Wednesday’s Headlines Go for a Walk
Walking is getting more popular, and sidewalks are getting more crowded. Plus, the environmental benefits of protected bike lanes.
By
Blake Aued
12:00 AM EDT on November 2, 2022
- Studies show that people started walking more during the pandemic in many major cities, and advocates say that transportation leaders should respond by widening sidewalks. (Treehugger)
- A study of Guangzhou, China, and Bogota found that protected bike lanes lowered carbon emissions by thousands of tons. (Transport Matters)
- Protected bike lanes are the most cost-effective way to tackle the climate crisis and get polluting vehicles off the road. (Speed and Scale)
- Bicycling magazine cites a Streetsblog MASS database in an article about the growing number of libraries that are lending bikes.
- E-bikes provide fewer health benefits than pedal-powered models, but there are still good reasons for people who are older or less fit to buy them. (Montreal Gazette)
- Austin’s Project Connect includes $300 million for residents in danger of being displaced if new transit projects raise property values. But the money might not be enough — because there are 135,000 families who could be affected. (KXAN)
- Uber, the famous disrupter, seems to be maturing and working with cities and drivers rather than fighting them all the time. (The Guardian)
- Few Memphis residents are aware that homeowners are responsible for fixing sidewalks on their property — until they get fined by the city. (WREG)
- Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker wants to slow down a railway merger, while Republican challenger Darren Bailey is in favor of adding lanes to highways. (Daily Herald)
- Florida drivers didn’t get much benefit from a gas-tax holiday, but of course experts expect prices to rise the full 25 cents now that it’s expired. (WFTV)
- Portland’s TriMet is considering a fare hike even as activists call for eliminating fares entirely. (Willamette Week)
- Republican candidates in Washington state are claiming that antifa will use light rail to do crimes. (Seattle Times)
- Seattle should quickly paint bus-only lanes on every route to fight climate change. (The Urbanist)
- It’s cute that Los Angeles-area high schools are letting seniors personalize their parking spaces, but it also underscores the city’s car culture. (L.A. Times)
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:
More from Streetsblog USA
Transportation Advocates Split on Senate’s Big Permitting Bill
Would the BAAJA blast multimodal projects out of bureaucratic purgatory, make it a breeze to expand highways ... or both? Advocates sound off.
November 11, 2026
Wednesday’s Headlines Vote With Our Feet
What will it take to get pro-transit voters to actually ride transit?
November 11, 2026
How (And Why) To Capture the Livable Streets Movement on Film
Clarence Eckerson Jr. of Streetfilms talks with "The War on Cars" about how he uses filmmaking as a tool to make cities better.
November 10, 2026
Tuesday’s Headlines Are Still Surfing the Blue Wave
Politicians may not realize it, but U.S. voters are overwhelmingly in favor of transit.
November 10, 2026
The Growing Vehicle Problem That California Needs to Address
As pedestrian and cyclist deaths rise, the growing size and weight of American vehicles are making streets more dangerous. Here's some solutions: tax oversized vehicles, improve safety ratings and make smaller electric vehicles a more practical option for everyday trips.
November 9, 2026
