Patrick Santana
@lowvelocity.bsky.social
Low-velocity equipment like legs, bikes, roller skates, wheelchairs, and golf carts improve connection and community. Member of Littleton Planning Commission (Colorado)
Reposted by Patrick Santana
it was dumb and petty AF and took way too long
and yes, it's hardly moving needle on units
but turns out it was foundational to making needed changes in seattle.
also best headline i've ever written?
www.theurbanist.org/2015/07/17/m...
and yes, it's hardly moving needle on units
but turns out it was foundational to making needed changes in seattle.
also best headline i've ever written?
www.theurbanist.org/2015/07/17/m...
Much DADU About Nothing » The Urbanist
# Since the release of the Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda (HALA) Committee recommendations, there has been much speculation on what diversifying the single-family zones means, and if dupl...
www.theurbanist.org
November 13, 2025 at 3:22 PM
it was dumb and petty AF and took way too long
and yes, it's hardly moving needle on units
but turns out it was foundational to making needed changes in seattle.
also best headline i've ever written?
www.theurbanist.org/2015/07/17/m...
and yes, it's hardly moving needle on units
but turns out it was foundational to making needed changes in seattle.
also best headline i've ever written?
www.theurbanist.org/2015/07/17/m...
Reposted by Patrick Santana
The economic fallacy every planner struggles with. New clothes, new cars, new phones all cost more than used ones. But with housing, for some insane reason, planners demand the opposite or you won’t get upzones for more housing. Imagine what iPhones would cost if we couldn’t make new ones?
Academics’ and planners’ single-minded focus on making *brand new* homes affordable to the poorest people has been a disaster for poor people’s’ ability to afford housing.
Real grim stuff from a nonprofit staff attorney and former UCSD urban studies lecturer
November 2, 2025 at 2:11 AM
The economic fallacy every planner struggles with. New clothes, new cars, new phones all cost more than used ones. But with housing, for some insane reason, planners demand the opposite or you won’t get upzones for more housing. Imagine what iPhones would cost if we couldn’t make new ones?
Reposted by Patrick Santana
It's a goal of mine to help make this the most famous, well-known and UNDERSTOOD quote about cities in history. Please share it as much as you can.
October 20, 2025 at 5:30 AM
It's a goal of mine to help make this the most famous, well-known and UNDERSTOOD quote about cities in history. Please share it as much as you can.
Reposted by Patrick Santana
OUR FIRST SPONSORED BILL OF 2025 SIGNED INTO LAW
AB 1085 (catherinestefani.bsky.social ) increases the penalties on sellers of illegal license plate covers and further clarifies that tints/shades are also illegal
AB 1085 (catherinestefani.bsky.social ) increases the penalties on sellers of illegal license plate covers and further clarifies that tints/shades are also illegal
October 2, 2025 at 3:22 AM
OUR FIRST SPONSORED BILL OF 2025 SIGNED INTO LAW
AB 1085 (catherinestefani.bsky.social ) increases the penalties on sellers of illegal license plate covers and further clarifies that tints/shades are also illegal
AB 1085 (catherinestefani.bsky.social ) increases the penalties on sellers of illegal license plate covers and further clarifies that tints/shades are also illegal
Reposted by Patrick Santana
Anyone else remember when they said banning smoking at restaurants would kill the industry? That no one would dine out anymore?
Sometimes folks heavily invested in the status quo present inaccurate information to preserve it. The job of leaders is call b.s. and get the policy passed.
Sometimes folks heavily invested in the status quo present inaccurate information to preserve it. The job of leaders is call b.s. and get the policy passed.
July 12, 2025 at 7:36 AM
Anyone else remember when they said banning smoking at restaurants would kill the industry? That no one would dine out anymore?
Sometimes folks heavily invested in the status quo present inaccurate information to preserve it. The job of leaders is call b.s. and get the policy passed.
Sometimes folks heavily invested in the status quo present inaccurate information to preserve it. The job of leaders is call b.s. and get the policy passed.
Reposted by Patrick Santana
Just some creepy armed Mad Max guys trying to gain entry to Dodgers Stadium.
ICE says it wasn’t them. DHS says they were Border Patrol. But honestly who the hell knows? They’ve given permission for any psycho to put on a ski mask, point a gun, grab people & throw them into an unmarked vehicle.
ICE says it wasn’t them. DHS says they were Border Patrol. But honestly who the hell knows? They’ve given permission for any psycho to put on a ski mask, point a gun, grab people & throw them into an unmarked vehicle.
June 19, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Just some creepy armed Mad Max guys trying to gain entry to Dodgers Stadium.
ICE says it wasn’t them. DHS says they were Border Patrol. But honestly who the hell knows? They’ve given permission for any psycho to put on a ski mask, point a gun, grab people & throw them into an unmarked vehicle.
ICE says it wasn’t them. DHS says they were Border Patrol. But honestly who the hell knows? They’ve given permission for any psycho to put on a ski mask, point a gun, grab people & throw them into an unmarked vehicle.
Reposted by Patrick Santana
In a UK study of bike theft, 25% of people whose bike is stolen give up cycling entirely, and 66% cycle less afterwards. Secure bike parking is hugely important for supporting people to choose cycling. #vc25 @cyclehoop.bsky.social
stolen-bikes.co.uk/statistics/
stolen-bikes.co.uk/statistics/
Stolen Bikes Statistics
UK bike theft statistics taken from various sources including the police, home office and surveys of bike theft victims.
stolen-bikes.co.uk
June 13, 2025 at 9:48 AM
In a UK study of bike theft, 25% of people whose bike is stolen give up cycling entirely, and 66% cycle less afterwards. Secure bike parking is hugely important for supporting people to choose cycling. #vc25 @cyclehoop.bsky.social
stolen-bikes.co.uk/statistics/
stolen-bikes.co.uk/statistics/
Reposted by Patrick Santana
If we’re being honest, the biggest threat to urban livability isn’t density or height. It’s the noise, danger, pollution, and wasted space that comes from prioritizing cars above all other modes of transport.
May 10, 2025 at 5:06 PM
If we’re being honest, the biggest threat to urban livability isn’t density or height. It’s the noise, danger, pollution, and wasted space that comes from prioritizing cars above all other modes of transport.
Reposted by Patrick Santana
Density is how the middle class outbids rich people for well/located urban land. When you outlaw that, you eventually displace everyone who isn’t rich. This is why San Francisco is so boring now.
May 5, 2025 at 6:27 AM
Density is how the middle class outbids rich people for well/located urban land. When you outlaw that, you eventually displace everyone who isn’t rich. This is why San Francisco is so boring now.
Reposted by Patrick Santana
“The current system in which developers are mandated to build parking, is arbitrary. It’s based on no science … but we’re used to it... It’s bad governance; it’s bad policy.”
📍Boulder, CO
www.dailycamera.com/2025/04/15/b...
📍Boulder, CO
www.dailycamera.com/2025/04/15/b...
Boulder may be on track to ditch parking minimums
City Council may be inching towards eliminating parking minimums on developments
www.dailycamera.com
April 17, 2025 at 3:31 PM
“The current system in which developers are mandated to build parking, is arbitrary. It’s based on no science … but we’re used to it... It’s bad governance; it’s bad policy.”
📍Boulder, CO
www.dailycamera.com/2025/04/15/b...
📍Boulder, CO
www.dailycamera.com/2025/04/15/b...
Reposted by Patrick Santana
“We shall build great cities and towns filled with shops, parks and a variety of housing types flexible enough to meet evolving needs and then, in a few hundred years, we will just stop allowing them.”
“Why would we stop allowing them sir?”
“Nobody knows.”
“Why would we stop allowing them sir?”
“Nobody knows.”
March 6, 2025 at 2:27 AM
“We shall build great cities and towns filled with shops, parks and a variety of housing types flexible enough to meet evolving needs and then, in a few hundred years, we will just stop allowing them.”
“Why would we stop allowing them sir?”
“Nobody knows.”
“Why would we stop allowing them sir?”
“Nobody knows.”
Today. And always.
March 1, 2025 at 4:09 AM
Today. And always.
Reposted by Patrick Santana
There needs to be a word for when a state DOT converts a shoulder to a travel lane (“sure, we’re adding capacity, but it’s free!”), waits, and then builds a new shoulder (“we’re not widening the freeway; we’re just making it safer!”), rinse and repeat.
February 19, 2025 at 6:42 PM
There needs to be a word for when a state DOT converts a shoulder to a travel lane (“sure, we’re adding capacity, but it’s free!”), waits, and then builds a new shoulder (“we’re not widening the freeway; we’re just making it safer!”), rinse and repeat.
Reposted by Patrick Santana
President Zelenskyy has been one of the greatest leaders of our time, guiding Ukraine through the darkest period of its recent history, rising up to Russia’s unwarranted aggression, being an inspiration to the Ukrainian people and ensuring that Ukraine’s voice is heard on the world stage.
February 20, 2025 at 12:14 AM
President Zelenskyy has been one of the greatest leaders of our time, guiding Ukraine through the darkest period of its recent history, rising up to Russia’s unwarranted aggression, being an inspiration to the Ukrainian people and ensuring that Ukraine’s voice is heard on the world stage.
Reposted by Patrick Santana
Thing about it. Your traffic model predicts more driving. So you build new roads. And more people drive. But would they have driven more without new roads?
Your school model predicts few students downtown. You don’t build schools/daycare. Families avoid living downtown.
Self-fulfilling prophesies.
Your school model predicts few students downtown. You don’t build schools/daycare. Families avoid living downtown.
Self-fulfilling prophesies.
February 8, 2025 at 4:11 AM
Thing about it. Your traffic model predicts more driving. So you build new roads. And more people drive. But would they have driven more without new roads?
Your school model predicts few students downtown. You don’t build schools/daycare. Families avoid living downtown.
Self-fulfilling prophesies.
Your school model predicts few students downtown. You don’t build schools/daycare. Families avoid living downtown.
Self-fulfilling prophesies.
Reposted by Patrick Santana
It’s amazing how critics perceive bike lanes to be “everywhere” and “out of control” even when a large majority of roads don’t have bike lanes.
February 9, 2025 at 1:20 AM
It’s amazing how critics perceive bike lanes to be “everywhere” and “out of control” even when a large majority of roads don’t have bike lanes.
Reposted by Patrick Santana
The real problem in most cities isn’t that the density of people or the density of buildings is “too high.” It’s that the density of cars is too high.
February 5, 2025 at 9:56 PM
The real problem in most cities isn’t that the density of people or the density of buildings is “too high.” It’s that the density of cars is too high.
Reposted by Patrick Santana
This is my favorite picture of Stonewall.
They knew they were getting arrested just for being LGBTQ+.
Yet... they're still here, standing outside of the boarded up Stonewall Inn, smiling as the world was at a fever pitch of hatred against them.
I think about it a lot in moments like this.
They knew they were getting arrested just for being LGBTQ+.
Yet... they're still here, standing outside of the boarded up Stonewall Inn, smiling as the world was at a fever pitch of hatred against them.
I think about it a lot in moments like this.
January 29, 2025 at 3:18 AM
This is my favorite picture of Stonewall.
They knew they were getting arrested just for being LGBTQ+.
Yet... they're still here, standing outside of the boarded up Stonewall Inn, smiling as the world was at a fever pitch of hatred against them.
I think about it a lot in moments like this.
They knew they were getting arrested just for being LGBTQ+.
Yet... they're still here, standing outside of the boarded up Stonewall Inn, smiling as the world was at a fever pitch of hatred against them.
I think about it a lot in moments like this.
Reposted by Patrick Santana
This lot was originally slated for 28 new townhomes.
Instead, it was zoned for 12 SFH. Why? “It will actually have less impact.” - Fmr Ald. Tom Tunney
It looks like the plan for 12 was scrapped and one mega mansion was built on half the lot.
A private playground, across the street from a park
Instead, it was zoned for 12 SFH. Why? “It will actually have less impact.” - Fmr Ald. Tom Tunney
It looks like the plan for 12 was scrapped and one mega mansion was built on half the lot.
A private playground, across the street from a park
January 26, 2025 at 2:10 AM
This lot was originally slated for 28 new townhomes.
Instead, it was zoned for 12 SFH. Why? “It will actually have less impact.” - Fmr Ald. Tom Tunney
It looks like the plan for 12 was scrapped and one mega mansion was built on half the lot.
A private playground, across the street from a park
Instead, it was zoned for 12 SFH. Why? “It will actually have less impact.” - Fmr Ald. Tom Tunney
It looks like the plan for 12 was scrapped and one mega mansion was built on half the lot.
A private playground, across the street from a park
Reposted by Patrick Santana
The Dutch have no problem putting a pub alongside an elementary school playground.
January 26, 2025 at 2:55 AM
The Dutch have no problem putting a pub alongside an elementary school playground.
Bicycle Colorado published their list of potential state legislation to focus on in 2025. Each of these “legislative opportunities” is good — but especially worthy is changing the charge for killing a biking or walking person from a misdemeanor to a Class 6 felony. docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Legislative Concepts_Updated 1_9_2024
>> >> LEGISLATIVE SOLUTIONS Updated: January 24, 2024 Using our Policy Principles as a guide, we have identified issues impacting access to safe biking and walking and the legislative solutions to ...
docs.google.com
January 25, 2025 at 2:57 AM
Bicycle Colorado published their list of potential state legislation to focus on in 2025. Each of these “legislative opportunities” is good — but especially worthy is changing the charge for killing a biking or walking person from a misdemeanor to a Class 6 felony. docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Reposted by Patrick Santana
We're told "safety is a shared responsibility," but reckless, distracted motorists make that impossible.
At some point, we must target the design enabling bad behavior, because relying on people to do the right thing isn't working.
At some point, we must target the design enabling bad behavior, because relying on people to do the right thing isn't working.
January 23, 2025 at 2:12 AM
We're told "safety is a shared responsibility," but reckless, distracted motorists make that impossible.
At some point, we must target the design enabling bad behavior, because relying on people to do the right thing isn't working.
At some point, we must target the design enabling bad behavior, because relying on people to do the right thing isn't working.
Reposted by Patrick Santana
Nothing but my deepest respect to 5000 Steiner street, an ORIGINAL baddie who NEVER gave a damn about “respecting neighborhood scale” and is STILL doing what the other girls aren’t. She IS the blueprint.
January 21, 2025 at 3:48 AM
Nothing but my deepest respect to 5000 Steiner street, an ORIGINAL baddie who NEVER gave a damn about “respecting neighborhood scale” and is STILL doing what the other girls aren’t. She IS the blueprint.
Reposted by Patrick Santana
They demand it because they know it won’t happen because it’s too expensive and overwhelming to plan
The reason why it’s so frustrating when people say “we can’t build more housing until we create all the additional infrastructure for it” is that this sort of development never proceeds in a straightforward, linear fashion. This isn’t Sim City.
If you try to build transit and active transportation infrastructure: Nobody is going to use this stuff, because everyone here drives!
If you try to build the dense housing that will support a transit/active transpo network: We don’t have the transportation infrastructure to support density!
If you try to build the dense housing that will support a transit/active transpo network: We don’t have the transportation infrastructure to support density!
January 19, 2025 at 9:22 PM
They demand it because they know it won’t happen because it’s too expensive and overwhelming to plan