Wednesday’s Headlines from All Over
More transit news, plus, yes, Bogota is still being awesome. Just one click away.
By
Blake Aued
12:01 AM EDT on August 12, 2020
- 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)
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
Talking Headways Podcast: The Long Road to Real Transit Progress
Jeff Wood and Reece Martin discuss China’s lessons for American infrastructure.
October 8, 2026
Thursday’s Headlines Are Another Front in the Culture War
David Zipper explains how transportation, once an issue with broad consensus, became politically polarized.
October 8, 2026
Does the ‘Week Without Driving’ Give Car-Free Living A Bad Rap?
Nope; automobility does that! But there's more we can do to highlight the benefits of active and shared transportation, and demand even better for people outside vehicles.
October 8, 2026
How Your City Can Pass Its Federal Transit Equity Test and Still Fail Riders
"A system that looks fair on paper only because it pushed everyone else into a car is not equitable."
October 8, 2026
Wednesday’s Headlines Come Not to Bury Caesar
Why is public transportation the only thing Donald Trump doesn't want to build?
October 7, 2026
