Field Notes RF

10 summer reads for city innovators:

Not quite a full week ago, the House passed the IIJA and the bill was signed with appropriate fanfare on Monday. Now the real work begins, particularly for the folks at @USDOT. Here are some interesting data points: 1/5

Will think of this picture every time I hear complaints about climate activists blocking traffic #COP26

"The Shinkansen is the Robin Williams of trains. Just as Robin Williams didn’t compete with other comedians, the Shinkansen doesn’t compete with other trains. It competes with the airlines." Credit: @Eric_Weiner in “The Socrates Express"

UPDATE: Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act @HouseDemocrats still won't call the Biden administration's trillion-dollar infrastructure bill for a final vote without an agreement on a much broader social spending plan, and the clock is ticking… 1/8

Drunk driving is the #1 cause of death on US roads. So Mothers Against Drunk Driving (@MADDOnline) steps in with the formidable mission to prevent these accidents. But where are "Mothers For Transit" (#MothersForTransit)? Those two groups would complement each other well.

The best solution to the parking problem is fewer 📉cars. But, if you are going to build parking, build up ⬆️, not down⬇️. Surface and building parking can pretty easily be built on or converted. Underground parking⁉️ All it's good for in the long run is demo or storing wine🍷

If my daughter grew taller by 100% in the last 3 years, and I shrank by 1% due to old age, does that make her a giant?

We can do better.

There’s something about arriving in new cities, wandering empty streets with no destination.