- Bigger cars, high speeds, wide roads and lack of crosswalks are behind the surge in pedestrian deaths over the past decade, according to a University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee study. (State Smart Transportation Initiative)
- In response to pressure to classify their drivers as employees and pay them benefits, Uber and Lyft are considering changing their business model by licensing their brands to independent fleet owners that would act as franchises. (New York Times)
- Well, bye: Uber and Lyft’s business model was built on worker exploitation, and if they go away, good. (One Zero)
- Environmental groups are challenging the Trump administration's plans to allow drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. (The Hill)
- Shifting bike-share patterns during the pandemic are making it harder to rebalance — or make sure every neighborhood has enough bikes — at the end of the day. (Built In)
- Cities like Houston, Jacksonville, Las Vegas, Providence and Columbus are testing autonomous shuttles. But the technology may not be ready, many riders are skeptical, and transit unions will oppose any move to get rid of drivers. (Wired)
- New York's struggling Metropolitan Transportation Authority borrowed $451 million from the Federal Reserve, tapping into a $500 billion low-interest loan program for cities and states. (Bloomberg)
- Houston buses are running at half capacity to keep passengers six feet apart. Even so, ridership is starting to come back — it's down 43 percent since last June, compared to 53 percent from last May. (Houston Press)
- Keeping the pop-up "coronavirus cycleways" in many European cities would result in $3 billion worth of health benefits, according to a German climate change study. Biking is up 7 percent in Europe during the pandemic. (Forbes)
- Germany will spend 6 billion Euros to keep private transit companies afloat during the pandemic. (Intelligent Transport)
Streetsblog
Thursday’s Headlines From Around the Nation
By Blake Aued
Stay in touch
Sign up for our free newsletter
More from Streetsblog USA
Friday Video: A Deep Dive on the Endless Debate Over Bike Helmets
Everything you need to know the next time someone asks you if you're "for or against" bike helmets.
May 16, 2025
Disrupting Friday’s Headlines
Elevator pitch: Buses, but they only seat six people, and you have to book one ahead of time.
May 16, 2025
Talking Headways Podcast: Running to Work
Bridge engineer Daniel Baxter on his almost daily running commute in Minneapolis.
May 15, 2025
Thursday’s Headlines Want Five-Minute Cities, Maybe?
A 15 minute city doesn't mean people never drive short distances, a new poll finds — but it does mean residents at least have the *option* to walk instead, and that can carry enormous benefits.
May 15, 2025
Trump’s Tariff War Creates Existential Challenges — And One Upside — For the Bike Industry
...and it could make it a lot harder to get a new helmet, too.
May 15, 2025
