Mike Lydon
@mikelydon.bsky.social
Co-Founder @ Street Plans | Co-Author #TacticalUrbanism, Smart Growth Manual, Streets for Pandemic Response + Recovery | Board Member @ Congress for New Urbanism | Creator Open_Streets Project | Léo + Luca’s dad | 📍 Brooklyn, NY 🚲 🚶 🚌 🌆
Reposted by Mike Lydon
I wrote this song on Saturday, recorded it yesterday and released it to you today in response to the state terror being visited on the city of Minneapolis. It’s dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good.
Stay free
Stay free
Bruce Springsteen - Streets Of Minneapolis (Official Audio)
YouTube video by Bruce Springsteen
youtu.be
January 28, 2026 at 5:02 PM
I wrote this song on Saturday, recorded it yesterday and released it to you today in response to the state terror being visited on the city of Minneapolis. It’s dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good.
Stay free
Stay free
Reposted by Mike Lydon
The same circumstances are true when it comes to metro systems.
China opened more metro lines in 2025 alone than exist in the entire countries of Russia, UK, or France. Over the past 4 years, China built 2.5x as much metro lines as the US has in total.
China opened more metro lines in 2025 alone than exist in the entire countries of Russia, UK, or France. Over the past 4 years, China built 2.5x as much metro lines as the US has in total.
January 28, 2026 at 6:25 PM
The same circumstances are true when it comes to metro systems.
China opened more metro lines in 2025 alone than exist in the entire countries of Russia, UK, or France. Over the past 4 years, China built 2.5x as much metro lines as the US has in total.
China opened more metro lines in 2025 alone than exist in the entire countries of Russia, UK, or France. Over the past 4 years, China built 2.5x as much metro lines as the US has in total.
Whoever achieved this level of winter bikeway maintenance deserves to be put in charge of the entire city.
January 27, 2026 at 6:44 PM
Whoever achieved this level of winter bikeway maintenance deserves to be put in charge of the entire city.
@mayor.nyc.gov has received high marks for managing his first snow storm but our family will withhold judgement until the Bedford Avenue protected bike lane is safe enough for us to use in the morning. As of 2pm today it’s not looking good.
@nyc.streetsblog.org
@nyc.streetsblog.org
January 27, 2026 at 1:45 AM
@mayor.nyc.gov has received high marks for managing his first snow storm but our family will withhold judgement until the Bedford Avenue protected bike lane is safe enough for us to use in the morning. As of 2pm today it’s not looking good.
@nyc.streetsblog.org
@nyc.streetsblog.org
Classic ‘sneckdown’ at the corner of Bedford and Monroe, now featuring daylighting where people driving routinely park up to the crosswalk. ❄️🚶🏻♂️
@nyc.streetsblog.org
@nyc.streetsblog.org
January 26, 2026 at 10:20 PM
Classic ‘sneckdown’ at the corner of Bedford and Monroe, now featuring daylighting where people driving routinely park up to the crosswalk. ❄️🚶🏻♂️
@nyc.streetsblog.org
@nyc.streetsblog.org
Reposted by Mike Lydon
Reminder that some US cities have teams clearing sidewalks -- not just roads -- when a major snowstorm strikes. Yours could, too.
More Cities Are Taking Responsibility for Clearing Sidewalks of Snow — Streetsblog USA
Rochester, Burlington, Minneapolis, Duluth and Syracuse have either started clearing sidewalks or are moving in that direction.
usa.streetsblog.org
January 25, 2026 at 9:05 PM
Reminder that some US cities have teams clearing sidewalks -- not just roads -- when a major snowstorm strikes. Yours could, too.
What gets plowed when underscores a city’s priorities. The plow has passed by us at least 4x today. Around the corner, the Bedford Avenue PBL, which we rely on to get kids to school daily, remains buried under a foot of snow. Hoping it’s clear by Tuesday @nyc.streetsblog.org 🚲❄️🤞🏻
January 25, 2026 at 11:10 PM
What gets plowed when underscores a city’s priorities. The plow has passed by us at least 4x today. Around the corner, the Bedford Avenue PBL, which we rely on to get kids to school daily, remains buried under a foot of snow. Hoping it’s clear by Tuesday @nyc.streetsblog.org 🚲❄️🤞🏻
Reposted by Mike Lydon
I am trying not to post on these events in this state of mind but: I hope people understand what the observers are doing is brave and dangerous.
January 24, 2026 at 4:51 PM
I am trying not to post on these events in this state of mind but: I hope people understand what the observers are doing is brave and dangerous.
One way to eradicate the Eric Adams deficit and then some is to simply make residents pay a nominal fee for on-street parking annually, and raise prices to match demand in commercial parking zones.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/16/n...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/16/n...
A $12.6 Billion Budget Gap May Complicate Mamdani’s Affordability Plans
www.nytimes.com
January 17, 2026 at 1:05 PM
One way to eradicate the Eric Adams deficit and then some is to simply make residents pay a nominal fee for on-street parking annually, and raise prices to match demand in commercial parking zones.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/16/n...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/16/n...
When it comes to transit expansion in the US, Seattle has shown itself to be the adult in the room.
Sound Transit ridership is up 24% from 2019, and new extensions are brining in more riders.
System expansion is part of the transit systems success but so it’s Seattle’s decision in the 1990s to “grow up, not out” — creating higher-density land use that helps transit thrive.
@yonahfreemark.com
System expansion is part of the transit systems success but so it’s Seattle’s decision in the 1990s to “grow up, not out” — creating higher-density land use that helps transit thrive.
@yonahfreemark.com
Seattle Is Building Light Rail Like It’s 1999
Decades ago, the Pacific Northwest city launched a multibillion-dollar transit building boom. Now the new lines and stations are drawing riders — and criticism.
www.bloomberg.com
January 17, 2026 at 2:19 AM
When it comes to transit expansion in the US, Seattle has shown itself to be the adult in the room.
Connecticut cities - all comparably small - were disproportionately impacted by urban renewal and highway building. The work David Kooris is leading will be very impactful.
www.ctinsider.com/connecticut/...
www.ctinsider.com/connecticut/...
Connecticut once ran on trolleys. Now it’s trying to undo a century of car-first planning
Connecticut used to have a robust trolley system, extending all the way from Greenwich to Hartford.
www.ctinsider.com
January 14, 2026 at 11:35 PM
Connecticut cities - all comparably small - were disproportionately impacted by urban renewal and highway building. The work David Kooris is leading will be very impactful.
www.ctinsider.com/connecticut/...
www.ctinsider.com/connecticut/...
I have Dunkelman’s book next in my queue; this a good summary.
“Over the last half-century, we’ve built a governing regime designed to stop government from doing harm. And it largely succeeded. But it also made government far less able to do good, especially at scale.”
www.vox.com/podcasts/474...
“Over the last half-century, we’ve built a governing regime designed to stop government from doing harm. And it largely succeeded. But it also made government far less able to do good, especially at scale.”
www.vox.com/podcasts/474...
Why America can’t build anything anymore, explained
Progressives designed reforms to stop government abuse in the 1960s. Those same protections now make it nearly impossible to build infrastructure.
www.vox.com
January 12, 2026 at 8:44 PM
I have Dunkelman’s book next in my queue; this a good summary.
“Over the last half-century, we’ve built a governing regime designed to stop government from doing harm. And it largely succeeded. But it also made government far less able to do good, especially at scale.”
www.vox.com/podcasts/474...
“Over the last half-century, we’ve built a governing regime designed to stop government from doing harm. And it largely succeeded. But it also made government far less able to do good, especially at scale.”
www.vox.com/podcasts/474...
“It’s pronounced cyclist!”
From the scale of the corridor to that of the bike ramp, @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social is taking action and clearly enjoying it. 👏👏👏
From the scale of the corridor to that of the bike ramp, @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social is taking action and clearly enjoying it. 👏👏👏
How to fix the dangerous "bike bump" next to the Williamsburg Bridge
January 6, 2026 at 11:14 PM
“It’s pronounced cyclist!”
From the scale of the corridor to that of the bike ramp, @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social is taking action and clearly enjoying it. 👏👏👏
From the scale of the corridor to that of the bike ramp, @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social is taking action and clearly enjoying it. 👏👏👏
NYC had 205 traffic fatalities in 2025, the lowest recorded number. By comparison, there were 700 traffic fatalities in 1990. Overall, there are 31% fewer fatalities since Vision Zero was introduced in 2014. More to be done, but the COVID spike has finally reversed.
gothamist.com/news/nyc-rec...
gothamist.com/news/nyc-rec...
NYC records its lowest number of traffic deaths ever in 2025
New York recorded 205 traffic deaths last year, a 19% drop from 2024.
gothamist.com
January 5, 2026 at 12:34 PM
NYC had 205 traffic fatalities in 2025, the lowest recorded number. By comparison, there were 700 traffic fatalities in 1990. Overall, there are 31% fewer fatalities since Vision Zero was introduced in 2014. More to be done, but the COVID spike has finally reversed.
gothamist.com/news/nyc-rec...
gothamist.com/news/nyc-rec...
Never let the fire department design your streets. Old Northeast in St Petersburg, Florida has many streets with 20’ curb-to-curb width, bi-directional vehicular travel, and one lane of parking. Somehow it hasn’t burned down yet. 🤔
January 2, 2026 at 2:21 PM
Never let the fire department design your streets. Old Northeast in St Petersburg, Florida has many streets with 20’ curb-to-curb width, bi-directional vehicular travel, and one lane of parking. Somehow it hasn’t burned down yet. 🤔
“We expect greatness from the cooks wielding a thousand spices, from those who stride out onto Broadway stages, from our starting point guard at Madison Square Garden. Let us demand the same from those who work in government.”
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/01/n...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/01/n...
The Full Transcript of Zohran Mamdani’s Inauguration Speech
www.nytimes.com
January 1, 2026 at 9:40 PM
“We expect greatness from the cooks wielding a thousand spices, from those who stride out onto Broadway stages, from our starting point guard at Madison Square Garden. Let us demand the same from those who work in government.”
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/01/n...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/01/n...
Early feedback is in and it’s looking good! 🤣 🚌 💨
January 1, 2026 at 2:56 PM
Early feedback is in and it’s looking good! 🤣 🚌 💨
Reposted by Mike Lydon
A remarkable trend that will come as a shock to you if your only info about NYC is from this Fox News.
Homicides in NYC...
1990: 2,262
1993: 1,927
1998: 629
2001: 649
2013: 335
2019: 320
2021: 488
2024: 382
2025 (as of 12/28): 302
Homicides in NYC...
1990: 2,262
1993: 1,927
1998: 629
2001: 649
2013: 335
2019: 320
2021: 488
2024: 382
2025 (as of 12/28): 302
December 31, 2025 at 11:40 PM
A remarkable trend that will come as a shock to you if your only info about NYC is from this Fox News.
Homicides in NYC...
1990: 2,262
1993: 1,927
1998: 629
2001: 649
2013: 335
2019: 320
2021: 488
2024: 382
2025 (as of 12/28): 302
Homicides in NYC...
1990: 2,262
1993: 1,927
1998: 629
2001: 649
2013: 335
2019: 320
2021: 488
2024: 382
2025 (as of 12/28): 302
St. Petersburg’s east-west Sun Runner line runs within offset lanes along two one-way pair corridors (stations are curbside). Nice station details but two-block transfer between east and west running buses feels like a miss with the two-way Central Avenue located between the two.
December 29, 2025 at 5:48 PM
St. Petersburg’s east-west Sun Runner line runs within offset lanes along two one-way pair corridors (stations are curbside). Nice station details but two-block transfer between east and west running buses feels like a miss with the two-way Central Avenue located between the two.
Visiting St. Petersburg, FL for the first time and really enjoying the lovely, walkable Old Northeast neighborhood.
December 28, 2025 at 11:21 PM
Visiting St. Petersburg, FL for the first time and really enjoying the lovely, walkable Old Northeast neighborhood.
I want all of the grand ideas to be realized, but one of my “feasibility agenda” ideas for @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social is that when it snows people walking and cycling don’t further feel like second and third class citizens.
December 18, 2025 at 1:48 AM
I want all of the grand ideas to be realized, but one of my “feasibility agenda” ideas for @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social is that when it snows people walking and cycling don’t further feel like second and third class citizens.
Great take here:
“Car-free and car-light streets are most successful when they function as social infrastructure that supports belonging, well-being, and public life. In other words, infrastructure matters, but intentional placemaking determines results.”
urbanland.uli.org/belonging-by...
“Car-free and car-light streets are most successful when they function as social infrastructure that supports belonging, well-being, and public life. In other words, infrastructure matters, but intentional placemaking determines results.”
urbanland.uli.org/belonging-by...
Belonging by Design: The Social Power of Pedestrian-First Streets
London is one of many cities rethinking its car-first orientation and embracing a more holistic vision of urban life rooted in social connection. Car-free and car-light streets are most successful whe...
urbanland.uli.org
December 17, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Great take here:
“Car-free and car-light streets are most successful when they function as social infrastructure that supports belonging, well-being, and public life. In other words, infrastructure matters, but intentional placemaking determines results.”
urbanland.uli.org/belonging-by...
“Car-free and car-light streets are most successful when they function as social infrastructure that supports belonging, well-being, and public life. In other words, infrastructure matters, but intentional placemaking determines results.”
urbanland.uli.org/belonging-by...
Reposted by Mike Lydon
Cycling Cities is a new German documentary by bike enthusiast and urbanist Ingwar Perowanowitsch (@ingwarpero.bsky.social) that explores how some of Europe’s most successful cycling-friendly cities have transformed themselves into liveable, people-centred places.
CYCLING CITIES - Der Film
YouTube video by Ingwar Perowanowitsch
youtu.be
December 13, 2025 at 11:03 PM
Cycling Cities is a new German documentary by bike enthusiast and urbanist Ingwar Perowanowitsch (@ingwarpero.bsky.social) that explores how some of Europe’s most successful cycling-friendly cities have transformed themselves into liveable, people-centred places.
I read this morning that Penn Station serves more than 2x passengers per day as Atlanta Hartfield, the country’s busiest airport. So I had to map them at the same scale. 🤯
December 12, 2025 at 2:58 PM
I read this morning that Penn Station serves more than 2x passengers per day as Atlanta Hartfield, the country’s busiest airport. So I had to map them at the same scale. 🤯