- Fare-free transit is common in Europe, and American cities ought to give it another look. Benefits include fewer people driving, lower emissions and fewer costs for low-income families. Revenue would take a hit, but most transit agencies only get a small portion of their funding from fareboxes, and that might be offset by savings on road repairs. (Governing)
- The U.S. Department of Transportation rejected a nationwide mask mandate on planes, buses and trains just hours after President Trump revealed he had COVID-19. (Business Insider)
- Almost every car in the U.S. will need to be electric in order to meet climate goals, according to a new University of Toronto study. Since that's probably not feasible for a variety of reasons, including the strain on the power grid, it's also a good idea to invest in transit. (Scientific American, Streetsblog)
- Despite the fact that people are driving less during the pandemic, traffic deaths are at a 15-year high. That's a sign that we need to redesign our roads. (Streetsblog)
- The BBC has another story about how coronavirus sparked a cycling revolution in Europe.
- New York City's two-year-old regulations guaranteed Uber and Lyft drivers a living wage without raising prices much. They could serve as a model for other cities. (NY Times)
- Transit cuts in Denver are making it harder for essential workers to get to work. (Colorado Public Radio)
- South Florida's Brightline shut down in March. When will it start up again? (Sun-Sentinel)
- Milwaukee is redesigning its bus system, focusing on high-frequency routes where buses come every 15 minutes or less. (Urban Milwaukee)
- As the pandemic improves in Texas, Austin is winding down a pop-up traffic calming initiative, but some of the changes will be made permanent. (Monitor)
- Washington, D.C. motorists are mad that cameras might catch them breaking traffic laws. (WJLA)
- A driver was caught on video spitting on a New York woman who was using a new bike lane. (NBC New York)
- A study by a civil rights lawyers' group found that Black Bay Area residents are three times more likely than whites to be arrested for minor infractions like jaywalking or riding a bike without a light. (Long Beach Post)
- A Black fashion executive says he was racially profiled and harassed by cops who confronted him about jaywalking after he walked out of his own company's Beverly Hills store. (TMZ)
Transit
Monday’s Headlines To Start Your Week Off
By Blake Aued
Stay in touch
Sign up for our free newsletter
More from Streetsblog USA
Talking Headways Podcast: A Week Without Driving
Anna Zivarts discusses the lessons of her national campaign and yearly event with several politicians who brought it to their communities.
January 22, 2026
Aisle Be Damned: Dems and GOP Unite in Oregon In Bid To Legalize Kei Trucks
Tiny trucks bring people together across the political spectrum — and they could help save lives and budgets.
January 22, 2026
Thursday’s Headlines Are Getting Their Butts Kicked by China
China alone accounted for 72 percent of the new metro and light rail lines that opened last year, more than doubling the rest of the world combined.
January 22, 2026
Survey: Most Americans Are Open To Ditching Their Cars
Automakers have spent a century and countless trillions of dollars making car-dependent living the American norm. But U.S. resident still aren't sold, a new survey suggests.
January 21, 2026
You Can’t Afford Wednesday’s Headlines
Americans want to live in walkable areas near transit, but not enough housing is being built there, driving prices out of reach for many and forcing them into a car-dependent lifestyle.
January 21, 2026
NYC Warns Delivery Apps to Follow New Worker Protection Laws
The Mamdani Administration sent letters to over 60 delivery app companies, warning they must comply with new regulations.
