Today's Headlines

Thursday’s Headlines Issue a Recall

Tesla is being forced to send a message about the limits of misleadingly named technologies like "Full Self Driving."

By Blake Aued

12:01 AM EST on December 14, 2023

Surprise! An electric car that stays in a garage while its owner drives their other, gas-powered vehicle isn't any help to the planet. Photo: Steve Jurvetson, CC

Tesla is being forced to recall nearly all of its cars to issue new software updates that remind drivers not to over-rely on their “Autopilot” and “Full Self Driving” features, because those technologies don’t really do what their names suggest. (CNN)
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is exploring ways to require automakers to install technology in cars that prevents drivers from getting behind the wheel while drunk, which could save 10,000 lives each year. (Washington Post)
The Verge has a rundown on different types of bike lanes and how to get them built.
When spending federal infrastructure funds, leaders should learn lessons from past freeway construction that divided cities and harmed Black communities, according to a new Smart Growth American report. (Governing)
Several recent stories detail how transit agencies are facing the fiscal cliff, including the possibility of higher fares and station closures in Washington, D.C. (Post), an upcoming transit tax referendum in suburban Atlanta (Center Square) and potential service cuts in Des Moines (Axios).
Seattle is considering a $200 monthly “mobility wallet” to help low-income residents with transportation costs. (Cities Today)
The Utah DOT released plans for the $945 million Point of the Mountain light rail project. (KSL)
Louisville received a $12.5 million grant for street safety improvements in the Old Louisville neighborhood. (Courier-Journal)
New zoning in Denver will make Colfax Avenue friendlier to pedestrians. (Denverite)
The Austin city council committed $15 million for design work on a cap and “stitches” across I-35. (Monitor)
Outgoing Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner is optimistic about Vision Zero as traffic deaths are trending down for the second year in a row. (Hoodline)
But the high death toll continues in Michigan, where lawmakers are calling for more traffic enforcement, whether with cameras or by police. (Advance)
San Diego passed a Complete Streets policy, but bike advocates worry that developers will be able to get around it. (Reader)
A Stanford student thinks the campus bike shop is “pathetic,” and that the university should do more to prevent bike thefts. (Review)
Public art in transit stations documents Dallas’ history. (Morning News)