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

Well, We've Got a New Dumbest Article I've Ever Read

12 implied HN points • 20 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Urbanism Housing policy Transportation Political Ideologies Zoning Laws
  1. New Urbanism aims to create community-oriented spaces by promoting walkability and reducing car dependency. It wants to offer people choices in how they live, not just stick them in cars to get everywhere.
  2. The suburbs provide safety and an ideal home for families, but there are also options for urban living that can be affordable and community-focused. Both need to coexist to cater to different people's needs.
  3. Zoning laws and development policies must be reformed to make housing more affordable and accessible. This way, everyone can find a place that suits their lifestyle without facing unnecessary barriers.

Mini Exasperation #4

7 implied HN points • 14 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy Analysis Executive orders Transportation Media influence Public Safety
  1. Safety has become a complicated topic, with over 40,000 road deaths each year. This shows that how we manage road safety affects everyone, regardless of beliefs.
  2. There's a lot of confusion in the government about which transportation projects are funded or canceled. This uncertainty impacts many people's lives and jobs.
  3. The way information flows can drown out important stories, making it hard for the public to know what's really going on. It’s like a messy strategy to control the narrative.

Mini Exasperation #5

2 implied HN points • 21 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Public Policy Transportation Urban planning Civic engagement
  1. Island Press is having a sale on e-books for just $4.99, making it a great time to support a small publisher and read more about planning and urbanism.
  2. Austin has made it illegal to park in bike lanes, with fines between $50 and $300, which aims to improve safety for cyclists.
  3. A new study shows that many people prefer ride-hailing services like Uber or Lyft over public transit, highlighting a need for changes in how we think about transportation options.

Mini Exasperation #3

14 implied HN points • 31 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Policy Transportation Infrastructure Political Commentary Public Administration
  1. The government needs to rethink how it manages construction and infrastructure projects, possibly shifting oversight to agencies like the Department of Defense for better efficiency.
  2. We should consider changing the Department of Transportation to a Department of Mobility to reflect current needs and focus on how people move rather than just transportation modes.
  3. There’s a call to rethink funding approaches, possibly allowing states more control over their infrastructure budgets, which could help create discussions about the importance of federal support for these projects.

Mini Exasperation #2

9 implied HN points • 24 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Executive orders Federal Government Policy Changes Infrastructure
  1. Executive Orders can change policies quickly in the government, but they often create a lot of confusion and uncertainty, especially about funding for projects.
  2. There's a worry that some people in power want to create chaos in our systems so they can privatize everything and take away public benefits.
  3. To help improve our communities, we must focus on mutual aid, sustainable systems, and protecting our institutions from harmful changes.
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5 Essays I'm Excited to Write This year

9 implied HN points • 09 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Infrastructure Public Policy Transportation Government spending Urban planning
  1. The writer plans to explore ways to spend federal transportation money more effectively. They want to understand past spending to improve future projects.
  2. There will be a focus on making air travel better by looking into its economics. The goal is to encourage airlines to adopt practices that benefit travelers and boost profits.
  3. The writer wants to investigate how municipal bonds can fund infrastructure projects. They aim to understand state spending behavior to create more resilient financial systems.

How to Get Policy Totally and Completely and Exasperatedly Wrong

19 implied HN points • 05 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public Policy Legislation Local government Transportation Civic engagement Political Commentary
  1. New legislation in NYC about e-bikes may not solve the real problems of street safety and congestion. Instead of just registering bikes, the focus should be on redesigning streets for better safety for everyone.
  2. The support for this e-bike legislation from various politicians suggests a lack of understanding of the real issues. Many are using it as a way to appear proactive without actually addressing the deeper problems at play.
  3. There are big questions about how this new law will be enforced and funded. Without clear answers on who pays and who manages it, this policy may end up being ineffective and a waste of resources.

Overthinking Transportation Funding Reform & Policy: Steelmanning Reauthorization II(a)

12 implied HN points • 25 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Transportation Legislation Policy Analysis Infrastructure Federal Funding
  1. Reading transportation bills can be tricky because they are full of legal jargon. Most of the text isn't that important, so focus on the key sections that really change policies.
  2. Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) play a crucial role in transportation planning. They help ensure local needs are considered when deciding how to spend federal money.
  3. Transportation laws evolve over time, reflecting changes in society and policies. It's important to stay updated on these changes to understand how they affect public transportation and infrastructure.

Overthinking Transportation Funding Reform & Policy: Steelmanning Reauthorization I

7 implied HN points • 08 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Transportation Policy Federal Funding Public Policy Climate Policy
  1. Transportation funding needs reform to better align incentives and support sustainable practices. We need a plan that addresses both building and reducing infrastructure to help fight climate change.
  2. People can influence how transportation policy is shaped by organizing and voicing their concerns. Understanding the legislative process is key to making meaningful changes.
  3. Important deadlines are coming up, which will affect transportation funding. If Congress doesn't act by September 30, 2026, they may just pass temporary measures instead of long-term solutions.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 #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.

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.