Sidestreets
@sidestreets.bsky.social
Radically pedestrian urban planning.
Chicago-centric. ✶✶✶✶
Chicago-centric. ✶✶✶✶
Pinned
I took a picture earlier this week that I think encapsulates the isolation and danger of living in a city that doesn’t #plowthesidewalks and a neighborhood where reactionaries want to tear out an under-construction safety project on Archer Avenue.
It’s a message about priorities.
It’s a message about priorities.
Reposted by Sidestreets
Drivers across the US drive significantly less in January and February, which includes lots of places with warmer climates.
Very few people suggest building fewer highways because drivers only take road trips in the nice weather months.
Very few people suggest building fewer highways because drivers only take road trips in the nice weather months.
December 29, 2025 at 4:31 AM
Drivers across the US drive significantly less in January and February, which includes lots of places with warmer climates.
Very few people suggest building fewer highways because drivers only take road trips in the nice weather months.
Very few people suggest building fewer highways because drivers only take road trips in the nice weather months.
For #manholecovermonday here are the schematics for Chicago's standard electric and sewer covers, from the State/Lake bid documents.
December 29, 2025 at 5:38 PM
For #manholecovermonday here are the schematics for Chicago's standard electric and sewer covers, from the State/Lake bid documents.
Reposted by Sidestreets
There's an entire city beyond these balconies. The fog ate it. (And now, rumblings of thunder.)
December 28, 2025 at 4:35 PM
There's an entire city beyond these balconies. The fog ate it. (And now, rumblings of thunder.)
Reposted by Sidestreets
Holiday lighting in the Amtrak cafe car.
December 28, 2025 at 3:34 AM
Holiday lighting in the Amtrak cafe car.
Reposted by Sidestreets
This is the MARTA bus stop sign. The TP indicates a Time Point for the bus operator to know this stop is an official Time Point in the schedule that they are measured against for on time performance or OTP. I've not seen this at another transit agency.
December 28, 2025 at 2:15 AM
This is the MARTA bus stop sign. The TP indicates a Time Point for the bus operator to know this stop is an official Time Point in the schedule that they are measured against for on time performance or OTP. I've not seen this at another transit agency.
Foggy night in Ottumwa
December 28, 2025 at 1:56 AM
Foggy night in Ottumwa
“So if you like fresh air or to smoke, you can step out, just stay near the train.” - @amtrak.com
Somehow I don’t think we can have both of those and stay near the train.
Somehow I don’t think we can have both of those and stay near the train.
December 27, 2025 at 11:31 PM
“So if you like fresh air or to smoke, you can step out, just stay near the train.” - @amtrak.com
Somehow I don’t think we can have both of those and stay near the train.
Somehow I don’t think we can have both of those and stay near the train.
The Naperville Subway
December 27, 2025 at 10:09 PM
The Naperville Subway
California Zephyr, you’re my hero.
December 27, 2025 at 9:28 PM
California Zephyr, you’re my hero.
Whenever someone says we built this place for cars, I have to respond that we *rebuilt* this place for cars.
Naperville expanded this roadway to add a right turn lane, and had to reroute the sidewalk.
Naperville expanded this roadway to add a right turn lane, and had to reroute the sidewalk.
December 27, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Whenever someone says we built this place for cars, I have to respond that we *rebuilt* this place for cars.
Naperville expanded this roadway to add a right turn lane, and had to reroute the sidewalk.
Naperville expanded this roadway to add a right turn lane, and had to reroute the sidewalk.
Spending another hour in Naperville for reasons only Amtrak knows.
December 27, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Spending another hour in Naperville for reasons only Amtrak knows.
Western Springs is such a good name for a sprawling American suburb.
December 27, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Western Springs is such a good name for a sprawling American suburb.
Blue Island at night
December 27, 2025 at 3:13 AM
Blue Island at night
Cermak Road (then 22nd) was widened in 1927 through what is now Chinatown. This reduced buildings along the corridor by 25ft, which led the Parisian Novelty Company to move to Brighton Park.
ccamuseum.org/1927-the-wid...
ccamuseum.org/1927-the-wid...
December 26, 2025 at 10:56 PM
Cermak Road (then 22nd) was widened in 1927 through what is now Chinatown. This reduced buildings along the corridor by 25ft, which led the Parisian Novelty Company to move to Brighton Park.
ccamuseum.org/1927-the-wid...
ccamuseum.org/1927-the-wid...
Chicago quiz:
This block in Chicago is surround by four streets that have all had their names changed since this 1917 Sanborn map.
What are the surrounding streets called now?
This block in Chicago is surround by four streets that have all had their names changed since this 1917 Sanborn map.
What are the surrounding streets called now?
December 26, 2025 at 10:14 PM
Chicago quiz:
This block in Chicago is surround by four streets that have all had their names changed since this 1917 Sanborn map.
What are the surrounding streets called now?
This block in Chicago is surround by four streets that have all had their names changed since this 1917 Sanborn map.
What are the surrounding streets called now?
I decided to look up the regulations that pertain to a "Zone of Quiet", and found the city code to be a little bit dated...
I will haul my dray along 22nd Street at whatever time of night I like, thank you very much!
I will haul my dray along 22nd Street at whatever time of night I like, thank you very much!
December 26, 2025 at 9:10 PM
I decided to look up the regulations that pertain to a "Zone of Quiet", and found the city code to be a little bit dated...
I will haul my dray along 22nd Street at whatever time of night I like, thank you very much!
I will haul my dray along 22nd Street at whatever time of night I like, thank you very much!
Merry Christmas from Chicago!
December 25, 2025 at 10:11 PM
Merry Christmas from Chicago!
Reposted by Sidestreets
Who needs a village when you can have parking lots?
December 24, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Who needs a village when you can have parking lots?
Windows in Pilsen
December 25, 2025 at 3:38 AM
Windows in Pilsen
Time to gather around the switch heaters for a toasty yule log night.
Metra Moments | A2 Switch Heaters
Gather around the switch heater fires at the busiest interlocking in the Chicago region and take in the warmth during a pre-dawn snowfall. #MetraMoments
www.youtube.com
December 25, 2025 at 12:00 AM
Time to gather around the switch heaters for a toasty yule log night.
It's time to talk about the planned State/Lake elevators in a 🧵
The Red Line is getting two new elevators for the north entrance at Lake, which involves extending the paid mezzanine space.
Currently, only the south mezzanine is accessible, which is a horrible transfer for the rebuilt elevated.
The Red Line is getting two new elevators for the north entrance at Lake, which involves extending the paid mezzanine space.
Currently, only the south mezzanine is accessible, which is a horrible transfer for the rebuilt elevated.
December 24, 2025 at 11:13 PM
It's time to talk about the planned State/Lake elevators in a 🧵
The Red Line is getting two new elevators for the north entrance at Lake, which involves extending the paid mezzanine space.
Currently, only the south mezzanine is accessible, which is a horrible transfer for the rebuilt elevated.
The Red Line is getting two new elevators for the north entrance at Lake, which involves extending the paid mezzanine space.
Currently, only the south mezzanine is accessible, which is a horrible transfer for the rebuilt elevated.
CDOT will be adding pedestrian refuge islands to the intersection of State/Lake for safety when crossing the street. This is in part because the current support columns in the middle of State Street will be removed.
This street used to be a transit/pedestrian mall. Allowing cars made it unsafe.
This street used to be a transit/pedestrian mall. Allowing cars made it unsafe.
December 24, 2025 at 9:19 PM
CDOT will be adding pedestrian refuge islands to the intersection of State/Lake for safety when crossing the street. This is in part because the current support columns in the middle of State Street will be removed.
This street used to be a transit/pedestrian mall. Allowing cars made it unsafe.
This street used to be a transit/pedestrian mall. Allowing cars made it unsafe.
"It's a lot bigger than you think"
why are there several men with the last name patlan getting aggresive about the archer road diet
![DMs from Dominique P[atlan] to a guy named alfredo on facebook:
I been watching you since the beginning. I been waiting for you to step out of line. Just drop it.
Pussy lanes don't belong in Brighton park
Every time I see you I know what time it is.
I delivered heaters to your house when you had no heat. Smh
We supposed to be brothers
Leave this shit alone.
It's a lot bigger than you think](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:7x7ujfvx3y5kkp3rxww7z7cw/bafkreihev2chnmaw4xg437oepdnbrq26igamyuxb7krpxehval2yqkv2lq@jpeg)
December 24, 2025 at 8:19 PM
"It's a lot bigger than you think"