Streetsblog

Friday’s Headlines Are Ready for a Beer

A new freeway, a hit-and-run cop, janky sidewalks, rising cyclist deaths, a Massachusetts version of Prop 22 ... time for a drink.

By Blake Aued

12:01 AM EDT on August 6, 2021

Despite the clamor for walkable cities and biking’s growing popularity, urban streets are still designed and used more like highways because engineers still reject induced demand and politicians won’t stand up to the vocal minority, says urban planner Jeff Speck. (Governing)
The infrastructure bill focuses too much on roads and cars, but it could be the start of a sea change in federal climate policy. (The Atlantic)
Bipartisanship at its worst: Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas and Raphael Warnock of Georgia joined forces to add an entire freeway to the infrastructure bill. I-14 would be extended to run from Odessa across the Southeast to Augusta. (Midland Reporter-Telegram)
Bird will start automatically slowing down scooters in areas with lots of pedestrians, like school zones. (Mashable)
Uber and Lyft are facing a reckoning for seeking profitability through unfair labor practices. (Yahoo Finance)
Gig economy companies are officially filing to have a Prop 22-like measure put on the Massachusetts ballot classifying their workers as contractors. (The Hill)
Bike advocates want Phoenix to address the rising number of cyclist and pedestrian deaths. (AZ Central)
Two little-used freeway ramps are taking up some of the most valuable real estate in Minneapolist. (Mpls.St.Paul)
St. Augustine is starting an e-bikeshare. (First Coast News)
The mayor of Warren, Michigan, posted photos of his bloody face after tripping while jogging to highlight the sorry state of the city’s sidewalks. (Macomb Daily)
Two people were killed by a train in Charlotte during a memorial service for another person who had died in a train crash at the very same spot last week. (WBTV)
A California teen riding his bike was injured by a California Highway Patrol officer who drove away but was caught on video. (KTLA)

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.

Streetsblog

Comments Are Temporarily Disabled

Streetsblog is in the process of migrating our commenting system. During this transition, commenting is temporarily unavailable.

Once the migration is complete, you will be able to log back in and will have full access to your comment history. We appreciate your patience and look forward to having you back in the conversation soon.

More from Streetsblog USA

Streetsblog NYC |Highway Expansion

State Bill Would Stop Highway Expansions Near Vulnerable New Yorkers

Assembly Member Emerita Torres's Stop Highway Community Harm Act would ban the state from expanding highways within 200 feet of public housing or in ZIP codes with the highest asthma-related emergency room visits in the state.