Tuesday’s Headlines Have Gone Country

Safe and sustainable transportation isn't just an urban issue: The one-fifth of Americans who live in rural areas — a more diverse group than commonly realized — account for half of all traffic deaths.

By Blake Aued

12:01 AM EDT on August 1, 2023

Disability Mobility Initiative|

Image description: An African American woman wearing a pink sundress walks along a rural road using a white cane. Via Disability Mobility Initiative *Note on Image Descriptions: The authors of the report from which these images are sourced asked their interviewees to describe themselves and anything they wanted to include about their identities for the […]

People in rural communities are just as likely to walk as urban residents if they have safe and accessible options, according to a new Smart Growth America report. About 1 million rural U.S. households lack a car, and for them it's challenging to visit the doctor or go shopping.
A driver killed 17-year-old U.S. cycling team member Magnus White while he was biking near his home in Boulder. (ESPN)
Bills to regulate self-driving cars have been languishing in Congress for six years. (The Verge)
The New York Times blames e-bike riders for getting run over by drivers. (Electrek)
The Washington Post editorial board supports D.C. using cameras to enforce traffic laws.
Metro San Diego's top transportation planner is leaving after five years in which he pushed for transit expansion and measures to cut traffic congestion. (Union-Tribune)
Also from the Post: Northern Virginia's Fairfax County is considering reducing minimum parking requirements to encourage affordable housing and limit stormwater runoff from parking lots.
Milwaukee streetcar ridership has risen year-over-year for 27 months straight. (Urban Milwaukee)
Seattle residents successfully pushed the city to include more safety improvements when it repaves 15th Avenue NW. (The Urbanist)
Pittsburgh is looking to lower costs for property owners to repair sidewalks by having city crews do the work instead of private contractors. (Trib Live)
A Greater Portland bus rapid transit line will feature service every 10 to 20 minutes. (Maine Public)
Despite being nicknamed the Motor City, Detroit has a strong biking culture. (Michigan Radio)
A new Tempe development is the first car-free neighborhood in the U.S. (Momentum Mag)