Larry Walker

Larry Walker

@walker-larry.bsky.social

Recovering IT guy, neo-Luddite retired to the Northwoods to hide out from it all…

250 followers12 following3.5K posts

Larry Walker
@walker-larry.bsky.social

The unexpected best part of early voting is that it starts early enough that it’s still pleasant to ride your bicycle to the polling place! Did my part to fight fascism this morning, then bought myself a strawberry crêpe. Sat in the sun and read a Neil Stevenson novel a bit before riding home…

Larry Walker
@walker-larry.bsky.social

Economics always bats last: just as renewables have made it financially foolish to build any new fossil fuel power plants, bikes are about to do the same thing to cars: cities just can’t afford to keep building infinite car spaces!

Brent Toderian@brenttoderian.bsky.social

“When mayors in other cities ask me how #Copenhagen afforded to invest in its cycling networks, I ask them how on earth they have been able to afford highway projects. We invested in bike lanes because that was the cheapest option.” What the world can learn from Copenhagen’s cycling revolution.

theprogressplaybook.comCopenhagen Cycling Revolution: Lessons for CitiesClose to two-thirds of the city’s residents commute by bike to school or work every day.
Larry Walker
@walker-larry.bsky.social

Michigan DOT gives motorists blocks of notice about a lane closure. Pedestrians, wheelchair users, mobility device occupants, bicyclists, mothers with baby carriages just get cut off with no warning or signs. All done on a narrow causeway between two old mine pits, no viable detour…

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Larry Walker
@walker-larry.bsky.social

And by golly, just before dinner, I got a call from the DOT project manager, thanking me for pointing out the problem and assuring me he’d explain to the contractor the need to keep the sidewalk open for wheelchairs and baby buggies and bicycles! Yea, making good trouble works!

Larry Walker
@walker-larry.bsky.social

Michigan DOT gives motorists blocks of notice about a lane closure. Pedestrians, wheelchair users, mobility device occupants, bicyclists, mothers with baby carriages just get cut off with no warning or signs. All done on a narrow causeway between two old mine pits, no viable detour…

Larry Walker
@walker-larry.bsky.social

Son of a gun: a visit to the police department, a call to the DOT PR person’s voicemail, and a chat with some of the workers about how their company would be the first one named in the lawsuit ,and three hours later, all the folding signs have been removed! /2

Larry Walker
@walker-larry.bsky.social

They retracted the outriggers on the lighted sign and move it to the very edge of the curb! Looks like there’s actually enough room that a wheelchair could squeeze through between the sign and the guard rail! All subject to change when they actually work on this side of the road, of course…

Larry Walker
@walker-larry.bsky.social

Michigan DOT gives motorists blocks of notice about a lane closure. Pedestrians, wheelchair users, mobility device occupants, bicyclists, mothers with baby carriages just get cut off with no warning or signs. All done on a narrow causeway between two old mine pits, no viable detour…

Larry Walker
@walker-larry.bsky.social

Those of us who live on the north side of town and are unable or unwilling to operate a motor vehicle are now cut off from the post office, library, City Hall, and grocery stores for the duration of the work. Many disabled people, especially veterans, cross this route daily.

Larry Walker
@walker-larry.bsky.social

Fascinating: warming climate has meant fewer and fewer snowstorms in Holland, so public infrastructure and people’s habits are losing the ability to cope with even 3 cm of snow! And amazingly, there is widespread anger that the streets are cleared, and the bike paths are not. Yes, even in Holland!

Larry Walker
@walker-larry.bsky.social

Suddenly, out of the blue, last night it hit me: why is anybody even talking about Peter Thiel‘s obsession with the Antichrist? Why aren’t we not all rolling on the floor laughing hysterically whenever someone says the word Antichrist. I mean, jeez, there are way better fairytales to obsess over…

Larry Walker
@walker-larry.bsky.social

Is it time for Democrats to introduce impeachment proceedings against all Republican members of the House for failing to meet their constitutional responsibility to have a federal budget in place by September 30? Dereliction of Duty: seems more high crime than misdemeanor; plenty good enough!

Larry Walker
@walker-larry.bsky.social

Every now, and then I remember the part of the immigration question that no one ever talks about: the difficulty of actually doing it legally, in time, money, hassles, and limited locations to apply. Oh, and I forgot the arcane rules, the bureaucratic delays, and the unreliable web app…

Larry Walker
@walker-larry.bsky.social

I haven’t checked Google maps, but it does cross my mind that an Alaskan Air Force Base is about as far away as you can get from where the Epstein files are hiding, without actually leaving the country. No decent golfing up there though…

Larry Walker
@walker-larry.bsky.social

Dissipating thunderstorm a few dozen miles to the west just before sunset made for some interesting cloud peeping. Looked like things that the James Webb telescope would’ve sucked out of deep space…