Friday’s Headlines Want Real Complete Streets
Memo to DOTs: Complete streets is a process and a way of thinking, not a highway with some paint slapped on it for bikes.
By
Blake Aued
12:00 AM EDT on April 21, 2023
- The term “complete streets” is being co-opted to greenwash highway projects. Slapping a sidewalk and a painted bike lane on a high-speed road doesn’t make it safe. (Smart Growth America)
- Cracking down on fare evasion widens inequality gaps and isn’t a very cost-effective way of raising revenue. (City Lab)
- Community engagement and funding are the two key ingredients in safer streets. (Smart Cities Dive)
- Cargo bikes are the future of urban transportation. (Momentum Mag)
- The success of a bus-only lane and protected bike lane in downtown Culver City shows that Los Angeles doesn’t have to be ruled by cars. (L.A. Times)
- Officials at the Charlotte Area Transit System knew about maintenance and other problems before a May derailment. (Axios)
- Phoenix-area cities are working on a Plan B in case light-rail-hating Republicans scuttle plans to renew a transportation sales tax. (Axios)
- E-scooter ridership in Portland is up even as the program is in flux and cycling has declined. (Bike Portland)
- The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority is bringing on-demand transit to the Philadelphia suburbs that’s cheaper than Uber or Lyft. (NBC 10)
- A Boston suburb with a fare-free transit system will keep fares at zero for another year. Worcester’s transit system is also the only one in the state with a higher ridership than before the pandemic. (MassLive)
- Huntsville, Alabama, wants to eliminate traffic deaths by 2055. (Rocket City Now)
- The head of the France’s state-owned railway company wants to tax road and air travel to pay for a 100 billion-Euro expansion of the national rail system. (Rail Tech)
- This South Florida alligator must be a New York City transplant, because it told drivers, “Hey, I’m walkin’ here!” (NBC Miami)
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
Steal This Idea: ‘Emergency Streets’ Strategy Gets First Real-World Pilot
The city of Spokane moved quickly to close a lane at the site where an 18-year-old motorcyclist died in a single-vehicle collision just a few days prior.
October 1, 2026
Friday’s Headlines Pollute the Air and Pay for the Privilege
President Trump wants to accelerate climate change and force motorists to spend more on gas all at the same time.
October 1, 2026
NYC Amazon Delivery Drivers Routinely Speed, Block Bus And Bike Lanes
Amazon delivery drivers have violated traffic laws for years, with little accountability.
September 30, 2026
Wednesday’s Headlines Remain Deadly by Design
Congress should tie transportation funding to measurable improvements in safety, says Transportation for America.
September 30, 2026
Op-Ed: The Problem with Trump’s DC Golf Course Takeover Isn’t What You Think
Many advocates of walkable communities loathe urban golf courses. One urbanist argues that with good policy, his DC course can be the exception to the rule — if the Trump administration doesn't ruin it.
September 30, 2026
