Exasperated Infrastructures

Exasperated Infrastructures explores the challenges and dynamics of transportation and urban planning. It critiques political and social resistance to mobility improvements, emphasizes the need for diverse leadership and equity in planning, and advocates for prioritizing pedestrian safety, community needs, and sustainable infrastructure over car dependency.

Transportation and Urban Planning Political and Social Dynamics of Infrastructure Leadership and Diversity in Urban Development Pedestrian Safety and Mobility Public Engagement and Policy in Infrastructure Environmental Sustainability in Urban Spaces Equity and Accessibility in Transportation

The hottest Substack posts of Exasperated Infrastructures

And their main takeaways

Tiffany-Ann Taylor on the Past, Present, and Future of Transportation

14 implied HN points • 29 Nov 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Transportation Diversity Leadership Equity
  1. Small steps are still steps - Even small improvements can make a big difference in transportation projects.
  2. Diversity in leadership is crucial - Having diverse voices and experiences leads to more innovative solutions.
  3. Success means prioritizing equity and intersectionality - A successful future in transportation includes valuing all community needs and voices.

vanshnookenraggen on the past, present, and future of transportation

12 implied HN points • 11 Dec 23
💼 Business Transportation Urban planning Public Policy Infrastructure Advocacy
  1. Andrew Lynch, known as vanshnookenraggen, got into mapping and transportation history out of pure curiosity and interest in urban planning.
  2. His work focuses on creating maps that visualize transportation systems and history to make complex information easier to understand.
  3. There's a need to connect land use policy with transportation policy, understand the political realities of planning, and engage communities effectively in urban planning decisions.

The Anti-Mobility Playbook

26 implied HN points • 07 Aug 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Transportation Infrastructure Policy Political theory Government
  1. The Republican message focuses on telling people what to do while resisting being told what to do.
  2. There are two main theories in government - Conflict and Mistake - that don't always align with political parties.
  3. The Anti-Mobility Playbook highlights how Republicans resist investing in transportation modes that could benefit everyone, contributing to the lack of progress in transportation planning and infrastructure.

The 11th MUTCD is Exactly What We Should Expect...

7 implied HN points • 20 Dec 23
📰 News Transportation Policy Safety Engineering Autonomous Vehicles
  1. The 11th edition of the MUTCD addresses the need for updated road safety measures but lacks clear accountability processes.
  2. The controversial '85th percentile speed trap' rule in the MUTCD has received criticism for rewarding law-breaking behavior.
  3. The new version of the MUTCD includes factors like pedestrian activity in speed limit determinations, but lacks clear definitions and enforcement mechanisms.
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Gia Biagi on the Past, Present, and Future of Transportation

4 implied HN points • 10 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Transportation Urbanism Infrastructure Policy Collaboration
  1. Gia Biagi emphasizes the importance of understanding the impact and responsibility of a transportation department on the city's infrastructure.
  2. Chicago's uniqueness lies in its historical urban planning foundations, its continuous lakefront paths, and its negotiation of its river system, alongside its persistent efforts to address issues of segregation and systemic racism.
  3. Improvements in transportation planning require a balance between system-level thinking and attention to one-foot level experiences, as well as a recognition and utilization of expertise at all levels and across different scales.

It turns out we can, in fact, build things. Time to build sidewalks.

19 implied HN points • 07 Jul 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Infrastructure Federalism Safety Leadership Budgeting
  1. Emphasize the importance of building and maintaining infrastructure like sidewalks to improve safety and reduce pedestrian fatalities.
  2. Highlight the need for collaboration and coordination between different levels of government and private entities to address infrastructure challenges.
  3. Call for leadership from government officials and active participation from citizens to advocate for necessary infrastructure improvements.

Daily Exasperation #1

12 implied HN points • 02 Aug 23
💼 Business Finance Technology Stock Market Transportation Media
  1. Uber finally posted a quarterly profit with improved financial metrics.
  2. Uber's stock price took a hit due to missing revenue projections amidst competition from Lyft.
  3. The news and investing cycle can blur fundamentals and it's hard to differentiate motivations behind business analysis performance.

Daily Exasperation #3

9 implied HN points • 04 Aug 23
🎭️ Culture Lifestyle Community Ageing Transportation
  1. Golf carts can be a safe and spacious mobility option in certain circumstances.
  2. Retirement communities often use golf carts for practical transportation within the community.
  3. Challenges arise in satellite communities when traditional transportation methods don't meet residents' needs.

Daily Exasperation #0

9 implied HN points • 01 Aug 23
🎭️ Culture Blogging Ethics Community
  1. The author plans to post more frequently and reliably on a website called Exasperated Infrastructures.
  2. They aim to share short thoughts, advice, and various content like articles, essays, podcasts, or videos daily.
  3. The author encourages sharing the content with others to build a network.

Daily Exasperation #9

7 implied HN points • 14 Aug 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Infrastructure Legislation Urban planning
  1. The author discusses the lack of efficient travel options between cities in the US compared to Europe.
  2. There is a call for a change in legislative approaches to prioritize people's interests over moneyed ones.
  3. The article emphasizes the need for a clearer vision for New York City's future to address current and potential issues.

It's About Time Traffic Engineers Included the Cost of Traffic Violence in Their Calculations

12 implied HN points • 12 May 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Economic Impact Cost Analysis Safety measures
  1. Traffic engineers should include the cost of traffic violence in their project calculations to prioritize safety.
  2. Calculating the cost of lost productivity from motor vehicle incidents reveals the substantial economic impact of traffic violence.
  3. Factoring in the value of a human life can help in justifying safety improvements and preventing unnecessary tragedies.

Julie Timm Weighs In on the Future of the Puget Sound Region.

7 implied HN points • 21 Jul 23
💼 Business Transportation Community Impact Decision-making Leadership Public Sector
  1. Julie Timm, CEO of Sound Transit, emphasizes the importance of regional equity and building new services for all riders.
  2. Strong partnerships between different agencies in Seattle improve transit connectivity and service access.
  3. Ensuring fair, living wages for transit workers is vital for maintaining reliable service and increasing ridership.

Henry Grabar's "Paved Paradise" is a Masterpiece

9 implied HN points • 02 May 23
🎭️ Culture Book review Urban planning Transportation Cities Society
  1. Henry Grabar's book 'Paved Paradise' is likened to important urban planning works and sheds light on the impacts of parking policies.
  2. The book discusses the significant role of parking in shaping urban landscapes and the conflicts it has spurred.
  3. Through vivid storytelling and real-life characters, 'Paved Paradise' explores the complexities of parking policies and advocates for safer streets.

Daily Exasperation #13

4 implied HN points • 21 Aug 23
🏝 Travel Transportation Destinations Maritime AI
  1. The author loves Seattle and wants to help improve transportation and make the city safe and equitable.
  2. Mount Rainier adds a magnificent touch to daily life in Seattle, a feature absent in East Coast cities.
  3. Seattle's collaborative transportation system, although efficient, still struggles with coordination between different agencies.

Daily Exasperation #11

4 implied HN points • 17 Aug 23
🏝 Travel Public Transportation
  1. Shared mobility options like GIG for car-sharing by the minute can provide convenient solutions for specific transportation needs.
  2. Consider the cost structures and compare different car-sharing options like GIG and Turo for various trip durations to find the best deal.
  3. While profitability and sustainability of services like GIG may be uncertain, ongoing innovation in mobility options is important for enhancing transportation flexibility.

Norman Garrick on the Past, Present, and Future of Transportation

7 implied HN points • 03 Apr 23
🎭️ Culture Transportation Urban planning Sustainability Social justice Infrastructure
  1. Norman Garrick highlights the need for cities that prioritize people on foot over vehicles going at high speeds.
  2. He discusses the challenges of car dependency, especially in countries like Jamaica, and emphasizes the importance of transit, bike, and pedestrian planning.
  3. Garrick advocates for creating car-light cities that are free from the dangers, noise, pollution, and costs associated with cars, focusing on designing for people's quality of life and low-carbon urban environments.

Exasperated Infrastructures x Island Press: The American Urbanist

7 implied HN points • 06 Feb 23
  1. People sit where there are places to sit - focus on function over form in urban design.
  2. Engage with communities by observing, documenting, and acting to create meaningful change.
  3. Read 'The American Urbanist' by William H. Whyte to learn about urban planning and observation techniques.

Daily Exasperation #10

2 implied HN points • 16 Aug 23
🕹 Technology Tech regulation Startup Strategies
  1. Big tech companies can be held accountable by cities and leaders.
  2. Uber and similar companies faced challenges due to their approach of disregarding local regulations.
  3. Authors and city officials are pushing for better control over how technology is implemented in cities.

Shoshana Lew on the Past, Present and Future of Transportation

2 implied HN points • 12 Jun 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Transportation Legislation Leadership Climate change Infrastructure
  1. Shoshana Lew emphasizes the importance of balancing people's needs with transportation goals.
  2. Director Lew highlights the need for diverse voices in transportation leadership for more inclusive and impactful decision-making.
  3. Colorado faces challenges with diverse environmental locations impacting road infrastructure, while needing strategic growth planning to manage rapidly changing populations.

Midweek Takes #20

9 implied HN points • 09 Feb 22
  1. This post discusses Josh Barro's reporting and Lauren Oyler's work.
  2. Exasperated Infrastructures is a reader-supported publication.
  3. To access the full post archives, you can start a 7-day free trial on the website.

Stacey Matlen and the Partnership for New York City.

2 implied HN points • 04 Mar 23
💼 Business Innovation Entrepreneurship Technology
  1. Decrying businesses solely for seeking profit is short-sighted; it's possible for companies to make money while benefitting society.
  2. Building short-term solutions without clear problems and wasting public funds is not a sustainable practice.
  3. Collaboration between private businesses and public agencies, like the Partnership for New York City, can yield significant benefits for everyone involved.

Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act: What It Means

7 implied HN points • 10 Nov 21
  1. The article discusses the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
  2. The author read the 2000 page bill so you don't have to and shares their thoughts.
  3. There is an option for a 7-day free trial to access the full post archives.

Midweek Takes #22

4 implied HN points • 28 Feb 22
  1. The text discusses a new challenge called The Cannonball Run.
  2. The post encourages readers to subscribe to receive new content and support the author's work.
  3. To access the full post and archives, readers are offered a 7-day free trial of the subscription.

Midweek Takes #19

4 implied HN points • 02 Feb 22
  1. The post is part of Midweek Takes #19 series
  2. Exasperated Infrastructures is a reader-supported publication
  3. You can get 7-day free access to full post archives by subscribing

Introducing: Island Press, Friend of EI

2 implied HN points • 22 Aug 22
  1. EI and Island Press have partnered for urbanism and infrastructure content
  2. There will be book reviews and opportunities for subscribers to win copies
  3. Offering a 7-day free trial for full post access

Midweek Takes #18

2 implied HN points • 28 Jan 22
  1. Colin Jost and Pete Davidson bought a boat and there are interesting Twitter threads.
  2. The author is planning to start a podcast and is seeking support from readers.
  3. Readers can access a 7-day free trial to subscribe to the newsletter.