Streetsblog

Friday’s Headlines Want Peace and Quiet

Who wants to wear headphones in their own house? Well, if you live on a busy street and are worried about your blood pressure, you might want to.

By Blake Aued

12:00 AM EDT on March 24, 2023

Henry Be, CC

Traffic will raise your blood pressure — and it’s the noise, not just the stress or the pollution. (CNN)
A group of U.S. representatives is reintroducing a tax incentive for e-bikes that failed back in 2021. (Bicycling)
Car website Jalopnik acknowledges that we can’t electrify our way out of the climate crisis unless those EVs have two wheels.
Transit agencies are not making it easy to pay fares using newfangled methods like card taps. (Washington Post)
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg might be the last guy who still believes in “smart cities,” and the U.S. DOT is betting $94 million on it. (The Verge)
Even a minor wreck could lead insurance companies to total electric vehicles because there’s no way to assess damage to the battery. (Automotive News)
Former New York transit official Andy “Train Daddy” Byford is joining Amtrak. (Streetsblog NYC)
Despite a Chicago hardware store’s claims, studies have proven that bike lanes are good for business. (Chicago Mag; Streetsblog NYC)
The city of Oakland is calling transit violence what it is and making street safety a budget priority. (Oaklandside)
The Atlanta city council ordered an audit after the Metro Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority scaled back a number of voter-approved transit projects. (Smart Cities Dive)
A downtown tunnel is the best option for Seattle’s planned light rail expansion. (Seattle Transit Blog)
The Maine DOT is investing in vibrant, walkable downtowns like Bangor. (Government Technology)
NASCAR is better than a lot of cities at punishing drivers who park in a no-parking zone. (Fox News)
This is why cities should be responsible for clearing sidewalks. (The Onion)