Thursday’s Headlines
Looking at smartphones is the leading cause of pedestrian injuries, and other myths Treehugger debunks about walking while distracted. Honolulu, New Orleans, Nashville, Chicago, Charlotte, New York, Portland, Pittsburgh, Los Angeles and San Francisco are among the cities that could benefit most from more micromobility options like e-scooters because people take so many short trips … Continued
By
Blake Aued
8:00 AM EDT on September 12, 2019
- Looking at smartphones is the leading cause of pedestrian injuries, and other myths Treehugger debunks about walking while distracted.
- Honolulu, New Orleans, Nashville, Chicago, Charlotte, New York, Portland, Pittsburgh, Los Angeles and San Francisco are among the cities that could benefit most from more micromobility options like e-scooters because people take so many short trips by car, according to a new report. (TechRepublic)
- Uber laid off 435 people this week, on the heels of another round of layoffs last month. (TechCrunch)
- About 60,000 people rode Indianapolis’ Red Line bus rapid transit during its first week of operation — short of the goal of 11,000 per day. (Star)
- Boston developers are increasingly eyeing surface parking lots as the city becomes less oriented around private automobiles. (Curbed)
- Washington state’s high court heard arguments Tuesday on the legality of the state’s car tab fee, which funnels billions into Sound Transit light-rail projects. (KOMO)
- Bus rapid transit could replace the canceled Durham-Orange light rail line in North Carolina. (Daily Tarheel)
- Driver shortages in Denver are disrupting light rail and bus routes. (Denver Channel)
- Silicon Valley transit drivers and the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority averted a strike by agreeing to a new contract. (San Jose Mercury News)
- As cars get more efficient and gas tax revenue declines, Kentucky is considering funding roads with a per-mile fee instead. (WBRB)
- The Senate Sergeant-at-Arms is standing guard over 37 parking spaces near the Capitol, blocking a bike lane on Washington, D.C.’s Louisiana Avenue. (Greater Greater Washington)
- After disrupting taxis, re-inventing the bus and going all-in on scooters, Lyft is now starting a car rental service, for some reason. (Jalopnik)
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:
More from Streetsblog USA
How to Fight a Freeway 101
A new guide gives advocates the basics to building a campaign against harmful infrastructure in their neighborhoods — and the best time to start is now.
November 9, 2026
Monday’s Headlines Come Heavy or Not at All
The Transport Workers Union takes aim at Amtrak's new policy allowing guns onboard trains.
November 9, 2026
The California DMV’s Culture of Obstruction
California’s DMV is responsible for managing some of the biggest risks on the state’s roads, but researchers say a culture of secrecy and obstruction makes it nearly impossible for the public to access basic information about dangerous drivers and disabled parking placard fraud.
November 6, 2026
Opinion: I (Almost) Killed a Pedestrian With My Car
Every driver has a story or two about a near-miss traffic crash, even when they were doing everything right. Can we get those numbers down with safer systems?
November 6, 2026