- Public transit ridership is down all over the country — 18 percent on the NYC subway, 25 percent on Seattle's Sound Transit, 35 percent on BART in San Francisco — as more people work from home and avoid crowds (The Verge). Transit agencies are disinfecting trains and buses. While staying away from other people during the pandemic is generally good advice, there's no evidence that riding transit is any more risky than, say, going to the grocery store (Vox). Streetsblog Mass has more on public transit and public health.
- Service reductions are in store for Amtrak as people cancel travel plans in the wake of the coronavirus (Washington Post). The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority is also considering cutbacks (Boston Globe).
- Our sister Streetsblog site in Los Angeles writes about how to bike during the pandemic. Streetsblog Chicago reports more walking, bike and telecommuting in the Windy City. New York City is also seeing a surge in cycling, according to Streetsblog NYC.
- Drivers in California and Massachusetts are suing Uber and Lyft trying to win health care as the coronavirus spreads. Both states have new laws classifying drivers as employees who should receive benefits, but the ride-hailing companies are fighting them. (The Hill)
- Self-driving vehicles could save us from coronavirus (Popular Mechanics). Or they might make things worse (Autoblog).
- The coronavirus could hasten a world where more people work from home and fewer people travel for business — which might be a good thing for the environment, in the long run. (Slate)
- New Yorkers who don’t own cars are making big bucks renting out the parking spaces that come with their apartments (NY Times). Unaddressed by the article: What if rents were decoupled from parking? And why are so many people so adamant about driving that they’ll pay half a million dollars for a place to leave their car?
- The Washington state legislature passed a budget that avoids big cuts to transit despite a recent referendum limiting car-tab fees — mostly through a bit of budgetary razzle-dazzle that pushes the problem out to next year. (Seattle Times)
- Minneapolis’ new transportation plan calls for 75% of residents to live within a five-minute walk of a transit stop. (Smart Cities Dive)
Today's Headlines
Monday’s Headlines
By Blake Aued
Stay in touch
Sign up for our free newsletter
More from Streetsblog USA
Tuesday’s Headlines of Many Colors
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy called rainbow crosswalks "a distraction" and called on cities to eliminate them.
July 8, 2025
Monday’s Headlines Are Big and Beautiful
The ginormous GOP tax and spending bill President Trump signed on July 4 will make the air dirtier, a lot of it from tailpipe emissions.
July 7, 2025
The Single Most Important Element In Creating Good Cities
A lot of U.S. cities are getting their "right of way" all wrong — and urbanists can help by getting to know this poorly-understood concept.
July 7, 2025
Thursday’s Headlines Are Charged Up for the Fourth
The Republican megabill is bad for the electric vehicle industry, but it could be worse.
July 3, 2025
Why is the Secretary of Transportation Begging Americans to Take More Road Trips?
Instead of making America easier to see on all modes, the US Department of Transportation is encouraging U.S. residents to just get in their cars and drive.
July 3, 2025
Wednesday’s Headlines Are for the Children
From mothers with babies in strollers to preteens on bikes, much of the U.S. is hostile to families just trying to get around without a car.
July 2, 2025
