Cyrus Hall
@cyrushall.bsky.social
Mass car use is geometrically incompatible with great cities. Transit & bikes are the future. Tech things sometimes.
Reposted by Cyrus Hall
I'm attending a workshop hosted by @techpolicypress.bsky.social tomorrow. They invited me to write a "provocation" about the state of technology and democracy right now.
I think I wrote something appropriately dark and foreboding.
www.techpolicy.press/the-dance-wi...
I think I wrote something appropriately dark and foreboding.
www.techpolicy.press/the-dance-wi...
The Dance with Big Tech is Different under Trump 2.0 | TechPolicy.Press
If we are going to repair democratic institutions, we are going to have to do it ourselves, writes Dave Karpf.
www.techpolicy.press
November 13, 2025 at 9:09 PM
I'm attending a workshop hosted by @techpolicypress.bsky.social tomorrow. They invited me to write a "provocation" about the state of technology and democracy right now.
I think I wrote something appropriately dark and foreboding.
www.techpolicy.press/the-dance-wi...
I think I wrote something appropriately dark and foreboding.
www.techpolicy.press/the-dance-wi...
Reposted by Cyrus Hall
Exactly!
We can both address the immediate crisis by passing a transit funding measure next year
AND plan for the future.
We need to plan now to make the San Antonio BART station happen when transit capital funding starts flowing again. BART projects take a long time!
We can both address the immediate crisis by passing a transit funding measure next year
AND plan for the future.
We need to plan now to make the San Antonio BART station happen when transit capital funding starts flowing again. BART projects take a long time!
I don't see a big conflict here. BART is right to focus on keeping the lights on. And Oakland advocates are right to think long-term and paint a picture of a future with better BART, creating some excitement ahead of the funding measure.
BART’s fiscal crisis could close 9 stations. So why are people pushing for a new one in Oakland?
BART is facing a budget crisis of unfathomable magnitude. But that hasn’t stopped political leaders from pressing for a new train station in East Oakland.
www.sfchronicle.com
November 14, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Exactly!
We can both address the immediate crisis by passing a transit funding measure next year
AND plan for the future.
We need to plan now to make the San Antonio BART station happen when transit capital funding starts flowing again. BART projects take a long time!
We can both address the immediate crisis by passing a transit funding measure next year
AND plan for the future.
We need to plan now to make the San Antonio BART station happen when transit capital funding starts flowing again. BART projects take a long time!
Current top search in San Francisco: "tenure of Liz Truss"
November 14, 2025 at 6:05 AM
Current top search in San Francisco: "tenure of Liz Truss"
I just grabbed a copy!
TODAY is publication day for my first book! If You Want to Win, You’ve Got to Fight: A Guide To Effective Transportation Advocacy is a practical guide for people who want to make #transit, #bike, and street safety changes in their community
Check it out at islandpress.org/books/if-you...
Check it out at islandpress.org/books/if-you...
November 13, 2025 at 7:58 PM
I just grabbed a copy!
Reposted by Cyrus Hall
“By cutting aid for permanent housing by 2/3 next year, the plan risks a sudden end of support… beginning as soon as January. All are disabled — a condition of the aid — and many are 50 or older. The document does not explain how they would find housing.”
This is far worse than anyone expected.
Trump's HUD plan would cut *two-thirds* of permanent housing and push as many as 170,000 formerly homeless people back onto the street—redirecting funds to work mandates, forced treatment, and encampment sweeps.
All as mass internment camps are being built.
Trump's HUD plan would cut *two-thirds* of permanent housing and push as many as 170,000 formerly homeless people back onto the street—redirecting funds to work mandates, forced treatment, and encampment sweeps.
All as mass internment camps are being built.
Trump Administration to Drastically Cut Housing Grants
www.nytimes.com
November 13, 2025 at 4:05 AM
“By cutting aid for permanent housing by 2/3 next year, the plan risks a sudden end of support… beginning as soon as January. All are disabled — a condition of the aid — and many are 50 or older. The document does not explain how they would find housing.”
Californai peeps, I bring CA-1 news: With Prop 50 passed, Audrey Denney is running in CA-1! Audrey has challenged Doug LaMalfa - a MAGA asshole - twice, and come withing 4% of beating him in a what _was_ a heavily tilted R district. But CA-1 has lost R strongholds, and Santa Rosa has joined!
November 13, 2025 at 12:07 AM
Californai peeps, I bring CA-1 news: With Prop 50 passed, Audrey Denney is running in CA-1! Audrey has challenged Doug LaMalfa - a MAGA asshole - twice, and come withing 4% of beating him in a what _was_ a heavily tilted R district. But CA-1 has lost R strongholds, and Santa Rosa has joined!
There is no reason to believe Waymo or Zoox will be any different.
Remember all the hype about how Uber and Lyft would allow people to live car-free?
Well, it turns out ridehail has no discernible impact on car ownership at all.
Analysis from Glenn Mercer's excellent newsletter:
glennmercer.substack.com/p/the-impact...
Well, it turns out ridehail has no discernible impact on car ownership at all.
Analysis from Glenn Mercer's excellent newsletter:
glennmercer.substack.com/p/the-impact...
November 12, 2025 at 10:37 PM
There is no reason to believe Waymo or Zoox will be any different.
Reposted by Cyrus Hall
BTW, a 2021 Carnie Mellon study found that ridehail's arrival in a new city *increases* car ownership.
The reason: Few residents ditch their car, while some become ridehail drivers and buy vehicles.
www.cell.com/iscience/ful...
The reason: Few residents ditch their car, while some become ridehail drivers and buy vehicles.
www.cell.com/iscience/ful...
November 12, 2025 at 8:34 PM
BTW, a 2021 Carnie Mellon study found that ridehail's arrival in a new city *increases* car ownership.
The reason: Few residents ditch their car, while some become ridehail drivers and buy vehicles.
www.cell.com/iscience/ful...
The reason: Few residents ditch their car, while some become ridehail drivers and buy vehicles.
www.cell.com/iscience/ful...
🪄
Drivers stop at crosswalks in Poland now because they passed presumed liability, and they ran a public awareness campaign to promote it. The driver is presumed to be at fault if they hit a pedestrian in a crosswalk.
The zebra stripes in Poland have magical power that the ones in America don’t. Even on a fast divided highway, a pedestrian in the shadows, well back from the curb, can stop traffic.
November 12, 2025 at 8:32 PM
🪄
Great thread on why unfocused, one-time investment in transportation infrastructure ended up a mess with poor outcomes.
We need a plan for the future, not just hope that dominant construction interests (capital and labor), and politicians addicted to roads, will suddenly build more useful things.
We need a plan for the future, not just hope that dominant construction interests (capital and labor), and politicians addicted to roads, will suddenly build more useful things.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed 4 years ago. In new research @urbaninstitute.bsky.social we study its effects.
US transport spending increased by 30%, but:
—Funding for non-highway projects flatlined
—Construction cost increases resulted in no actual increase in infrastructure
US transport spending increased by 30%, but:
—Funding for non-highway projects flatlined
—Construction cost increases resulted in no actual increase in infrastructure
Federal Infrastructure Spending on Transportation, Four Years after the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is up for reauthorization in 2026. New analysis shows that the act increased spending on transportation infrastructure, but…
www.urban.org
November 12, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Great thread on why unfocused, one-time investment in transportation infrastructure ended up a mess with poor outcomes.
We need a plan for the future, not just hope that dominant construction interests (capital and labor), and politicians addicted to roads, will suddenly build more useful things.
We need a plan for the future, not just hope that dominant construction interests (capital and labor), and politicians addicted to roads, will suddenly build more useful things.
Massive gap in 49 service southbound right now. 8 min evening frequency looking more like 15-20 mins.
November 12, 2025 at 4:32 AM
Massive gap in 49 service southbound right now. 8 min evening frequency looking more like 15-20 mins.
Reposted by Cyrus Hall
🚦 NEW, NOT SO FAST: A Bayview project was uncontroversial — until it went up for a vote and three people said SFMTA hadn't done enough outreach. Now it's been delayed indefinitely, and it's unclear how that will affect funding. @unazurda.bsky.social reports. thefrisc.com/bayview-stre...
Bayview Street Safety Project Delayed By 3 Complaints, Minutes Before a Vote
Calls for more outreach surprised SFMTA officials, but they shelved the plan’s approval for now. Will it jeopardize future funding?
thefrisc.com
November 12, 2025 at 1:42 AM
🚦 NEW, NOT SO FAST: A Bayview project was uncontroversial — until it went up for a vote and three people said SFMTA hadn't done enough outreach. Now it's been delayed indefinitely, and it's unclear how that will affect funding. @unazurda.bsky.social reports. thefrisc.com/bayview-stre...
Brightline is reminding us that building HSR in the US is too damn expensive, and letting a private company do it doesn't magically make it cheaper. Their projected costs for Brightline West have doubled and now they want federal money.
Western high-speed rail line asks Trump for $6B as costs balloon
The project aims to connect Las Vegas and Southern California. Trains along the route are expected to hit speeds up to 200 mph.
www.eenews.net
November 11, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Brightline is reminding us that building HSR in the US is too damn expensive, and letting a private company do it doesn't magically make it cheaper. Their projected costs for Brightline West have doubled and now they want federal money.
Ahh yes, just my health insurance premiums going up by 11% year-over-year. I can't wait to be paying more for health insurance than rent a decade from now. Truly a sustainable and scalable system we have here in the US.
November 11, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Ahh yes, just my health insurance premiums going up by 11% year-over-year. I can't wait to be paying more for health insurance than rent a decade from now. Truly a sustainable and scalable system we have here in the US.
Reposted by Cyrus Hall
Tomorrow is your last chance to ride the MUNI Breda LRVs!
I will def be at the happy hour, my ride time is flexible depending on who else will be going and when. :)
If you’re interested in tagging along, comment or DM and we can coordinate!
www.sfmta.com/blog/bye-bye...
I will def be at the happy hour, my ride time is flexible depending on who else will be going and when. :)
If you’re interested in tagging along, comment or DM and we can coordinate!
www.sfmta.com/blog/bye-bye...
Bye Bye, Breda: Take a Last Ride on a Transit Superstar
Our Breda light rail vehicles have carried San Francisco through years of change and connection.
www.sfmta.com
November 11, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Tomorrow is your last chance to ride the MUNI Breda LRVs!
I will def be at the happy hour, my ride time is flexible depending on who else will be going and when. :)
If you’re interested in tagging along, comment or DM and we can coordinate!
www.sfmta.com/blog/bye-bye...
I will def be at the happy hour, my ride time is flexible depending on who else will be going and when. :)
If you’re interested in tagging along, comment or DM and we can coordinate!
www.sfmta.com/blog/bye-bye...
Abolishing ICE and CBP, and prosecuting those who have violated laws and human rights, is the only moral path forward. US immigration enforcement will need to be rebuilt from the scratch, and anyone currently employed blacklisted.
Congresswoman Yassamin Ansari of Arizona’s 3rd District describes the “horrific conditions” she witnessed inside the Eloy ICE Detention Center near Phoenix — including a leukemia patient “vomiting blood,” detained in February and forced to wait eight months before finally seeing an oncologist...
November 11, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Abolishing ICE and CBP, and prosecuting those who have violated laws and human rights, is the only moral path forward. US immigration enforcement will need to be rebuilt from the scratch, and anyone currently employed blacklisted.
Some nights you're just up for some avant-garde Icelandic jazz. This concert from ADHD - recorded by KEXP - has been a favorite of mine for going on a decade now. Just peak in the zone.
ADHD - Full Performance (Live on KEXP)
YouTube video by KEXP
www.youtube.com
November 11, 2025 at 7:18 AM
Some nights you're just up for some avant-garde Icelandic jazz. This concert from ADHD - recorded by KEXP - has been a favorite of mine for going on a decade now. Just peak in the zone.
Reposted by Cyrus Hall
Wilson is now leading in the vote count for Seattle mayor by 91 votes. There are still several thousand ballots to count, likely—based on historical examples—to favor Wilson.
Wilson may be the most truly "urbanist" mayoral candidate in the country.
Wilson may be the most truly "urbanist" mayoral candidate in the country.
Who is Katie Wilson?
She’s head of the Seattle Transit Riders Union.
Her platform proposes to massively increase funding for affordable housing, cut red tape for development, shift away from single occupancy cars, & develop the transit network.
And she may well be the next mayor of the city.
She’s head of the Seattle Transit Riders Union.
Her platform proposes to massively increase funding for affordable housing, cut red tape for development, shift away from single occupancy cars, & develop the transit network.
And she may well be the next mayor of the city.
In my spreadsheet (which makes assumptions about fall off, write-ins, probably has mistakes, etc.), Katie needed to average 54.6% to win by a little over 100 votes.
Today she got 54.85%.
A friend says she needs 54.2% from here on out--will do my own math shortly.
Today she got 54.85%.
A friend says she needs 54.2% from here on out--will do my own math shortly.
November 10, 2025 at 11:58 PM
Wilson is now leading in the vote count for Seattle mayor by 91 votes. There are still several thousand ballots to count, likely—based on historical examples—to favor Wilson.
Wilson may be the most truly "urbanist" mayoral candidate in the country.
Wilson may be the most truly "urbanist" mayoral candidate in the country.
Don't buy bikes made up of specialized, one-off components. When the company goes out of business you end up with a hard to maintain product.
NEW: Rad Power Bikes has told employees it will go out of business in January without new funding.
The company said in a staff email that it had a "very promising" option to stay alive, but whatever that was, it fell apart.
Story with @kirstenkorosec.bsky.social
techcrunch.com/2025/11/10/r...
The company said in a staff email that it had a "very promising" option to stay alive, but whatever that was, it fell apart.
Story with @kirstenkorosec.bsky.social
techcrunch.com/2025/11/10/r...
Rad Power Bikes faces shutdown in January without new funding | TechCrunch
The company is "still fighting to find ways to continue" according to an email viewed by TechCrunch.
techcrunch.com
November 10, 2025 at 10:23 PM
Don't buy bikes made up of specialized, one-off components. When the company goes out of business you end up with a hard to maintain product.
On a random note, it's nice that every single story about the SF Zoo no longer contains a photo where the CEO is wearing leopard print. It always truck me as rather awkward to wear the skin - real or not - of the animals you were supposed to care for.
November 10, 2025 at 7:42 PM
On a random note, it's nice that every single story about the SF Zoo no longer contains a photo where the CEO is wearing leopard print. It always truck me as rather awkward to wear the skin - real or not - of the animals you were supposed to care for.
I support about half of what is suggested in SPUR's report, am on the fence for another 25%, and oppose the rest. I particularly oppose raising the non-Charter ballot initiative threshold.
There’s no fixing San Francisco without fixing its City Charter. Here’s how
OPINION: “Reforming the charter isn’t just bureaucratic housekeeping; it’s the first step toward a government that works for the people it serves,” Sean Elsbernd writes.
www.sfchronicle.com
November 10, 2025 at 5:04 PM
I support about half of what is suggested in SPUR's report, am on the fence for another 25%, and oppose the rest. I particularly oppose raising the non-Charter ballot initiative threshold.
The problem with the idea that Border Patrol and ICE agents could be prosecuted post-Trump is that Trump will likely pardon them all before he exits the presidency. States could still prosecute, but it would be piecemeal at best.
NEW: Donald Trump has pardoned a long list of allies in his bid to subvert the 2020 election including:
-Rudy Giuliani
-John Eastman
-Mark Meadows
-Sidney Powell
-Ken Chesebro
-Christina Bobb
-Kelli Ward
-Jenna Ellis
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
-Rudy Giuliani
-John Eastman
-Mark Meadows
-Sidney Powell
-Ken Chesebro
-Christina Bobb
-Kelli Ward
-Jenna Ellis
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
November 10, 2025 at 8:25 AM
The problem with the idea that Border Patrol and ICE agents could be prosecuted post-Trump is that Trump will likely pardon them all before he exits the presidency. States could still prosecute, but it would be piecemeal at best.
Reposted by Cyrus Hall
i think this is key. taking the deal would amount to taking the blame. it would turn a clear political victory into an unambiguous defeat.
If the Dems blink after all of this, for a deal that all but ensures no ACA subsidies in 2026 anyway, then what was the purpose of letting the shutdown go for 40 days in the first place?
November 10, 2025 at 12:56 AM
i think this is key. taking the deal would amount to taking the blame. it would turn a clear political victory into an unambiguous defeat.
Reposted by Cyrus Hall
These cases are nightmares. Many people had removal proceedings “administratively closed” for years; the case is off the docket and the person can stay indefinitely.
Now, suddenly, ICE is restarting them. And if they miss a physical letter, they might get ordered deported without their knowledge.
Now, suddenly, ICE is restarting them. And if they miss a physical letter, they might get ordered deported without their knowledge.
Hundreds of immigration cases in San Francisco have been closed for years, even decades, often b/c they are not an enforcement priority.
Many involve victims of crime & abuse.
This summer, Trump attorneys tried to bring them back.
missionlocal.org/2025/11/sf-i...
Many involve victims of crime & abuse.
This summer, Trump attorneys tried to bring them back.
missionlocal.org/2025/11/sf-i...
Hundreds of S.F. immigration cases were paused for decades. Trump tried to revive them.
Federal attorneys tried reviving some 2,000 deportation cases in San Francisco, many involving alleged victims of crime and abuse.
missionlocal.org
November 8, 2025 at 5:36 PM
These cases are nightmares. Many people had removal proceedings “administratively closed” for years; the case is off the docket and the person can stay indefinitely.
Now, suddenly, ICE is restarting them. And if they miss a physical letter, they might get ordered deported without their knowledge.
Now, suddenly, ICE is restarting them. And if they miss a physical letter, they might get ordered deported without their knowledge.