Thursday’s Headlines Are Plowing Ahead

Psychologists looked at various personality traits that make people neighborly and found that — shocker — people who bike or walk care more about their community than drivers.

By Blake Aued

12:01 AM EDT on November 2, 2023

Wikimedia Commons

A recent study in the Journal for Environmental Psychology found that cyclists and pedestrians are more interested in the common good, which is not surprising because people on bikes or on foot interact with their surroundings rather than view them through a windshield. (Velo, StreetsblogNYC)
A Republican appropriations bill in the U.S. House would cut Amtrak funding by two-thirds and block more federal grants for California high-speed rail (Trains, Reuters). The White House opposes the bill, which is also unlikely to make it past the Democrat-controlled Senate.
As safety concerns about autonomous vehicles mount, Cruise is suspending all rides without a backup driver, while competitor Waymo is plowing ahead with expansion. (Smart Cities Dive)
Because darkness comes earlier after the time change, November is the most dangerous month for Louisville cyclists, joggers and pedestrians, and that trend applies to the rest of the U.S. of well. (Courier Journal)
New Orleans has the highest per-capita rate of cyclists killed by drivers in the U.S., and Axios mapped all five fatal crashes so far this year.
Two Twin Cities governments reached an agreement on the last of the funding to finally build the long-delayed Green Line. (Construction Dive)
Seattle needs new rail cars soon, or Sound Transit will start running out of space for riders. (Seattle Times)
Kansas City voters will go to the polls next week to decide on renewing a tax that provides a third of the city bus system's funding. (KCUR)
During budget talks, Seattle council members are pushing for more transit ambassadors and a pedestrian-friendly Mount Baker redevelopment plan, but not streetcar funding (The Urbanist). However, the Cultural Connector streetcar could revitalize the city's arts and entertainment district (KUOW).
The Milwaukee streetcar's L-line is now open. (CBS 58)
Winston-Salem officials are walking the streets to see firsthand if they're safe. (Triad C ity Beat)
Madrid now has a way to measure the carbon footprint of public transportation. (Eltis)
A Montreal Gazette columnist took a spill off his bike and wound up in a U.S. hospital, where he was very happy with his treatment — until he saw the bill.