Wednesday’s Headlines Are Too Fast, Too Furious

When it comes to speeding, why don't regulators and automakers save drivers from themselves?

By Blake Aued

12:24 AM EST on November 29, 2023

When it comes to speeding, why don’t regulators and automakers save drivers from themselves?

|Dennis Wilkinson, CC

After last weekend's fiery crash at Niagara Falls, Slate wonders why anyone is allowed to own a vehicle that can go 175 miles per hour. If the National Transportation Safety Board had its way, cars would be equipped with speed governors. (Fast Company)
Global emissions from motor vehicles fell by four percent between 2010 and 2022, but they would have fallen 30 percent without the trend toward bigger trucks and SUVs, according to a new study. (The Guardian)
The key argument against car dependency is one of fairness, according to a London School of Economics scholar. Advocates should focus on how reforms meet basic needs and against the perception that something is being taken away.
The Washington Post interviewed rails-to-trails advocate Ryan Chao about the opportunities presented by turning abandoned rail infrastructure into spaces for walking and biking.
Mixed-use, compact development that discourages driving is dependent on well-connected street grids, according to a new study. (CNU Public Square)
MinnPost takes issue with a recent Minneapolis Star Tribune editorial on light rail safety, arguing that turnstiles are unfeasible and Metro Transit should use human fare checkers instead.
Nashville is shooting for another transit referendum in November 2024. (Scene)
Post-pandemic, the San Diego trolley is the busiest light rail line in the U.S. with 34 million riders last year. (Axios)
Honolulu has worked out a deal with the Federal Transit Administration to free up the final $125 million for a long-delayed light rail line. (Civil Beat)
With 66 traffic deaths so far this year, Portland is on a record pace. (KOIN)
With nearly 400,000 residents, Arlington, Texas, is the largest city in the U.S. without any form of fixed-route mass transit. (Fort Worth Report)
Utility Austin Energy is doubling its e-bike rebate program. (Monitor)
Charlotte is reopening dedicated bus lanes on Independence Boulevard. (Queen City News)
Construction has started on Oklahoma City's first protected bike lane. (The Oklahoman)
The New York Times ran a feature on Peachtree City, the Atlanta suburb where everyone gets around by golf cart.
This Toronto wedding was truly a streetcar named desire. (Yahoo)