All Aboard for Thursday’s Headlines
City Lab breaks down November transit referendums, The Conversation explains why telecommuting won't save the climate, and more headlines.
By
Blake Aued
12:01 AM EDT on October 8, 2020
- Transit is on the ballot in at least 15 cities this November. Will calls for racial justice spur voters to spend on more equitable transit systems, or will anxiety about the economy cause voters to reject more taxes? (City Lab)
- People who telecommute wind up driving more for reasons other than going to work, so only a car-free lifestyle can truly lower carbon emissions. (The Conversation)
- Joe Biden rode Amtrak on a whistle-stop tour of Ohio and Pennsylvania. (Associated Press)
- Speed limits are based on how fast drivers actually drive, not what’s safe, so drivers basically get to set their own speed limits. (Grist)
- Mobile ticketing could help transit agencies recover from their drop in ridership during the pandemic. (Intelligent Transport)
- An Uber software engineer explains that he’s voting against Prop 22—the company’s effort to overturn a California workers’ rights law—because he realized ride-hailing apps are only effective because drivers subsidize it with their unpaid labor. (Tech Crunch)
- Lime didn’t meet Seattle’s requirement that it place 10 percent of its rental bikes in neighborhoods that are home to large numbers of low-income residents, immigrants and people of color. (Seattle Times)
- Honolulu will extend a troubled light-rail line in phases if funding runs out. (Civil Beat)
- The Houston city council is considering a $100 fine for drivers who park in bike lanes. (Houston Chronicle)
- Massachusetts transit agencies need more state funding. (Worcester Telegram)
- Spectrum News has a rundown on Austin’s transit referendum.
- Oklahoma City streetcar workers are unionizing in response to a COVID-19 outbreak. (Fox 25)
- Boulder is seeking feedback on quick-build improvements for its nascent Vision Zero program. (Daily Camera)
- San Jose already has 400 miles of bike lanes and is looking to add more. (Spotlight)
- From propellers to rocket sleds to something that looks like the inspiration for “Snowpiercer,” here are the 10 coolest train designs of all time. (The Drive)
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
Where the Hottest Blocks in Your City Are — And How To Cool Them Down
A cutting-edge tool is helping city leaders identify where they most badly need street trees, bus shelters, and more.
April 15, 2026
Wednesday’s Headlines Hop on Board Carefully
Riding the bus is safe. Walking to and from the bus stop, not so much.
April 15, 2026
Ask An Insurance Industry Insider: Safe Streets Are The Best Way To Bring Down Insurance Costs
Insurance companies and personal injury lawyers exist because streets aren't safe. So shouldn't we start there instead of tweaking a broken system?
April 15, 2026
What If All Cars Were Autonomous, Electric, and Free?
Can we really solve the problems of car dominance just by making cars less destructive?
April 14, 2026
“Why Do We Do This Bill?”: Preparing Congressional Staff for Surface Transportation Reauthorization
A top advocacy organization is preparing Congress to take a critical look at the upcoming transportation reauthorization — and it's not easy.
April 14, 2026
