- For schools that are reopening, how will students get there safely? Driving them, as New York Mayor Bill de Blasio has suggested, is a congestion and environmental disaster. The data on coronavirus transmission on transit is encouraging, though, and school buses are running at half capacity. Biking is another alternative — if routes are safe. (City Lab)
- Uber and Lyft are doomed, says The Guardian. Both companies have been relying on Silicon Valley cash infusions and squeezing drivers to survive. Meanwhile, they're hemorrhaging money while fighting off labor challenges and waiting for AI that's still years away to replace humans. Now the courtroom walls are closing in, as California's lawsuit against the ride-hailing companies could inspire New York to follow suit (NY Daily News). And using a franchise model to shield themselves from liability won't fix the gig economy's problems, for either companies or workers (Slate).
- Traffic is coming back, but slowly, which could mask a huge problem if commuters continue to avoid transit as they slowly return to work. (Politico)
- Companies are already testing automated trucks, which could spell the end of thousands of jobs. (60 Minutes)
- Drivers have killed three pedestrians in San Francisco in the past two months, leading advocates to renew pressure on officials to make streets safer. The city has less than four years to hit its Vision Zero goal (SFBay). Speed cameras could help (San Francisco Examiner).
- Houston’s Silver opened last weekend — the first of 75 miles of planned bus rapid transit in the auto-centric city. (Chronicle)
- The Portland Bureau of Transportation is becoming an anti-racist organization. (Bike Portland)
- St. Paul should stop permitting drive-through restaurants. (streets.mn)
- Buffalo isn't following its own bike master plan, so GObike Buffalo is taking matters into its own hands. (Buffalo Rising)
- Like many transit agencies, Richmond’s is facing a dilemma on whether it should stay fare-free. (Virginia Mercury)
- New Haven's zoning code all but forced a property owner to turn housing into parking, when it should be the other way around. (Independent)
- The Bangor Daily News doesn't care what color crosswalks are. The editorial board doesn't think they're enough to protect pedestrians and wants a crackdown on drivers who fail to yield.
- Carrboro, North Carolina, wants to commission an "End Racism Now" mural, but needs permission from the Federal Highway Administration. (Chapelboro)
Streetsblog
Wednesday’s Headlines From Around the Nation
By Blake Aued
Stay in touch
Sign up for our free newsletter
More from Streetsblog USA
Why Transit Advocates Aren’t 100% Behind This Senator’s Bold Bill To Slash Highway Funding
A new Republican bill could bring rampant highway overspending to a halt and slash emissions by one-fifth. But don't get too excited because it would hurt transit, too.
March 17, 2026
Tuesday’s Headlines Are Underwater
More and more people can't afford their car payments or associated costs — which wouldn't be as big of a problem if they had a choice other than driving.
March 17, 2026
Opinion: The Hidden Costs of Free Transportation
How charging for infrastructure creates better mobility options for everyone.
March 17, 2026
What If The Rising Costs of Car Dependency Were As Visible As Gas Prices?
Gas station billboards remind U.S. residents every day that driving is getting more expensive. What if they told a different message about the high costs of our autocentric transportation system?
March 16, 2026
Hired Actors, Paid Media: Big Tech Has Dumped $8M Into Car Insurance Rate Cut
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul's scheme to bring down insurance costs is backed by Uber cash and ads with professional actors.
Monday’s Headlines Zero In
Traffic deaths are going down, and they'd decline further if cities stopped letting residents block safety projects.
March 16, 2026
