Kevin Leyden
@kleyden.bsky.social
📤 93
📥 48
📝 31
It's all about urban liveability.
pinned post!
The researchers call for an “evaluation of the way our urban and suburban neighborhoods are planned, designed, and developed so that people can live in walkable places that better enable health and wellbeing.” @uniofgalway @Galway_Research @GalwaySocAndPol
doi.org/10.1080/0194...
loading . . .
Walkable Neighborhoods
We examined whether living in a walkable neighborhood influenced the happiness of younger and older city residents. The data for this study came from a comprehensive household population survey of ...
https://doi.org/10.1080/01944363.2022.2123382
11 months ago
0
3
0
From 2019-2024, road deaths in Ireland rose by 22 per cent whereas the EU average dropped 12 per cent.
www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
loading . . .
Sinéad O'Sullivan: PR campaigns not enough to stop people dying on our roads. Here’s what we need to do
Ireland is one of few European countries where road deaths are rising consistently, yet no one is responsible
https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025/12/03/sinead-osullivan-pr-safety-campaigns-ireland-road-deaths-what-we-must-do/
10 days ago
0
2
1
reposted by
Kevin Leyden
American Fietser
13 days ago
Since 2010, pedestrian deaths in the US 🇺🇸 have increased by 80%. During that same time, pedestrian deaths in the EU 🇪🇺 have dropped by 37%, but that stat could be about to change. A new video by NJB. 👇
loading . . .
Keep these Stupid American Trucks out of Europe
YouTube video by Not Just Bikes
https://youtu.be/--832LV9a3I
5
145
51
reposted by
Kevin Leyden
Brent Toderian
22 days ago
“One mile on a bike is a $.42 economic gain to society, one mile driving is a $.20 loss.” “Which means that Copenhagen, a city of 1.2 million people, saves $357 million a year on health costs because something like 80% of its population commutes by bike.”
#CityMakingMath
Some costs aren’t costs.
loading . . .
One mile on a bike is a $.42 economic gain to society, one mile driving is a $.20 loss
Copenhagen, the bicycle-friendliest place on the planet, publishes a biannual Bicycle Account, and buried in its pages is a rather astonishing fact.
https://grist.org/biking/one-mile-on-a-bike-is-a-42-economic-gain-to-society-one-mile-driving-is-a-20-loss/
6
569
253
reposted by
Kevin Leyden
Aaron Rupar
about 1 month ago
Mamdani: "We can respond to oligarchy and authoritarianism with the strength it fears, not the appeasement it craves. After all, if anyone can show a nation betrayed by Donald Trump how to defeat him, it is the city that gave rise to him."
loading . . .
164
18625
4743
reposted by
Kevin Leyden
Brent Toderian
about 2 months ago
“If you get hit by a car travelling at 50km/h, you’ve only got a 1.5-in-10 chance of surviving. If it’s going 30km/h you’ve got a nine-in-10 chance.” “But it was not enough to put up a sign that says 30km/h…there also needed to be design changes to slow down traffic.” Speed is always a factor.
loading . . .
Switching 50km/h speed limits to 30km/h would protect cyclists while barely affecting commutes, research finds
One expert says a cyclist hit by a car travelling 50km/h has about a one-in-10 chance of surviving, while at 30km/h it is a nine-in-10 chance
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/oct/15/switching-50kmh-speed-limits-to-30kmh-would-protect-cyclists-while-barely-affecting-commutes-research-finds
10
322
107
reposted by
Kevin Leyden
Brent Toderian
2 months ago
How microplastics may be reshaping our bodies and minds. “The particles are in our blood, brains and guts – and scientists are only beginning to learn what they do.” Microplastics like those from car tires. The bigger and heavier the vehicle, the more microplastics shed.
loading . . .
The plastic inside us: how microplastics may be reshaping our bodies and minds
The particles are in our blood, brains and guts – and scientists are only beginning to learn what they do
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/oct/12/plastic-inside-us-microplastics-reshaping-bodies-minds
9
243
123
reposted by
Kevin Leyden
Brent Toderian
2 months ago
“In London cyclists now outnumber cars in the City by 2 to 1. Paris, where they now outnumber motorists across the whole city, is catching up with Europe’s traditional bike capitals, Amsterdam & Copenhagen…In Copenhagen, bikes account for almost half of commuter trips to work/school.”
@economist.com
loading . . .
Forget EVs. Cycling is revolutionising transport
Pedal power is booming, spinning up a new culture war
https://www.economist.com/international/2025/10/09/forget-evs-cycling-is-revolutionising-transport
7
564
171
"Nothing works like negative campaigning," according to Ivan Yeats. His suggestion that Humphreys should create fear during the election campaign is right out of the Trump handbook.
#aras25
add a skeleton here at some point
2 months ago
0
3
0
Thank you Galway West TD John Connolly for supporting additional bus services in Galway!
m.independent.ie/regionals/ga...
loading . . .
Calls for additional Galway service for morning commuters – ‘If you start work at 8:00am the bus arrives too late’
Bus commuters travelling from Oughterard into Galway are calling for a second morning service on the 419 routes, with Galway West TD John Connolly pressing the National Transport Authority (NTA) to ad...
https://m.independent.ie/regionals/galway/news/calls-for-additional-galway-service-for-morning-commuters-if-you-start-work-at-800am-the-bus-arrives-too-late/a684209078.html
2 months ago
0
0
0
reposted by
Kevin Leyden
Irish Cycling Campaign
2 months ago
'The real scandal here is not “bike shed groundhog day.” It’s the groundhog day of car dependency, subsidised at vast public expense, locking us into congestion, pollution, poor health and missed climate targets.' Great piece from
@ciarancannon.bsky.social
www.thejournal.ie/readme/bike-...
loading . . .
Opinion: Those outraged by a €100k bike shed should look at the annual cost of renting out car park spaces
We have completely normalised investment in congestion, pollution and the continuation of car-first planning, writes Ciarán Cannon.
https://www.thejournal.ie/readme/bike-shed-outrage-car-parks-hypocrisy-cycling-6832794-Oct2025/
0
22
7
reposted by
Kevin Leyden
Brent Toderian
2 months ago
“The e-bike market is skyrocketing — and, according to some studies, outpacing electric cars…The question now is: Do officials double down on deadly car-centric urban design, or do they rethink cities to encourage people to ditch four wheels for two?” Via
@grist.org
grist.org/transportati...
loading . . .
E-bikes could cut carbon, congestion, and costs — if cities take them seriously
E-bike sales are booming, providing a clean form of transportation that also improves public health. Yet cities remain committed to cars.
https://grist.org/transportation/e-bikes-could-cut-carbon-congestion-and-costs-if-cities-take-them-seriously/
21
332
116
Promising innovation from the
@dubcitycouncil.bsky.social
2 months ago
0
0
0
reposted by
Kevin Leyden
Cosáin Climate
2 months ago
@tinydbass.bsky.social
@irishdocsenv.bsky.social
@olaln.bsky.social
@fhmediastuff.bsky.social
@kleyden.bsky.social
👇
add a skeleton here at some point
0
5
1
reposted by
Kevin Leyden
Brent Toderian
3 months ago
“In 2023, cars and their drivers killed 8,820 American pedestrians and bicyclists — 7,314 pedestrians and 1,166 cyclists. They injured another 136,281, an increase of over 5,300 injuries from 2022.” Put the responsibility where it belongs. Via
@jalopnik.bsky.social
www.jalopnik.com/1979666/defe...
loading . . .
No, Defensive Walking Isn't The Solution For Road Deaths - Jalopnik
It's victim-blaming, it's bull, and it's not the solution we need.
https://www.jalopnik.com/1979666/defensive-walking-no-solution-road-deaths/
11
393
153
reposted by
Kevin Leyden
Brent Toderian
3 months ago
Every year, billions of vehicles worldwide shed an estimated 6 million tonnes of tire fragments. These tiny flakes of plastic, generated by normal driving, account for 28% of microplastics entering the environment globally. Heavy vehicles eg SUVs/EVs especially. Via
@us.theconversation.com
loading . . .
Car tyres shed a quarter of all microplastics in the environment – urgent action is needed
Tiny flakes of plastic, generated by the wear and tear of normal driving, eventually accumulate in the soil, in rivers and lakes, and even in our food.
https://theconversation.com/car-tyres-shed-a-quarter-of-all-microplastics-in-the-environment-urgent-action-is-needed-244132
18
354
175
Speaking yesterday about the current extreme divisiveness in America, Obama said "at moments like this, when tensions are high, then part of the job of the president is to pull people together.” It is what American presidents do.
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/17/u...
loading . . .
After Kirk’s Killing, Obama Says the Nation Is in a ‘Political Crisis’
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/17/us/politics/obama-trump-kirk-unity.html
3 months ago
0
1
0
reposted by
Kevin Leyden
Brent Toderian
3 months ago
IMPORTANT: The Dutch invest €595 million annually on urban biking, resulting in €19 BILLION saved in public health care costs alone. That’s how smart govts do the math on investing in better mobility. Let’s be clear— it wastes public money to NOT do it.
#CityMakingMath
HT @modacitylife.bsky.social
10
379
151
reposted by
Kevin Leyden
Sam Wakeling
4 months ago
Congestion charging in London caused an average of 7% drop in car ownership in affected areas (outer London near the charging boundary). If we want fewer cars in our streets, and all the benefits that brings, this is one of the tools that we know works.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
loading . . .
The impact of congestion charging on car ownership: Evidence from a quasi-natural experiment
Urban Vehicle Access Regulations are experiencing a resurgence in interest as practitioners grapple with prominent challenges, such as traffic safety,…
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0967070X24003317
1
85
18
reposted by
Kevin Leyden
Cosáin Climate
5 months ago
Very good piece authored by
@cianginty.bsky.social
.
add a skeleton here at some point
0
9
2
reposted by
Kevin Leyden
Cosáin Climate
5 months ago
"The steepest cost comes from depreciation - a 2024 Hyundai Tucson valued at €40,000 will have depreciated by about €6,274 over the course of this year, based on standard valuation tools."
www.rte.ie/news/busines...
loading . . .
Cost of running a car hits €10,373 in 2025 - OUTsurance
New analysis by OUTsurance Ireland shows that Irish motorists can expect to spend an average of €10,373 a year to keep an average petrol or diesel car on the road in 2025.
https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2025/0718/1524152-cost-of-running-a-car-hits-10-373-in-2025-outsurance/
0
3
1
reposted by
Kevin Leyden
Tom Flood
5 months ago
The puzzle.
add a skeleton here at some point
14
192
46
reposted by
Kevin Leyden
Brent Toderian
5 months ago
“You have to hold developers to high standards. You don’t just let anything get built. The answer isn’t to say ‘no’ to everything—it’s to say, ‘Yes, if.’ If it meets our vision. If it improves our public realm. If it creates benefits, not just burdens.” My
@sarasotamagazine.bsky.social
interview.
loading . . .
Urbanist Brent Toderian Says Tall Buildings Are Not the Problem
“Sarasota has a huge disconnect between the types of developments being built and the actual needs of the community."
https://www.sarasotamagazine.com/news-and-profiles/2025/07/urbanist-brent-toderian-says-tall-buildings-are-not-the-problem
3
157
24
reposted by
Kevin Leyden
Cosáin Climate
6 months ago
COVID-19 was a "black swan event" because it was unexpected and disruptive. It revealed hidden dynamics in traffic patterns, allowing the researchers to study cause & effect essentially as a Natural Experiment. The same conditions could not have been created deliberately.
www.bmj.com/content/388/...
loading . . .
Using natural experiments to evaluate population health and health system interventions: new framework for producers and users of evidence
Natural experiments are widely used to evaluate the impacts on health of changes in policies, infrastructure, and services. The UK Medical Research Council (MRC) and National Institute for Health and ...
https://www.bmj.com/content/388/bmj-2024-080505
1
1
1
reposted by
Kevin Leyden
Cosáin Climate
6 months ago
The Shanghai study shows that congestion increases in a nonlinear way. A small rise in the number of vehicles can cause a big spike in delays & bottlenecks. This is because traffic jams often spread like a chain reaction, with one blockage triggering many others across the network. Intuitive, right?
1
2
1
reposted by
Kevin Leyden
Brent Toderian
6 months ago
NEW STUDY: A new study “confirms what many riders already know—cycling to work makes you healthier, more productive, and even reduces sick days.” “The most active cyclists chalked up 531 fewer sick days per 100 person-years compared to non-cyclists.” Via
@momentummag.bsky.social
loading . . .
Study Shows Bike Commuting Is Still the Smartest and Healthiest Way to Get to Work
For urban cyclists navigating city streets every day, the benefits of bike commuting often speak for themselves
https://momentummag.com/study-shows-bike-commuting-is-still-the-smartest-and-healthiest-way-to-get-to-work/
3
268
95
reposted by
Kevin Leyden
Cosáin Climate
7 months ago
add a skeleton here at some point
0
6
1
reposted by
Kevin Leyden
David Zipper
7 months ago
More Americans died while biking than in any previous year -- ever. (Sources:
@bikeleague.bsky.social
&
injuryfacts.nsc.org/motor-vehicl...
)
22
304
153
reposted by
Kevin Leyden
Cork Safety Alerts
7 months ago
New RSA report shows 45 cyclists died and 1,278 were seriously injured on Irish roads from 2020-2024. Urban areas and male riders aged 56-65 most affected.
csalert.ie/43lUj5d
loading . . .
New Report Reveals Concerning Cyclist Safety Statistics on Irish Roads
New RSA report shows 45 cyclists died and 1,278 were seriously injured on Irish roads from 2020-2024. Urban areas and male riders aged 56-65 most affected.
https://csalert.ie/43lUj5d
0
4
3
reposted by
Kevin Leyden
Cosáin Climate
7 months ago
People who cycle in Galway – for transport, utility or convenience – do so despite, not because of, the City Council's policies. What's particularly galling in this context is that the Council has literally campaigned for decades to unleash "suppressed demand" for driving.
add a skeleton here at some point
2
12
6
reposted by
Kevin Leyden
Kevin Jennings
8 months ago
This urban greenway in Galway, Millers Lane, is part of a well-planned train network 🚂🧵
loading . . .
1
13
6
reposted by
Kevin Leyden
Galway Cycling Campaign - Feachtas Rothaíochta na Gaillimhe
7 months ago
Permeability of Galway City Centre for bicycles. A thread on contra-flow cycling🧵 Numerous one-way streets throughout the medieval city centre core create challenges in relation to permeability for cyclers. 🧵1/5
1
9
6
Never mind, MAGA, this is who Trump really represents.
x.com/kaitlancolli...
loading . . .
Kaitlan Collins on X: "Upon his arrival, President Trump is attending a big lunch here in Riyadh which has quite the guest list, including Elon Musk, Larry Fink, Sam Altman, Andy Jassy and Reid Hoffman, to name a few. https://t.co/jLSi3Uhlz0" / X
Upon his arrival, President Trump is attending a big lunch here in Riyadh which has quite the guest list, including Elon Musk, Larry Fink, Sam Altman, Andy Jassy and Reid Hoffman, to name a few. https://t.co/jLSi3Uhlz0
https://x.com/kaitlancollins/status/1922207622670802974?s=19
7 months ago
0
0
0
reposted by
Kevin Leyden
Cosáin Climate
7 months ago
The Quincentenary Bridge officially opened in 1987. The Council, and various others, claimed that it was solving the city's traffic issues from day one. Complaints about traffic being a "king size headache" were heard again FIVE years later. The campaign for an Outer Bypass began in the late 90s.
add a skeleton here at some point
1
4
1
reposted by
Kevin Leyden
American Fietser
8 months ago
Cars would be a lot cooler if they weren’t responsible for 44k deaths a year in the U.S. alone, part of the 1.3 million worldwide, thanks to overpowered designs and deadly, oversized infrastructure built around them.
add a skeleton here at some point
4
103
12
reposted by
Kevin Leyden
Pr Carlos Moreno - IAE Paris1 Sorbonne University
8 months ago
Paris 🚴🏼🚴🏽♂️🚴🏼♀️🚴🏼💫🚴🏼🚴🏽♂️🚴🏼♀️❇️
loading . . .
2
33
3
reposted by
Kevin Leyden
Pr Carlos Moreno - IAE Paris1 Sorbonne University
8 months ago
Paris, 🚴🏽♂️🚴🏼♀️🚶🏻🚶🏻♀️🚶🏽♂️➡️🚶🏾♀️➡️🏃🏽♂️🏃🏽🏃🏻♀️ A former motorhighway at the heart of the city
loading . . .
1
69
18
"Exciting things are happening in Cork [in the area of] Public Transport." -Taoiseach Micheál Martin today on The Pat Kenny Show. The future of Galway needs leadership.
www.rte.ie/news/2025/04...
loading . . .
Preferred 18km route launched for new Cork Luas service
An emerging preferred 18km route has been launched for a new Luas service in Cork, and a public consultation on the project launched this morning.
https://www.rte.ie/news/2025/0414/1507564-cork-luas/
8 months ago
0
1
1
Cork on track to the future. And Galway? GLUAS LightRail has been found to be viable recently by the NTA. There is more to transport than a Ring Road!
www.rte.ie/news/2025/04...
loading . . .
Preferred 18km route launched for new Cork Luas service
An emerging preferred 18km route has been launched for a new Luas service in Cork, and a public consultation on the project launched this morning.
https://www.rte.ie/news/2025/0414/1507564-cork-luas/
8 months ago
0
3
0
reposted by
Kevin Leyden
Brent Toderian
8 months ago
Air pollution has dropped significantly in
#Paris
in the last 15 years as a result of a deliberate strategy. Mayor
@annehidalgo.bsky.social
’s leadership has traded car space for green space, safe bike space, kid space.. and traded pollution for people. Good trade.
42
4334
1434
An excellent summary of the failed efforts of the @GalwayCityCo to build a Ring Road. Sustainable alternatives that include denser development in the city, @GLUASLightRail, school buses, and cycling infrastructure needed.
irishcycle.com/2025/04/08/o...
loading . . .
On the road to nowhere – the continuing saga of the Galway City Ring Road
Comment & Analysis: Forty-five million euro – that’s how much has been spent by successive governments over the past 25 years on plans for a second bypass in Galway City – think of it as 134 Le…
https://irishcycle.com/2025/04/08/on-the-road-to-nowhere-the-continuing-saga-of-the-galway-city-ring-road/
8 months ago
0
2
1
America has an opportunity to lead the AI revolution, and Trump's main concern is bringing toaster factories to rural Ohio.
8 months ago
0
3
0
reposted by
Kevin Leyden
Brent Toderian
9 months ago
BREAKING: “We will build at a pace not seen since the 2nd World War.” Mark Carney announces he wants to double the pace of housing construction in Canada, half a million new homes/year. He wants the Federal Govt to get back into affordable home-building. Billions in housing loans/grants announced.
35
852
167
Moving City Hall out of the city centre was a terrible decision. And we still don't know how it happened.
9 months ago
0
3
3
reposted by
Kevin Leyden
The War on Cars
9 months ago
Electric cars won't fix this.
add a skeleton here at some point
14
497
90
reposted by
Kevin Leyden
Brent Toderian
10 months ago
READ THIS: “We found there’s this perfect one-to-one relationship. If a city increased its road capacity by 10% then driving in that city went up by 10%.” Still one of the best articles on why building bigger roads leads to more driving. Understanding
#InducedDemand
via
@wired.com
loading . . .
What's Up With That: Building Bigger Roads Actually Makes Traffic Worse
The concept is called induced demand, which is economist-speak for when increasing the supply of something (like roads) makes people want that thing even more. Though some traffic engineers made note ...
https://www.wired.com/2014/06/wuwt-traffic-induced-demand/
11
355
113
Chaos might make "good television," but it's not good for the economy.
www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...
loading . . .
Recession Fears Rise as US Consumer Confidence Falls
Get caught up.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2025-02-25/us-recession-fears-rise-as-consumer-confidence-falls
10 months ago
0
1
0
We "need to get rid of regulations that make it impossible to build things, and we need to invest money in order to achieve great things." We Can Achieve Great Things
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/27/o...
loading . . .
Opinion | We Can Achieve Great Things
Progressives, who believe in using government to do good things, have built a system that renders government incompetent.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/27/opinion/government-great-progressive-abundance.html?smid=nytcore-android-share
10 months ago
0
2
0
The only way @elonmusk and @realDonaldTrump could fire so many people is if they were born wealthy and have no idea what it is like to struggle to make a living and pay bills.
10 months ago
0
3
0
reposted by
Kevin Leyden
David Zipper
10 months ago
Philly is the latest city to use bus-mounted cameras to automatically ticket cars blocking transit lanes and bus stops. This is one the best transportation technology innovations of the last decade. Every city should be using it.
loading . . .
SEPTA, PPA will start using AI cameras in May to ticket illegally parked vehicles in bus lanes and stops
The authority will use the technology on 150 buses and more than 20 trolleys to detect the violations. Citations will be $101.
https://www.phillyvoice.com/septa-ppa-ai-cameras-parking-violations-bus-lanes-stops/
12
395
98
reposted by
Kevin Leyden
The Urbanist
10 months ago
A recent peer-reviewed study of identical twins illustrated the value of living in a walkable neighborhood, showing a strong correlation between walkable neighborhoods, time spent walking, and positive health outcomes. Story:
www.theurbanist.org/2025/02/14/w...
0
70
22
Load more
feeds!
log in