Wednesday’s Headlines From Around the Nation
Coronavirus could become an opportunity for cities to permanently transform the way people get around. Click here to read more.
By
Blake Aued
12:01 AM EDT on March 25, 2020
- The Senate coronavirus relief bill includes $1 billion for Amtrak and $20 billion for transit agencies, which would be required to recognize unions, maintain benefits and offer unemployment assistance to receive grants. (Bloomberg). Uber also wants its drivers, who are independent contractors in most states, to be eligible for benefits under the bill (Axios).
- Cities should promote social distancing by taking streets away from cars and giving them to cyclists and pedestrians — and then make those changes permanent. (The Verge)
- The novel coronavirus could permanently change traffic patterns in congested cities like New York, Los Angeles and Atlanta as more people work from home. (Curbed, Car and Driver)
- For people living in cities under coronavirus lockdown, transportation options are limited. (Forbes)
- Biking is OK during the coronavirus pandemic — just make sure you keep your distance. (San Francisco Chronicle)
- Charlotte — where ridership has dropped 41 percent — is cutting back bus and light rail service but making it free (Observer). Pittsburgh is also cutting back service (Tribune-Review), and so is Minneapolis (Star Tribune). St. Louis has shifted to a weekend schedule (Post-Dispatch).
- Bike shops in Washington state are doing fine as other businesses grind to a halt. (Spokane Tribune-Review)
- Bus routes that serve low-income Boston residents remain busy, so ‘T’ service cuts could put them further at risk for COVID-19. (Streetsblog Mass)
- John LaPlante, a longtime biking advocate and former Chicago DOT commissioner, died Saturday of COVID-19 at age 80. (WBEZ)
- Manchester, England, has an ambitious plan to build 1,800 miles of biking and walking paths in the city and surrounding region. (City Metric)
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
Study: The Missing Ingredient in the Fight To End Car Crash Deaths is… Fewer Cars
The common denominator in every car crashes is a car. So why don't we talk about it?
October 27, 2026
Six Days on the Road and Tuesday’s Headlines May Not Make It Home Tonight
Jalopnik points out that there are certain vehicles that average people have no business driving.
October 27, 2026
Why Deadly, Illegal E-Motos Are On The Rise – And Why E-Bikes Are Being Blamed When They Crash
...and what we can do to protect our kids *and* the e-bike revolution.
October 26, 2026
Monday’s Great Smokey Headlines
While other countries work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the U.S. is moving in the opposite direction.
October 26, 2026
Op-ed: Will Illinois lawmakers let Waymo “Move fast and break things” in Chicago?
As Illinois considers autonomous-vehicle legislation, proposed protections for manufacturers raise questions about safety, privacy, and public consent.
October 25, 2026
