- A California judge ordered Uber and Lyft to classify their drivers as employees. The preliminary injunction doesn't take effect for 10 days, though, giving the companies a chance to appeal. (The Verge)
- Lyft announced it's offering 1.5 million free rides in Black communities that are underserved by transit (BET). Why not just support transit, though? When the free rides run out, people will be stuck with the same lousy transit service they had before.
- A New York Times interactive feature explains how subway ventilation systems work. Filters and continuous air flow help keep riders from being exposed to coronavirus.
- Also from the Times: Traffic virtually disappeared from NYC five months ago, but now that the lockdown is ending, cyclists, pedestrians, restaurant owners who've set up outdoor tables and anxious parents eyeing outdoor classroom space are engaging in righteous battle with selfish drivers over control of the streets.
- Energy policy will be a key issue in the upcoming election, with Democrat Joe Biden in general moving left toward former rival Bernie Sanders and the Green New Deal, but vacillating on some issues, like fracking. (Forbes)
- You don’t need to have a ton of gear or even be in shape to start biking. (NPR)
- Maryland says the state will take over Purple Line construction if it can't reach an agreement with contractors on the public-private light rail line's cost overruns. (Washington Post)
- Despite the dropoff in ridership and revenue during the pandemic, Virginia remains committed to a commuter rail and pedestrian bridge over the Potomac. (Inside NoVa)
- Amtrak is restoring a daily round-trip between Charlotte and Raleigh after suspending service when coronavirus broke out, according to the North Carolina DOT.
- Houston is seeking public comment on a proposed ordinance that would fine drivers for parking in bike lanes. (Houston Public Media)
- Cape Cod towns are closing beach parking lots to keep crowds away during the pandemic. (Boston Herald)
- Bogota is rebuilding itself around the bike, adding 280 kilometers to its 550-km bike network over the next four years. (City Lab)
Streetsblog
Wednesday’s Headlines from All Over
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
