Jake Berman
@lostsubways.com
Lawyer, historian, mapmaker. Transport + housing nerd. Californian living in New York.
Wrote and illustrated "The Lost Subways of North America". Order the book at: http://lostsubways.com
Wrote and illustrated "The Lost Subways of North America". Order the book at: http://lostsubways.com
The law says that it rezones counties with 15 or more passenger rail stations. Aaaaand what is the Tilden Park miniature steam train if not a railway that carries passengers?
November 24, 2025 at 9:25 PM
The law says that it rezones counties with 15 or more passenger rail stations. Aaaaand what is the Tilden Park miniature steam train if not a railway that carries passengers?
Hot take: SB79 did rezone Contra Costa County because they counted wrong. The law applies to counties with 15 or more passenger rail stations... and Contra Costa has 16, because the Legislature forgot to count the Tilden Park steam train.
November 24, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Hot take: SB79 did rezone Contra Costa County because they counted wrong. The law applies to counties with 15 or more passenger rail stations... and Contra Costa has 16, because the Legislature forgot to count the Tilden Park steam train.
What does this look like if you convert it? Well, I got the idea from Boulevard Richard-Lenoir in Paris, which has the green median configured as a park with playgrounds. This is something the East Bay could absolutely do. 6/x
November 23, 2025 at 6:33 PM
What does this look like if you convert it? Well, I got the idea from Boulevard Richard-Lenoir in Paris, which has the green median configured as a park with playgrounds. This is something the East Bay could absolutely do. 6/x
Most of the median already has greenery and trees, but nobody uses it as parkland because it's, you know, in the median. 5/
November 23, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Most of the median already has greenery and trees, but nobody uses it as parkland because it's, you know, in the median. 5/
The commercial on the corridor is pretty standard 2- and 3-story streetcar-era retail - mostly neighborhood stuff, because it's kind of out of the way. There's a lot of vacancies. 4/
November 23, 2025 at 6:33 PM
The commercial on the corridor is pretty standard 2- and 3-story streetcar-era retail - mostly neighborhood stuff, because it's kind of out of the way. There's a lot of vacancies. 4/
At its narrowest, at the Ashby Avenue BART, it's 120' wide.
There's just not a whole lot of traffic. The streetcars have been replaced with BART, and the cars have shifted to the freeway. 3/
There's just not a whole lot of traffic. The streetcars have been replaced with BART, and the cars have shifted to the freeway. 3/
November 23, 2025 at 6:33 PM
At its narrowest, at the Ashby Avenue BART, it's 120' wide.
There's just not a whole lot of traffic. The streetcars have been replaced with BART, and the cars have shifted to the freeway. 3/
There's just not a whole lot of traffic. The streetcars have been replaced with BART, and the cars have shifted to the freeway. 3/
The Adeline St-Stanford Ave corridor in Berkeley/Oakland/Emeryville is a real missed opportunity. (I'm home for Thanksgiving.)
It should really be a linear park. 1/🧵
It should really be a linear park. 1/🧵
November 23, 2025 at 6:33 PM
The Adeline St-Stanford Ave corridor in Berkeley/Oakland/Emeryville is a real missed opportunity. (I'm home for Thanksgiving.)
It should really be a linear park. 1/🧵
It should really be a linear park. 1/🧵
Detroit's unholy regional soda has spread to the Bay Area. What fresh horrors will the Midwest inflict on us next, Malort?
November 23, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Detroit's unholy regional soda has spread to the Bay Area. What fresh horrors will the Midwest inflict on us next, Malort?
Maryland was founded as a Catholic refuge from Protestant persecution.
George Washington himself wrote to the Jews of Newport that they, too, belonged in America. 3/
George Washington himself wrote to the Jews of Newport that they, too, belonged in America. 3/
November 21, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Maryland was founded as a Catholic refuge from Protestant persecution.
George Washington himself wrote to the Jews of Newport that they, too, belonged in America. 3/
George Washington himself wrote to the Jews of Newport that they, too, belonged in America. 3/
It goes without saying that the theocracy bros' mythical Protestant America with no immigrants is ahistorical. The Declaration of Independence actually complained that was that King George wasn't allowing *enough* immigration. 2/
November 21, 2025 at 6:44 PM
It goes without saying that the theocracy bros' mythical Protestant America with no immigrants is ahistorical. The Declaration of Independence actually complained that was that King George wasn't allowing *enough* immigration. 2/
Here's Karina Station, North San Jose, across the street from PayPal world HQ. It has a light rail station.
All that grey area I've marked? Surface parking ripe for redevelopment.
All that grey area I've marked? Surface parking ripe for redevelopment.
November 20, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Here's Karina Station, North San Jose, across the street from PayPal world HQ. It has a light rail station.
All that grey area I've marked? Surface parking ripe for redevelopment.
All that grey area I've marked? Surface parking ripe for redevelopment.
...And statewide, every single state is over a 3:1 price-to-income ratio, except for Iowa and West Virginia. The housing crisis really has gone national.
November 20, 2025 at 1:50 AM
...And statewide, every single state is over a 3:1 price-to-income ratio, except for Iowa and West Virginia. The housing crisis really has gone national.
Traditionally, the standard for whether you can afford to buy a house is a 3:1 price-to-income ratio (i.e., if you make $50k a year, you can afford a $150k house). Every single major city in America is over that ratio, except Detroit, Cleveland, Memphis and Oklahoma City...
November 20, 2025 at 1:50 AM
Traditionally, the standard for whether you can afford to buy a house is a 3:1 price-to-income ratio (i.e., if you make $50k a year, you can afford a $150k house). Every single major city in America is over that ratio, except Detroit, Cleveland, Memphis and Oklahoma City...
This is not complicated.
November 16, 2025 at 8:07 PM
This is not complicated.
In which @schmangee.bsky.social and I do the Cleveland Public Library
November 15, 2025 at 10:27 PM
In which @schmangee.bsky.social and I do the Cleveland Public Library
Thank you, Detroit! @detroitography.com, it was awesome finally meeting you in person.
November 14, 2025 at 4:18 AM
Thank you, Detroit! @detroitography.com, it was awesome finally meeting you in person.
Why am I in line, looking annoyed at a rental car place?
Because Detroit has no subway to get around. Find out why tonight at Next Chapter Books:
www.eventbrite.com/e/lost-subwa...
Because Detroit has no subway to get around. Find out why tonight at Next Chapter Books:
www.eventbrite.com/e/lost-subwa...
November 13, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Why am I in line, looking annoyed at a rental car place?
Because Detroit has no subway to get around. Find out why tonight at Next Chapter Books:
www.eventbrite.com/e/lost-subwa...
Because Detroit has no subway to get around. Find out why tonight at Next Chapter Books:
www.eventbrite.com/e/lost-subwa...
i mean it's great mamdani won and all
but have you felt the schadenfreude of seeing eric adams currently beating a coalition of mickey mouse, bugs bunny, and spongebob squarepants by 40 votes?
but have you felt the schadenfreude of seeing eric adams currently beating a coalition of mickey mouse, bugs bunny, and spongebob squarepants by 40 votes?
November 5, 2025 at 3:40 AM
i mean it's great mamdani won and all
but have you felt the schadenfreude of seeing eric adams currently beating a coalition of mickey mouse, bugs bunny, and spongebob squarepants by 40 votes?
but have you felt the schadenfreude of seeing eric adams currently beating a coalition of mickey mouse, bugs bunny, and spongebob squarepants by 40 votes?
1) Congratulations, Mayor Mamdani.
2) Go back to Westchester, Andrew. Nobody wants you here.
2) Go back to Westchester, Andrew. Nobody wants you here.
November 5, 2025 at 2:53 AM
1) Congratulations, Mayor Mamdani.
2) Go back to Westchester, Andrew. Nobody wants you here.
2) Go back to Westchester, Andrew. Nobody wants you here.
Nira the Cat will happily serve as Mayor of New York in a pinch.
November 4, 2025 at 10:31 PM
Nira the Cat will happily serve as Mayor of New York in a pinch.
Toronto is up on the Dodgers 3-2.
October 30, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Toronto is up on the Dodgers 3-2.
MY LOST SUBWAYS OF NORTH AMERICA EVENTS:
DETROIT: 11/13, 6pm, Next Chapter Books. www.eventbrite.com/e/lost-subwa...
CLEVELAND: 11/15, 1pm, Cleveland Public Library - Main Branch. cpl.libcal.com/event/13146709
DETROIT: 11/13, 6pm, Next Chapter Books. www.eventbrite.com/e/lost-subwa...
CLEVELAND: 11/15, 1pm, Cleveland Public Library - Main Branch. cpl.libcal.com/event/13146709
October 30, 2025 at 12:32 AM
MY LOST SUBWAYS OF NORTH AMERICA EVENTS:
DETROIT: 11/13, 6pm, Next Chapter Books. www.eventbrite.com/e/lost-subwa...
CLEVELAND: 11/15, 1pm, Cleveland Public Library - Main Branch. cpl.libcal.com/event/13146709
DETROIT: 11/13, 6pm, Next Chapter Books. www.eventbrite.com/e/lost-subwa...
CLEVELAND: 11/15, 1pm, Cleveland Public Library - Main Branch. cpl.libcal.com/event/13146709
HUMAN. I WILL VOTE FOR SLIWA. HE WANTS TO PROTECT NEW YORK'S ANIMALS.
October 23, 2025 at 2:17 AM
HUMAN. I WILL VOTE FOR SLIWA. HE WANTS TO PROTECT NEW YORK'S ANIMALS.
"I'm Andrew Cuomo. You should elect me mayor and put me in charge of the subway. I never ride the train, and the subways sucked the last time I was in charge."
This clown has chutzpah, that's for sure.
This clown has chutzpah, that's for sure.
October 21, 2025 at 1:44 PM
"I'm Andrew Cuomo. You should elect me mayor and put me in charge of the subway. I never ride the train, and the subways sucked the last time I was in charge."
This clown has chutzpah, that's for sure.
This clown has chutzpah, that's for sure.
PayPal HQ alone has 25 acres of surface parking, enough to build 2900 (!) homes without touching a single square foot of offices. At an average household size of 2.8, that's 8,100 people who could live in one company's parking lots, next to an underused VTA Light Rail station. 15/
October 17, 2025 at 4:08 AM
PayPal HQ alone has 25 acres of surface parking, enough to build 2900 (!) homes without touching a single square foot of offices. At an average household size of 2.8, that's 8,100 people who could live in one company's parking lots, next to an underused VTA Light Rail station. 15/