Transit

Tuesday’s Headlines to Really Start the Week

The battle to rein in Uber and Lyft heats up in Cali — while New York City's transit system goes deeper into the red. Plus all the other headlines.

By Blake Aued

12:02 AM EDT on October 13, 2020

The battle over Prop 22 — Uber and Lyft’s effort to overturn a California labor law aimed at protecting drivers — is heating up. Supporters have spent $185 million to convince voters to pass it (San Jose Mercury News). And they’ve used some underhanded tactics, like a fake “progressive” voter guide (SFGate). Uber executives are also lobbying company staffers to support the effort (Bloomberg).
Fast Company asks whether we should be subsidizing cars for low-income families. The answer should be emphatically, “No!” Unfortunately, though, in most parts of the U.S., such families don’t have an alternative.
New technology using a crack-counting sensor can tell if an e-scooter is illegally on the sidewalk. (Washington Post)
Maryland is taking over Purple Line construction from private contractors that have balked at continuing work without more money to cover cost overruns. (DCist)
New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority has already borrowed $450 million from the Federal Reserve to cover operating costs, and it’s considering borrowing another $2.9 billion to cover part of a projected pandemic-related $12 billion deficit over the next two years. (Pew)
Former Streetsblog Denver editor Andy Bosselman thinks the Mile High City’s dysfunctional Regional Transportation District’s elected board of directors should be disbanded. (Denver Post)
Atlanta transit agency MARTA is sending out surveyors to identify potential locations for light-rail stations along the BeltLine. (What Now Atlanta)
Ride-hailing startup Zoom Ride is launching in Michigan as a safer alternative for women to Uber and Lyft, which have been wracked by sexual assault allegations against drivers. (Detroit News)
Public Source has more on Pittsburgh’s new bike-friendly “neighborways.”
Seattle finished a new section of the two-way bike lane on Fourth Avenue. (Seattle Times)
Madison is reducing the speed limit on Milwaukee Avenue, where drivers have seriously injured nine people in the past five years, including two crossing the street. (State Journal)
Parking revenue funds Milwaukee’s streetcar, so The Hop is struggling financially since the city suspended parking enforcement during the pandemic. Now one alderman wants to cut the streetcar budget. (WTMJ)
JUMP is launching a dockless e-bike fleet in Baltimore. (WJZ)

Blake Aued

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.

Transit

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