Andrew Bowen (he/him) @acbowen.bsky.social · 20/09/2026It’s true, returning the funding is better than keeping it and missing the grant deadline. It’s also true SANDAG could have avoided this situation. Staff could asked the board for more local funding to complete the projects. They also could have applied for new grants this year. They did neither! 150
Andrew Bowen (he/him) @acbowen.bsky.social · 19/09/2026SANDAG recently forfeited $17.6 million in competitive state grant funding for 4 bike and pedestrian projects across San Diego County. It says the projects are still a priority. Buuuut it also didn’t apply for any active transportation grants this year, so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ www.kpbs.org/news/environ...kpbs.orgSANDAG returns $17.6 million in state funding for bike, pedestrian infrastructureThe transportation agency said the projects' costs had risen, and that it was unable to meet the grant deadlines. Bike advocates are frustrated. 67217
Reposted by Andrew Bowen (he/him)LAist @laist.com · 02/09/2026A bill that threatens a long-planned project to slow cars on Forest Lawn Drive near Griffith Park in Los Angeles passed both chambers of the California legislature, now heads to Gov. Newsom’s desk . 🔗 Full story: vist.ly/5gxjg ✍️ Kavish Harjai 📸 Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images 1113
Reposted by Andrew Bowen (he/him)Matt Pearce @mattdpearce.com · 02/09/2026California is about to do something really cool for local journalism: mattdpearce.substack.com/p/california...mattdpearce.substack.comCalifornia is about to do something really cool for local journalismAB 2222, the Community NEWS Act, is going to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk. 37015
Andrew Bowen (he/him) @acbowen.bsky.social · 01/09/2026The San Diego City Council today repealed the city's bathhouse ordinance, which was passed during the HIV/AIDS panic. Public health experts told me the law was probably not helpful in the fight against the virus. www.kpbs.org/news/health/...kpbs.orgSan Diego repeals bathhouse regulations passed amid HIV/AIDS panicThe city adopted strict regulations on bathhouses in 1988 in an effort to combat HIV. Public health officials say the ordinance is outdated, and that medications are far more effective at stopping the... 0164
Reposted by Andrew Bowen (he/him)Karen Attiah @karenattiah.bsky.social · 25/08/2026Wearing @postguild.bsky.social red today. I was able to challenge my @washingtonpost.com firing — and win reinstatement plus back pay — all thanks to being a part of the @wbng.org Guild. Binding Arbitration is a part of our contract. This is why unions matter!!! 733147436
Andrew Bowen (he/him) @acbowen.bsky.social · 18/08/2026Interestingly enough, the post office in Hillcrest has purchased a new property nearby, right on one of the county's biggest public investments in walkable/bikeable infrastructure. timesofsandiego.com/housing/2026...timesofsandiego.com'Eyesore' Hillcrest post office to move to Normal StreetThe post office in Hillcrest will move from Cleveland Avenue to a smaller site on Normal Street amid residential redevelopment plans. 180
Reposted by Andrew Bowen (he/him)Dike @dikeanyiwo.bsky.social · 14/08/2026This is a really cool effort that I've been following for some time now. I'm excited to see how the project develops in the coming months/years. Nice write up @acbowen.bsky.socialkpbs.orgNational City workshop invites residents to reimagine 57 acres of abandoned freewaySan Diego was one of three cities in California chosen to receive funding through the state's "Reconnecting Communities" program. But funding for the program still hasn't been allocated in the state b... 041
Reposted by Andrew Bowen (he/him)laura olin @lauraolin.bsky.social · 03/08/2026But they will be 4069221187
Reposted by Andrew Bowen (he/him)Meatwad Ron: Summer of Ron @wrenispinkle.bsky.social · 28/07/2026San Diego is building the *gayest* public space in history and I can’t wait for it to open The lithomosaic came out beautiful. We will have the only rainbow bike lane in all of North America!timesofsandiego.comLights, shade and an avocado green trolley car: A peek at the design of Hillcrest’s Normal Street PromenadeOfficials provided a tour of the worksite to preview the final design of the much-anticipated promenade off University Avenue. 58513
Reposted by Andrew Bowen (he/him)Ethan Elkind @ethanelkind.bsky.social · 28/07/2026Another good example here of how 1960s state planning laws in California spurred massive local downzoning, the effects of which were dealing with today in the form of brutal housing scarcity in coastal cities. 0257
Andrew Bowen (he/him) @acbowen.bsky.social · 28/07/2026I wrote about the history of downzoning in San Diego and how it shaped the city’s growth and development. www.kpbs.org/news/local/2...kpbs.orgHow 'downzoning' shaped San Diego — and pushed growth into the suburbsThroughout the 1960s, '70s and '80s, San Diego adopted stricter zoning laws that effectively banned apartments in many of the city's most walkable neighborhoods. 16418
Andrew Bowen (he/him) @acbowen.bsky.social · 24/07/2026Really wish I could make it to the Bicycle Film Festival tomorrow. If you’re in San Diego, check it out! www.kpbs.org/news/arts-cu...kpbs.orgBicycle Film Festival returns to San Diego after 11 yearsThe festival at the Museum of Photographic Arts on July 25 will showcase 13 films from around the world about the joy of biking. 1177
Andrew Bowen (he/him) @acbowen.bsky.social · 20/07/2026Support public media (with your dollars and your attention). 080
Reposted by Andrew Bowen (he/him)Assigned Media @assignedmedia.org · 16/07/2026A lot of people are doing testosterone explainers, but you should read the one written by a trans man. 5787380
Andrew Bowen (he/him) @acbowen.bsky.social · 14/07/2026San Diego is confronting an ever-widening gap between its promises on climate change and the actual results. Emissions should be 6% lower if the city were on track to reach net zero by 2035. The reason: cars.kpbs.orgEven as emissions fall, San Diego drifts further from path to carbon neutralitySan Diego's electricity is getting cleaner and natural gas usage is down. But emissions from cars and trucks remain stubbornly high. 15817
Andrew Bowen (he/him) @acbowen.bsky.social · 01/07/2026Kelly Davis was truly the best of the best. Her reporting was fearless, and always grounded in compassion and humanity. She did so much to foster community among San Diego journalists. Thank you, @byjeffmcdonald.bsky.social, for honoring her memory. www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2026/07/01/k...sandiegouniontribune.comKelly Davis, intrepid reporter who exposed death and despair in San Diego County jails and gave voice to the downtrodden, dies at 53The 2023 San Diego journalist of the year beat cancer for more than a decade before being diagnosed with a new tumor earlier this year; she leaves a lasting legacy in her adopted hometown. 15022
Andrew Bowen (he/him) @acbowen.bsky.social · 28/06/2026Mission Hills NIMBYs: Apartments must be large or (preferably) nonexistent. 1141
Reposted by Andrew Bowen (he/him)Steve B. @estevebolita.bsky.social · 25/06/2026A great listen for anyone who’s seen the San Diego streetcar photos and wished we still had them. 1103
Reposted by Andrew Bowen (he/him)Assigned Media @assignedmedia.org · 19/06/2026Assigned Media is excited to announce our Founding Editor Evan Urquhart has been awarded the Sarah Pettit Memorial Award for the LGBTQ+ Journalist of the Year by the Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists @nlgjaofficial.bsky.social Our little newsroom is making waves, baby! 48815119
Andrew Bowen (he/him) @acbowen.bsky.social · 19/06/2026The San Diego Velodrome Association is no longer hosting bike races sanctioned by USA Cycling. After months of protest from members over USAC’s trans-exclusionary gender policy (and other things), SDVA’s board deadlocked on a path forward. www.kpbs.org/news/quality...kpbs.orgSan Diego Velodrome drops plans for USA Cycling races after membership outcryThe velodrome, a bike racing track in Balboa Park, became embroiled in controversy over USA Cycling's policy excluding trans women from women's races. 1102
Reposted by Andrew Bowen (he/him)sdtrafficdeaths.bsky.social @sdtrafficdeaths.bsky.social · 17/06/2026Around 1:30 a.m. today, a San Diego police officer struck and killed a pedestrian, white male in his early 20s, on Linda Vista Road near USD. Make/model of patrol vehicle unclear. Officer "felt an impact on his vehicle," turned around and rendered aid, but the man died of his injuries. #VisionZero 285
Reposted by Andrew Bowen (he/him)Kai Ryssdal @kairyssdal.bsky.social · 09/06/2026If you credulously do a segment about the vote in California in which you don’t say the president is lying, you’re spreading disinformation to your listeners. 262184573778
Andrew Bowen (he/him) @acbowen.bsky.social · 03/06/2026New episode of Freeway Exit just dropped! It’s a crossover with The Finest, another amazing KPBS podcast. Hear me talk about San Diego’s bygone streetcar era, and how some are fighting to bring the streetcar back. www.kpbs.org/podcasts/fre...kpbs.orgThe Finest: The legacy of San Diego's streetcarsLong before San Diego became defined by freeways, parking shortages and long commutes, electric streetcars connected the region's urban core to beaches, business districts and growing neighborhoods mo... 0132
Reposted by Andrew Bowen (he/him)Evan George @evanlgeorge.bsky.social · 28/05/2026NPR is shrinking its newsroom through layoffs and buyouts and is reducing staff dedicated to covering both climate and science. "The climate desk no longer exists separately but has been folded into the National Desk," writes Neela Banerjee, who headed the climate desk but was just laid off. 23680310
Reposted by Andrew Bowen (he/him)Rebuild Local News @rebuildlocalnews.bsky.social · 21/05/2026Good news in CA: @asmchrisward.bsky.social's AB 2222, a bill to help newsrooms retain and hire local journalists, passed out of the Assembly Appropriations Committee on a bipartisan 14–2 vote and added @buffywicks.bsky.social as a joint author. The bill heads to an Assembly floor vote next week. 0167
Andrew Bowen (he/him) @acbowen.bsky.social · 21/05/2026Update: USA Cycling races are continuing in San Diego. The San Diego Velodrome Association says it will run all USAC races as gender neutral, but still advertise some as women's races. Trans racers/allies say they value inclusivity over competition and want USAC out. www.kpbs.org/news/racial-...kpbs.orgSan Diego Velodrome plans workaround to avoid claims of anti-trans discriminationControversy over USA Cycling's policy on transgender athletes has caused a rift in San Diego's bike racing community. 3103
Reposted by Andrew Bowen (he/him)Evan Urquhart @evanurquhart.bsky.social · 04/05/2026Huh. You'd think a comprehensive 6 episode audio investigation of youth gender medicine by a major US newspaper would include at least one interview with a trans young person or their parent. 101393255
Reposted by Andrew Bowen (he/him)Kai Ryssdal @kairyssdal.bsky.social · 24/04/2026Zero. Sympathy. They did this to themselves. Oh, and also? There definitely is an easy answer. 1410110211770
Andrew Bowen (he/him) @acbowen.bsky.social · 14/04/2026Four days after my story came out, the San Diego Velodrome has announced its race on 4/21 will *not* be sanctioned by USA Cycling (which bans trans women from women's races). They're promising "further communication and opportunities for direct feedback." My story: www.kpbs.org/news/racial-...kpbs.orgSan Diego Velodrome begins hosting bike races that exclude trans womenThe racetrack in Balboa Park recently began hosting events sanctioned by USA Cycling, which bans trans women from participating in women's races. More such races are planned, despite a city policy pro... 3143
Reposted by Andrew Bowen (he/him)Tim Jackson @bikewriter.bsky.social · 10/04/2026This is an excellent story by @acbowen.bsky.social about my beloved home velodrome. I've ridden and raced on the track here since around '92. It's my second home, my happy place. We have built an amazing community, and it is in the news for the wrong reasons. www.kpbs.org/news/racial-...kpbs.orgSan Diego Velodrome begins hosting bike races that exclude trans womenThe racetrack in Balboa Park recently began hosting events sanctioned by USA Cycling, which bans trans women from participating in women's races. More such races are planned, despite a city policy prohibiting anti-trans discrimination at the velodrome. 383
Reposted by Andrew Bowen (he/him)Warren Wells, AICP @warrenjwells.bsky.social · 10/04/2026Very sad story about trans bike racers in San Diego. 0225
Andrew Bowen (he/him) @acbowen.bsky.social · 10/04/2026The San Diego Velodrome has begun hosting bike races that exclude transgender women. This is despite a city policy prohibiting anti-trans discrimination at the racetrack. One trans racer told me the change made her feel “disposable.” Been working on this for a while, give it a read and share!kpbs.orgSan Diego Velodrome begins hosting bike races that exclude trans womenThe racetrack in Balboa Park recently began hosting events sanctioned by USA Cycling, which bans trans women from participating in women's races. More such races are planned, despite a city policy prohibiting anti-trans discrimination at the velodrome. 12911
Andrew Bowen (he/him) @acbowen.bsky.social · 06/04/2026Today saw quite the bounty of bike lane obstructions. Submitted all via @bikelaneuprising.bsky.social 🫠 0203
Andrew Bowen (he/him) @acbowen.bsky.social · 30/03/2026"And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward." -Matthew 6:5 0131
Reposted by Andrew Bowen (he/him)Michael Hobbes @michaelhobbes.bsky.social · 29/03/2026The NYT is being disingenuous here. The AMA has *always* said that gender-affirming surgeries should generally be reserved for adults. That's part of why so few kids get them! The AMA reiterated this position and the NYT is characterizing it as a policy change. It's not. 294462911
Reposted by Andrew Bowen (he/him)Assigned Media @assignedmedia.org · 26/03/2026The American Medical Association directly responds to New York Times coverage mischaracterizing their posiiton on gender affirming care for trans young people. cloud.e.ama-assn.org/newsletter?u... 203024822
Andrew Bowen (he/him) @acbowen.bsky.social · 26/03/2026My reporting on the Coastal Commission's blockage of bike lanes in San Diego was cited in the passage of SB 689 (Blakespear), which allows a lower level of review of bike/transit/ped improvements in the coastal zone. The law came too late to save this man's life. 0245
Andrew Bowen (he/him) @acbowen.bsky.social · 04/03/2026San Diego has the third highest transportation cost burden in the country. The reason? Cars, of course! www.kpbs.org/news/economy...kpbs.orgAmid San Diego's high transportation costs, some manage to find reliefSan Diego households spend more on transportation than almost every other metro area in the country. The culprit, experts say, is the automobile. 1569
Andrew Bowen (he/him) @acbowen.bsky.social · 19/02/2026Ben did some really good and honest coverage of the MPOX outbreak in the early days, when few other journalists were paying attention. Seeing him devolve into a tool of the anti-trans movement is sad and disappointing. 070
Andrew Bowen (he/him) @acbowen.bsky.social · 19/02/2026Just got a text message opinion poll on a ballot initiative to establish voter ID requirements in California. 130
Andrew Bowen (he/him) @acbowen.bsky.social · 12/02/2026Pacific Beach has seen two hit-and-run traffic deaths in the span of three weeks. 0154
Reposted by Andrew Bowen (he/him)Jared @jaredjct.bsky.social · 02/02/2026CHAD MICHAELS !!!!!!!!!! 0133
Andrew Bowen (he/him) @acbowen.bsky.social · 31/01/2026The bike counters on 30th Street logged maybe 1% of the San Diego cyclists who rode in memory of Alex Pretti today. www.kpbs.org/news/quality... 08812
Reposted by Andrew Bowen (he/him)Pete Casellini @petecasellini.bsky.social · 31/01/2026Cannot emphasize enough how these humble little lanes have transformed my relationship to the neighborhood for the better. I explore the neighborhood so much more, I visit businesses more often because it’s that much easier to get there quickly, I commute by bike more often because it feels safer. 0318
Andrew Bowen (he/him) @acbowen.bsky.social · 31/01/2026San Diego installed bike lanes on a busy commercial street in North Park in 2021. Ridership jumped 67% the next year. Now, 4 years later, bike and scooter trips on 30th Street have hit another record high. Foot traffic and business activity is also booming. www.kpbs.org/news/quality...kpbs.org30th Street bike lanes in North Park saw record ridership in 2025Bike and scooter trips on 30th Street have jumped 15% since the installation of protected bike lanes in 2021. Foot traffic and business activity also appear to be thriving. 414329
Andrew Bowen (he/him) @acbowen.bsky.social · 24/01/2026Protest planned in San Diego on Saturday against Rady Children’s Hospital halting gender-affirming care for minors www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2026/01/20/r... 0103