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kateontransport.bsky.social
Kate Lowe (she/hers)
@kateontransport.bsky.social
6.2K followers 2.5K following 600 posts

Mobility justice/transportation equity/urban planning and policy. Chicago!!! Proud union member (UIC United Faculty). Day job @ @uiccuppa.bsky.social

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kateontransport.bsky.social
Kate Lowe (she/hers) @kateontransport.bsky.social · Apr 7
Appreciate insightful coverage @keawilson.bsky.social @usa.streetsblog.org on our collaboration (@annalivia.bsky.social & Frechette) on walkability & inherent problems of Walk Score as tied to inequitable, racialized investment flows fueling destination proximity usa.streetsblog.org/2025/04/07/i...
Is 'Walk Score' Really Just a 'White Score'? — Streetsblog USA
A new paper argues that the popular real estate tools is driving investment to predominantly white urban neighborhoods, without expanding walkability for anyone else.
usa.streetsblog.org

kateontransport.bsky.social
Kate Lowe (she/hers) @kateontransport.bsky.social · 3d
Happy @chicagocta.bsky.social is doing engagement to substantially improve bus service on key corridors with Better Streets for Buses. Thrilled with operations & capital funding in the transit bill (thanks to those who made it happen) that can support increased frequency & capital projects!

kateontransport.bsky.social
Kate Lowe (she/hers) @kateontransport.bsky.social · 4d
Do love the idea of a city-owned bus terminal! Great idea from @mayorofchicago.bsky.social & team! Don't love that some yucky firms making money from the deal, but that's our real estate/private equity/late capitalism landscape(Conway's critique doesn't feel sincere given whole his whole ethos)
wonkicorn.bsky.social David Zoltan (he/they) @wonkicorn.bsky.social · 4d
Agreed. Having this as a city resource would be ideal. Integration with the rest of the transit system even better.
sorenspicknall.bsky.social Soren Spicknall @sorenspicknall.bsky.social · 4d
IMO this is a really good move if the city can make it happen.

Reposted by Kate Lowe

wonkicorn.bsky.social
David Zoltan (he/they) @wonkicorn.bsky.social · 4d
Agreed. Having this as a city resource would be ideal. Integration with the rest of the transit system even better.

kateontransport.bsky.social
Kate Lowe (she/hers) @kateontransport.bsky.social · 4d
When celebrities are seeing the problems of AI...why don't university administrators? Also, a little funny. But not funny when labor (@aft.org) is partnering when it should be resisting the very premise.

kateontransport.bsky.social
Kate Lowe (she/hers) @kateontransport.bsky.social · 5d
Thrilled about so much in the public transit bill! More $, coordination, TOD!! Congrats to many! Still concerning loss of electoral leverage for Chi folks. Many groups concentrated in Chi (305,989 carfree households=82% of Cook's carless). & fear Rauner repeat.
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/05/t...
Transit reform measure shifts CTA control from Chicago mayor. Lawmaker says that’s an ‘asset.’
As state lawmakers raced to pass a $1.5 billion plan to overhaul regional mass transportation, Mayor Brandon Johnson’s office lost control over the CTA board.
www.chicagotribune.com

Reposted by Silvia Secchi, Daniel Huppmann, Paul Fisher , and 3 more

costasamaras.com
Costa Samaras @costasamaras.com · 6d
tired: leaders throw folks under the bus

wired: leaders invite folks on the bus in a dedicated lane

kateontransport.bsky.social
Kate Lowe (she/hers) @kateontransport.bsky.social · 6d
Excited for today and watching NYC with hope!
dieworkwear.bsky.social derek guy @dieworkwear.bsky.social · 17d
this is what will happen if mamdani makes bus rides free
A cat is seen riding a bus. They are standing up and have their front paws on the back of the front seat.

Reposted by Keith Lilley, Jason Dittmer, Kate Lowe , and 1 more

uvicgeography.bsky.social
UVic Geography @uvicgeography.bsky.social · 6d
The Department of Geography invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in Indigenous Geographies, preferably with a focus on Human–Environment Relationships.

Read more 👉 www.uvic.ca/faculty-staf...

Reposted by Michael Schmitt, Brian Kelly, Mark Rice , and 2 more

phineas.bsky.social
Phineas @phineas.bsky.social · 7d
New awareness campaign
A digital poster in the style of a World War II propaganda piece. Isolaed on a yellow background, a normal, squarish, 20-something guy with glasses is sitting working on a laptop. A ghostly figure of Hitler has his arm around the guy and is grinning and shaking a fist triumphantly looking at the laptop screen. On the lid of the laptop where an apple might otherwise be is an openAI logo, bright green, and dripping green ooze down the lid. Text on the poster, in combinations of sans-serif type and brush script reads: Using Generative AI? You’re prompting with Hitler! GenAI is a Fascist Project! Try using your brain instead Don’t surrender your creativity to the tech billionaire’s control

kateontransport.bsky.social
Kate Lowe (she/hers) @kateontransport.bsky.social · 9d
Love of Halloween plus burn out. This Logan Square neighbor sees me.
Gravestone decoration that says here lies my motivation

kateontransport.bsky.social
Kate Lowe (she/hers) @kateontransport.bsky.social · 10d
Yes! We can support ending exclusionary single family only zoning but that does not mean market rate, supply side emphasis will trickle down and move the needle significantly for those with the lowest income.
tonydamiano.bsky.social Tony Damiano @tonydamiano.bsky.social · 10d
Published my first Op-Ed w/ Professor Ed Goetz on how the national narrative about Minneapolis misses how zoning and market rate housing are necessary but not sufficient to help lower-income renters 🧵 www.startribune.com/twin-cities-...
Opinion | We’re seeing haves and have-nots with Minneapolis rents
While the housing cost burden is easing overall, it’s not the case for lower-income renters, the authors write.
www.startribune.com

Reposted by Kate Lowe

tonydamiano.bsky.social
Tony Damiano @tonydamiano.bsky.social · 10d
Published my first Op-Ed w/ Professor Ed Goetz on how the national narrative about Minneapolis misses how zoning and market rate housing are necessary but not sufficient to help lower-income renters 🧵 www.startribune.com/twin-cities-...
Opinion | We’re seeing haves and have-nots with Minneapolis rents
While the housing cost burden is easing overall, it’s not the case for lower-income renters, the authors write.
www.startribune.com

Reposted by Scott L. Greer, David R. Miller, Julia Lynch , and 8 more

gbrockell.bsky.social
Gillian Brockell @gbrockell.bsky.social · 11d
When I worked in WaPo Opinions in 2017-2018, senior editors specifically told junior editors not to factcheck Marc Thiessen and other MAGA columnists, otherwise they wouldn’t be able to publish anything by them at all, and “we need them for intellectual diversity.”
johncarlbaker.bsky.social John Carl Baker @johncarlbaker.bsky.social · 11d
It’s very telling that opening your publication to MAGA “thought” requires a massive downgrade in quality control.

kateontransport.bsky.social
Kate Lowe (she/hers) @kateontransport.bsky.social · 11d
Also interested in things that de-incentivize huge, polluting, dangerous vehicles! However, I think collective services like public transit, libraries & ed are fine to fund with general revenue sources. So, not on the bandwagon that transit needs transportation sources for funding

kateontransport.bsky.social
Kate Lowe (she/hers) @kateontransport.bsky.social · 11d
Thanks for sharing here!

kateontransport.bsky.social
Kate Lowe (she/hers) @kateontransport.bsky.social · 11d
Great day to start posting! Look forward to the live posting.

kateontransport.bsky.social
Kate Lowe (she/hers) @kateontransport.bsky.social · 11d
That's my rep! Glad he's finally posting here.

kateontransport.bsky.social
Kate Lowe (she/hers) @kateontransport.bsky.social · 11d
Anyone know of anyone live posting from Springfield on public transit stuff? @capitolfax.bsky.social fax had a tiny snippet earlier this afternoon.
kateontransport.bsky.social Kate Lowe (she/hers) @kateontransport.bsky.social · 11d
Riders & non-riders have a lot at stake with the public transit fiscal cliff ($2.6 billion GDP, congestion, emissions). Riders will face devasting cuts & missed opportunities. An alternative of investment could yield share benefits (riders & non-riders). Two scenarios for @chicagocta.bsky.social

kateontransport.bsky.social
Kate Lowe (she/hers) @kateontransport.bsky.social · 11d
Burrito taxi tax is off the table? Illinois Retail Merchants Association website ties food deserts & grocery deliveries, but bill that passed the Senate exempted groceries and RX. Trying to confuse? They have ads on Capitol Fax (who posted not exempt w/other items).
www.saynotoildeliverytaxes.com

kateontransport.bsky.social
Kate Lowe (she/hers) @kateontransport.bsky.social · 11d
A stopgap is much better than cuts, but we actually have to get past 2026 to avoid resources going to planning for cuts. The fiscal cliff is not newly known, so it's been hard to watch revenue be on the backburner. @rtachicago.bsky.social & CMAP put revenue options out there years ago.
kateontransport.bsky.social Kate Lowe (she/hers) @kateontransport.bsky.social · 11d
Riders & non-riders have a lot at stake with the public transit fiscal cliff ($2.6 billion GDP, congestion, emissions). Riders will face devasting cuts & missed opportunities. An alternative of investment could yield share benefits (riders & non-riders). Two scenarios for @chicagocta.bsky.social

kateontransport.bsky.social
Kate Lowe (she/hers) @kateontransport.bsky.social · 11d
Riders & non-riders have a lot at stake with the public transit fiscal cliff ($2.6 billion GDP, congestion, emissions). Riders will face devasting cuts & missed opportunities. An alternative of investment could yield share benefits (riders & non-riders). Two scenarios for @chicagocta.bsky.social

kateontransport.bsky.social
Kate Lowe (she/hers) @kateontransport.bsky.social · 12d
Stockyard is right around the corner from where I lived in Bridgeport. Great place and amazing owner!

kateontransport.bsky.social
Kate Lowe (she/hers) @kateontransport.bsky.social · 12d
Happy it's (this time) a short wait for thru service on the Blue Line but do not like short runs ending at UIC. Glad Green Line and buses serve the West Side and OP/FP, but look forward to slow zone elimination and more full runs (yes, $$$ needed) with collective environment & equity benefits.

kateontransport.bsky.social
Kate Lowe (she/hers) @kateontransport.bsky.social · 12d
Yeah, specializations have different orientations (and I read anything from biz schools critically). That said, I think the lesson of how scooters may replace sustainable modes and pair with ridehail matters. All for scooters as an option but think they're more distraction that real priority

kateontransport.bsky.social
Kate Lowe (she/hers) @kateontransport.bsky.social · 12d
Don't believe trendy VC-backed transport hype--study (Narang, Liu) challenges claims of equity & environmental benefits: news.illinois.edu/study-electr...

Yes, another opportunity to be smug, my 2019 @chicagotribune.com piece saying scooters aren't all that: www.chicagotribune.com/2019/10/14/c...
Study: Electric scooters boost rideshare trips but reduce bikeshare demand, raise new safety concerns – News Bureau
news.illinois.edu

Reposted by Anna O. Law, Huw Price, Enzo Rossi , and 5 more

dieworkwear.bsky.social
derek guy @dieworkwear.bsky.social · 17d
this is what will happen if mamdani makes bus rides free
A cat is seen riding a bus. They are standing up and have their front paws on the back of the front seat.

Reposted by Kate Lowe

djbyrnes1.bsky.social
Dave Byrnes @djbyrnes1.bsky.social · 19d
Federal agents were also active on Chicago's northwest side this morning, per rapid response teams.

They report multiple people "questioned and detained" near a Burger King in Humboldt Park, near North & Mozart, and at least one person detained at a gas station in Hermosa, near Armitage & Pulaski.
Image text: Los agentes interrogaron y detuvieron a varias personas en el callejon y en el estacionamiento de Burger King. Se vio a dos agentes en un Chevy blanco con matricula AFH 5006. Los agentes se marcharon y continuaron por California Avenue hacia Division Street. Los agentes ya no estan presentes. Image text: Agents questioned and detained multiple people in the alley and Burger King parking lot. 2 agents were seen in a white Chevy plate AFH 5006. Agents left and continued down California Avenue toward Division Street. Agents are no longer present. Image text: Una persona fue detenida en su camion en la gasolinera de Armitage y Pulaski. El camino ha sido trasladado por miembros de la comunidad. Los agentes ya no encuentran en el lugar. Image text: 1 person was detained from their truck at Armitage and Pulaski gas station lot. Truck has been relocated by community members. Agents are no longer present.

kateontransport.bsky.social
Kate Lowe (she/hers) @kateontransport.bsky.social · 19d
Delighted to share that we're hiring an Assist. Prof in community development/housing or urbanism and development! Job description here uic.csod.com/ux/ats/caree... Please share!
Phil Ashton (department head) & I (search committee chair) will be at ACSP. Schedule a meeting here

kateontransport.bsky.social
Kate Lowe (she/hers) @kateontransport.bsky.social · 22d
Hi friends! Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning looking for folks to share their perspectives on transportation and be in the regional transportation plan:
morrealecomm.wixsite.com/submission
HOME | CMAP RTP Submission
morrealecomm.wixsite.com

kateontransport.bsky.social
Kate Lowe (she/hers) @kateontransport.bsky.social · 25d
And here's where you can find the source of the diagram: www.urban.org/research/pub... A great @urbaninstitute.bsky.social report by @yonahfreemark.com & Lindiwe Rennert (not in original post due to character count limits...)