Wednesday’s Headlines Are On a Health Kick
Image: Wikimedia
- In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, transit agencies are refocusing resources on mainly minority and low-income riders who depend on the service, rather than white-collar suburbanites who might work from home indefinitely. (Wired)
- A London study found that trips made by bike or on foot increased dramatically during the pandemic. (Traffic Technology Today)
- Shared e-scooters may not be as environmentally friendly as you think. A Zurich study found that they mainly replaced cleaner modes like walking, biking and transit. (Futurity)
- The infrastructure act's funding for walking, biking and better land-use planning will improve the health of many Americans (Pew Trusts), and money to improve transit will also improve access to health care (Center for American Progress).
- A "safe systems" approach to transportation safety uses street design and equitable enforcement to minimize deaths and injuries by minimizing driver error. (Smart Cities Dive)
- Even though St. Paul has made great strides in bike-friendly infrastructure, the car is still king. (Streets.mn)
- Car-centric Dallas is reconsidering its ridiculous 1960s-era minimum parking requirements — a spot for every 25 square feet of dance floor? — but it won't transform all those asphalt lots overnight. (D Magazine)
- Dallas is also starting to tackle a $2 billion backlog of sidewalk projects, although it's only devoting $15 million over three years. (NBC DFW)
- Santa Monica is offering low-cost housing to former residents who were displaced by freeway construction who want to return to the California city. (Los Angeles Times)
- Atlanta's transit agency is using a special fund to preserve existing affordable housing near transit lines. (Saporta Report)
- The St. Louis Loop Trolley was more of a tourist attraction than actual transit, but that doesn't mean it's a bad idea to restart it. (NextSTL)
- Charlotte's new Gold Line streetcar will remain fare-free for the time being as it struggles with a driver shortage and reliability issues. (WBTV)
- A Colorado Springs plan calls for removing Platte Avenue car lanes to make room for bikes and buses. (Gazette)
- A massive snowstorm trapped Virginia motorists (Associated Press) and riders (Atlanta Journal-Constitution) for hours.
- In related news, here's a reminder that Washington, D.C. residents have eight hours to clear the sidewalks in front of their homes and businesses. (DCist)
Stay in touch
Sign up for our free newsletter
More from Streetsblog USA
Thursday’s Headlines Have a New Pattern
Working from home may have killed the commute, but people are taking more frequent, shorter trips instead. Whether this adds up to less or more driving overall depends on the city.
Wednesday’s Headlines Go Carless
A Washington state advocacy group for the disabled is challenging everyone to give up driving for the week of Oct. 2 to find out how hard it is to get around in most parts of the U.S.
Study: How Low-Income People Really Use Micromobility
Shared bikes and scooters are meeting low-income people's basic mobility needs — but they're not being subsidized like it.
Cal. DOT “Shakeup” Is a Bad Sign
Why was one of Caltrans' most staunch advocates for sanity within Caltrans "reassigned"?
Tuesday’s Headlines Living the Van Life
For small towns that can't support fixed-route transit, Uber-style microtransit can provide affordable rides for those who can't or don't want to drive.
