At least here in Illinois rural towns have okay train access and can easily accommodate bike infrastructure. Many rural towns with a university have decent bike networks already. It’s North American suburbs that are more hopelessly designed around private vehicles.

I used to think automated cars might be a good thing because I expect them to behave more predictably than unqualified human drivers. Over time I’ve changed my mind. In the USA we currently have no way to stop harm from major companies like the ones investing in electric cars. A situation that feels incredibly likely will be that instead of facing jail time like an individual would, companies will receive trivial fines that they will price into the cost of the vehicle for harm caused by their fleets. This will prevent any sort of accountability for vehicles causing harm to living things.

Awesome. You can use this to meet like minded people and build each other up. The more people asking for things the harder it will be for your local government to ignore you. We have little sub groups / organizations that have come up over time like bike grid now as well that has really active in driving engagement and lobbying for a specific plan at public meetings. Feel free to ask more questions, I live in a bike unfriendly part of Chicago and have been working through this for the past several years and currently working with the city to have us included and holding them accountable for following through.

Not sure how it works in Milwaukee but here in Chicago we’ve made progress by working with city council members, electing mayors/alders that care about the issue, building a strong biking community, and trying to engage CDOT. I recommend figuring out your local city council person and try to get them to help you as the first step. If it’s not already happening you might want to try to organize critical mass. I’d love to Amtrak up to Milwaukee and bike to my favorite places and friends that live there.

Mass incarceration is a total disgrace and spits in the face of the USA’s motto “land of the free.” It makes us look like foolish suckers. So proud of our state and so glad this is being implemented.

They also acquired and still run the business previously done by Monsanto known for things like agent orange and eliminating corn biodiversity. Their legal department is also infamous for bankrupting small farmers.

Automobiles. Especially in the USA they are causing a public health crisis, environmental crisis, qualify of life crisis. I grew up loving them and they have uses but I’m fully convinced in the future they should be a luxury used for specific tasks or trips rather than the only form of transportation available.