Thomas Leeper
@thosjleeper.bsky.social
Minnesota, data, transit/urbanism, miscellaneous ramblings
Happy Monday, riders! #Mpls
(Someone driving a mini-van almost hit me three blocks after this. First time I've had to brake hard to avoid being hit.)
(Someone driving a mini-van almost hit me three blocks after this. First time I've had to brake hard to avoid being hit.)
November 10, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Happy Monday, riders! #Mpls
(Someone driving a mini-van almost hit me three blocks after this. First time I've had to brake hard to avoid being hit.)
(Someone driving a mini-van almost hit me three blocks after this. First time I've had to brake hard to avoid being hit.)
Gotta love a "Bike Lane Closed" sign 50 ft before the closure and some cones that just slowly nudge you into car traffic.
November 7, 2025 at 12:08 AM
Gotta love a "Bike Lane Closed" sign 50 ft before the closure and some cones that just slowly nudge you into car traffic.
SE London. Right about here: maps.app.goo.gl/j6oXUvPr7uks...
November 6, 2025 at 6:07 PM
SE London. Right about here: maps.app.goo.gl/j6oXUvPr7uks...
Sunday morning live from the hellscape of Minneapolis. #BdeMakaSka #Mpls
October 26, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Sunday morning live from the hellscape of Minneapolis. #BdeMakaSka #Mpls
October 2, 2025 at 8:35 PM
Everything is so stupid and awful.
September 28, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Everything is so stupid and awful.
In vaguely related biking commentary, I recently discovered from Google Maps that there is a minimally used rail tunnel under the Crosstown at Pleasant Ave that is >2 tracks wide but only supports a single track. This would be an awesome place for a future rail to trail project b/w Mpls & Richfield.
September 26, 2025 at 1:51 AM
In vaguely related biking commentary, I recently discovered from Google Maps that there is a minimally used rail tunnel under the Crosstown at Pleasant Ave that is >2 tracks wide but only supports a single track. This would be an awesome place for a future rail to trail project b/w Mpls & Richfield.
The other really frustrating gap is how W 36th St has a separated two-way bike way that just dumps you at its western terminus into oncoming traffic in the unsignaled, zero-visibility right turn slip lane from northbound Richfield Rd.
September 26, 2025 at 1:39 AM
The other really frustrating gap is how W 36th St has a separated two-way bike way that just dumps you at its western terminus into oncoming traffic in the unsignaled, zero-visibility right turn slip lane from northbound Richfield Rd.
Minneapolis rightfully has a reputation for good biking infrastructure, but it also has weird holes in the network. The fact that you can't really cross Minnehaha Creek NE to SW in Lynnhurst except at 50th or by the lake is one example.
There are pedestrian bridges, but not really bike crossings.
There are pedestrian bridges, but not really bike crossings.
September 26, 2025 at 1:31 AM
Minneapolis rightfully has a reputation for good biking infrastructure, but it also has weird holes in the network. The fact that you can't really cross Minnehaha Creek NE to SW in Lynnhurst except at 50th or by the lake is one example.
There are pedestrian bridges, but not really bike crossings.
There are pedestrian bridges, but not really bike crossings.
Finally have had a consistent stream of Monarchs this weekend after seeing very few this year. The Blazing Star is apparently delicious. Hope it helps them on the big migration.
September 15, 2025 at 1:03 AM
Finally have had a consistent stream of Monarchs this weekend after seeing very few this year. The Blazing Star is apparently delicious. Hope it helps them on the big migration.
Credit scores are so crazy.
August 4, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Credit scores are so crazy.
The roots can grow more than a foot deep and those grow sort of separately from the above-ground plant, a bit deeper underground. It's a nightmare plant.
July 11, 2025 at 3:52 AM
The roots can grow more than a foot deep and those grow sort of separately from the above-ground plant, a bit deeper underground. It's a nightmare plant.
"Reps are red
Dems are blue
We love fascism, kleptocracy, and white supremacy
And so should you"
Dems are blue
We love fascism, kleptocracy, and white supremacy
And so should you"
July 7, 2025 at 2:18 AM
"Reps are red
Dems are blue
We love fascism, kleptocracy, and white supremacy
And so should you"
Dems are blue
We love fascism, kleptocracy, and white supremacy
And so should you"
this is crazy. massive police failure that this guy was able to go about his day after killing multiple people.
www.nytimes.com/live/2025/06...
www.nytimes.com/live/2025/06...
June 16, 2025 at 6:40 PM
this is crazy. massive police failure that this guy was able to go about his day after killing multiple people.
www.nytimes.com/live/2025/06...
www.nytimes.com/live/2025/06...
"The Presidency", a Seinfeld episode
April 10, 2025 at 2:00 AM
"The Presidency", a Seinfeld episode
A bit overkill for one bag of groceries but I wanted to fit in with the other oversized vehicles.
March 17, 2025 at 10:04 PM
A bit overkill for one bag of groceries but I wanted to fit in with the other oversized vehicles.
Proposed locations for Minneapolis traffic camera pilot are out. It's pretty underwhelming, but hopefully the start of taking traffic enforcement seriously again.
Yet the proposed sanction for going, for example 20mph+ over the speed limit on a 25mph street on second offense, is only $80.
Yet the proposed sanction for going, for example 20mph+ over the speed limit on a 25mph street on second offense, is only $80.
February 17, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Proposed locations for Minneapolis traffic camera pilot are out. It's pretty underwhelming, but hopefully the start of taking traffic enforcement seriously again.
Yet the proposed sanction for going, for example 20mph+ over the speed limit on a 25mph street on second offense, is only $80.
Yet the proposed sanction for going, for example 20mph+ over the speed limit on a 25mph street on second offense, is only $80.
The man himself on message:
February 12, 2025 at 2:08 AM
The man himself on message:
When life gives you frigid temperatures, recent snowfall, and sunshine, #Minneapolis gets a beautiful final day for visiting the Art Shanties. #LakeHarriet
February 10, 2025 at 2:21 AM
When life gives you frigid temperatures, recent snowfall, and sunshine, #Minneapolis gets a beautiful final day for visiting the Art Shanties. #LakeHarriet
30 feet is a lot shorter than I remember.
January 22, 2025 at 8:40 PM
30 feet is a lot shorter than I remember.
Totally normal behavior right here
January 10, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Totally normal behavior right here
January 8, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Nice graph from the MN Department of Transportation showing that unlicensed drivers are killing and seriously injuring more people every year.
This fits with the facts that these dangerous drivers still have full access to their cars, unlicensed driving recidivism is high, and DUIs are common.
This fits with the facts that these dangerous drivers still have full access to their cars, unlicensed driving recidivism is high, and DUIs are common.
January 6, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Nice graph from the MN Department of Transportation showing that unlicensed drivers are killing and seriously injuring more people every year.
This fits with the facts that these dangerous drivers still have full access to their cars, unlicensed driving recidivism is high, and DUIs are common.
This fits with the facts that these dangerous drivers still have full access to their cars, unlicensed driving recidivism is high, and DUIs are common.
I'm intrigued by stats on US rural road safety. The definition of the concepts "urban" and "rural" are important for interpreting these stats.
Urban refers to specific Census-designated areas; all else is rural. If you're hit by a car in Luverne, urban; the same thing in Rock Rapids, rural.
Urban refers to specific Census-designated areas; all else is rural. If you're hit by a car in Luverne, urban; the same thing in Rock Rapids, rural.
January 1, 2025 at 11:37 PM
I'm intrigued by stats on US rural road safety. The definition of the concepts "urban" and "rural" are important for interpreting these stats.
Urban refers to specific Census-designated areas; all else is rural. If you're hit by a car in Luverne, urban; the same thing in Rock Rapids, rural.
Urban refers to specific Census-designated areas; all else is rural. If you're hit by a car in Luverne, urban; the same thing in Rock Rapids, rural.