- Drivers killed 38,680 people in the U.S. last year — the most since 2007, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. While people drove less, especially during lockdowns in the first half the year, they were also more likely to drive fast, drive drunk and not wear seatbelts. (Reuters)
- Thousands of people are lobbying the feds to rewrite an arcane traffic manual so it encourages safer, more equitable streets. (Wired)
- Electric vehicles aren't as clean as they're touted to be, and tax subsidies to buy them mainly go to the upper class. (The Hill)
- President Biden's regular budget for 2022 — not the CARES Act or infrastructure bill — has $13.5 billion for transit and $2.7 billion for Amtrak (Trains). The Natural Resources Defense Council calls it a sea change in the fight for equity and against climate change.
- Specific projects Biden wants to fund include Madison bus rapid transit (Wisconsin State Journal), BRT in Rochester, Minnesota (KAAL), light rail and BRT in the Seattle area (Kent Reporter), two BRT routes in Austin (KVUE) and Phoenix light rail expansions (KTAR).
- The Colorado legislature passed and Gov. Jared Polis intends to sign a $5 billion transportation bill. (Colorado Public Radio)
- Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis used his line-item veto to slash funding for Tampa transit and Complete Streets. (Tampa Bay Times)
- Milwaukee is the first city in the world to test tracking technology that keeps e-scooters off sidewalks. (WISN)
- Last month's municipal elections in London showed broad support among voters for programs that promote walking and biking. (The Guardian)
- The European Union created the first continent-wide bike master plan. (Eltis)
- Stop trying to make Copenhagen happen! It's not gonna happen. (Arch Daily)
Streetsblog
Friday’s Headlines Are Afraid for Their Lives
By Blake Aued
Stay in touch
Sign up for our free newsletter
More from Streetsblog USA
This Bill Would Give Your Community More Money To Build Its Own Transportation Future
States monopolize federal transportation funding even though local and regional governments oversee most of our nation's roads. It's time for that to change, a new bill argues.
February 10, 2026
Tuesday’s Headlines Go Car-Free
Here's what cities can do to encourage residents to ditch their cars and cut their carbon footprint.
February 10, 2026
Stop Designing Streets for the ‘Average’ Driver
...and start designing them for real people who get around in many ways.
February 10, 2026
Traffic Safety or Culture War? Trump’s Desire to ‘Own The Libs’ Undermines Safety
Why is the federal government truly playing politics over rainbow crosswalks when human lives are at stake?
February 9, 2026
Monday’s Gilded Headlines
Get ready for some really tacky-looking transportation projects.
February 9, 2026
Highway Projects Still Grab Biggest Share as California OK’s Nearly $1B in Transportation Funding
But transit and active transportation also get boosts.
