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Chris Usher

@chrusher.bsky.social
177 followers 137 following 1.1K posts

Recovering Astronomer. Desert Bus for Hope Video Strike Team volunteer. Haver of opinions about transit. He/they

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Chris Usher @chrusher.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
This morning I ran the Royal Victoria Half Marathon in 1:51:18 - 29 s faster than last year!
Selfie where I am holding up my finishers medal. The race finish line and the Steamship Terminal are in the background
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Chris Usher @chrusher.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
That Man City's first game after their conviction for financial doping is against Liverpool, a team that were runners up in the league to Man City three times and one of their greatest modern rivals, is chef's kiss
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Chris Usher @chrusher.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
I believe the political thinking here is swing voters drive, people who take transit either do not vote or will never vote for the Conservatives
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Chris Usher @chrusher.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
If you rule out a transit funding source (the vehicle levy), that money either has to come from somewhere else (some other form of tax), or you have to cut service. If you cut service, fewer people will take transit. Fewer people taking transit means more people driving
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Vision Zero Vancouver @visionzerovancouver.ca · 02/10/2026
Since money doesn't grow on trees, funding for TransLink will ultimately come down to taxpayers one way or another. The government's choice is to either pick the least bad way, or to let transit collapse.
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Movement: Metro Vancouver Transit Riders @movementyvr.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
When will we get a government in BC that actually sets out a vision to not only stabilize transit but also improve it? Is our transit system doomed to always be in crisis mode? Read our full press release here:
movementyvr.ca
RELEASE: The vehicle levy that could prevent disaster and save swing riding-residents $15,000 per year | Movement: Metro Vancouver Transit Riders
Both parties have ruled out a vehicle levy to fund transit. Does that mean we’re heading off the fiscal cliff that would target Surrey, Maple Ridge, and the Tri-Cities? For Immediate Release October 2, 2026 In 2025, Movement fought off devastating cuts that threatened to eliminate 50% of transit service. This election is setting us […]
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Vision Zero Vancouver @visionzerovancouver.ca · 02/10/2026
More money for drivers, less money for transit. Our "progressive" government hard at work.
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Better Transit YYJ @bettertransityyj.ca · 26/09/2026
If Saskatoon can have bus lanes downtown, why can't we? #yyj #bctransit
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Brendan Dawe @dawe.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Kind of amazing how underappreciated “make the buses go faster” would save service hours, free up bus availability, and actually sell more fares, all of which are positives on a transit agency’s balance sheet
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Livable CRD @livablecrd.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
The Livable CRD Candidate Scorecard, now available at LivableCRD.ca, brings together candidates’ responses to key municipal issues on a single website. The goal is to make it easier for voters to explore candidates’ positions and conduct their own research ahead of election day.
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Chris Usher @chrusher.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
We're having one election, yes. What about second election?
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Chris Usher @chrusher.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
I do not understand why you would spend the money building a mostly grade separated right-of-way and proper stations and yet run low floor rolling stock on it. If only a city on the pacific coast of North America had built one of those automated light metros.
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VST @videostrike.team · 18/09/2026
Are you someone who still wants to signup for this year (DB20)'s VST? Well this is your notice that signups close tomorrow at 11pm (PST), so you better get on it! vst.ninja
vst.ninja
The DesertBus VST Archive
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Desert Bus for Hope 🚌 #DB2026 OCTOBER 23rd @desertbus.org · 16/09/2026
Many people ask, "What is Desert Bus for Hope?" Others ask, "When are you going to update that video?" Great news:
youtu.be
What is Desert Bus for Hope? 2026 Edition
YouTube video by DesertBusForHope
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Chris Usher @chrusher.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
I decided to draw up the 'useful' map for Greater Victoria. For whatever reason service here ends an hour or more earlier on Sundays than on most weeknights (Fridays and Saturdays get later service) so only one route, the 95, meets the strict definition of half hour or better till midnight everyday
Map of transit routes in Greater Victoria. Thin black lines show all routes; the thick orange line shows the only route with half hour or better frequency everyday till midnight.
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Chris Usher @chrusher.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
I support Sam Holland for mayor of Oak Bay samuelholland.ca
samuelholland.ca
Sam Holland for Oak Bay Mayor | An Oak Bay for Everyone
Sam Holland is running for Mayor of Oak Bay, BC. Local leadership on climate, healthcare, affordability, and infrastructure.
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Reece Martin @rmtransit.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
My attempt to answer the million dollar question: why public transit now costs so much in the English world (there are at least 52 reasons). www.thetransitbrief.net/p/why-transi...
thetransitbrief.net
Why transit suddenly costs so much.
The English-speaking world’s cost crisis.
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Chris Usher @chrusher.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
Part of me wants to give HoI4 a try - I played a decent amount of HoI2 and HoI3 back in the day - but I also know what a time sink Paradox games can be
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"Online Rent-a-Sage" Bret Devereaux @bretdevereaux.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
I will never forgive Trump's quislings for treating our allies worse than our enemies. Every one of these stunts is a betrayal. We *had* a good trade deal with Canada, it was called NAFTA. Trump replaced it with...a basically identical deal (USMCA) and now tore that up too. Infuriating.
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Chris Usher @chrusher.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
Is Canada the first country to say no deal to Trump? It seems like most other countries have been willing to offer enough concessions to get some sort of deal.
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Chris Usher @chrusher.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
BC should have a vehicle levy but I would tax vehicle weight, not value. Most negative externalities are tied to the mass of the vehicle. A big truck a decade old is just as dangerous and tears up the road just as much as a brand new one.
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Chris Usher @chrusher.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
This is really bad. A modern ship without electrical power is a sitting duck. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
theguardian.com
US Navy destroyer adrift in South China Sea for four days after losing power
USS Benfold lost power after ‘engineering casualty’ leaving sailors without galley services, toilets and air conditioning
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Chris Usher @chrusher.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
At 00:49 PDT I saw a bright meteor break up east of where I live in Victoria. Easily the brightest meteor I have ever seen.
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The Globe and Mail @theglobeandmail.com · 14/08/2026
theglobeandmail.com
Years behind schedule and $23-billion over budget: Meet Doug Ford’s flagship transit project
The province is to blame for the rising costs but the taxpayers will pay for it when there’s less money for health, education and other priorities
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Oh The Urbanity! @ohtheurbanity.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
NIMBYs online: “there’s no point legalizing more housing, developers will never build enough to lower prices” Edmonton landlords: “help, developers built too much, putting downward pressure on rents”
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Chris Usher @chrusher.bsky.social · 09/08/2026
Mandatory SkyTrain picture
A Canada Line train pulling into Bridgeport station
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Chris Usher @chrusher.bsky.social · 09/08/2026
That it took over eight minutes for the 620 bus I am on to turn off the highway into Ladner Exchange and turn back on to the highway is unacceptable. Passengers alighting and boarding at the exchange only took a minute and a half of those eight minutes.
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Better Transit YYJ @bettertransityyj.ca · 07/08/2026
Our friend Charlie ND made a video about the bus lane project on the highway. #yyj youtu.be/QZ2cYBoQXAw
youtu.be
More bus lanes coming soon!
YouTube video by Better Transit YYJ
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Chris Usher @chrusher.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
Your selection for pop III stars is pretty poor if metal rich stars with thin disc kinematics are making the cut
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Chris Usher @chrusher.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
Urbanist and public transport enthusiasts of BlueSky, what small cities (less than a million metro area population) do you think do a good job of public transport?
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Better Transit YYJ @bettertransityyj.ca · 25/07/2026
From the Draft Victoria Regional Transit Plan "Implementing bus priority supports ridership and mode share goals through faster travel time for customers. At the same time, increasing bus speed will allow BC Transit to deliver transit services sooner and at lower cost." #yyj #bctransit
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Chris Usher @chrusher.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
I am trying to find an infographic I think I remember seeing on here about how there are a bunch of grades of separating transit vehicles from other forms of traffic - it is not just the two extremes of running in mixed traffic and a fully grade separated guideway.
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Chris Usher @chrusher.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
It was a lot of fun to see @thelongestjohns.bsky.social in concert tonight
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Chris Usher @chrusher.bsky.social · 11/07/2026
Parking minimums are a massive subsidy for driving
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Kezl 🏄FCY, GFM @kezl.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
Something a friend made that I think @humantransit.bsky.social might enjoy playing around with: a universal transit frequency map based on GTFS data with the ability to see frequency at specific times of day and across different years. transiteverywhere.com
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Chris Usher @chrusher.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
@nicholasmc1.bsky.social
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Chris Usher @chrusher.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
I think I am coming around on bi-articulated trolley buses for Greater Victoria.
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Better Transit YYJ @bettertransityyj.ca · 29/06/2026
Ride with us on the #5 Willows from Fisherman’s Wharf to Willows Beach. We’ll talk transit and then enjoy the live music at 2pm. Bring a chair or blanket for the park. actionnetwork.org/events/ride-... #yyj
actionnetwork.org
Ride the 5 on July 5th
Ride with us on the #5 Willows from Fisherman’s Wharf to Willows Beach. We’ll talk transit and then enjoy the live music at 2pm. Bring a chair or blanket for the park. You can see the exact route and...
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Chris Usher @chrusher.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
Doing a Desert Bus on the summer solstice is a bit weird. When I think of a Desert Bus I think of it being dark, damp and cold.
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Desert Bus for Hope 🚌 #DB2026 OCTOBER 23rd @desertbus.org · 22/06/2026
Thank you all for helping us raise $42,079.69 for qmunity.ca during this year's Desert Bus Express! These donations will directly help assist queer folks in Vancouver and British Columbia find their community through social programs and more. 🏳️‍🌈 (1/2)
qmunity.ca
QMUNITY | Programs, support, and resources for 2SLGBTQIA+ folk and allies
Explore QMUNITY’s low-barrier mental health and social services, where queer, trans, and Two-Spirit people can find connection, autonomy, and support.
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Desert Bus for Hope 🚌 #DB2026 OCTOBER 23rd @desertbus.org · 20/06/2026
🚌💨 Broadcasting from our homes to your homes, Desert Bus Express 2026 is LIVE for the next 24 hours! Hop on board, and help us raise money for qmunity.ca. twitch.tv/desertbus
twitch.tv
desertbus - Twitch
The Internet's longest running charity marathon, fundraising in support of Child's Play Charity. Since 2007 we've raised over $12 million for the children. Watch us play the worst game ever made, for ...
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Better Transit YYJ @bettertransityyj.ca · 18/06/2026
There has been significant growth in the Greater Victoria region over the past decade and with population growth and transit trips continuing to increase, BC Transit is planning ahead for the additional infrastructure needed to maintain and expand our fleet and transit service. #yyj
youtu.be
Planning for a future Saanich Transit Centre
YouTube video by BC Transit
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Chris Usher @chrusher.bsky.social · 14/06/2026
I helped out with this, including some of the filming
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Better Transit YYJ @bettertransityyj.ca · 13/06/2026
The runners to City Hall beat the bus by a few minutes. The bikers to Langford Station won by 10 minutes!
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Better Transit YYJ @bettertransityyj.ca · 12/06/2026
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Chris Usher @chrusher.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
The fuel surcharge should not apply to foot passengers
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Desert Bus for Hope 🚌 #DB2026 OCTOBER 23rd @desertbus.org · 30/05/2026
Hop into express lane!🚌💨 Desert Bus Express is back with a 24 hour marathon starting June 20th at 4pm PDT. This time we're raising money for Qmunity.ca, Vancouver based charity working to improve queer, trans, and Two-Spirit lives through services, connection, and leadership. More info soon!
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Chris Usher @chrusher.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
There are a lot of parallels between Brexit and Alberta separation but one place where the analogy breaks down is that pretty much no one on the left is in favour of it.
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Chris Usher @chrusher.bsky.social · 24/05/2026
I don't think I have seen anyone refer to Pep as Josep before.
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Chris Usher @chrusher.bsky.social · 24/05/2026
This morning I ran the Oak Bay Half Marathon
Selfie after the finish line. I'm holding up my race medal.
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