olong
@olong.bsky.social
@olongnolo on Twitter. Transportation engineer, interested in transit and housing. Los Angeles (SGV/South Bay).
Reposted by olong
The way this headline is phrased makes it sound like the bear has invoked squatters rights and the guy is trying to take him to court
Black bear living underneath California house shows no sign of budging as homeowner mulls legal action
Black bear living underneath Altadena house shows no sign of budging as homeowner mulls legal action
The 550-pound black bear has taken up residence in the crawlspace underneath Ken Johnson's home in California for a month.
www.cbsnews.com
January 2, 2026 at 5:22 AM
The way this headline is phrased makes it sound like the bear has invoked squatters rights and the guy is trying to take him to court
Reposted by olong
Generally positive sign: saw a lot of California flags on houses in LA city. Imo we should do more to cultivate a Californian identity
January 1, 2026 at 9:38 PM
Generally positive sign: saw a lot of California flags on houses in LA city. Imo we should do more to cultivate a Californian identity
Reposted by olong
The problem is pretty unique to this location and dealing with the Army Corps of Engineers. The path needs to run in the channel bc the surrounding parcels and streets would make running on the edges a disaster. The ACoE is very protective of the channel capacity making interventions difficult.
December 31, 2025 at 1:29 AM
The problem is pretty unique to this location and dealing with the Army Corps of Engineers. The path needs to run in the channel bc the surrounding parcels and streets would make running on the edges a disaster. The ACoE is very protective of the channel capacity making interventions difficult.
Reposted by olong
It's been a very long complicated process because it's involved a land swap with the UN and the UN's property is sovereign international territory
December 31, 2025 at 1:42 AM
It's been a very long complicated process because it's involved a land swap with the UN and the UN's property is sovereign international territory
I don't like this type of curb ramp design either. But why do we end up with ones that look like this? Some aspects of curb ramp design:
Yes, the city needs to actually repave streets. Yes, the city needs to repair sidewalks. Yes, the city needs to install curb ramps.
But the bigger problem is that when LA decides to do anything at all to "help" pedestrians, the result looks like this complete and utter bullshit
But the bigger problem is that when LA decides to do anything at all to "help" pedestrians, the result looks like this complete and utter bullshit
December 30, 2025 at 8:12 AM
I don't like this type of curb ramp design either. But why do we end up with ones that look like this? Some aspects of curb ramp design:
Reposted by olong
This is the classic California public sector design trap: set a ridiculously high standard for something (in this case extremely low slope for wheelchairs) that requires ridiculously expensive designs that actually are actually worse for the people that standard was intended to help.
December 29, 2025 at 6:47 PM
This is the classic California public sector design trap: set a ridiculously high standard for something (in this case extremely low slope for wheelchairs) that requires ridiculously expensive designs that actually are actually worse for the people that standard was intended to help.
Reposted by olong
In Santa Monica, the FPPC has disqualified pro-housing Councilmember Jesse Zwick from all future housing votes. They said that because he works for a housing non-profit, he’s “conflicted” and must recuse.
Pretty absurd. The NIMBY deep state strikes again.
www.smdp.com/state-regula...
Pretty absurd. The NIMBY deep state strikes again.
www.smdp.com/state-regula...
State regulators say Councilman Zwick is conflicted on housing votes
The California Fair Political Practices Commission has ruled that Santa Monica Mayor Pro Tem Jesse Zwick must recuse himself from housing production decisions
www.smdp.com
December 22, 2025 at 2:58 PM
In Santa Monica, the FPPC has disqualified pro-housing Councilmember Jesse Zwick from all future housing votes. They said that because he works for a housing non-profit, he’s “conflicted” and must recuse.
Pretty absurd. The NIMBY deep state strikes again.
www.smdp.com/state-regula...
Pretty absurd. The NIMBY deep state strikes again.
www.smdp.com/state-regula...
Reposted by olong
Ok, here's my top 5 TSP operations in Madison. Notes on each to come starting with #5
5. Peer-to-Peer (Univ. Ave.)
4. East Washington & North
3. East Washington & Mendota
2. Cap City Square Coordination
1. Mineral Point & Whitney Way
5. Peer-to-Peer (Univ. Ave.)
4. East Washington & North
3. East Washington & Mendota
2. Cap City Square Coordination
1. Mineral Point & Whitney Way
December 21, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Ok, here's my top 5 TSP operations in Madison. Notes on each to come starting with #5
5. Peer-to-Peer (Univ. Ave.)
4. East Washington & North
3. East Washington & Mendota
2. Cap City Square Coordination
1. Mineral Point & Whitney Way
5. Peer-to-Peer (Univ. Ave.)
4. East Washington & North
3. East Washington & Mendota
2. Cap City Square Coordination
1. Mineral Point & Whitney Way
Reposted by olong
My issue is when this opinion - which is perfectly logical - ends up translating into law. Part of freedom is letting developers do bad designs and failing in the free market. Today's bad design is tomorrow's affordable housing.
like... just re-orienting these as 6 connected townhomes results in the same number and size of homes - with more privacy, much better daylight, significantly less sealed surfaces, and private outdoor space
oh and it's cheaper to build.
oh and it's cheaper to build.
December 18, 2025 at 3:42 AM
My issue is when this opinion - which is perfectly logical - ends up translating into law. Part of freedom is letting developers do bad designs and failing in the free market. Today's bad design is tomorrow's affordable housing.
Reposted by olong
US Army seems to have believed that urban blocks and reformed urban apartment blocks (“hof-style”) in North and Central Europe were doubled loaded corridors - most were not.
December 18, 2025 at 5:32 AM
US Army seems to have believed that urban blocks and reformed urban apartment blocks (“hof-style”) in North and Central Europe were doubled loaded corridors - most were not.
Reposted by olong
You do a good job of highlighting something that is often denied but obvious to everyone outside the discourse. People switch from riding the bus to driving because it’s faster end to end. That’s it.
December 17, 2025 at 1:13 AM
You do a good job of highlighting something that is often denied but obvious to everyone outside the discourse. People switch from riding the bus to driving because it’s faster end to end. That’s it.
Reposted by olong
An illustration of how L.A. City Public Works so-called "Large Asphalt Repair" works (or really *doesn't work*). Today Bureau of Street Services left an un-resurfaced ~4-ft-wide strip on a 30-ft-wide part of Hoover... in order to avoid triggering curb ramps for wheelchair access
December 17, 2025 at 1:26 AM
An illustration of how L.A. City Public Works so-called "Large Asphalt Repair" works (or really *doesn't work*). Today Bureau of Street Services left an un-resurfaced ~4-ft-wide strip on a 30-ft-wide part of Hoover... in order to avoid triggering curb ramps for wheelchair access
Reposted by olong
Worse, they say that 5.8 lane miles of new roadway is only 0.0062% increase compared to the regional network. I think most people would assume they are speaking to the local roads around LAX
5.8 divided by 0.0062% is over 90k lane miles
That's 3x all the lane miles in the City of LA!!!
5.8 divided by 0.0062% is over 90k lane miles
That's 3x all the lane miles in the City of LA!!!
December 16, 2025 at 11:53 PM
Worse, they say that 5.8 lane miles of new roadway is only 0.0062% increase compared to the regional network. I think most people would assume they are speaking to the local roads around LAX
5.8 divided by 0.0062% is over 90k lane miles
That's 3x all the lane miles in the City of LA!!!
5.8 divided by 0.0062% is over 90k lane miles
That's 3x all the lane miles in the City of LA!!!
Reposted by olong
Reposted by olong
I don't write in first person much at Streetsblog, but the city's so-called "large asphalt repair" really gets my goat
SBLA's @lintonjoe.bsky.social shares recent reporting on L.A. City's #LargeAsphaltRepair - see photos in the post if you're unfamiliar with "LAR" la.streetsblog.org/2025/12/11/w...
What's So Awful About L.A. City's Shift to "Large Asphalt Repair" - Streetsblog Los Angeles
When the city claims projects are "large asphalt repair," understand that this is the city's way of blocking accessibility, walk, bike, and bus improvements
la.streetsblog.org
December 12, 2025 at 12:52 AM
I don't write in first person much at Streetsblog, but the city's so-called "large asphalt repair" really gets my goat
Reposted by olong
I think we will see a perpetual tightening of safety rules with automated cars.
December 11, 2025 at 5:04 PM
I think we will see a perpetual tightening of safety rules with automated cars.
Reposted by olong
I think it would be possible to write a dissertation about the diverging philosophies of traffic management between Europe (or in general Vienna convention countries) and North America, just by starting from the fact that this road sign, i.e. "priority road", does not exist in North America.
December 10, 2025 at 3:37 PM
I think it would be possible to write a dissertation about the diverging philosophies of traffic management between Europe (or in general Vienna convention countries) and North America, just by starting from the fact that this road sign, i.e. "priority road", does not exist in North America.
Reposted by olong
Within the course of a week, we won a major cancellation of a no-good transportation project (ONT Tesla Tunnels) and averted a no-good cancellation of a major transportation project (C/K Line to Torrance).
I also don’t know how I do this. I am so far deep within the transpo advocacy world.
I also don’t know how I do this. I am so far deep within the transpo advocacy world.
December 9, 2025 at 7:13 AM
Within the course of a week, we won a major cancellation of a no-good transportation project (ONT Tesla Tunnels) and averted a no-good cancellation of a major transportation project (C/K Line to Torrance).
I also don’t know how I do this. I am so far deep within the transpo advocacy world.
I also don’t know how I do this. I am so far deep within the transpo advocacy world.
Following the beginning of the design process in October, a few segments within the WSCCOG bus network, where other agencies are implementing transit improvements, are recommended for removal from the project scope.
December 9, 2025 at 6:24 AM
Following the beginning of the design process in October, a few segments within the WSCCOG bus network, where other agencies are implementing transit improvements, are recommended for removal from the project scope.
Reposted by olong
This morning, I was invited on the LAist's AirTalk with Larry Mantle where I debated Robert Gummer (Deputy Chief of Metro Security) about LA Metro's unauthorized 5-year suspension of fare enforcement.
You can listen to the full segment here (segment 5):
laist.com/news/remembe...
You can listen to the full segment here (segment 5):
laist.com/news/remembe...
December 8, 2025 at 9:05 PM
This morning, I was invited on the LAist's AirTalk with Larry Mantle where I debated Robert Gummer (Deputy Chief of Metro Security) about LA Metro's unauthorized 5-year suspension of fare enforcement.
You can listen to the full segment here (segment 5):
laist.com/news/remembe...
You can listen to the full segment here (segment 5):
laist.com/news/remembe...
Reposted by olong
no, I don't follow your tortured Kpop Demon Hunters analogy in outlining current geopolitical tensions with China, North Korea, and Japan, actually
December 8, 2025 at 7:52 PM
no, I don't follow your tortured Kpop Demon Hunters analogy in outlining current geopolitical tensions with China, North Korea, and Japan, actually
Reposted by olong
I think this The Point. In most of Europe the municipality is the the one body that concentrates the powers and political accountability for all these stuff, so they have a better understanding of the trade-offs and are more responsive and aware of the big picture.
December 8, 2025 at 1:59 AM
I think this The Point. In most of Europe the municipality is the the one body that concentrates the powers and political accountability for all these stuff, so they have a better understanding of the trade-offs and are more responsive and aware of the big picture.
Reposted by olong
I dont think we've been challenged to think about signals from a transit perspective. You have to find the handful of engineers who work on signals, have a stake in transit operations, and are willing to try new things.
December 7, 2025 at 10:25 PM
I dont think we've been challenged to think about signals from a transit perspective. You have to find the handful of engineers who work on signals, have a stake in transit operations, and are willing to try new things.
Reposted by olong
The absurdity is that there is space here! But they shaped the island to provide super wide turning radiuses for left turning cars! It's just that everything in the current road design practices is engineered to make TSP or anything that is not the 3-4 phase vanilla suburban traffic cycle impossible
December 7, 2025 at 3:46 AM
The absurdity is that there is space here! But they shaped the island to provide super wide turning radiuses for left turning cars! It's just that everything in the current road design practices is engineered to make TSP or anything that is not the 3-4 phase vanilla suburban traffic cycle impossible
Reposted by olong
BSS and City Council have been promoting the “ #LargeAsphaltRepair “ crap pretty heavily since July
December 8, 2025 at 2:42 AM
BSS and City Council have been promoting the “ #LargeAsphaltRepair “ crap pretty heavily since July