- When it comes to driving, Americans are partying like it's 1999. The number of vehicle miles driven fell nearly 20 percent in March — when 32 states issued shelter-in-place orders — dropping to levels not seen in 20 years. But it's still way too high. (Quartz)
- Will the drop-off in driving last? In Wuhan, China — where the coronavirus outbreak started — car use has doubled since before the pandemic. Contrast that with the U.K., where officials are pouring money into pop-up bike lanes in anticipation of a massive shift to cycling. (Treehugger)
- Americans owe nearly $400 billion on their cars — up more than 50 percent from 10 years ago, and all that debt could stall the coronavirus economic recovery. (Brookings Institute)
- America's biggest transit systems are asking Congress for another $24 billion to offset coronavirus losses. Congress awarded transit agencies $25 billion in March, but it has not been enough. (Transportation Today)
- If you want funding for better transit, make sure you’re counted in the Census. (Arizona Daily Star)
- Loss of gas tax revenue due to coronavirus could delay road repairs and transit projects in Illinois (Chicago Tribune). Same goes for Pennsylvania, where turnpike tolls that fund transit are down (WHYY).
- Local bus routes in Pittsburgh will return to normal service this Sunday, though not commuter or express lines or light rail, because residents are still under orders to work from home if possible. (Post-Gazette)
- The D.C. Metro is planning to slowly ramp up, but probably won’t return to pre-pandemic levels of service until next spring. (Washington Post)
- Officials proposed new bike lanes in Jacksonville at a virtual town hall meeting celebrating the opening of the city’s new transit hub. (Florida Times-Union)
- It’s time to restart the push for intercity passenger rail in the Upper Midwest. (streets.mn)
- Bay Area Rapid Transit has added a San Jose extension to its map, but there’s no opening date for the two new stations. (San Francisco Chronicle)
- Uber drivers staged a caravan at the company’s San Francisco headquarters to protest its labor practices. (Tech Crunch)
- Science has proven that Rice Krispie treats would make good highway safety barriers — at least until they get stale. (New York Times)
Streetsblog
Wednesday’s Headlines From All Around this Land
Stay in touch
Sign up for our free newsletter
More from Streetsblog USA
Monday’s Headlines Are Dragging Their Feet
The Trump administration claims the Biden administration left them with a backlog — but they've actually been far slower at getting transportation money to states than their predecessors, a new analysis finds.
These U.S. Communities’ So-Called ‘Complete Streets’ Policies Don’t Even Deserve the Name
Any city can call itself a "Complete Streets" champion. But not all of them are walking the walk — and if they don't, a top organization says they'll no longer give them a platform on its esteemed "best of" ranking.
Communities Rally To Reclaim Streets From ICE Terror
"This is an attack on Los Angeles. This is an attack on California. On all of us."
Friday Video: The London Neighborhood Where Bikes Outnumber Cars
...and how they got to that impressive milestone.
Friday’s Headlines Battle Galactus
Like the Marvel supervillain, U.S. interstate highway system seems to eat up everything in his path. A new book explores how to stop it.
New Report Shows Pedestrian Fatalities Drop — But Experts Say Not Enough
The Governors Highway Safety Association report showed a 4 percent drop in the number of pedestrian deaths last year, putting a slow on a dangerous trend — but advocates say the drop isn't nearly big enough.