Thursday’s Headlines Can’t Afford a Car
Cars keep getting more expensive, which is one reason why urbanites are considering ditching their cars for shared modes of transportation.
By
Blake Aued
12:01 AM EDT on July 6, 2023
- A quarter of ride-hailing and bikeshare users are considering getting rid of their private vehicle, according to a McKinsey survey (Smart Cities Dive). One reason is the cost of car ownership — prices for new cars continue to rise, with the average monthly payment now a record $733 (Detroit Free Press)
- Several U.S. cities and states are passing laws requiring that new residential developments be wired for electric vehicle chargers. (The Conversation)
- Even with an influx of state funding, Bay Area transit agencies are still facing a combined $2.5 billion deficit over the next five years, and want to raise bridge tolls to cover it. (Governing)
- Still at an impasse, Arizona lawmakers could take another crack at allowing a referendum on renewing a transportation tax for metro Phoenix this summer. (ABC 15)
- KUT traces how the construction of I-35 in Austin led to sprawl, white flight and worsening air quality.
- Fare-free transit is returning to Colorado this summer. (Rocky Mountain PBS)
- Tampa has lost two top officials in its mobility department over allegations of a hostile workplace. (Tampa Bay Times)
- Seattle found a solution for a waterfront Alaskan Way bike lane that doesn’t interfere with cruise ships docking. (Seattle Times)
- Work has started on two new bike projects in downtown Atlanta. (Atlanta Downtown)
- A proposed third span on Maryland’s Bay Bridge could have bike and pedestrian lanes. (Chesapeake Bay Magazine)
- El Paso might scale back streetcar service so it only runs during special events. (KFOX)
- Copenhagen is Europe’s leader for shared zero-emissions transportation options. (City Monitor)
- Tel Aviv’s new light rail line will open sometime this month. (Jerusalem Post)
- Bologna became the first major Italian city to impose a 30-kilometer-per-hour speed limit. (Euro News)
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
OPINION: U.S. Should Scale Autonomous Vehicles Thoughtfully, Not Slam the Brakes
Streetsblog is skeptical that AVs will move the needle on car dependence. But our recent coverage has spurred many AV boosters to demand equal time. So today, we present one such piece.
July 31, 2026
‘Flock Off’: Mass Surveillance Surge Jeopardizes Lifesaving Crash Reduction Strategy
A surveillance company's controversial business model has made traffic enforcement look bad by association. The effects could cost hundreds of lives.
July 30, 2026
Thursday’s Headlines Are Third Spaces
What happened to the neighborhood pub or indie coffee shop? They became places you drive past rather than walk to.
July 30, 2026
Wednesday’s Headlines Cut to the Bone
Transit and rail only get a small share of the federal highway trust fund as is, and the Trump administration now wants to take away that.
July 29, 2026