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 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
Friday’s Headlines Go North, Young Man
If you want to walk and bike safely, stay out of the South.
August 7, 2026
Talking Headways Podcast: What Does It Cost to Build a Bus?
Lisa Jerram of APTA and Philip Plotch of the Eno Center for Transportation explain the state of bus manufacturing and why buses cost so much.
August 6, 2026
Report: Building More Homes Reduces Overall Driving
Building more homes will get cars off the road, but where they’re built matters.
August 6, 2026
Thursday’s Headlines Cut Away
A U.S. Senate bill would result in the loss of $950 million in transit infrastructure funding.
August 6, 2026
State Lawmakers Aim At Illegal E-Motos, But Hit E-Bikes Instead
A deceptive and widespread marketing tactic has tricked families into purchasing dangerous e-motos and fooled lawmakers into pushing laws that would make streets even less safe.
August 5, 2026
