Streetsblog

Trump Was Impeached, but Thursday’s Headlines Are Unimpeachable

Congestion is down, the car payments are too damn high, secrets to a successful bike-share, and Sweden is creating a 1-minute city.

By Blake Aued

12:01 AM EST on January 14, 2021

Coronavirus lockdowns caused traffic congestion to fall worldwide for the first time in at least a decade. (Reuters)
Cars are not only physically killing us — they’re killing our bank accounts, too. The average cost of a new car now tops $40,000. (CNET)
Senate Democrats introduced a bill that includes $10 billion to tear down urban freeways. (Streetsblog USA)
Uber and Lyft drivers filed a lawsuit seeking to overturn Prop 22, the California referendum that made them independent contractors instead of employees eligible for benefits. (ABC News)
Uber expanded a feature allowing users to request an electric vehicle to 1,400 cities. It also added transit to its app in Mexico City and London, joining Sydney and Chicago. (The Verge)
Cooperation between operators and regulators, flat topography and integration with transit are the keys to a successful bike-share system. (BBC)
One of Elaine Chao’s last actions as transportation secretary was to release regulations laying the groundwork for self-driving cars. (Planetizen)
Main Streets are hurting during the pandemic, and better transportation planning can help bring them back. (Public Square)
The Twin Cities are tacking $70 million onto the cost of the bus rapid transit Gold Line to pay for (ugh) more parking. (Star Tribune)
Demand for transit is growing in outlying parts of Harris County, Texas. (Houston Public Media)
A spike in COVID-19 cases has left Austin’s Cap Metro with a shortage of bus drivers. (KXAN)
The Birmingham suburb of Homewood is considering a Complete Streets plan for Green Springs Highway, one of the area’s busiest roads. (Bham Now)
You’ve heard of the “15-minute city,” where every necessity is within a short walk or bike ride. How about Sweden’s plans for 1-minute cities? (Fast Company)

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.

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