Thursday’s Headlines Are Checking Our Mailbox
For that rebate check for buying an e-bike, assuming you live in one of the dozens of cities and states that are now offering incentives.
By
Blake Aued
12:01 AM EDT on August 17, 2023
- More than 20 states have now proposed or rolled out incentives to purchase e-bikes. (Axios)
- NASA is studying why some types of pollution, like ozone and particulates, aren’t leveling off even as transportation emissions are declining. (Smart Cities Dive)
- “Look what you made me do,” cities declared as they — at least temporarily — embraced transit to handle Taylor Swift’s conquering army. (Streetsblog USA)
- Waymo and Cruise have permission from California regulators to charge ahead with driverless taxis in San Francisco, but The Verge says they had better earn trust with cities before proceeding. For example, figuring out how to stop blocking ambulances and fire trucks first?
- Gov. Gavin Newsom is running a shadow foreign policy, using California’s economic might to cut deals with China and others on phasing out gas-powered vehicles and other climate issues where the Biden administration has thus far failed. (Politico)
- An alarming number of Arizona Republicans embraced conspiracy theories about ’15 minute cities’ while opposing a Phoenix referendum on extending a sales tax levy that would have partially gone to light rail. (Mirror)
- Philadelphia finally has permission to pursue a High Line-style trail on a viaduct whose owner has resisted purchase for years. (Inquirer)
- Brightline will know soon whether it’s received a grant for high-speed rail between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. (Review-Journal)
- Seattle is installing three new cameras to catch drivers blocking bus lanes. (Times)
- Proponents of demolishing I-794 in Milwaukee can point to the removal of the Park East spur, which didn’t destroy downtown as predicted. (Urban Milwaukee)
- The Twin Cities’ Metro Transit reported that crime has dropped by more than half this year. (Minnesota Public Radio)
- Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey’s budget doubled funding for regional transit, but advocates say it’s still nowhere near what will be needed in the coming decade or so. (WBUR)
- San Antonio is considering plans to expand its bus rapid transit system. (Texas Public Radio)
- Dayton’s new transportation plan calls for fixing 250 intersections and building more than 100 miles of bikeways, shared-use paths and sidewalks. (Daily News)
- The Morning News details Savannah’s efforts to solicit public input on its Vision Zero plan.
- Boise is adding bike- and pedestrian-friendly improvements to the major thoroughfare of 8th Street. (Idaho Statesman)
- Seattle’s new Bird shared e-bikes passed muster with Seattle Bike Blog.
- Here are CNN‘s favorite e-bikes.
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
Friday Video: Five Bike Advocacy Mistakes You Don’t Even Know You’re Making
For one thing, make sure that political leaders who say "no" to livable streets experience consequences for their decisions.
March 27, 2026
Friday’s Headlines Take a Free Ride
Waymo has remote response teams, but when a robotaxi gets stuck, emergency responders have to get behind the wheel.
March 27, 2026
Despite Spin, Calif.’s Transportation Commission Funded a Lot of Highway Expansion Last Week
The gaslighting is almost as bad as the funding decisions.
March 26, 2026
Talking Headways Podcast: Congestion Pricing Data Collection
New York's congestion pricing data whiz discusses the program's first year.
March 26, 2026
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
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.