Pedestrian in Downtown Minneapolis // Photography projects focusing on transit networks, public spaces and urban nature @streets.mn Board Member //Marketing Agency gig photography.bryanformhals.com
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The transit death spiral is really dispiriting. It also makes me wonder if BRT is going to survive in the Twin Cities. Still trying to figure out how it basically goes unnoticed that BRT is essentially free. Not opposed that on principle but think it has unintended consequences.
Came upon a crashed Tesla on my walk yesterday. Ridgewood & Pilsbury Ave, Minneapolis 9/3/2025
Along 94, St. Paul, MN 10/18/24
Yeah, the collective ignorance about the dangers of car culture is really something to behold.
It's bizarre. I think they feel violence is just going to happen like thunderstorms do so you can't really do anything about it. I don't accept that hopefully most people don't either.
Bluesky is very good for urbanism especially on the local level. But there's very little engagement around photography here. I am trying to bridge the two with some of my work but it's just very tough in the current visual landscape. Photography is better in books.
Cities need ambitious plans for pedestrianization. Whichever American cities figure it out will have huge advantages from the increase in creativity, productivity and happiness.
Rule 93: Direct Your Public Art budget to Blank Walls Public art is often wasted on plaza sculptures. Cities should use art budgets for murals on blank walls, which, like trees, make streets more pleasant and welcoming. Walkable City Rules www.amazon.com/Walkable-Cit...
"highly dangerous 30-60 minutes car ride where you and your loved ones could end up dead in the blink of an eye because some teenager got a text from a friend."
B Line, Minneapolis 6/15/25
My week vacation is walking, photo editing and binging on Tennis.
No reason we can't have more pedestrianized entertainment districts in our downtowns.
It's a great neighborhood. I'd likely still be there if not for the pandemic. I actually lived in the Sunnyside Garden Apartments. Best apartment I ever had. Probably way too expensive these days but it was a bargain when I moved there in 2018.
Photographer pal Rob Stephenson is documenting every neighborhood in NYC. This week it's Sunnyside where I lived a few years. Rob shared a few of my photos from the neighborhood and wrote a generous blurb on my work. open.substack.com/pub/theneigh...
Compeer Arena Minnesota State Fair 8/26/25 If I went back, I'd try to make more photos like this one. I like the peripheries and boundaries.
Something to do with Amtrak stations? đ¤
Lower Manhattan is such a lay up for pedestrianization. There's absolutely no reason cars are needed down there. It's absurd given the narrow streets. Literally where the modern American city was born!
"...worries about social behavior and physical space that set the tone for how people think about danger." It's partly because of our neglect of public spaces, and car infrastructure has a lot to do with this. Empty parking lots, desolate areas around freeways are hideous, and feel gross đ¤˘
I didn't try the fried olives but I might next time. Minnesota State Fair 8/26/25
Minnesota State Fair 8/26/25
Minnesota mardi gras was a trip. Amazing to see so many Minnesotans embrace a walkable neighborhood with plenty of amenities, food and entertainment.
The cars :: cigarettes parallel has legs.
Density in the State Fair neighborhood is impressive. We should replicate This in Downtown Minneapolis.
State Fair is a bit like Vegas and airports. The location and vibes disrupt our sense of linear time. Working purely on event time which means it's ok to have a mediocre strawberry rhubarb sour beer at 10:30 am. The fine arts building was fun though. Spotted a few excellent photographs and art.
Bus Stop, Lagoon Ave & Humboldt Ave S 8/25/25 I had to visit the bust stop in question.
Gold Medal Park, Minneapolis 8/25/25 The light has been amazing the last few days. Perfect walking weather.
We definitely should, and add rail. It'd be much safer. Remove the freeways on cities, build regional rail. It's not like this doesn't exist in other parts of the world. You have to be rather cold hearted to accept 42K deaths per year as a trade off. Under what rational is that acceptable?
How often would these words show up? Unreliable slow dangerous inconvenient weather
The persuasive power of the IRL meme!
House parties?
Cars and car infrastructure are a drag on the economy. In the USA, there 42K deaths a year, plus countless more severe injuries. Do you think that might have a devastating impact on every aspect of our society?
Better yet, if it's a subscription biz you should be able to understand the conversion and churn rates but I don't know what tools Patreon or Substack provide but all you need to know is the sub referral source.
Good point. Some of this is hard wired if I recall the science. Touchy subject but I am a science believer lol đ¤Ł
I think we all instinctively understand this is their perspective. It helps understand why they are going after education, the media and tech companies.
Especially strange given the Feds are actively censoring speech. One would think there's a wide open lane on the issue of Freedom of Speech and government censorship. Instead, these think tanks are like "yeah, we should censor some speech." Freedom from government oppression seems like a winner
US Open starts today. I took Monday and Tuesday, and all of next week off primarily so I could watch it. Will there be some long walks as well, of course! Will I work on finishing up my edit of the Minneapolis skyway project, yes! Will I publish a newsletter? Let's not get too carried away.
Truth
I have heard good things, solid art museum too
He was big on the bridges having events on them.
One Minute Tours guy has a fix from Melbourne for the Minneapolis skyway youtu.be/_mu9Ca-99pU?...
Nerding out on pedestrian bridged. Stone Arch makes the list. youtu.be/WCDmzcbgSY0?...
Just noticed the sign but don't know the backstory!
That's a good one but yeah no hotels easily accessible along the way. I am not a tent person but it does sound intriguing if I could pull it off.
I'd make it multi-day if I can figure out where the paths end in the metro area.
FYI Downtown Minneapolis
Almost 10 miles on the nose. Cedar Lake trail is a trip. Incredible. Makes me curious about the longest continuous trail out of Downtown Minneapolis. Where do you hit the pedestrian dead end?
Definitely want to see this happen!
3 hours and 19 minutes by foot to Hopkins from Downtown Minneapolis. Solid 10 miles. Cool weather, nice light. Take the 38 back to the Blue Line, end at US Bank stop
Cool feature. While not as ambitious, this year I have visited most of the mapped heritage trees in Minneapolis. Might take a few trips to get decent photos. Some of them are no longer around. It's a fun project. www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
I think a larger point is to cool it on reacting to Dems that don't always use the more nuanced language in certain contexts. Mamdani is saying homeless though so... Most overt call outs happen in spaces where a higher level of awareness is expected, non profit world for example.
Saw this on Threads. Is tailgating even that popular anymore? US Bank needs more restaurants around it but there's definitely some tailgating going on in a few lots.
But the term "woke" is simple and has still been weaponized and altered by the Right so I don't see how Dems can win by playing defense.
Yeah, it's a weird mash up of a list for sure. Definitely a huge difference between academic and political language. bsky.app/profile/jame...
Language of course is always changing too so trying to control it is just silly and impossible. And allowing your opponents to dictate how you communicate is treacherous. It has to be a multi-pronged approach. Theoretically, one would think the left would be better at nuanced storytelling...
In the art world, I don't mind art speak because it helps in understanding the work from a more nuanced, and contextual angle. With political discourse, I think you probably have to find the best way to broadly communicate But changing language is legit when old terms are offensive, outdated
I take the Orange Line all the time from Downtown! It might be my favorite route. It's so fast. Definitely stopped by Nine Mile Brewery as well. They had a book of old Bloomington photos and a nice couch!
I would walk like 10 miles then catch the Gold Line back! maps.app.goo.gl/5yf6wH4hDpFQ...
Yep. It's virtually impossible.
Hell yes! These are my favorite stories. I need to take 94 to Downtown St. Paul, then walk East to a Gold Line stop. Still sketching this one out. But need to check out the Swede Hollow for sure. Totally unfamiliar terrain for me. Love a good novelty walk. *I wrote the original post btw đ
"Mapping and documentation that follow dĂŠrive promote fuller understanding of personsâ patterns of embodying sensory data from urban environments." journalofethics.ama-assn.org/article/psyc...
That one we might have some defense against through digital which is why 1st Amendment is where rubber hits the road. Tech companies controlling all the digital infrastructure is the nightmare. Straight up pursuit of forbidden knowledge. Maybe secret underground analog rebel libraries.
The base instinct is to just keep driving and never stop or slow down because it doesn't feel natural. Driving a car messes with spatial awareness and time perception so much that I honestly think it actively causes mental health issues.
Today I learned a state law I want repealed. "A state law says cities canât convert streets to pedestrian-only zones if owners of more than half of the abutting land oppose it. The city would need to get those landowners on board before moving ahead."
I mean, that could work I would think. I'd just keep off totally but it's almost impossible to get it right because of the way the street was originally designed. It's not exactly the type of location that pedestrianization makes sense.
At some point they will catch word about the trendiness of walking and launch a media blitz against walking. I've said before too that they will try to demolish city parks.
Back onto Chicago?
It's so engrained. They think that all prosperity and growth is fueled (pun intended) by car infrastructure. What are we up against? đ
Standard rural driver behavior
Is it possible to make photographs at the Minnesota State Fair?
"...some progressive groups have added to the problem by advocating for the right to shelter and panhandle in transit facilities, drug and smoking decriminalization, and fare-free buses without considering negative impacts such policies can have on transit passengers."
I do think drivers understand the prevalence of accidents and risks but simply don't care because they enjoy the self-control they feel while driving. It makes them feel powerful and in charge. People love to drive. It's an addiction.
I think the anti-transit rhetoric at the federal level, and bad headlines like the closing of Northstar contribute as well. Not to mention the threat of ICE for some folks. I think LRT has basically been branded as dangerous and how do change that over night?
Thanks! Haven't gone east of Downtown SP yet but if there's something called Swedehenge over then, I probably need chart a walk.
Where is it?
Yes I know.. âBrawndo has what the plants crave. It has electrolytesâ.
I am a Nuun enthusiast now. Never thought I was electrolyte or salt deficient, but I have noticed a subtle difference since starting my regimen. Since I am walking at least 5 miles a day and have a plant based low sodium diet, I was probably lacking some of those electrolytes.
Personally, likely not given I mostly focus on photography. As a board member @streets.mn, I'm excited to collaborate on the editorial efforts we're pursuing right now. Are we persuading people about the need for equitable transit and land use? I'm not sure. Appears we're backsliding on transit.
Very weird. The tail end of my REM stage included a scenario where the overnight temp was -50 and the day temp was 100! The story was about the 150 degree swing in temps as unprecedented and everybody was freaking out. There must literally be something in the air influencing my dreams.
Sounds interesting. mspmag.com/arts-and-cul...
That will be a nice addition. I do think it's absolutely the BRT stop right in front that's keeping people away. The hospital is right there so there's definitely the foot traffic.
My downtown building has ground level retail...which has been vacant since I moved here. I don't get it. My guess is because of the BRT stop.
Minneapolis has a few restaurants in the parks! Probably need more little coffee shops.
Northeast Minneapolis 6/28/2025
Rule 78: Put Street Trees Almost Everywhere Street trees do it all, they... Cut crashes by 45% Raise home values 9% Boost retail sales 12% Clean air, cool streets, absorb stormwater, improve health, and make places more inviting Walkable City Rules www.amazon.com/Walkable-Cit...
I don't make many night photographs, especially using a tripod but coming across this attempt from last year makes we want to try again. Most likely candidate will be the street views of the skyway bridges. Nicollet Mall & Washington, Downtown Minneapolis 9/30/2024
Looks like the morning 10-mile saunters are getting rained out this weekend. Missed my window this afternoon but it's too humid anyway. Next walk will be to Highland Bridge to start a new essay.
Same here. Venture to guess most crime in cities revolves around cars in some way.
Every city should have a staff of pedestrian documentarians. Their job is to walk the city every day and conduct multimedia documentation.
"Residents began pointing things outâabandoned cars, unsafe intersections, crumbling sidewalks. And because city staff were there, in person, those observations didnât get lost in a report or buried in a spreadsheet. They landed with the people who could do something about them."
Walking around with those mini-speakers too
This was an incredible documentary. 50 years old but still illuminates how the bureaucracy of the social safety sets it up to fail for so many people. Some of the conversations are a total gut punch. All blame to @usefulnoise.bsky.social for sending me down this Wiseman rabbit hole .
Yeah, and they are all 3 hours long but it doesn't really seem that long to me.
Never argued about golf courses on the Internet before? Lol I am sure I am probably more even keeled about it than many other urbanism nerds.
Sure, go for it in the suburbs, but this specific case of Hiawatha which needs to be re-built without much available open space for mixed uses, I'd say spend the money elsewhere and just turn it into more parkland. I spot 4 other courses in MPLS/SP so I don't think it would be a huge loss.
I don't see it as an issue around hobbies. I don't bike either and yet think bike trails of all sorts are better land use than golf courses. I don't know the data but I'd venture to guess golf is majority upper income while biking would be more middle. It's about equitable access to the public realm
I did the math last night and the last time I drove a car was in 2018 on a trip from Denver to the Grand Canyon. I've been in a car a few times since and it's always terrifying. I think I have developed vehophobia. Last time I was even in a car was a year ago. Looking to keep that streak alive!
"The MGA's mission is to uphold and promote the game of golf..." Talking their own book. This is one poorly designed course in the middle of the city. It wouldn't be missed. There are plenty of courses in the burbs and cabin country for rich boring people to waste their money on.
Waste of valuable land that could be used for more park space and other amenities other people can use rather than an obscure sport barely anyone cares about.
They should remove the golf course completely.
Welfare is definitely a masterpiece. Required viewing. I can't believe there are so many of these to watch. It's like hitting the documentary lottery.