- People who are afraid of riding transit during the coronavirus pandemic are turning to bikes instead. Bike commuting is up from less than 1 percent to 5 percent, and some bike shops are running out of stock (Reuters). It’s booming in cities like Philadelphia and New York, even as others, like Cincinnati and Washington, D.C., close off spaces to cyclists (American Prospect). Another example: Houston’s BCycle bike-share set a record with 26,000 trips in March (KHOU)
- America’s streets were designed for reckless driving, and it’s become even more obvious now that there’s no traffic to slow people down. (Strong Towns)
- Oakland’s “slow streets” are working, with no collisions or large gatherings reported in the week since the city restricted traffic on the first of what is expected to be 74 miles of streets. (City Lab)
- Without HOV lanes and congestion pricing, self-driving cars will worsen congestion and pollution in Washington, D.C. in the coming decades, according to local government study. (Washington Post)
- San Diego’s transit system has abandoned its ambitious expansion plans that were set for a November vote, citing a desire to focus on maintaining existing service during the coronavirus pandemic. (Union-Tribune)
- Honolulu’s troubled light rail project now faces an $80-million shortfall, thanks to declining tax revenue from gas sales and hotel rooms. (Hawaii News Now)
- Seattle’s Sound Transit and Minneapolis’s Metro Transit are both making additional service cuts as revenue and ridership decline. Sound Transit has also suspended fare collection.
- Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan is requiring everyone to wear a mask while riding public transportation. (Fox 5)
- The Louisiana DOT is moving ahead with widening I-10 through Baton Rouge. (WBRZ)
- The U.K. is letting local governments fast-track road closures during the coronavirus crisis so walkers and bikers can practice social distancing. (Forbes)
- Honk if you love transit! Amtrak asked bus and train operators to honk their horns last week to honor the transit workers putting their health at risk during the coronavirus pandemic. (The Verge)
Streetsblog
Tuesday’s Headlines From Around the Nation
By Blake Aued
Stay in touch
Sign up for our free newsletter
More from Streetsblog USA
Friday’s Headlines Got DOGE’d Again
Amidst uncertainty about future federal funding, Amtrak is cutting $100 million and 450 jobs.
May 9, 2025
Friday Video: Where Was the First Public Bus Route in the World?
...and which surprising historical figure helped launch it?
May 9, 2025
Talking Headways Podcast: ‘Normal’ is Not Correct, Someone Died Here
After a crash, the debris is quickly cleaned up and everyone moves on (usually too quickly). But these two experts are asking us to all slow down.
May 8, 2025
Thursday’s Headlines Are Not Gonna Pay a Lot for This Truck
President Trump's tariffs, along with rising insurance costs, are driving down Americans' interest in owning a car.
May 8, 2025
How One Suburb is Using Transit to Transform Into a True City
A Washington State suburb may be poised to evolve into a true transit-oriented hub – and offer lessons for other bedroom communities, even during an anti-transit era.
May 8, 2025
