- Two stories show how the auto industry manipulated the public into our current car-centric predicament: Governing writes about how late 19th century cyclists were the first Americans to advocate for better roads — a movement that was hijacked by drivers and became the basis for the interstate highway system. Meanwhile, the MIT Press Reader illuminates how business leaders reversed popular opinion that, in the automobile's early days, viewed the machines as dangerous threats.
- Speaking of which, there's a long history of bikes winding up in bodies of water (The Guardian). Maybe that's where all of Portland's missing Biketown bikes have disappeared to (Bike Portland).
- As the right-leaning City Journal notes, weaning ourselves off fossil fuels also means more mining for minerals to make batteries, which progressives also oppose because it damages the environment.
- Rail is not helping itself in the argument against EVs. By 2035, Amtrak hopes to reinstate several lines — and make them slower than they were in the 1940s and '50s. That's right, they'll be slower than they were more than 70 years ago. (Vice)
- Texas is skirting federal environmental laws by breaking its freeway projects up into chunks that are small enough not to be subject to intensive environmental review. (The Grist)
- Denver's new bus network will pull back from the suburbs to focus more on downtown. (Colorado Public Radio)
- Portland is considering becoming the first U.S. city to phase out diesel trucks. (Willamette Week)
- Cyclists rallied in Washington, D.C. to urge Mayor Muriel Bowser to do something about traffic deaths. (WJLA)
- A Los Angeles transportation official who's been an advocate for walking and biking is Seattle Mayor Brett Harrell's pick to lead SDOT. (The Urbanist)
- The Boston Globe wants to hear from readers whether they think the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority should be merged with MassDOT.
- Cedar Rapids is reinstating bus fares for many riders but lowering them from the pre-pandemic rate of $1.50 to $1. (The Gazette)
- Japanese triathlete Tsudoi Miyakazi was killed by a driver while training on her bike in France. (New York Post)
- Uber passengers apparently can't figure out how to open a Tesla's door. (Axios)
Streetsblog
Friday’s Headlines Look to the Past
By Blake Aued
Stay in touch
Sign up for our free newsletter
More from Streetsblog USA
Why Transit Advocates Aren’t 100% Behind This Senator’s Bold Bill To Slash Highway Funding
A new Republican bill could bring rampant highway overspending to a halt and slash emissions by one-fifth. But don't get too excited because it would hurt transit, too.
March 17, 2026
Tuesday’s Headlines Are Underwater
More and more people can't afford their car payments or associated costs — which wouldn't be as big of a problem if they had a choice other than driving.
March 17, 2026
What If The Rising Costs of Car Dependency Were As Visible As Gas Prices?
Gas station billboards remind U.S. residents every day that driving is getting more expensive. What if they told a different message about the high costs of our autocentric transportation system?
March 16, 2026
Hired Actors, Paid Media: Big Tech Has Dumped $8M Into Car Insurance Rate Cut
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul's scheme to bring down insurance costs is backed by Uber cash and ads with professional actors.
Monday’s Headlines Zero In
Traffic deaths are going down, and they'd decline further if cities stopped letting residents block safety projects.
March 16, 2026
Trump’s Oil Crisis Is Already Costing Massachusetts Drivers Over $2.4 Million A Day In Higher Gas Prices
Massachusetts drivers are now cumulatively spending $20.9 million a day at the pump – more than twice the daily cost of operating the entire MBTA system.
