Thursday’s Headlines Have an Epiphany
Automakers are starting to realize what Streetsblog has known all along: Many U.S. drivers want a small, inexpensive electric vehicle, but all they're being offered are ginormous cars most of them can't afford.
By
Blake Aued
12:01 AM EDT on August 3, 2023
- The CEO of major automaker Stellantis acknowledged that electric vehicles are too heavy, too expensive and not efficient enough (Car Buzz). Meanwhile, a top Ford executive also admitted that his company’s electric offerings are unaffordable, but he fingered the wrong culprit — according to The American Prospect, it’s Ford’s decision to produce only trucks and SUVs and the fact that prospective buyers are badly underpaid.
- Much like oil, U.S. demand for EV battery minerals has foreign policy consequences. (Politico)
- Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg talked up complete streets during a visit to the University of Illinois. (News-Gazette)
- Uber reported its first-ever profitable quarter. (Forbes)
- Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs signed a compromise bill to put a transportation sales tax extension before metro Phoenix voters this fall (ABC 15). But with Republicans stripping funding for light rail expansion while prioritizing roads, is it really much of a compromise?
- San Francisco is lowering speed limits on 23 streets. (Standard)
- Honolulu bus riders are unhappy that the city transit agency changed some bus routes to accommodate passengers on its newly opened light rail line. (Civil Beat)
- The Southwestern heat wave could have played a role in recent delays on Dallas light rail. (Morning News)
- Trenton officials hope that redesigning State Route 29 will restore access to the Delaware River. (WHYY)
- Cedar Rapids and Iowa City are prioritizing their most vulnerable residents, like immigrants, when making transportation decisions. (The Gazette)
- Meet Boston’s “bicycle mayor,” whose job is to think about equity, inclusion and safety. (WGBH)
- Many Atlanta refugees were never taught how to ride a bike because it was forbidden in their home countries for women and girls. But now they’re learning. (AJC)
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:
More from Streetsblog USA
How DC’s Mayor and Council Chair Thwarted Every Effort to Better Its Streetcar
There are two reasons why D.C. doesn't have the streetcar system it was promised — and their names are Mayor Muriel Bowser and DC Council Chair Phil Mendelson, one urbanist argues.
March 26, 2026
An Ounce of Prevention Is Worth a Pound of Thursday’s Headlines
There's so much the U.S. could have done to insulate residents from spiraling gas prices, other than suspend taxes.
March 26, 2026
Why Cities Need More ‘Agile’ Streets
When projects are routed through a full capital-improvement workflow, solutions tend toward expensive, permanent interventions — not alternatives that might achieve 80 percent of the benefit at 10 percent of the cost.
March 26, 2026
Wednesday’s Headlines Feel Pain at the Pump
High gas prices are likely to persist, and people will be driving less in response.
March 25, 2026
D.C. Advocates Sue To Save Key Bike Lane From Trump Teardown
We previously reported that the Trump administration might soon move to dismantle key cycle tracks in the nation's capital. Unfortunately, we were right.
March 24, 2026
Comments Are Temporarily Disabled
Streetsblog is in the process of migrating our commenting system. During this transition, commenting is temporarily unavailable.
Once the migration is complete, you will be able to log back in and will have full access to your comment history. We appreciate your patience and look forward to having you back in the conversation soon.