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.
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