Tuesday’s Headlines Are Fair, Free and Fare-Free
The zero-fare movement is popular with businesses, labor groups and environmentalists alike, and it’s spreading from Kansas City to cities all over the country. But it’s not for every transit agency, especially bigger ones that rely on fares as a main source of revenue. (CNBC) Speaking of those transit agencies: they’re likely to face major … Continued
By
Blake Aued
12:00 AM EST on January 17, 2023
- The zero-fare movement is popular with businesses, labor groups and environmentalists alike, and it’s spreading from Kansas City to cities all over the country. But it’s not for every transit agency, especially bigger ones that rely on fares as a main source of revenue. (CNBC)
- Speaking of those transit agencies: they’re likely to face major budget challenges in 2023. (Smart Cities Dive)
- Families that can’t afford electric cars, which carry an average price tag of $65,000, are switching to cargo e-bikes instead. (NPR)
- “Small modes” — walking, biking, scooters, etc. — can make significant and often underappreciated contributions to reducing emissions. (Planetizen)
- For the first time in a decade, drunk and high drivers outpaced distracted drivers as the No. 1 cause of New Jersey traffic deaths. (NJ.com)
- The D.C. Metro is reconsidering a five percent fare hike, its first in five years, because it would cost long-distance commuters up to $2.50 a ride. (Washington Post)
- The Seattle-area cities of Lynnwood and Bellevue are fighting over who gets light rail service first. (Seattle Times)
- Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner wants to stick with the plan for a controversial Blodgett Street road diet, although one Harris County commissioner has offered to spike the bike lanes if Houston forks over $8 million. (Axios)
- Denver’s biking community is mourning the loss of two cyclists killed by drivers in close succession. (5280)
- Oregon Rep. Suzanne Bonamici suffered a concussion when a driver hit her and her husband while they were crossing the street in Portland. (New York Daily News)
- Surprisingly, previously neglected East Portland leads the way among neighborhoods with the most planned bikeways built. (Bike Portland)
- Mild-mannered Streetsblog editor by day, Gersh Kuntzman prowls Gotham by night striking fear into the hearts of license-plate scofflaws. (New Yorker)
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
Every Friday’s Headline Is Sacred
When transit funds are wasted, God gets quite irate.
October 16, 2026
Friday Video: When Walkability Isn’t Enough … Even in the Great Cities of Europe
What happens when livable places get overwhelmingly popular before we can build more of them — or when other failures of design and governance make them bad places to live?
October 16, 2026
Newsom Signs Bill to Better Align California Transportation Spending With Climate Goals
SB 1087 updates California’s landmark sustainable communities law, strengthening the connection between regional climate plans and transportation investments.
October 15, 2026
Talking Headways Podcast: The Passion Problem in Public Transit
Where should the most enthusiastic supporters of transit try to work?
October 15, 2026
Thursday’s Headlines Are Trouble for Tesla
Autonomous vehicles just can't seem to behave themselves.
October 15, 2026
