Thursday’s Headlines Are Circling the Block
As Donald Shoup told us almost 20 years ago, there's no such thing as free parking. But it is hard to find, even in a country with a billion spaces.
By
Blake Aued
12:00 AM EDT on May 4, 2023
- The cost of “free” parking seeps into everything, from rent to concert tickets. (Washington Post)
- In a country with more than a billion parking spaces, why is it so hard to find one? Henry Grabar has theories: Parking is usually free, it’s too hard to find, and very little of it is shared. (Slate)
- More reviews of Grabar’s new book, “Paved Paradise: How Parking Explains the World.” (City Lab, Resilience)
- GrubHub is offering e-bike credits to 500 New York City delivery workers. (Smart Cities Dive)
- Bike lanes play a crucial role in the future of sustainable transportation. (Momentum Mag)
- The suburbs aren’t all as bad for biking as some people think. (Outside)
- D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s car-friendly changes to plans for K Street undercuts her opposition to raiding the project to fund fare-free transit. (Washington City Paper)
- A new cap-and-trade emissions program in Washington state will cut pollution and help fund transit as well. (Governing)
- A Republican bill in the Wisconsin state assembly would prohibit Milwaukee from using sales tax dollars to expand its streetcar. (WTMJ)
- Denver is reducing the speed limit on local streets to 20 miles per hour. (CBS News)
- Des Moines city council members want to see a more aggressive Vision Zero plan. (Register)
- Curbside dining is here to stay in Baltimore. (Sun)
- Record numbers of people used Kansas City’s streetcar and e-scooters during the NFL Draft. (Fox 4)
- Almost 100 years before Rosa Parks, a Black man integrated New Orleans streetcars — at least for a while. (Mississippi Today)
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
What Would It Take to Get ‘Fast, Free Buses’ Nationwide?
It might sound crazy — but is it crazy enough to work, even as governments take aim at steep transit cuts?
September 21, 2026
The Five Questions Every Community Should Ask Itself Before It Debuts a New Bike Path
…or plaza, or transit route, or any other investment in public space
September 21, 2026
Monday’s Headlines Are Overall Country, Overall Clean
Rural communities can hardly support transit as it is, and they'll be hurt worst by Republicans' transportation bill.
September 21, 2026
Friday Video: Why America Hates Bikes (And How to Make It Love Them)
Two of our favorite YouTubers teamed up for a great explainer on the history of anti-bike bias in the United States.
September 18, 2026
Friday’s Headlines Put the Pedal to the Metal
Oh, wait, there are no pedals? Let me try to pull up the brakes on this touchscreen.
September 18, 2026