Blair Lorenzo / The Fox and the City
@thefoxandthecity.com
The world-famous urban theorist who…wait, this has to be honest‽
Independent Professional Urbanist and Writer, creating in-depth critiques of urban spaces, places, & systems.
My work:
thefoxandthecity.com
Also ED @etany.org
She/her
Independent Professional Urbanist and Writer, creating in-depth critiques of urban spaces, places, & systems.
My work:
thefoxandthecity.com
Also ED @etany.org
She/her
Pinned
Urbanism as a Field of Study | The Fox and the City
For all the attention urbanism has gotten over recent years, the study of cities for their own sake has often languished—and might even risk being defined out of existence. With apologies to Louis Wir...
tinyurl.com
For all the attention urbanism has gotten in recent years, urbanism as a field of study has often languished.
In my latest essay, I seek to define urbanism, explore what makes it different, and correct misconceptions about what it's not.
thefoxandthecity.com/articles/urb...
In my latest essay, I seek to define urbanism, explore what makes it different, and correct misconceptions about what it's not.
thefoxandthecity.com/articles/urb...
Very good piece.
In a lot of ways, transit was an early bellwether of what was coming given the lawlessness of the congestion pricing fight.
In a lot of ways, transit was an early bellwether of what was coming given the lawlessness of the congestion pricing fight.
January 29, 2026 at 5:49 PM
Very good piece.
In a lot of ways, transit was an early bellwether of what was coming given the lawlessness of the congestion pricing fight.
In a lot of ways, transit was an early bellwether of what was coming given the lawlessness of the congestion pricing fight.
Reposted by Blair Lorenzo / The Fox and the City
I've got to admit, the sheer "uh, life finds a way" of this sometimes is amazing.
These are on a light support *over the roadway*. Hard to get there from the walkway!
These are on a light support *over the roadway*. Hard to get there from the walkway!
January 29, 2026 at 4:47 PM
I've got to admit, the sheer "uh, life finds a way" of this sometimes is amazing.
These are on a light support *over the roadway*. Hard to get there from the walkway!
These are on a light support *over the roadway*. Hard to get there from the walkway!
Reposted by Blair Lorenzo / The Fox and the City
The orcas want you to use your orca card!
January 29, 2026 at 3:28 AM
The orcas want you to use your orca card!
Well um, ackshually, it's more like SimCity 3000.
And it's *amazing*.
And it's *amazing*.
January 29, 2026 at 2:23 AM
Well um, ackshually, it's more like SimCity 3000.
And it's *amazing*.
And it's *amazing*.
FOREVER
January 29, 2026 at 1:02 AM
FOREVER
So, I just had a random stranger on the 6 train ask me a question about how to structure her business: should she offer a helper a flat fee or a percentage for her dog boarding business?
I love this town.
I love this town.
January 29, 2026 at 12:36 AM
So, I just had a random stranger on the 6 train ask me a question about how to structure her business: should she offer a helper a flat fee or a percentage for her dog boarding business?
I love this town.
I love this town.
I decided to check out the new turnstiles at 23rd St on the 6.
These are part of a series of trials of new models to make the system more accessible while cutting down on fare evasion.
The MTA is trying different models in different stations.
These are part of a series of trials of new models to make the system more accessible while cutting down on fare evasion.
The MTA is trying different models in different stations.
January 28, 2026 at 11:55 PM
I decided to check out the new turnstiles at 23rd St on the 6.
These are part of a series of trials of new models to make the system more accessible while cutting down on fare evasion.
The MTA is trying different models in different stations.
These are part of a series of trials of new models to make the system more accessible while cutting down on fare evasion.
The MTA is trying different models in different stations.
This is an excellent project idea.
I don't think I ever fully wrote it up, but the other thing I'd like to see is a federally supported pilot program to try building a truly frequent bus network in a set of midsize cities, with a commitment to, say, 10 years of support. Not line-by-line. Do it all at once.
January 28, 2026 at 6:25 PM
This is an excellent project idea.
I thought I had repressed all the memories...
January 28, 2026 at 5:46 PM
I thought I had repressed all the memories...
Something is very strange in the MTA's FY2026 numbers: how is the agency spending nearly $7B on subway cars in one year!?
It is many times larger than any other line item, including 2x station work.
I feel like we have to be missing something in these numbers...
www.mta.info/transparency...
It is many times larger than any other line item, including 2x station work.
I feel like we have to be missing something in these numbers...
www.mta.info/transparency...
January 28, 2026 at 5:22 PM
Something is very strange in the MTA's FY2026 numbers: how is the agency spending nearly $7B on subway cars in one year!?
It is many times larger than any other line item, including 2x station work.
I feel like we have to be missing something in these numbers...
www.mta.info/transparency...
It is many times larger than any other line item, including 2x station work.
I feel like we have to be missing something in these numbers...
www.mta.info/transparency...
"Proceed quickly. Doors close swiftly."
We're going to need to bring back the "Step lively!" PSAs.
We're going to need to bring back the "Step lively!" PSAs.
January 28, 2026 at 1:44 AM
"Proceed quickly. Doors close swiftly."
We're going to need to bring back the "Step lively!" PSAs.
We're going to need to bring back the "Step lively!" PSAs.
Well, this isn't good: currently no Metro-North New Haven line departures have tracks.
January 27, 2026 at 11:42 PM
Well, this isn't good: currently no Metro-North New Haven line departures have tracks.
And I thought dealing with the Class I's in the US could be bad...
A recent casual conversation with someone who worked in a major transit project in Canada:
"Dealing with CN or CP is a nightmare, they don't care, they come at the table and clearly tell you: 'you are worth nothing, because they were there before the Confederation even existed'"
"Dealing with CN or CP is a nightmare, they don't care, they come at the table and clearly tell you: 'you are worth nothing, because they were there before the Confederation even existed'"
January 27, 2026 at 9:06 PM
And I thought dealing with the Class I's in the US could be bad...
Reposted by Blair Lorenzo / The Fox and the City
Looking south of the border got me thinking about civil wars in general, and the Greek Civil War, during which my mother grew up, in particular. In the @halifaxexaminer.ca today.
www.halifaxexaminer.ca/morning-file...
www.halifaxexaminer.ca/morning-file...
Is the U.S. on a slow march to civil war? - Halifax Examiner
I grew up with stories of the Greek civil war; now I think of them when I look at news out of the U.S.
www.halifaxexaminer.ca
January 27, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Looking south of the border got me thinking about civil wars in general, and the Greek Civil War, during which my mother grew up, in particular. In the @halifaxexaminer.ca today.
www.halifaxexaminer.ca/morning-file...
www.halifaxexaminer.ca/morning-file...
I know it's a board game, but this is also an fascinating lens into the popular view of the geography of New York in 1983.
Players spend a blue plastic token on each turn, with the object of the game being to get from home to work and back. They also draw cards which can either help their progress or create obstacles that delay the trip.
January 27, 2026 at 5:19 PM
I know it's a board game, but this is also an fascinating lens into the popular view of the geography of New York in 1983.
It is such whiplash.
The tunnel boring machines quite literally just arrived and are being assembled in their launch pit.
Regardless of your views on how Gateway got to where it is, stopping now is pure insanity.
The tunnel boring machines quite literally just arrived and are being assembled in their launch pit.
Regardless of your views on how Gateway got to where it is, stopping now is pure insanity.
Work on the Hudson River Rail tunnel will end on February 6 if federal funding isn’t restored, Gateway Project officials said this morning.
The Trump regime cut off funding last year in the early hours of the government shutdown.
Story TK
The Trump regime cut off funding last year in the early hours of the government shutdown.
Story TK
January 27, 2026 at 4:54 PM
It is such whiplash.
The tunnel boring machines quite literally just arrived and are being assembled in their launch pit.
Regardless of your views on how Gateway got to where it is, stopping now is pure insanity.
The tunnel boring machines quite literally just arrived and are being assembled in their launch pit.
Regardless of your views on how Gateway got to where it is, stopping now is pure insanity.
Midtown, the day after.
January 26, 2026 at 9:52 PM
Midtown, the day after.
Hmmm, I wonder where Metro-North has been switching New Haven line trains to the express track... It's a mystery
January 26, 2026 at 9:48 PM
Hmmm, I wonder where Metro-North has been switching New Haven line trains to the express track... It's a mystery
Really good summary/analysis of many of the problems so far with Toronto's new Line 6.
I'm particularly interested in this door issue. As @chittimarco.bsky.social has discussed, it's incredibly silly to have CBTC on a line of sight streetcar/LRV that doesn't operate in an controlled environment.
I'm particularly interested in this door issue. As @chittimarco.bsky.social has discussed, it's incredibly silly to have CBTC on a line of sight streetcar/LRV that doesn't operate in an controlled environment.
January 26, 2026 at 7:20 PM
Really good summary/analysis of many of the problems so far with Toronto's new Line 6.
I'm particularly interested in this door issue. As @chittimarco.bsky.social has discussed, it's incredibly silly to have CBTC on a line of sight streetcar/LRV that doesn't operate in an controlled environment.
I'm particularly interested in this door issue. As @chittimarco.bsky.social has discussed, it's incredibly silly to have CBTC on a line of sight streetcar/LRV that doesn't operate in an controlled environment.
I know I'm hammering my own viewpoint, but it comes down to the fact that no one seems to care about public space.
It was unclear what this building was for from the beginning. The costs and lack of retail management are huge, as is the lack of meaningful space.
And we just accept it as normal.
It was unclear what this building was for from the beginning. The costs and lack of retail management are huge, as is the lack of meaningful space.
And we just accept it as normal.
Amazing that the MTA spent $1.4 billion building a mall that they can’t even manage to keep occupied at one of the most prime locations on earth, and it wasn’t any sort of scandal that tarred anybody’s reputation or made anybody think twice about how the agency operates
January 26, 2026 at 7:06 PM
I know I'm hammering my own viewpoint, but it comes down to the fact that no one seems to care about public space.
It was unclear what this building was for from the beginning. The costs and lack of retail management are huge, as is the lack of meaningful space.
And we just accept it as normal.
It was unclear what this building was for from the beginning. The costs and lack of retail management are huge, as is the lack of meaningful space.
And we just accept it as normal.
Reposted by Blair Lorenzo / The Fox and the City
Zohran Mamdani promised to be a mayor for an era of abundance in New York City, and the snow accumulation of the first winter storm of his mayoralty is proof that he can live up to that promise
January 26, 2026 at 2:44 PM
Zohran Mamdani promised to be a mayor for an era of abundance in New York City, and the snow accumulation of the first winter storm of his mayoralty is proof that he can live up to that promise
Reposted by Blair Lorenzo / The Fox and the City
Finally, the ultimate #AvGeek x Transit mashup.
I think that's a Rolls-Royce Viper, a turbojet originally manufactured by Armstrong Siddeley dating back to 1951!
I think that's a Rolls-Royce Viper, a turbojet originally manufactured by Armstrong Siddeley dating back to 1951!
January 26, 2026 at 4:46 PM
Finally, the ultimate #AvGeek x Transit mashup.
I think that's a Rolls-Royce Viper, a turbojet originally manufactured by Armstrong Siddeley dating back to 1951!
I think that's a Rolls-Royce Viper, a turbojet originally manufactured by Armstrong Siddeley dating back to 1951!
New additions to my small collection of transit fare cards that others have gotten me, thanks go my good friend Alex!
A Tokyo and a Seoul to go along with my Parisian Navigo Dévouerte!
A Tokyo and a Seoul to go along with my Parisian Navigo Dévouerte!
January 26, 2026 at 5:17 PM
New additions to my small collection of transit fare cards that others have gotten me, thanks go my good friend Alex!
A Tokyo and a Seoul to go along with my Parisian Navigo Dévouerte!
A Tokyo and a Seoul to go along with my Parisian Navigo Dévouerte!
We may be living in hell...
...but at least the snow is pretty.
...but at least the snow is pretty.
January 25, 2026 at 7:22 PM
We may be living in hell...
...but at least the snow is pretty.
...but at least the snow is pretty.