Matt
@notdanish.bsky.social
Mostly NL and PL
(Natural languages and programming languages? Or Nederland and Polska? Both, it turns out 😂)
Computer science and geography. Originally from NY/NJ, not Denmark. Also lived in Boston, SF peninsula, Pittsburgh and (old) Cambridge.
(Natural languages and programming languages? Or Nederland and Polska? Both, it turns out 😂)
Computer science and geography. Originally from NY/NJ, not Denmark. Also lived in Boston, SF peninsula, Pittsburgh and (old) Cambridge.
Nice, Deutsche Bahn increases the price of a journey that is still 2 months away by €200. I guess I will not be using the train after all. Good work @deutschebahn.com your pricing system drives customers away.
December 3, 2025 at 9:24 AM
Nice, Deutsche Bahn increases the price of a journey that is still 2 months away by €200. I guess I will not be using the train after all. Good work @deutschebahn.com your pricing system drives customers away.
Reposted by Matt
Report: It Pretty Incredible That Americans Entrusted With Driving Cars https://theonion.com/report-it-pretty-incredible-that-americans-entrusted-w-1819574734/
November 25, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Report: It Pretty Incredible That Americans Entrusted With Driving Cars https://theonion.com/report-it-pretty-incredible-that-americans-entrusted-w-1819574734/
Reposted by Matt
Great piece on how density restrictions in zoning are essentially BS.
November 24, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Great piece on how density restrictions in zoning are essentially BS.
A good day to remember that the Dutch word for baseball is honkbal. 🪿
November 2, 2025 at 12:55 PM
A good day to remember that the Dutch word for baseball is honkbal. 🪿
Reposted by Matt
Hundreds of school crossing guards have suffered injuries on the job after being hit by a vehicle, and dozens of them have died, according to an investigation by AP and Cox Media Group Television Stations.
Crossing guards face life-threatening dangers on the job
An investigation by The Associated Press and Cox Media Group Television Stations found that school crossing guards face dangerous conditions, with many injured or killed on the job.
bit.ly
October 31, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Hundreds of school crossing guards have suffered injuries on the job after being hit by a vehicle, and dozens of them have died, according to an investigation by AP and Cox Media Group Television Stations.
Reposted by Matt
parking over everything.
October 24, 2025 at 2:42 PM
parking over everything.
England, a cautionary tale 🤣
October 22, 2025 at 10:11 AM
England, a cautionary tale 🤣
Reposted by Matt
Dutch Railways: social profit of €1.33 billion, financial loss of €141 million. It delivers 11x (!!!!) more value to society than it costs.
Via:
social inclusion
increase in property values near stations;
welfare of employees and consumers;
productive use of travel time.
www.eur.nl/en/news/rese...
Via:
social inclusion
increase in property values near stations;
welfare of employees and consumers;
productive use of travel time.
www.eur.nl/en/news/rese...
Research shows that NS generates social profit: 1.33 billion euros
This is according to a new study by Professor Dirk Schoenmaker (Rotterdam School of Managemen) and Wander Marijnissen of strategic consultancy firm ftrprf.
www.eur.nl
October 22, 2025 at 8:48 AM
Dutch Railways: social profit of €1.33 billion, financial loss of €141 million. It delivers 11x (!!!!) more value to society than it costs.
Via:
social inclusion
increase in property values near stations;
welfare of employees and consumers;
productive use of travel time.
www.eur.nl/en/news/rese...
Via:
social inclusion
increase in property values near stations;
welfare of employees and consumers;
productive use of travel time.
www.eur.nl/en/news/rese...
Reposted by Matt
The fact that people are allowed to store their cars in the street is really weird - after all, a car is an individual's own private property and their responsibility. I can't think of a single other item you can store in public in this way.
October 21, 2025 at 4:55 PM
The fact that people are allowed to store their cars in the street is really weird - after all, a car is an individual's own private property and their responsibility. I can't think of a single other item you can store in public in this way.
Reposted by Matt
After an entire family of four was killed by a motorist, a proposal to redesign the intersection was watered down to signs and paint that drivers ignore, and someone called in a death threat against a legislative aide for doing even that much.
I was reading an article yesterday about a woman calling for e-bikes to be banned after being hit and seriously injured by a cyclist. And yes, her injuries were awful, but we allow cars to kill and maim regularly and no one ever calls for them to even be *limited* in any way.
Cars remain death machines but people love to talk about that bicycle scofflaw they saw one time
October 20, 2025 at 4:34 PM
After an entire family of four was killed by a motorist, a proposal to redesign the intersection was watered down to signs and paint that drivers ignore, and someone called in a death threat against a legislative aide for doing even that much.
Reposted by Matt
I've had enough of listening. Time for action on low traffic.
My letter in the Oxford Times today
My letter in the Oxford Times today
September 25, 2025 at 8:33 AM
I've had enough of listening. Time for action on low traffic.
My letter in the Oxford Times today
My letter in the Oxford Times today
Reposted by Matt
The number of people burned alive inside a Tesla is now .. 148
Statistically that's ~2,5 times more per Tesla (!) than the world's 'most fire hazardous car' ever: the infamous '70s Ford Pinto
(Taken out of production for 27 fire deaths After 3.2 million produced)
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
Statistically that's ~2,5 times more per Tesla (!) than the world's 'most fire hazardous car' ever: the infamous '70s Ford Pinto
(Taken out of production for 27 fire deaths After 3.2 million produced)
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
People burned alive in a Tesla, by Ton Aarts
docs.google.com
September 19, 2025 at 10:07 AM
The number of people burned alive inside a Tesla is now .. 148
Statistically that's ~2,5 times more per Tesla (!) than the world's 'most fire hazardous car' ever: the infamous '70s Ford Pinto
(Taken out of production for 27 fire deaths After 3.2 million produced)
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
Statistically that's ~2,5 times more per Tesla (!) than the world's 'most fire hazardous car' ever: the infamous '70s Ford Pinto
(Taken out of production for 27 fire deaths After 3.2 million produced)
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
No matter how many times I swipe the name Utrecht using Gboard it always tries to autocomplete to 'itchy' first. 🤔
September 16, 2025 at 4:48 PM
No matter how many times I swipe the name Utrecht using Gboard it always tries to autocomplete to 'itchy' first. 🤔
Reposted by Matt
I am old enough to remember a South African snake oil salesman convincing large chunks of United States that public transport is dead now that HyperLoop(tm) is around the corner, followed by pieces about how "Europe is technologically dead, America lives in the future" everywhere.
Will the absence of robotaxis in Europe mark the moment its citizens notice how far their continent has fallen behind?
Robotaxis will be the Sputnik Moment for a declining Europe
A slow-motion car crash on Europe’s roads
econ.st
September 5, 2025 at 11:30 AM
I am old enough to remember a South African snake oil salesman convincing large chunks of United States that public transport is dead now that HyperLoop(tm) is around the corner, followed by pieces about how "Europe is technologically dead, America lives in the future" everywhere.
Reposted by Matt
This is an INSANE decision by the E.U.
“By signing up to mutual recognition of vehicle standards with the U.S., the E.U. has waved the white flag on road safety. This is not a technical detail – it is a political choice that puts trade convenience ahead of saving lives.”
This will kill people.
“By signing up to mutual recognition of vehicle standards with the U.S., the E.U. has waved the white flag on road safety. This is not a technical detail – it is a political choice that puts trade convenience ahead of saving lives.”
This will kill people.
ETSC: Mutual recognition deal with U.S. will cost lives on Europe’s roads
By signing up to mutual recognition of vehicle standards with the United States, the European Union has waved the white flag on road safety. This is not a technical detail – it is a political choice…
etsc.eu
August 27, 2025 at 11:16 PM
This is an INSANE decision by the E.U.
“By signing up to mutual recognition of vehicle standards with the U.S., the E.U. has waved the white flag on road safety. This is not a technical detail – it is a political choice that puts trade convenience ahead of saving lives.”
This will kill people.
“By signing up to mutual recognition of vehicle standards with the U.S., the E.U. has waved the white flag on road safety. This is not a technical detail – it is a political choice that puts trade convenience ahead of saving lives.”
This will kill people.
Reposted by Matt
Its the cars. Where can they go that they don't have to interact with drivers? I biked for pleasure for most of my life and gave it up when my kids could start because city biking in Houston is insanely dangerous and I don't want them to do it. Everything they want to go to is way too far to walk
"Most of the children in our survey said that they aren’t allowed to be out in public at all without an adult. Fewer than half of the 8- and 9-year-olds have gone down a grocery-store aisle alone; more than a quarter aren’t allowed to play unsupervised even in their own front yard."
What Kids Told Us About How to Get Them Off Their Phones
Children who were raised on screens need more freedom out in the real world.
www.theatlantic.com
August 6, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Its the cars. Where can they go that they don't have to interact with drivers? I biked for pleasure for most of my life and gave it up when my kids could start because city biking in Houston is insanely dangerous and I don't want them to do it. Everything they want to go to is way too far to walk
Reposted by Matt
"Most of the children in our survey said that they aren’t allowed to be out in public at all without an adult. Fewer than half of the 8- and 9-year-olds have gone down a grocery-store aisle alone; more than a quarter aren’t allowed to play unsupervised even in their own front yard."
What Kids Told Us About How to Get Them Off Their Phones
Children who were raised on screens need more freedom out in the real world.
www.theatlantic.com
August 4, 2025 at 10:17 PM
"Most of the children in our survey said that they aren’t allowed to be out in public at all without an adult. Fewer than half of the 8- and 9-year-olds have gone down a grocery-store aisle alone; more than a quarter aren’t allowed to play unsupervised even in their own front yard."
Reposted by Matt
I think frequently of Jose Alzorriz, an experienced city cyclist, who was standing at a red light waiting for it to change when a speeding driver plowed right into him.
July 29, 2025 at 2:51 PM
I think frequently of Jose Alzorriz, an experienced city cyclist, who was standing at a red light waiting for it to change when a speeding driver plowed right into him.
Reposted by Matt
Interesting-looking new study from the UK finding that being hit by an SUV (as compared to a regular car) "considerably" increases the risk of death for children, and even more so for young children doi.org/10.32866/001...
July 28, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Interesting-looking new study from the UK finding that being hit by an SUV (as compared to a regular car) "considerably" increases the risk of death for children, and even more so for young children doi.org/10.32866/001...
Reposted by Matt
Dutch = NIMBYs: For 10 years the issuance of a permit for the construction of a new grocery store has been blocked.
The latest reason? A competing shopping center landlord sued over the general loss of 28 parking spots. Highest court agrees, must be replaced.
www.omroepwest.nl/economie/499...
The latest reason? A competing shopping center landlord sued over the general loss of 28 parking spots. Highest court agrees, must be replaced.
www.omroepwest.nl/economie/499...
Gemeente moet 10 jaar na verlenen vergunning supermarkt alsnog tientallen parkeerplekken aanleggen
Tien jaar: zo lang is de gemeente Noordwijk al bezig met het afhandelen van een vergunning voor een nieuwe supermarkt aan de Bronckhorststraat. De reden? De gemeente heeft niet gezorgd voor voldoende ...
www.omroepwest.nl
July 27, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Dutch = NIMBYs: For 10 years the issuance of a permit for the construction of a new grocery store has been blocked.
The latest reason? A competing shopping center landlord sued over the general loss of 28 parking spots. Highest court agrees, must be replaced.
www.omroepwest.nl/economie/499...
The latest reason? A competing shopping center landlord sued over the general loss of 28 parking spots. Highest court agrees, must be replaced.
www.omroepwest.nl/economie/499...
Reposted by Matt
Minister: “How many illegals migrants did you find?”
Police: “None”
Minister: “None? Why?”
Police: “There were no trains!”
Minister: “Damn SNCB”
Police: “No the line closed in 1992 but you told us to control it anyway!”
Police: “None”
Minister: “None? Why?”
Police: “There were no trains!”
Minister: “Damn SNCB”
Police: “No the line closed in 1992 but you told us to control it anyway!”
June 21, 2025 at 8:08 AM
Minister: “How many illegals migrants did you find?”
Police: “None”
Minister: “None? Why?”
Police: “There were no trains!”
Minister: “Damn SNCB”
Police: “No the line closed in 1992 but you told us to control it anyway!”
Police: “None”
Minister: “None? Why?”
Police: “There were no trains!”
Minister: “Damn SNCB”
Police: “No the line closed in 1992 but you told us to control it anyway!”
Reposted by Matt
This sums up the whole mess
Belgian ministers talking about doing border controls on the Dunkerque 🇫🇷 - De Panne 🇧🇪 #CrossBorderRail line… that hasn’t existed since 1992! 🤨
#Schengen
Belgian ministers talking about doing border controls on the Dunkerque 🇫🇷 - De Panne 🇧🇪 #CrossBorderRail line… that hasn’t existed since 1992! 🤨
#Schengen
NVA minister Van Bossuyt gaat genscontroles doen op de spoorlijn Duinkerke-De Panne. Wat een grap. Die lijn wordt al sinds 1992 niet meer gebruikt. #onkunde #stoerepraat #symboolpolitiek
June 21, 2025 at 8:03 AM
This sums up the whole mess
Belgian ministers talking about doing border controls on the Dunkerque 🇫🇷 - De Panne 🇧🇪 #CrossBorderRail line… that hasn’t existed since 1992! 🤨
#Schengen
Belgian ministers talking about doing border controls on the Dunkerque 🇫🇷 - De Panne 🇧🇪 #CrossBorderRail line… that hasn’t existed since 1992! 🤨
#Schengen
Reposted by Matt
Just tried to find something on Twitter and stumbled on this gem, presumably from someone out in the countryside who's built and surfaced all their own roads
June 4, 2025 at 7:04 AM
Just tried to find something on Twitter and stumbled on this gem, presumably from someone out in the countryside who's built and surfaced all their own roads
Reposted by Matt
Jonathan Joss--voice actor of John Redcorn from King of the Hill, and Ken Hotate from Parks and Rec--was killed in a homophobic hate crime today.
I'm so angry.
I'm so angry.
June 2, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Jonathan Joss--voice actor of John Redcorn from King of the Hill, and Ken Hotate from Parks and Rec--was killed in a homophobic hate crime today.
I'm so angry.
I'm so angry.
Reposted by Matt
One of the worst things about being an advocate for safer streets is knowing with awful certainty where more people will be injured or killed, then getting news alerts confirming those fears. It is motivating in that it makes me want to fight harder, but it's also traumatizing.
It was a 6 year old. komonews.com/news/local/6...
I post about the intersection constantly because I cross it with my kid to get to the Beacon dance studio and it's so horrible the stress of getting home through here usually ruins my Friday evenings.
I post about the intersection constantly because I cross it with my kid to get to the Beacon dance studio and it's so horrible the stress of getting home through here usually ruins my Friday evenings.
June 1, 2025 at 10:52 PM
One of the worst things about being an advocate for safer streets is knowing with awful certainty where more people will be injured or killed, then getting news alerts confirming those fears. It is motivating in that it makes me want to fight harder, but it's also traumatizing.