- Even walking is a political issue these days — and a majority of Americans prefer to drive everywhere. According a Pew Research Center poll, 60 percent of respondents prefer to live where houses are bigger and farther apart, and schools, restaurants and shopping are miles away, while just 39 percent want walkable neighborhoods. Three-quarters of Republicans like sprawl, while Democrats were evenly split. (Motherboard)
- MSNBC's Hayes Brown frames the poll results not as a response to COVID-19, but as a decades-long pattern of investment in car infrastructure over transit that's a self-inflicted wound in the war against climate change.
- Fossil fuel-powered vehicles should quickly be replaced with electric ones; also, the need for driving must drastically be reduced to address climate change and equity. (CleanTechnica)
- A coalition of trade, union and environmental groups is asking Congress to restore $10 billion in funding for transit in the $2.5 trillion reconciliation bill that the Senate cut from the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill. (The Hill)
- Used cars are worth a lot of money right now, so this is a really good time to sell yours. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
- New York City commuter rail, like many others, slashed service during the pandemic in response to lost ridership. What will they do when federal aid runs out and office workers are still staying home? (Times)
- Spokane is encouraging denser housing and mixed uses around new bus rapid transit lines and bike infrastructure. (Spokesman-Review)
- Hundreds of people came out for a sneak peek at a San Diego trolley line extension. (Fox 5)
- Almost half of U.K. Uber drivers have quit in the past few months in response to the company raising service charges. (Bloomberg)
- Paris has lowered speed limits to 30 kilometers per hour, or 18 mph, on almost all roads. (RFI)
- Leaded gasoline is a thing of the past after Algerian gas stations, the last in the world to sell it, recently stopped. But the work is not done yet — one researcher who helped convince the U.S. to ban leaded gas says all motor fuels should be banned. (CNN)
Streetsblog
Wednesday’s Headlines Are Putting On Their Walking Shoes
Stay in touch
Sign up for our free newsletter
More from Streetsblog USA
Do Tuesday’s Headlines Live in a 15-Minute City?
Find out how long it takes to walk to stores, restaurants and transit stops in your neighborhood with this Washington Post widget.
Even at Slower Speeds, SUVs and Pickups are a ‘Big’ Problem for Pedestrians
Pedestrians hit by median-height cars have a 60 percent chance of suffering moderate injuries, but that figure rises to 83 percent when they are struck by a median-height pickup truck at that same speed.
Can We Build Car-Light Neighborhoods From Scratch — Even in Texas?
Can you really build a car-light neighborhood in suburban Houston — and could it inspire car-dependent places to explore new ideas about development?
How Trump’s Mass Deportation Plans Could Make U.S. Roads More Dangerous
President-elect Trump's promise to deport one million people per year will make America's streets less safe.
The Buck Stops With Monday’s Headlines
Harry Truman was known for whistle-stop campaigning, and interstates are associated with Eisenhower. But that's not entirely true, as the Eno Center explains.