Wednesday’s Headlines for All to See
Transit projects, bike lanes and a takedown of Uber — all in today's news digest.
By
Blake Aued
12:01 AM EDT on August 18, 2021
- Transit agencies are dusting off their wish lists of capital projects that could be funded by the infrastructure bill, while at the same time bracing for layoffs and service cuts as operating revenue dwindles. (Washington Post)
- The Post editorial board admonishes President Biden for trying to have his climate policies and cheap gas, too.
- Climate change is a local issue as well as a state, national and global one, but often local governments tackle air pollution as an issue unrelated to climate change when in fact the two are linked. (Grist)
- Inside Climate News interviews Streetsblog contributor Courtney Cobbs about the lack of funding for transit compared to roads and the lack of bike infrastructure equity in Black neighborhoods.
- Author and journalist Cory Doctorow‘s takedown of Uber pretty much covers all the bases.
- Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s resignation throws New York City subway repairs and congestion pricing into doubt. (NY Times)
- A movement for zero-emissions trucks in Southern California was hijacked by the natural gas industry, which paid residents who were unaware the money came from fossil fuel companies to speak out for “near zero” trucks over less polluting options, according to a Los Angeles Times investigation.
- Charlotte’s efforts to relieve congestion are a mixed bag, from widening roads to building bike lanes to planning for better transit. (WFAE)
- Bus rapid transit could help transform failed malls in suburban Atlanta. (Business Chronicle)
- Seattle built seven miles of bike lanes in 2020 and the first half of 2021. (Seattle Times)
- Nevada decriminalized jaywalking and other minor traffic offenses. (Independent)
- A crash on Boston’s Green Line that injured 20 people raises questions about the T’s lack of safety technology. (Globe)
- A startup that just went public pinky-swears that flying taxis are coming in three years, and they’ll be as cheap as an Uber. (Gizmodo)
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
Monday’s Headlines Are Biked Up
Out of 3,000 U.S. cities, the number that scored well on People for Bike's metrics more than doubled to 555 between 2025 and 2026.
June 22, 2026
In Chicago, You Can Get To The Obama Center Without Driving
Sustainable transportation scenes from last week's Obama Presidential Center grand opening.
June 22, 2026
As Other Cities Subsidize Bike Share, New York’s Citi Bike Keeps Raising Costs
Advocates want prices capped.
June 22, 2026
Friday’s Headlines Celebrate Juneteenth
Ideas for speeding up infrastructure construction in the U.S., where it's slower and more expensive than any other nation.
June 19, 2026
Talking Headways Podcast: So What Is ‘Urban Disorder’ In A Post-Covid U.S.
Open air drug bazaars in San Francisco are one thing that we can agree need to be fixed.
June 18, 2026