Monday’s Headlines Are Pulling Over
Police are reconsidering their approach to traffic enforcement, which currently endangers Black drivers and doesn't reduce crime.
By
Blake Aued
12:00 AM EDT on April 18, 2022
- When Grand Rapids police killed Congolese refugee Patrick Lyoya in Michigan earlier this month, it was just the latest example of how minor traffic stops often escalate into violence against Black men, and how police use offenses like broken taillights as pretexts to search for more serious charges. A number of cities are reconsidering their policies. (New York Times)
- Random spikes in gas prices don’t generally change drivers’ habits much, but one way to get people out of their cars is to raise the price of gas predictably and methodically through taxes. (Grist)
- The European Union is considering fitting new car with technology that limits speeds, improving both safety and emissions. (Daily Mail)
- The U.S. DOT announced a plan to generate power from electric buses in disaster areas that are without electricity. (Transportation Today)
- New York state’s newly approved budget includes funding to remove urban freeways in Syracuse, Albany, Rochester and Buffalo. (Public Square)
- Philadelphia’s transit agency proposed a $1.6 billion budget for 2023 and will have to start drawing from reserves in 2024, when federal coronavirus funding runs out. (Inquirer)
- Construction on Maryland’s Purple Line is set to resume this spring, more than a year after a contractor walked off the job. (WTOP)
- Seattle’s Sound Transit is whittling down options for light rail to Ballard and West Seattle. (The Urbanist)
- Central Ohio transit officials are pitching a 0.5 percent sales tax to raise $6 billion for bus rapid transit. (Columbus Dispatch)
- Minneapolis’ Northstar commuter rail line is struggling. Combining it with Amtrak, more stops, more development near stops and faster speeds are some ideas for saving it. (Streets.mn)
- Charlotte is streamlining the process for neighborhoods to request traffic-calming measures. (WBTV)
- This Austin resident created a tiny park in a street median. (KUT)
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
NYC Amazon Delivery Drivers Routinely Speed, Block Bus And Bike Lanes
Amazon delivery drivers have violated traffic laws for years, with little accountability.
September 30, 2026
Wednesday’s Headlines Remain Deadly by Design
Congress should tie transportation funding to measurable improvements in safety, says Transportation for America.
September 30, 2026
Op-Ed: The Problem with Trump’s DC Golf Course Takeover Isn’t What You Think
Many advocates of walkable communities loathe urban golf courses. One urbanist argues that with good policy, his DC course can be the exception to the rule — if the Trump administration doesn't ruin it.
September 30, 2026
Advocates Warn Short-Term Transit Cuts Could Foreshadow Deeper Long-Term Slashing
A deeper dive on the transit cuts in the latest federal transportation extension bill – and how advocates are fighting back.
September 29, 2026
We Don’t Need to Ban Pick Up Trucks to Take Action on Vehicle Safety
There’s so much middle ground and low hanging fruit as far as reducing deaths and injuries caused by super large consumer vehicles. Here are three modest safety half-measures that should be a no-brainer.
September 29, 2026
