Wednesday’s Headlines
Jacobin offers a convincing argument that Uber is a scam: It’s losing billions with no end in sight, susceptible to PR hits, undercharging customers, susceptible to regulations that would increase costs and admits autonomous cars are unlikely to save the day. Plus, most “unicorn” IPOs wind up failing. In other words, the demands of Uber … Continued
By
Blake Aued
9:13 AM EDT on May 8, 2019
- Jacobin offers a convincing argument that Uber is a scam: It’s losing billions with no end in sight, susceptible to PR hits, undercharging customers, susceptible to regulations that would increase costs and admits autonomous cars are unlikely to save the day. Plus, most “unicorn” IPOs wind up failing. In other words, the demands of Uber drivers who plan to strike, picket and protest today are the company’s worst nightmare. (City Lab)
- A federal infrastructure deal runs the risk of leaving out rural Americans and displacing people in low-income neighborhoods. (City Limits)
- San Francisco light rail is on time barely half the time — less on many of the most popular routes. (Curbed) Challenges for Muni also including catching up on maintenance and hiring more drivers. (Chronicle) Meanwhile, an unrelated San Francisco study found that low-income people, people of color and seniors are most at risk when walking. (Mobility Lab)
- Although Boston Mayor Marty Walsh has set aside $10 million for bike infrastructure and organized several National Bike Month events, cycling advocates say he’s not doing enough. (Herald)
- New Orleans would double the number of rental bikes and increase bus service under Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s new transportation strategy. (The Advocate; Streetsblog)
- A Southwest Pennsylvania commission’s new 25-year transportation plan includes $14 billion worth of transit projects and $17 billion worth of road projects. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
- Hillsborough County, Fla., will use a state grant to study a bus rapid transit line connecting downtown Tampa and the University of South Florida. (Tampa Bay Times)
- Traffic deaths are rising, and experts are going into schools to teach students how to navigate streets safely on foot and bikes. Imagine if the city required drivers to pull a Billy Madison. (Washington Post)
- Should San Diego spend more money on highways or transit? Take a wild guess which side Streetsblog comes down on. (Fox 5)
- Meet the Fellowship of the Rim: Columbus, Ohio’s four remaining bike couriers. (Dispatch)
Blake Aued has been doing Streetsblog's daily national news digest for years. He's also an Atlanta Braves fan, which enrages his editor in New York.
Read More:
Streetsblog has migrated to a new comment system. New commenters can register directly in the comments section of any article. Returning commenters: your previous comments and display name have been preserved, but you'll need to reclaim your account by clicking "Forgot your password?" on the sign-in form, entering your email, and following the verification link to set a new password — this is required because passwords could not be carried over during the migration. For questions, contact tips@streetsblog.org.
More from Streetsblog USA
Friday’s Headlines Change Their Rhetoric
Transit agencies aren't helping their own case for additional funding by continuing to emphasize COVID.
June 26, 2026
Annual ‘Best Bike City’ Rankings Yields Small Town Surprises
PeopleForBikes finds which cities are leading the charge in bikeability.
June 26, 2026
Friday Video: Dutch Cycling and the Blueprint for a Better World
Why I'm a Nederlandophile (and you should be too) in one video.
June 26, 2026
Streetsblog San Diego Launches July 27 — Help Us Build the Future of Transportation Journalism
It's about time!
June 26, 2026
Talking Headways Podcast: The Transit ‘Abundance’ Playbook
Everyone is talking about "Abundance," but in the transit world, its de-regulatory approach might work.
June 25, 2026