Streetsblog

Friday’s Headlines Are Dodging F-150s

There's a lot to like about House Dems' new transportation bill, and a lot to dislike about the new breed of ginormous pickups.

By Blake Aued

12:01 AM EDT on June 11, 2021

Pickup trucks are taller, heavier, have bigger blind spots, take longer to brake and lack safety features compared to cars and SUVs, making them more dangerous to pedestrians. (Consumer Reports)
Data is important for cities trying to end racial disparities in transportation — but so is context that data alone can’t provide. Planners need to talk to community members about their experiences as well. (City Lab)
Watchdog group U.S. PIRG says House Democrats’ transportation bill would increase funding for complete streets and transit, and emphasize road repairs over new construction.
Rural transit has rare bipartisan support as lawmakers negotiate a new surface transportation bill. (Bloomberg)
Uber and Lyft are ramping up lobbying efforts at state capitols for Prop 22-style laws cementing drivers’ status as contractors without labor rights. (New York Times)
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg highlighted transit agencies’ efforts to get people vaccinated. (Intelligent Transport)
Miami is using e-scooter fees to build micromobility lanes downtown that benefit scooter riders. (Smart Cities Dive)
Seattle’s Sound Transit is restoring eight-minute headways on light rail. (Seattle Times)
Downtown Phoenix’s first protected two-way bike path is now open. (KTAR)
Dallas has a goal of ending traffic deaths by 2030, but it still has the second-highest road fatality rate of any U.S. city. (D Magazine)
Houston, on the other hand, has quietly become an underrated city for cycling. (Rice Kinder Institute)
The Portland city council added $450,000 to its Vision Zero budget. (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
The Kansas City Star reminds readers upset about prices at the pump that transit is free and bike-share is cheaper than gas.
Tired of sky-high Uber and Lyft fares? The Washington Post has alternatives.
New to Pittsburgh? Here’s how to navigate it by bike and transit. (City Paper)
An MIT study on Beijing’s policy restricting car ownership found that residents got around it by going outside the city to purchase vehicles, indicating a regional approach is key.
Courtesy of Patton Oswalt’s Twitter feed: Remember, if you’re going pillaging in England, always wear a helmet!

This is a very funny PSA but it’s also GORGEOUS filmmaking. https://t.co/l22r2azy6B
— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) June 8, 2021

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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