestransit.bsky.social
820 followers 240 following 220 posts
Fan of transit, bikes, and climbing | Transit Innovation in Chicago, Formerly WMATA and NYCT | Views my own

Masto: erik@urbanists.social
Blog: justjensen.co
Posts Replies Media Videos
eriktakestransit.bsky.social
Good morning Chicago
An urban train station with a red brick building, possibly the Harold Washington Library, in the background. A train is arriving on an elevated track beside a snow-covered platform. The scene is set in a city, with tall buildings and a gray sky. A snowy scene of a city skyline featuring tall, modern buildings flanking a river. There's a bridge and water beneath, with some greenery visible along the banks. The atmosphere is gray and overcast, typical of a winter day. A snowy urban landscape with heavy snowfall obscuring visibility. Buildings and streets are covered in snow, creating a wintry scene. A snowy urban landscape seen through a window, with buildings fading into a white haze due to heavy snowfall. Rooftops are blanketed in snow, and visibility is low.
November 10, 2025 at 3:27 PM
eriktakestransit.bsky.social
It’s old news now, but this is my first time riding in the new Siemens Venture cars on the Wolverine, let’s see how it goes!
A blue Amtrak train labeled "Midwest" is parked on tracks within a station. The front view shows the train's headlights, logo, and various details of the engineering cabin. The platform features yellow safety markings.
November 6, 2025 at 8:27 PM
eriktakestransit.bsky.social
The compasses outside L stops are so clutch when your bus transfer is one minute away and you need to know which stop to stand at
A mosaic compass design embedded in a sidewalk, featuring the word "Chicago" at the top and directional markers. Some leaves are scattered around the area.
November 6, 2025 at 5:58 PM
eriktakestransit.bsky.social
There’s something very goofy about making sure the L is in the background to take thirst traps of your car (as seen from the Brown Line)
A parking lot with five vehicles parked, including three SUVs in a row. A group of four people is walking across the lot taking photos of the SUVs, with a few trees and a building in the background.
November 2, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Reposted by Erik Jensen
bct.bsky.social
In NYC, recess sometimes looks like preschoolers excitedly waiting for the Franklin Avenue Shuttle to pass underneath them.
October 28, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Reposted by Erik Jensen
chicagocta.bsky.social
Starting October 15, six CTA buses will operate with Automated Bus Lane Enforcement systems as part of the City of Chicago’s Smart Streets pilot.
Automated bus lane, bus stop, and bike lane enforcement starts Wednesday, October 15th Keeping bus stops clear is essential to ensuring that transit is accessible to everyone especially people with disabilities. Bus lanes and bus stops are for buses. Bike lanes are for bikes. Keeping them clear is essential to ensuring everyone in Chicago gets where they need to go, safely and on time. That's why we're launching automated bus lane, bus stop, and bike lane enforcement to improve rider safety and transit efficiency.
October 15, 2025 at 12:57 AM
eriktakestransit.bsky.social
Very easy to forget it’s #AWeekWithoutDriving when you bike or take CTA every day anyway, but here I am on the train!
A smiling man with a reddish beard and blond hair is taking a selfie in a subway train. He is wearing a checkered shirt with sunglasses hanging off the middle. The background includes metallic walls and a blue fabric seat.
September 29, 2025 at 11:18 PM
eriktakestransit.bsky.social
The thing about Chicago is you can just be walking around and next thing you know this is the view
Chicago cityscape featuring modern skyscrapers, including the Sears tower prominently in the middle, surrounded by trees and residential structures. The sky is clear, and the lighting suggests late afternoon.
September 26, 2025 at 1:09 AM
eriktakestransit.bsky.social
Up early for work, and while it wouldn’t be surprising to anybody who works third shift normally, even at 4 AM there are lots of folks up early to get to work!

Flight attendants, security guards, healthcare workers, transit employers… all relying on CTA to get where they need to go (including me!)
Jackson Blue Line CTA station platform featuring a man standing near a support pillar, holding onto it. He is wearing a black jacket with colorful text, gray pants, and red sneakers, with a blue backpack. In the background, several people are seated waiting for the train
September 24, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Reposted by Erik Jensen
wvistheduck.bsky.social
So sad that all these H Street businesses in DC are about to go out of business since there's no where to park!
September 20, 2025 at 5:11 PM
eriktakestransit.bsky.social
Absolutely beautiful night to grab a Divvy to pick up a Facebook Marketplace find

Also the Milwaukee bike lanes are pretty rad
A city street scene showing cyclists riding on a designated bike lane beside vehicle traffic. Modern buildings line the street, with traffic lights and a "No Turn on Red" sign visible. The sky is clear, indicating early evening.
September 12, 2025 at 12:38 AM
eriktakestransit.bsky.social
It’s difficult to describe just how much nicer it is now that the Alaskan way viaduct has been torn down

Places for cars vs a park for people
(Today) A bustling waterfront cityscape featuring a path with pedestrians, modern buildings, and a large Ferris wheel. The scene includes trees and greenery, with a distant view of bridges and cranes along the waterfront. (2025) A view of a bustling waterfront area in Seattle, featuring modern buildings, a wide promenade lined with greenery, and the Seattle Aquarium. A large Ferris wheel is visible in the background, along with cranes and docks indicating ongoing port activity. (2018) A smiling man stands on a waterfront with a gray sky overhead. In the background, there's a large ferris wheel and shipping cranes along the waterfront. The scene includes a sign indicating a no smoking area and features urban elements like roads and buildings. (2018) A street view featuring a crosswalk, traffic signals, and buildings. A person with blonde hair in a black jacket stands with their back to the camera, while another person is visible nearby. The scene includes a salon sign, vehicles in the street, and a highway off-ramp
September 5, 2025 at 8:34 PM
eriktakestransit.bsky.social
Always fun to run into a quirk on transit I haven’t seen before, today it’s coach style seats on articulated city buses on Sound Transit

Pretty nice ride from Bellevue to Seattle
A Sound Transit bus is parked on a city street surrounded by trees and buildings. The bus features a blue and white design with wave patterns, and the display board shows "44 SEATTLE." Nearby, a few pedestrians and vehicles are visible. Interior of a bus with several passengers seated. Two women are visible at the front, one appears to be resting while the other looks at her phone. A person wearing a backpack stands in the aisle. The bus is illuminated with overhead lights and has advertisements An interior view of a public bus featuring empty and occupied seats. A few passengers can be seen seated, some looking at their phones. The bus displays route information on an electronic sign above. The environment is well-lit with overhead lights. The image shows the interior of a city bus with several passengers seated. Some individuals are reading or using their phones, while others are looking out the windows. Sunlight is streaming in from the windows, and there are green hills visible outside.
September 5, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Reposted by Erik Jensen
nikkimcentee17.bsky.social
I made a 6 min video showing what it’s like for a 6 year old to bike for a day in some of DC’s protected bike lanes.

15 mile ride and 9 PBLs

Part 1:
September 1, 2025 at 11:34 PM
eriktakestransit.bsky.social
The answer is obviously simply to not accept bribes, but who’s out here thinking that accepting bribes over Zelle is a good idea??

And all just to prevent a safe streets project???
August 21, 2025 at 5:29 PM
eriktakestransit.bsky.social
I am still not used to the way that you can see storms roll in from so far away here and watch the heavens open for a big storm

It’s so cool
A cityscape featuring a rain-soaked street with elevated train tracks. In the foreground, a train is on the tracks under overcast skies and light rain, and surrounding buildings are partially obscured by mist. Streetlights illuminate the wet pavement A city skyline featuring tall buildings with glass facades under a cloudy sky. The scene includes illuminated windows, a mix of modern and older architecture, and a street visible in the distance.
August 18, 2025 at 11:14 PM
Reposted by Erik Jensen
wmata.com
Calling all transit fans! Let your voice be heard. 🚇
 
🗳️ Vote on the exterior design for our new 8000-series rail fleet! Voting will close at 11:59 PM on August 22. Winning concept will be announced next week. 
 
Vote before time runs out: wmata.questionpro.com/a/TakeSurvey...
August 18, 2025 at 3:07 PM
eriktakestransit.bsky.social
The assumption here is access to a car though. As someone who almost never drives I actually found that I spent way more time outside in NYC than I did in DC because access to outdoors was so good

Central Park (and many others), Hudson Greenway, MNR Appalachian Trail stop, subway to the Rockaways…
August 13, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Reposted by Erik Jensen
davidpowe.bsky.social
The $99 annual Divvy membership for new & lapsed members is STILL available! To qualify, your Divvy account must have been inactive for at least 30 days OR you have never been a member. Divvy members save 57% on e-bike trips thanks to a lower per-minute rate. Check it out!
Divvy ad showing “Save 57% on e-bike rides” with the Divvy logo, a group of four smiling people with a Divvy bike & scooter. Shows price of $99/year for new and lapsed members
August 12, 2025 at 9:00 PM
eriktakestransit.bsky.social
Gotta love a transit-accessible beach on a beautiful day
A busy beach scene featuring people swimming, playing in the sand, and lounging near the water. There are tents and umbrellas set up along the shore, with a building and a dome structure visible in the background. The sky is clear and blue
August 10, 2025 at 12:15 AM
eriktakestransit.bsky.social
Nothing like a 40 minute wait for a gate at O’Hare to really remind you that you’ve arrived home!
August 4, 2025 at 9:13 PM
Reposted by Erik Jensen
jrurbanenetwork.bsky.social
Stations of Zhengzhou Metro Line 7 and 8 Phase I which opened in late 2024. The Phase I both lines, totaling 77.5km of route length, averaged 160 million INT$/km to construct.
August 4, 2025 at 6:05 AM
eriktakestransit.bsky.social
Today I got to ride a public ferry, tram, bus, and finally a metro train all in one day as part of sightseeing in Stockholm

It was a good day
A modern subway train is stationed at a platform inside a well-lit underground station. The train has a white and blue exterior, with "Norsborg" displayed on the front. There are people waiting near the platform, and the surrounding walls feature drawings carved into them A blue articulated bus is parked on a street, with a rocky hillside and greenery in the background. Nearby, a building with a red brick facade is visible, along with an advertisement poster. Cyclists ride on the road beside the bus. A blue tram is stopped at a station with a service worker in a reflective jacket walking away. People are waiting at the platform, and trees are visible in the background. A passenger ferry named "Djurgården 9" is docked at a pier, with people boarding and disembarking. The sky is partly cloudy, and there are buildings in the background. A Swedish flag is visible on the ferry.
July 28, 2025 at 9:36 PM
eriktakestransit.bsky.social
The Copenhagen Metro is so much fun every time I visit. A cute automated train on its surface that smoothly carries over 360,000 people per day with 24/7 service and which seems to expand every time I visit.

Let’s talk about it

/1
A modern subway station interior with sleek metallic walls and bright lighting. Two people are seen walking towards a digital information board displaying train schedules, including directions to Østerport. The area features glass barriers and promotional posters along the walls. A modern subway entrance with glass construction and a large red "M" symbol is shown. Two people are walking down the stairs, and a brick tower can be seen in the background. The setting has greenery and a cloudy blue sky. View from the front of a train, showing railway tracks extending into the distance with greenery on either side. A handrail is visible on the left side of the image, and the sky is partly cloudy. Interior of a subway train showing multiple passengers. The scene includes two women sitting on benches, one focused on her phone, and a man sitting nearby. The train has yellow handrails, and a display indicates the route to "Lufthaven."
July 26, 2025 at 10:03 PM
eriktakestransit.bsky.social
Copenhagen has a zone based system where the fare is based on the number of zones you travel regardless of mode.

But it makes the payment app super easy to use as a visitor
The image shows a mobile app interface for "rejsekort," displaying a user profile with the name "Erik." It includes options for ticket type, a depiction of a smartphone, and various icons representing buildings and a person.
July 25, 2025 at 11:34 AM