Wednesday’s Headlines Take the Wheel
It makes no difference whether cars are driven by humans or computers, they're still unsafe and damaging the environment.
By
Blake Aued
12:04 AM EDT on August 30, 2023
- Despite proponent’s promises, autonomous vehicles will not make streets safer, or reduce congestion or pollution. The problem is reliance on cars, not who or what is driving them. (Transportation for America)
- Thirty-seven states are exploring a transition to a vehicle-miles driven tax (Eno Center for Transportation). That’s good, because cost burdens of gas taxes are inequitable, according to new MIT paper.
- Route Fifty compares congestion pricing in Manhattan to a Bay Area proposal to raise bridge tolls to fund transit.
- A writer who uses a wheelchair broke the internet with an essay about being sick of bike lane opponents using disabled people to bolster their arguments. (The Spinoff)
- The Twin Cities’ Met Council is delaying a vote on funding agreements for the Southwest and Blue lines. (Star Tribune)
- Sound Transit is moving forward with an Eastside Seattle light rail line. (425)
- Unhoused people in Phoenix are getting third-degree burns from superhot sidewalks. (The Guardian)
- Milwaukee Magazine takes a deep dive into I-794 and the history of freeway fights in Southeastern Wisconsin.
- Microtransit ridership has nearly doubled in rural Virginia. (Mercury)
- The next U.S. biking paradise is … Northwest Arkansas? (Streetsblog USA)
- Pedestrian deaths are trending upward again in Iowa after dropping from 32 to 17 last year. (The Gazette)
- Santa Clara transit is adding capacity for Beyoncé’s concert tonight (NBC Bay Area). Meanwhile, Charlotte officials lament never extending light rail to concert venue the PNC Pavilion (Axios).
- Lyft CEO David Risher bikes to work every day. (Yahoo! Finance)
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
Friday Video(s): Kidical Mass, Night-Biking in Tokyo, and More
There were great urbanism-adjacent YouTube videos for every taste this week; here are six of our favorites.
April 17, 2026
Look What You Made Friday’s Headlines Do
There are lots of reasons why drivers kill so many pedestrians in the U.S., and Taylor Swift may be one of them.
April 17, 2026
Talking Headways Podcast: Second-Hand E-Bikes Can Be The Way Forward
Upway is helping people, even AOC, get an e-bike.
April 16, 2026
Florida Town Gives New Residents Free Golf Carts to Replace Their Cars
...and recording their highest sales numbers ever.
April 16, 2026
Thursday’s Headlines Shouldn’t Have to Buy a Car
Average Americans are getting priced out of the auto market, which is just another reason to invest in alternatives.
April 16, 2026