Skip to Content
Streetsblog USA home
Streetsblog USA home
Log In
Streetsie Awards

The Streetsie Awards 2022: The Biggest Citizen-Led Victories

Photo: Steve, CC

It's our annual December donation drive. Please give from the heart (and wallet!) by clicking above or
It's our annual donation drive. Please give from the heart (and wallet!) by clicking above or here. Thanks.
It's our annual December donation drive. Please give from the heart (and wallet!) by clicking above or

A lot of the most exciting developments on U.S. streets in 2022 didn't originate in the halls of government. Today, we're looking at projects from everyday people that made a big difference — and might inspire a few New Year's resolutions in 2023.

Today's awards just go to show you that Margaret Mead was right: you should never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.

First up is the bike bus, which finally had its big moment in the U.S. this year after decades as a mainstay of the daily school route overseas.

Special high five to friend of Streetsblog and America's favorite Portland P.E. teacher Sam Balto, who's worked tirelessly for years to make this great idea go viral.

Another Portlander who deserves a Streetsie is Cathy Tuttle, who created her own DIY car master plan to reduce automobile use in her city, flipping the script on the ubiquitous pedestrian and cycling master plans that pretty much every city puts out. We love seeing citizens re-write the narrative about their local transportation networks (As part of her project, also Cathy created a framework for understanding the "four types of drivers" on U.S. that sparked a massive conversation of its own.)

A league of street-focused superheroes stepped out of the shadows  in April of 2022 with the formation of the Freeway Fighters Network, and they've been working together to tear down toxic highways in U.S. cities ever since. Best of all? You can join this league of extraordinary advocates, too.

Reimagining a car-dominated landscape as a people-focused paradise can be hard — at least without a little help. Zach Katz' AI street renderings inspired a cool conversation about everything U.S. streets can be when we don't put automobiles at the center, and a how-to for advocates who want to make their own.

Finally, good old-fashioned tactical urbanism also saw a big resurgence in 2022, thanks to a few cities' short-sighted decision to erase the DIY crosswalks their residents had painted. Of course, we would never encourage you to follow the lead of folks like the L.A. Crosswalk Collective...but if you're curious how they did it, we've heard there are some resources floating around.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog USA

Talking Headways Podcast: Localities Subsidize the State DOT

Adie Tomer of Brookings on how to improve regional coordination around infrastructure.

July 10, 2025

Five of the Ugliest Transportation Policies In the ‘Big, Beautiful’ Bill

Here's a rundown of some of the transportation provisions in the Republicans' reconciliation package, and what they might mean for your community.

July 10, 2025

Viva La Thursday’s Headlines

Why is French transit ridership up 10 percent since before the pandemic, while American transit ridership is down 23 percent?

July 10, 2025

Wednesday’s Headlines Are Bigger and Beautiful-er

There's a lot of bad news in the Big Beautiful Bill — but it also may have helped kill a major highway expansion in Oregon.

July 9, 2025

Removing ‘Rainbow Crosswalks’ Won’t Make America’s Arterials Safer

Secretary Duffy wants to tackle dangerous arterials. So why is he coming after rainbow crosswalks most often seen on narrow city roads?

July 9, 2025

The ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ Is About Our Transportation Future, Too

Transportation didn't get a lot of mention in the public discussion of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. But it's everywhere.

July 8, 2025
See all posts