Thursday’s Headlines for the People
We have seen the future and it is the four-wheel e-bike (pedal car?) from CityQ. Plus all the other news.
By
Blake Aued
12:01 AM EST on February 11, 2021
- Simply electrifying the federal fleet and building more EV charging stations, as President Biden has proposed, won’t be enough to fix climate change. We still have to drive less. The federal government should stop building highways and provide more funding for walking, biking and transit, and cities need to allow denser housing and eliminate parking requirements. (City Lab)
- President Biden and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg want high-speed rail, but they’ll have overcome the political opposition that vexed President Obama. (CNN)
- The “15-minute city” where everything is a short walk or bike ride away, is all the rage. New Urbanists Andres Duany and Robert Steuteville break down what that means in terms of distance. (CNU Public Square)
- Uber is offering free rides to Walgreens to get the COVID-19 vaccine for people who lack transportation and live in underserved communities, starting with Atlanta, Chicago, Houston and El Paso. (CNBC)
- Pollution in U.S. subway systems, especially the PATH system in New York, is well above safe levels. (The Guardian)
- Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan has spent billions on roads while allowing transit to fall into disrepair. Baltimore lawmakers are pushing a bill that would require the state to spend more on maintenance. (Transit Center)
- Cheap and flexible, boring old buses are the best way to boost transit ridership in Seattle. (The Urbanist)
- Bowing to complaints from motorists, the Tampa city council is backing down on a parking rate hike it approved last year to encourage drivers to use other types of transportation. (Tampa Bay Times)
- A Pennsylvania bill would allow cities to build parking-protected bike lanes. (Pittsburgh City Paper)
- Tucson transit will remain fare-free through June. (KVOA)
- Four-wheeled bike or tiny car? The CityQ is pedal-powered, with an electric-motor assist, but also offers cargo space, room for a passenger or two and some protection from the elements. (Intelligent Living)
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
