Thursday’s Headlines Topped Off the Tank
Why are Americans so obsessed with gas prices? Plus, the possibility of a railroad workers' strike and more headlines.
By
Blake Aued
12:00 AM EDT on October 27, 2022
- Americans are so obsessed with the price of gas that it may tip the November elections — even though presidents have little control over it — illustrating lackluster transit in the U.S. and our dependence on cars. (New York Times)
- The threat of a freight rail strike that would also affect passenger trains re-emerged as a second union rejected a White House-brokered agreement (Politico). One issue is that at least one union wants public ownership of the rails, like highways (Freight Waves).
- Automakers are increasingly branching out into e-bikes, but it’s unclear if cyclists will want to buy from a brand associated with cars. (The Verge)
- The D.C. Metro will open the Silver Line before Thanksgiving and add cars to overcrowded trains. (Washington Post)
- San Francisco had to give back a $15 million federal grant to make Market Street car-free because it couldn’t meet a deadline to spend the money. (Chronicle)
- Denver wildly popular e-bike rebate program is a victim of its own success.: the city is putting it on hold after burning through three years’ worth of funding in six months. (Rocky Mountain PBS)
- Former U.S. transportation secretary Ray LaHood says the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority needs an overhaul. (NBC Boston)
- Orange County, North Carolina’s new transit plan replaces a failed light rail line with express bus service and other improvements. (Chapelboro)
- A New Zealand court ruled that Uber drivers are entitled to workers’ rights. (The Guardian)
- Bruges made it illegal on 90 streets for cars to pass bikes. (The Mayor)
- Stockholm’s new bike-share is incredibly cheap at just $1 a day or $14 a year. (Vice)
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.
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