Outlook Tower
@matt439miller.bsky.social
Personal tweets on transit, urbanism, and (increasingly) housing.
Pinned
Outlook Tower
@matt439miller.bsky.social
· Sep 12
Outlook Tower
Transportation, Urbanism and Planning
outlooktower.blogspot.com
I know that Substack's 'Set up your own branded newsletter email!' is the cool thing now, but I'm still blogging here:
outlooktower.blogspot.com
outlooktower.blogspot.com
Reposted by Outlook Tower
Single-stair plus multifam zoning on single-fam lots might be what prefab needs to take off. Manufacturing processes require scale and repeatability; only single-family lots deliver those. Homeowners want too much customization in ADUs, but developers might be profit-minded enough to see the vision.
We could panelize it and assemble the whole thing with mass timber
November 6, 2025 at 1:49 AM
Single-stair plus multifam zoning on single-fam lots might be what prefab needs to take off. Manufacturing processes require scale and repeatability; only single-family lots deliver those. Homeowners want too much customization in ADUs, but developers might be profit-minded enough to see the vision.
Having endured Clippy and Cortana, I have extremely low expectations for CoPilot.
November 6, 2025 at 3:54 AM
Having endured Clippy and Cortana, I have extremely low expectations for CoPilot.
Reposted by Outlook Tower
Staring at a dozen different maps of the same thing really emphasizes that the map is not in fact the territory.
November 6, 2025 at 3:34 AM
Staring at a dozen different maps of the same thing really emphasizes that the map is not in fact the territory.
Reposted by Outlook Tower
Yea, the core problem is bikers are rationally incentivized to bike on the sidewalk on big arterials (worst possible injury is a bruise or scratch>worst possible injury is dying painfully) and if you try to expand bike+ped ROW small biz blows a gasket about ParkingTM
November 6, 2025 at 3:32 AM
Yea, the core problem is bikers are rationally incentivized to bike on the sidewalk on big arterials (worst possible injury is a bruise or scratch>worst possible injury is dying painfully) and if you try to expand bike+ped ROW small biz blows a gasket about ParkingTM
Reposted by Outlook Tower
They could also be amazed that we built up cities around rail lines, and spent 100s of billions on roadway infrastructure, and somehow kept at grade intersections on major streets at busy rail lines.
November 6, 2025 at 12:11 AM
They could also be amazed that we built up cities around rail lines, and spent 100s of billions on roadway infrastructure, and somehow kept at grade intersections on major streets at busy rail lines.
Reposted by Outlook Tower
In some far future America, our descendants are amazed that we allowed private freight train companies to just block major city streets for unlimited amounts of time, with trains that weren't even moving. (SE 11th Ave. in Portland).
November 5, 2025 at 11:40 PM
In some far future America, our descendants are amazed that we allowed private freight train companies to just block major city streets for unlimited amounts of time, with trains that weren't even moving. (SE 11th Ave. in Portland).
Reposted by Outlook Tower
Huge crowd. Wow.
November 6, 2025 at 3:38 AM
Huge crowd. Wow.
Reposted by Outlook Tower
I found the enlistment center. @thewaroncars.bsky.social
November 6, 2025 at 3:36 AM
I found the enlistment center. @thewaroncars.bsky.social
Reposted by Outlook Tower
If reversing the fertility decline were my thing, I would have this tattooed on my forehead.
November 6, 2025 at 3:46 AM
If reversing the fertility decline were my thing, I would have this tattooed on my forehead.
Reposted by Outlook Tower
Upcoming #ArlingtonVA public feedback survey deadlines:
🌳 10/17 Public Spaces Master Plan: publicinput.com/y53466
🚶 10/19 Shared Streets Pilot: publicinput.com/q88865
0️⃣ 10/31 Vision Zero Action Plan: publicinput.com/actionplanup...
🏙️ 11/16 Comprehensive Plan: publicinput.com/y55564
🌳 10/17 Public Spaces Master Plan: publicinput.com/y53466
🚶 10/19 Shared Streets Pilot: publicinput.com/q88865
0️⃣ 10/31 Vision Zero Action Plan: publicinput.com/actionplanup...
🏙️ 11/16 Comprehensive Plan: publicinput.com/y55564
kermit the frog is using a typewriter in a messy room .
Alt: kermit the frog is using a typewriter in a messy room .
media.tenor.com
October 10, 2025 at 11:27 AM
Upcoming #ArlingtonVA public feedback survey deadlines:
🌳 10/17 Public Spaces Master Plan: publicinput.com/y53466
🚶 10/19 Shared Streets Pilot: publicinput.com/q88865
0️⃣ 10/31 Vision Zero Action Plan: publicinput.com/actionplanup...
🏙️ 11/16 Comprehensive Plan: publicinput.com/y55564
🌳 10/17 Public Spaces Master Plan: publicinput.com/y53466
🚶 10/19 Shared Streets Pilot: publicinput.com/q88865
0️⃣ 10/31 Vision Zero Action Plan: publicinput.com/actionplanup...
🏙️ 11/16 Comprehensive Plan: publicinput.com/y55564
Reposted by Outlook Tower
I am looking to put together a mobility chart regarding fires including Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles
“In the city this year, Toronto Fire has recorded 29 fires caused by e-bike and e-scooter batteries. That's up from 25 in 2024, and three in 2023.”
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
“In the city this year, Toronto Fire has recorded 29 fires caused by e-bike and e-scooter batteries. That's up from 25 in 2024, and three in 2023.”
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Toronto fire chief calls e-bike batteries 'largest growing fire safety risk in the city' | CBC News
Chief Jim Jessop says battery fires related to e-scooters and e-bikes are "the largest growing fire safety risk in the city.” He says Toronto Fire Services is asking the federal government to bring in...
www.cbc.ca
October 10, 2025 at 11:39 AM
I am looking to put together a mobility chart regarding fires including Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles
“In the city this year, Toronto Fire has recorded 29 fires caused by e-bike and e-scooter batteries. That's up from 25 in 2024, and three in 2023.”
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
“In the city this year, Toronto Fire has recorded 29 fires caused by e-bike and e-scooter batteries. That's up from 25 in 2024, and three in 2023.”
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Reposted by Outlook Tower
“When streets became calmer & safer, more people felt comfortable trying a bike commute for the first time. Families began pedaling to the park…Local businesses saw new life…And cycling stopped feeling like a niche activity—it became part of everyday Parisian life.”
Via @momentummag.bsky.social
Via @momentummag.bsky.social
New Study Shows How Paris Pedaled Its Way to a Cycling Revolution
Cycling through central Paris meant weaving between buses and scooters—a bold choice reserved for the fearless few.
momentummag.com
October 8, 2025 at 12:15 PM
“When streets became calmer & safer, more people felt comfortable trying a bike commute for the first time. Families began pedaling to the park…Local businesses saw new life…And cycling stopped feeling like a niche activity—it became part of everyday Parisian life.”
Via @momentummag.bsky.social
Via @momentummag.bsky.social
Reposted by Outlook Tower
This month, Muni saw its biggest ridership bump in over a year, hitting 81% of pre-COVID, despite downtown still having one of the world's greatest work-from-home rates
www.sfmta.com/reports/aver...
www.sfmta.com/reports/aver...
October 10, 2025 at 2:49 AM
This month, Muni saw its biggest ridership bump in over a year, hitting 81% of pre-COVID, despite downtown still having one of the world's greatest work-from-home rates
www.sfmta.com/reports/aver...
www.sfmta.com/reports/aver...
Reposted by Outlook Tower
New #ShoupDoctrine book and UCLA Parking Center continue #DonShoup work to reform parking la.streetsblog.org/2025/10/09/p...
Parking Titan Donald Shoup's Legacy Continues - Streetsblog Los Angeles
A new book and a new UCLA center honor the world's foremost expert on parking, Donald Shoup, who passed away in February
la.streetsblog.org
October 9, 2025 at 9:55 PM
New #ShoupDoctrine book and UCLA Parking Center continue #DonShoup work to reform parking la.streetsblog.org/2025/10/09/p...
Reading about cyber events is a bit like reading police reports, or accident reports. (Sometimes gobsmacking)
"Hackers acquired the documents by breaking into a British FENCING DEVELOPER and gaining backdoor access to Ministry files."
"Hackers acquired the documents by breaking into a British FENCING DEVELOPER and gaining backdoor access to Ministry files."
October 10, 2025 at 5:27 AM
Reading about cyber events is a bit like reading police reports, or accident reports. (Sometimes gobsmacking)
"Hackers acquired the documents by breaking into a British FENCING DEVELOPER and gaining backdoor access to Ministry files."
"Hackers acquired the documents by breaking into a British FENCING DEVELOPER and gaining backdoor access to Ministry files."
Reposted by Outlook Tower
“People over Papers, a crowdsourcing project that maps sightings of US immigration agents, was taken offline yesterday by Padlet, the collaborative bulletin board platform on which it was built. It’s just the latest ICE-tracking initiative to be pulled by tech platforms in the past few days.”
Another effort to track ICE raids was just taken offline
People over Papers was removed by Padlet, the platform it was built on, yesterday.
www.technologyreview.com
October 7, 2025 at 2:31 AM
“People over Papers, a crowdsourcing project that maps sightings of US immigration agents, was taken offline yesterday by Padlet, the collaborative bulletin board platform on which it was built. It’s just the latest ICE-tracking initiative to be pulled by tech platforms in the past few days.”
Reposted by Outlook Tower
sees problem - fights for change - burns out
life cycle of an advocate
life cycle of an advocate
October 7, 2025 at 11:51 AM
sees problem - fights for change - burns out
life cycle of an advocate
life cycle of an advocate
Reposted by Outlook Tower
The Venn diagram of urban density and average household GHG emissions is pretty much a circle. Interesting study on “Mapping household GHG emissions in the Greater Golden Horseshoe” from the University of Toronto School of Cities schoolofcities.utoronto.ca/mapping-hous...
October 6, 2025 at 11:09 AM
The Venn diagram of urban density and average household GHG emissions is pretty much a circle. Interesting study on “Mapping household GHG emissions in the Greater Golden Horseshoe” from the University of Toronto School of Cities schoolofcities.utoronto.ca/mapping-hous...
Reposted by Outlook Tower
Dense urban areas carry the suburbs, financially, climate…
How odd that there’s a core of conservative theorist-pundits in Canada who have a suburbizatiom ideology. It isn’t cheaper or more efficient. It’s subsidy & burden shifting.
How odd that there’s a core of conservative theorist-pundits in Canada who have a suburbizatiom ideology. It isn’t cheaper or more efficient. It’s subsidy & burden shifting.
The Venn diagram of urban density and average household GHG emissions is pretty much a circle. Interesting study on “Mapping household GHG emissions in the Greater Golden Horseshoe” from the University of Toronto School of Cities schoolofcities.utoronto.ca/mapping-hous...
October 6, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Dense urban areas carry the suburbs, financially, climate…
How odd that there’s a core of conservative theorist-pundits in Canada who have a suburbizatiom ideology. It isn’t cheaper or more efficient. It’s subsidy & burden shifting.
How odd that there’s a core of conservative theorist-pundits in Canada who have a suburbizatiom ideology. It isn’t cheaper or more efficient. It’s subsidy & burden shifting.
Reposted by Outlook Tower
It's true! When I studied economics, I was stunned by the ROI of social programs. Every dollar spent on childcare returns about $2.80 to the economy, and healthcare delivers even greater returns with broader social impact.
A universal basic income is simply smart fiscal policy. Why the reluctance?
A universal basic income is simply smart fiscal policy. Why the reluctance?
For every €1 provided through a Basic Income For Artists pilot program in Ireland, the government got €1.46 back. So it’s being made permanent.
Over and over we see it. It saves public money to provide public housing. And it makes public money to provide basic income.
We can’t afford to NOT do it.
Over and over we see it. It saves public money to provide public housing. And it makes public money to provide basic income.
We can’t afford to NOT do it.
Damn. This is amazing. £325 per week, paid monthly, for 3 years - and the result was a profit for the Irish economy:
www.citizensinformation.ie/en/employmen...
www.citizensinformation.ie/en/employmen...
October 7, 2025 at 1:31 AM
It's true! When I studied economics, I was stunned by the ROI of social programs. Every dollar spent on childcare returns about $2.80 to the economy, and healthcare delivers even greater returns with broader social impact.
A universal basic income is simply smart fiscal policy. Why the reluctance?
A universal basic income is simply smart fiscal policy. Why the reluctance?
Reposted by Outlook Tower
Counting bicyclists and pedestrians this morning again. 🥰 This intersection has come a long way since last year and there is a parking protected bike lane coming later this week. Two new developments created three blocks of protected lanes.
October 7, 2025 at 11:42 AM
Counting bicyclists and pedestrians this morning again. 🥰 This intersection has come a long way since last year and there is a parking protected bike lane coming later this week. Two new developments created three blocks of protected lanes.
Reposted by Outlook Tower
It's all about viable options! #mobilityisequity #activetravel #politicalwill
*You can get around traffic choked Port of Spain at 1 mph in a car, or 9 times faster on a bicycle!*
#EndCarDependency
*You can get around traffic choked Port of Spain at 1 mph in a car, or 9 times faster on a bicycle!*
#EndCarDependency
October 7, 2025 at 12:27 PM
It's all about viable options! #mobilityisequity #activetravel #politicalwill
*You can get around traffic choked Port of Spain at 1 mph in a car, or 9 times faster on a bicycle!*
#EndCarDependency
*You can get around traffic choked Port of Spain at 1 mph in a car, or 9 times faster on a bicycle!*
#EndCarDependency
Reposted by Outlook Tower
Interestingly, the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association, who had previously opposed the infrastructure, eventually reversed their position and became one of the city’s most vocal cycling proponents—calling protected bike lanes “the way of the future” and a “win–win–win for all users”.
October 6, 2025 at 12:47 AM
Interestingly, the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association, who had previously opposed the infrastructure, eventually reversed their position and became one of the city’s most vocal cycling proponents—calling protected bike lanes “the way of the future” and a “win–win–win for all users”.
Reposted by Outlook Tower
Throughout all of this pushback and opposition, Vancouver experienced an authentic bike boom, with the mode share increasing by nearly 300%. An impressive 10% of trips to work are now made by bike, one of the highest rates in North America. Women now make up nearly half of all trips made by bicycle.
October 6, 2025 at 12:48 AM
Throughout all of this pushback and opposition, Vancouver experienced an authentic bike boom, with the mode share increasing by nearly 300%. An impressive 10% of trips to work are now made by bike, one of the highest rates in North America. Women now make up nearly half of all trips made by bicycle.
Reposted by Outlook Tower
The entire idea of "offsetting" was always flawed. The only way to draw down emissions is to require emitters to emit less. There were well-intentioned people who mistakenly thought offsets were useful. Then there are others who still know it's worthless, but make money off selling them anyway.
News that shocks no one: Carbon offsets do nothing for climate.
Carbon offsets fail to cut global heating due to ‘intractable’ systemic problems, study says
Analysis of 25 years of evidence shows most schemes are poor quality and fail to lower emissions
www.theguardian.com
October 7, 2025 at 12:57 PM
The entire idea of "offsetting" was always flawed. The only way to draw down emissions is to require emitters to emit less. There were well-intentioned people who mistakenly thought offsets were useful. Then there are others who still know it's worthless, but make money off selling them anyway.