Must be nice to live in WMATA territory. Every month they announce a big and helpful thing they're doing

Saved 60% on my groceries today. They're calling me one of the best to ever visit a grocery store

The Metra leaving 20-ish seconds early is comparatively a small issue but is not great if you're booking it or your timed transfer (if they exist) is running behind.

I am once again asking everyone to convert to the international fixed calendar. 13 months, 28 days, four week long all year. You'll know what day of the week it is based on the date.

Better than last year (75%)!

One of the best things you can do for yourself is be your own archivist

NEW: beginning january 1, chicago will ban unhoused people on the sex offense registry from seeking shelter on public transit. it’s the latest in a concerted effort by mayor johnson’s admin to criminalize homelessness on cta trains + buses and in public parks during the coldest months of the year.

So regal

These slap

The only way I know how to do it

This year I got tired of all my favorrite holiday movies being on different streaming platforms so I bought used DVDs. It's the way to go; cheaper and easier.

What's a gift you're excited to give/have given to someone this holiday season? I'm personally excited to gift the DEVO Energy Dome hat

My friend kindly gifted me some honey from bike-a-bee who (you guessed it) does all the beekeeping and collecting and distribution via bicycle

Has anyone seen the green/white robots in these neighborhoods? Austin, Little Village, Englewood, North Lawndale, West Garfield Park, or South Shore.

Edward Hopper, Christmas card, 1928 whitney.org/collection/w...

Comical. CTA gave me all the data I requested months ago the day after publishing.

Good news: Many people are looking at the map Bad news: it is blowing through my API limits and I gotta figure how to host the tiles locally

CTA in the NYT super mega

This is how CDOT is modifying 18th/Wabash after Ald. Dowell (3rd) made CDOT remove its NACTO approved intersection. - NE/SW islands and NW (partial) delineator being removed - Being replaced with flexiposts/paint - EB/WB turn lanes are being restored

Odds of submitting a 311 service request for the removal of an abandoned bicycle is unlikely to result in its removal

In October 2025 alone, the robots completed 4,660 deliveries. That number that is trending upwards even without complete data for November.

Messed up! at the circuit court

The Sound of Music is on TV tonight, so we must point you, yet again, to this all-timer by Melinda Taub from our archives.

They put up this sign to prove a point when the express train comes flying through the station

Sometimes it's nice to get a FOIA response back and be able conclude there is no issue and everything is actually working as intended

But if we cancel every good idea or genuine improvement because people are untrustworthy of it, then they'll never see the improvements that are needed to help rebuild that trust. If we let "better things are not possible" be our guiding principle, we go nowhere but down

I waited at Michigan Avenue’s worst bus stop so you didn’t have to experience it

Per new @nikhunder.com analysis, increasing bus stop spacing "could translate into speed improvements of 14-29% depending on the route, traffic levels, and how many stops are removed. That’s a remarkable increase in speed, at minimal cost to the agency." citythatworks.substack.com/p/a-plan-for...

I think @bedubble.bsky.social posted these first, but these stamps rule and I just picked up a book of them

Sometimes there is no bike parking so you have to lock your bike like this

I was in Tucson last week so imagine my surprise seeing these two show up. TopDog was also there.

It's #ManholeCoverMonday

New from me! Chicago has far too many bus stops to provide efficient service for its riders—nearly twice the national standard. I reimagined what Chicago's bus network could do to make it look like its peers. citythatworks.substack.com/p/a-plan-for...

The bus should be able to hit cars and be always be found at no fault

I know systems don't work when I see the same quiet unhoused guy on the Red Line for the third winter in a row. I can't imagine how he's had to spend the last three years

Someone explain how an offensive foul against the bills results in the game end rather than a replay of the 4th down from 10 yards back

I think everyone knows the buses on these routes don't actually come every 10 minutes but say you're doing more I guess ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

PSA that if you're signed up for Marianos rewards, there's a coupon for a FREE dozen of roses through 1/5. Go get yourself or your lover some flowers

My 2025 FOIA Wrapped Requests made (+caused to be made): 245 Agencies FOIAed: 54 Most FOIA-ed: CTA (37) Open Requests: 55 Fastest Response: Franklin Park, IL Lawsuits Filed: 3 Lawsuits Won: 2 (3 ongoing) Writings from FOIA: 3 Longest response time: CTA (164 biz days) Furthest Away: Santa Monica, CA

Like Thomas said, weigh in on this important survey at the link below engage.cmap.illinois.gov/2026-rtp/sur.... Oppose NDLSD? Oppose more vehicle lanes? Support transit? This is the survey for you. Fill it out by 12/31 to make your voice heard.

I have probably overdressed for this bike ride I was just in Tuscon so I do not want to be cold

This was excellent (+ I worked on it)

If you're in line for the Epstein Files, stay in line.

I don't think I understood until this year why people move cities. Eventually, one's personal problems become too much for one city and moving helps the load feel lighter. Anyway, might move to DC next year 😛

FWIW, the FTA asked CTA to revise its baseline assault rate from 18/month to 9/month and CTA submitted a plan that still said 18/m was the target.

We heard about 18th & Wabash, a brand new protected intersection planned to help keep people biking and walking safe, so we trekked out in the cold after some snow, just in time to film it before it was partially rolled back. So what's all the fuss about? www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpKJ...

CTA Speed Run 12/18/25 I'll be visiting all 'L' stops as fast as possible again. I did a run in Jan 2025 and today I'm trying a new route from Penguinaut. They posted a unique route in the TransitRuns discord and wanted someone to try it. Looks like a great route, follow along on this thread!

It's always in the receipts

One of those days where one more issue on top of this from this awful FOIA department is making my head explode.

Let's play a game called which FOIA department do you think is responsible for searching for Alder's text messages becuase no one thinks it's them? It's my opinion that it's the Clerk's office since they deal with City Council (you FOIA the Clerk for all other city council-related matters)