- Uber and Lyft ran roughshod over city officials, so now many of them are taking a harder line on e-scooters and trying to get ahead of the curve on robo-taxis. (Wired)
- Unless Democrats win two Senate runoffs in Georgia, Mitch McConnell will be able to block Joe Biden’s agenda, including infrastructure and a coronavirus stimulus package with emergency transit funding. (Washington Post)
- Newsweek has another article about transit agencies’ pandemic-driven fiscal crisis. Meanwhile, Congress failed — again — to bail out transit (Streetsblog, amNY, Mass Transit, the Washington Post).
- Cargo-bike ambulances could save lives in congested cities because they can get to the patient faster than traditional ones. (Clean Technica)
- Instead of just taking people to work and back home, commuter rail should convert to all-day, affordable and frequent regional rail. (Commonwealth)
- Houston is using unspent money from light-rail construction to build protected bike lanes leading to the Red Line and bus routes. (Chronicle)
- Chicago needs a more robust transit system for the people who can least afford cars. (Crain’s)
- Phoenix is asking for the public’s help in choosing from among six potential routes for bus rapid transit. (KJZZ)
- A new ride-hailing company launched in Los Angeles that touts its drivers’ employee status, despite the passage of Prop 22. (L.A. Mag)
- Madison signed a new 10-year bike-share deal that will add 100 bikes to docks in 2021 and expand the system into new neighborhoods (State Journal), and a new company is bringing 150 e-scooters to Louisville (WDRB)
- Amtrak is planning a potential route between Scranton and New York City. (The Citizens’ Voice)
- When Uber slashed fares in Kenya, it saddled drivers who’d bought cars with mountains of debt they couldn’t repay. (NBC News)
- Jakarta and Manila tried to reduce congestion by restricting when people can drive based on their cars’ license plate numbers. It backfired: Instead of using the cities’ unreliable transit systems, people who can afford it are just buying extra cars. (Vice)
- China and Japan are competing to develop new high-speed maglev trains that could be big sellers on the international market. (Bloomberg)
Streetsblog
Wednesday’s Headlines Spanning the Globe
Stay in touch
Sign up for our free newsletter
More from Streetsblog USA
Friday Video: Welcome to the ‘War on Cars’
Here's a pithy, witty, concise synopsis of why cars suck from the makers of America's best-loved podcast.
Friday’s Headlines Debate the Debate
Kamala Harris and Donald Trump got one measly question related to climate change during the debate, and Slate wasn't impressed by either's answer. Learn more in today's headlines.
The Car Stole Our ‘Bliss’ 125 Years Ago Today
The automobile got its first taste of blood 125 years ago tomorrow — and it's never been able to kick the habit.
What Happens to E-Bikes and E-Scooters In NYC? They’re Fish Food
A green group has pulled 410 scooters and e-bikes out of the Bronx River since July 2023. What the hell?!
Transit App Now Provides Safety-First Bike Directions
A commuter train, subway and bus app is launching an update to allow users to prioritize safe bike routes.