Tuesday’s Headlines Will Never Take Your Freedom
What's really more freeing? Being able to walk wherever you need to go, or being able to hop in a car and sit in traffic?
By
Blake Aued
12:00 AM EDT on April 25, 2023
- Cars symbolize freedom in American culture, but despite the conspiracy theories around 15-minute cities, what’s really freeing is being able to quickly walk or bike to wherever you need to be instead of wasting hours stuck in traffic. (The New Republic)
- Environmentalism has historically meant opposing development, but now it’s time for the green movement to embrace YIMBYism, writes climate change activist Bill McKibben. (Mother Jones)
- Harper’s excerpted part of friend of Streetsblog Henry Grabar’s new book “Paved Paradise,” about how parking literally drives Americans insane.
- An e-bike skeptic has seen the light. (Digital Trends)
- Poorly paid delivery drivers have to deal with assaults and harassment, and often can’t even find a place to use the restroom. (City Lab)
- A new U.S. DOT program will help communities apply for transportation and land-use grants. (Governing)
- Nevada’s Republican lieutenant governor is right that carpool lanes don’t work, but for the wrong reasons. (Independent)
- Portland won a $2 million federal grant for emissions-free delivery zones. (Bike Portland)
- Has anyone really vetted Atlanta’s decision to spend $230 million on the Beltline streetcar extension over other projects in the city’s transit pipeline? (AJC)
- The Los Angeles Times editorial board urges Culver City not to abandon its ambitious street safety program.
- Arnold Schwarzenegger thought he had terminated this L.A. pothole before it could become a danger to cyclists. (Momentum Mag) Unfortunately, it was actually a utility trench. (NPR)
- Tokyo has done more than any other city to get people out of cars. (Heat Map)
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
‘Our Roads Are More Than Just Highways’: Democrats Urge U.S. Senate to Fund Transit Programs
A Trump administration proposal recommends massive cuts to popular programs – and it will cost American communities more than they can afford, Senate Democrats say.
May 14, 2026
Thursday’s Headlines Pump It Up
Until you can feel it (gas prices, that is). But you don't really need it (suspending gas taxes).
May 14, 2026
Study: Trump’s Transit Proposal Would Cost the Country So Many Jobs — And Not Just in Cities
... but an increase in funding would be a job-creating juggernaut.
May 13, 2026
Wednesday’s Headlines Are Bought and Paid For
The Union of Concerned Scientists explains how the highway lobby keeps so many of us in our cars.
May 13, 2026
Opinion: It’s Time to Rethink Our Congestion Obsession
Policymakers constantly suggest that we need to spend billions of dollars and bulldoze countless acres of land to fix traffic jams. But do we?
May 13, 2026