Skip to Content
Streetsblog USA home
Log In
Today's Headlines

Wednesday’s Headlines from Around our Nation

12:01 AM EDT on March 18, 2020

    • The world should be responding to climate change the same way we're responding to COVID-19 — as an all-hands-on-deck problem. (Grist)
    • You can still use an app to hail a ride — just not with more than one person. Thanks to coronavirus, Uber and Lyft have both suspended their carpooling service — which matches riders with others going to the same place and offers cheaper rates — in the U.S. and Canada. Great ... more solo car trips. (The Verge)
    • Ohio's decision to cancel Tuesday's primary shows that Americans should be able to vote by mail, because no one should have to drive to vote (Streetsblog). Meanwhile, Joe Biden swept the three other primaries, effectively putting an end to Bernie Sanders's race.
    • In contrast to many transit agencies that are cutting back service, Houston Metro is running more buses during the coronavirus pandemic. The logic is that more buses means passengers can keep their distance. Makes sense to us (but then again, we don't have to pay to save the Houston bus system when it goes bankrupt)! (Chronicle)
    • Here's which transit services are running and which are not as San Francisco shelters in place. (NBC Bay Area)
    • Burlington is suspending some transit services during the pandemic, but the ones that are still running will be free! (VTDigger)

And now a few non-coronavirus stories we overlooked in the past week:

    • The number of vehicles per person in the U.S. is up over the past 10 years, but still below its peak in 2006. (Green Car Congress)
    • Tunneling underground to build subways has a huge carbon impact. Surface rail is better for the environment. (Treehugger)
    • Hurricane Harvey was a wake-up call for Houston. The city government now gets almost all of its power from renewable resources and is building 1,800 miles of bike lanes in an effort to become carbon neutral by 2050. (Bloomberg)
    • A bill to stop Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan from widening two highways outside Washington, D.C. passed out of committee and are headed for a full House of Delegates vote. (Maryland Matters)
    • Ridership on Madison’s BCycle doubled in 2019 after e-bikes were added to the fleet. The bike-share reopened Sunday for the 2020 season. (Madison.com)
    • The Dutch city of Utrecht is building a car-free residential district that will house more than 12,000 people — and 20,000 bikes. (The Guardian)
    • Volunteers pitched in to spruce up the first protected bike lane in downtown Dallas. (Observer)

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog USA

Wednesday’s Headlines Ask How Much a Life Is Worth

There isn't much of a financial penalty for drivers who kill pedestrians — even if those drivers are cops.

September 27, 2023

‘I’m Not Grieving Alone’: New Play Explores a Father’s Journey After Losing Two Children to Traffic Violence

Colin Campbell and his wife Gail Lerner lost both their children in a car crash with impaired driver. A new play explores how to talk about similar tragedies.

September 27, 2023

How Transit Saved Lives — And Became a Lifeline — During and After the Maui Fires

A Maui bus agency helped transport 42,000 people off the island in the wake of one of the most devastating fires in American history — and highlighted the critical role that shared modes can play not just in preventing climate-related disasters, but saving lives when they happen.

September 27, 2023

California Has to Stop Building Freeways. Now.

"People aren't used to thinking of freeways as fossil fuel infrastructure, but they are." And once built, there's no going back, no making up for the extra driving by trying to convince people that a bus or train might be a better choice - we're stuck with it.

September 26, 2023

Streetfilms Tours Emeryville, Calif., the Little City that Can

Did somebody say "encore?" Safe streets rock star John Bauters, Mayor of Emeryville, population less-than 13,000, gave Streetfilms producer Clarence Eckerson a tour of his city.

September 26, 2023
See all posts