- Politico describes transit as the “goody two-shoes” that coronavirus turned into a “pariah.” Transit will come back, experts predict — but no one is sure what that looks like.
- The COVID-19 recession could cause California’s transit revenue to drop by 80 percent through 2030, according to a Mineta Transportation Institute study. (Planetizen)
- Social distancing won’t help people avoid coronavirus on public transit, but masks will. (Pedestrian Observations)
- Speeding kills. A pedestrian hit by a driver going 30 miles per hour is twice as likely to die as one hit by someone driving 25 mph, so going even a little over the speed limit makes you a jerk. (Outside)
- Cities and states should be lowering speed limits, narrowing lanes, blocking cut-through traffic, reprogramming traffic lights and taking other steps to slow down speeding drivers while the pandemic has emptied streets. (State Smart Transportation Initiative)
- Every city should get onboard with the slow streets movement. (Curbed)
- There’s a downside to everything. With roads largely empty, car crashes are down. Great news, right? Mostly — but fewer car crashes also means fewer organ donors. (Kaiser Health News)
- Uber laid off another 3,000 employees less than two weeks after laying off 3,700. The company is winding down its tech incubator and odd-job app, and focusing on ride-hailing and food delivery. (The Verge)
- Kansas City buses going fare-free is exciting, but the devil’s in the details. Where will the funding come from? Will the Kansas side cooperate with the Missouri side? And does the transit authority have enough rolling stock to handle an influx of riders? (U.S. PIRG)
- Most Pittsburgh buses and trains are returning to a normal schedule, but rear boarding and limits on the number of passengers are still in place (City Paper). In Seattle, Sound Transit is transitioning back to charging fares on light rail and commuter trains, although buses remain free (Seattle Times).
- Strength in numbers! Researchers found that the rate of car-bike collisions fell after Philadelphia introduced bike-sharing. (New York Times)
- Looking to get an e-bike? Dwell has some recommendations.
- City Lab wants readers to rate their cities on two very important metrics: transit and tacos.
Coronavirus
Thursday’s Headlines From Around the World
By Blake Aued
Stay in touch
Sign up for our free newsletter
More from Streetsblog USA
Friday Video: Guess Which Argument Can Get a NIMBY To Change Their Mind About New Housing
Put your instincts to the test with this fascinating experiment about the power of messaging to win support for urbanism.
March 20, 2026
Friday’s Headlines Took the Road Less Traveled By
And that has made all the difference, when it comes to preventing traffic deaths.
March 20, 2026
Commentary: How a T-Rex Costume and a Police Sting Underscores Bay Area’s Deadly Driver Problem
Stanley Roberts story is funny. And disturbing.
Study: How Ambiguous Definition of ‘Major Transit Stop’ Creates Wiggle Room for Municipalities
This is a story of how well-intentioned efforts by the state to tie new development to transit hinge on how local governments (with their own incentives) interpret broad state law.
Talking Headways Podcast: Growing St. Louis’s Arts and Culture District
This week on Talking Headways, step inside St. Louis's Grand Center Arts District with the people who make it happen.
March 19, 2026
Advocates Get D.C. Mayor To Release Buried Report On The Potential Benefits Of Congestion Pricing
How many other conversations about congestion pricing across the country are being suppressed — and how many have never even gotten started?
March 19, 2026
