iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Anyways the TL;DR is that you should travel to new places because it'll inspire you in a thousand ways and occasionally make you remember something you love about home.

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And I remember indoor smoking in the US! Like bowling alleys and restaurants. But now, the idea of going to a dance club where people smoke, it's just not something I'm down to do. Like we really did a massive education campaign in the US and it's so rare to see indoor smoking back home.

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And us urbanists love to say how Europe is this magical utopia (it is 1000% significantly better than US cities), but seriously the smoking is EVERYWHERE. And when you haven't been around it for 20+ years, it can be a real shock to the pedestrian experience.

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For all our trouble and drama and bad decisions in the US, I will say our anti-smoking education really did some good stuff for us all. I say this from a gate at the Berlin airport that is unfortunately next to the smoking lounge, with a gummy feeling throat and a headache.

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Steve Gale @stevewg.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Happy to find that my "souvenir" transit pass, aka leap card, from Ireland still works and even had €0.50 left on it. That'll come in handy this Friday with my 8.5 hour layover in Dublin! So far the plan is to visit the coast for a little cliff walk and late lunch on Howth.

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Reposted by Stina

Colley Hill, Surrey: coffee break from birding the steep scrub. Love the plaque on the bench I’m sitting on

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Here's some screenshots from my app 💜 1. Settings, to toggle bike (including bike+transit) and speeds. Even scooters are included 2. Example bike directions from my neighborhood to Target Field. They even mark roads that are busier or when you may have to take the lane near drivers.

Settings menu from Transit App. Including settings for accessibility, modes of transportation, bike and pedestrian speed

Map with 3 options of bike directions in Minneapolis.

Yeah, that's been my experience with Google maps too. I like Transit app, it has surprisingly good bike directions and you can have the settings go at your bike pace (Google estimates biking at 10mph ish)

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Stina @stinah.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

As a person working in the transportation field here, can I ask what app or mapping service you're using for routes? And, welcome to Minneapolis, and I'm glad you've had a great experience biking here so far. We have some pretty spectacular infrastructure (+ more in the works)

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That's why I started strava-ing every walk or bike ride that was over 10 minutes or so, because all of those small trips are ones that maybe in the past I would have taken via car. It doesn't really help me quantify the bus and car trips, but that could be a fun exercise this winter.

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Stina @stinah.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

A, A, B. Honestly I forgot that bonus shift key existed.

Stina @stinah.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

"in space, no one can hear man splain"

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It's the Princess Diana outfit weather! A crew neck sweatshirt and biker shorts 💜

I saw my whistle the other day, a little red plastic one on a string, now in a drawer next to spare batteries, pens, and taco sauce packets. "An artifact" I thought. A tiny plastic piece of a time I still haven't fully unpacked emotionally. A relic of something I struggle to find words for.

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And we talked about it on our walk, some of the feelings, the leftover guilt of "did I do enough?". The anger of what our communities went through. The hatred in the eyes of every agent I encountered. But also the unbreakable kindness and generosity we saw. We are beautiful and we are powerful.

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Stina @stinah.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Someday I'll be able to speak on January and February 2026 without my voice wavering. Today wasn't that day. Seeing school drop off at the location I patrolled for all those weeks...but with all of the joy of back to school and zero fear in the eyes of the students. Then these signs on my walk..

A light pole with many paper advertisements and a large banner reading "ICE Go Home"

Two signs in green ink on a light post. One states "Somos bellos y poderosos". The bottom sign reads the English translation "we are beautiful and powerful"

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Ever have a weekend so packed to the brim with activities and responsibilities that you get the Thursday Scaries?

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There are a few kinds but I got the tile sticker back when it was small enough to put in the seat post. There's also some that screw on to the water bottle cage mount points, or in the reflector. Most work for 3 years before needing replacing, and use either GoogleFind or an app

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It blows my mind that they tried it during the workday, at the government center. You know, where all the cops + security are around? Thankful that we are working on a secure bike room for employees. I didn't enjoy being a new data point to prove how bad we need it.

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I upgraded to a highly rated ulock that'll fit my frame + wheel. 🥰 That foldy from Amazon for $80 had a good long life. Plus all my bikes have gps trackers inside the frame, helps give me peace of mind in case the worst happens.

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Stina @stinah.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Hey bestie, I didn't ask. My favorite bike I own is a 1986 Bridgestone 300, it's fast and light and cute. But for my commute, hauling heavy groceries, and long distance without sweating on my way to work, I like my $1700 e bike.

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Me: has the urge to go shopping for something, anything. Thieves: mess up my bike lock trying to take my beloved car replacement. Me: ah. Well now I get to go shopping I guess? Anywho, buy the nice locks, y'all. Glad I get to keep my bike.

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In Fort Collins, we had the Village Vidiot. It was magical, especially for cult hits, like Jesus Christ Vampire Hunter. Even if a film was bad, the memories and the laughs were good. Cheap fun we could walk to, it closed in 2017. But the owner keeps the website alive with film reviews.

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@twiblr.bsky.social if you find yourself in Uptown/Lyndale this fall on a weekend, I'd love to take you on a bike ride so you can see the area the way I've fallen in love with it. We'll get you a bike, ebike, trike, whatever you prefer, and we'll ride to a coffee or tea shop and just chat.

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I guess here's my thing: you hate cyclists for some reason. Maybe a cyclist broke your heart once, maybe you used to ride and now you don't. I want to empathize with you, I really do. But we aren't going anywhere and it's in our best interest to get along and promote the businesses we love, right?

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Oops sorry, I was busy doing my job as a public servant for most of the day. Then I went for a bike ride along Bryant and some areas north of Lake Street. I see you had lots of fun with all my friends while I was gone.

Thanks, Chris! I'm not the best at this but I've been yelled at during a LOT of city planner meetings over the years. And I used to work at a zoo with kids. So between politicians, children, and wild animals, I can handle nearly anything!

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Could you provide a list to the businesses that closed as a result of the Hennepin Avenue reconstruction?

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My goal is to make sure I am choosing to support Lyndale businesses (minus a certain flower shop) during the construction season. Prioritizing date nights at restaurants, getting my coffee, stopping by vintage stores for clothes, getting gift cards for gifts too. And I'll be biking to them.

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I'm two blocks off Lyndale, I would argue that me and my neighbors have a larger stake in this conversation about the Lyndale Avenues reconstruction. I hear your concerns, I do. But the Lyndale project is going to happen, the plans are approved. I think it would be worth making the best of it.

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Laura is one of the most well informed advocates in the area, she's worked with local electeds, city and county staff, as well as BikeMN and Safe Routes to School. She's also brilliant and patient and kind. I'd encourage you to be open to conversation with her.

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You have made up your mind that the bikes killed business, bike lanes brought crime, ruined everything, wasted money. But when we try to discuss with you, it doesn't go well. Do you live in the area? I'm not comfortable with giving you my cross streets but I am in South Uptown.

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I think my confusion and reluctance to take time to research and engage with you is that you come across as very aggressive and unkind to those trying to offer you info or lived experience. If you have no interest in adapting or changing your mind and only want to push others down, why would I try?

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I'll do some digging (it may take a bit of time post-work). Full disclosure: I'm a bike/bus/ped person, but while I'm emotionally attached to biking, my professional opinions are based on data, crash reports, roadway standards, etc.

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leftylady.bsky.social @leftylady.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

That dataset is from 2019, it would be interesting to see updated numbers. I know my lifestyle and transportation choices have changed dramatically since 2019 thanks to COVID workplace requirements, WFH, and wanting to be outdoors more.

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Reposted by Stina

Well slap my ass and call me a radical lefty lady but maybe our food safety regulations were in place to regulate the safety of our food.

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Reposted by Stina

Michelle @michelleroy78.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Therapist? Oh, you mean my gossip doctor.

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In Columbus OH, we referred to it as "winning the door prize," a phrase that even made its way into the Comp Plan. See also "pothole plunge" where the road hole would be so deep it could nearly swallow your tire.

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If you want to go to your usual Aldi and then bike home on Lyndale, it's my weekly routine. But I bet you can find some newer exciting options!

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