- David Zipper in Slate traced the long history of ever-bigger and deadlier pickups and SUVs, from the marketing schemes that convinced the public to ditch station wagons for a more "manly" — and profitable — option to the federal government's disastrous decision to classify them as commercial trucks for fuel efficiency purposes.
- The Boston Globe sounded a similar theme: That we should be rewarding cyclists and pedestrians by slimming down our streets and vehicles alike.
- Europe is light years ahead of the U.S. in terms of discouraging driving, and The Guardian delved into the various strategies cities like Paris, Barcelona and Brussels are using.
- Bus and train operators are facing quite a few challenges, from new technology (Government Tech) to increased violence (Los Angeles Daily News).
- A robust public transportation system is important for many reasons, but especially for people who are physically unable to drive. (Salon)
- Can AI help cities get people out of their cars by modeling driver behavior? (Reuters)
- NBC Washington interviewed the D.C. Metro's general manager about the need for a permanent funding source to fill an anticipated $750 million budget shortfall.
- The Pacific Coast Highway literally has a "Dead Man's Curve," and four Pepperdine students were just the latest to die there. (CNN)
- Developers of a car-free Tempe community are looking to bring their model to other cities, starting with Mesa and perhaps Atlanta next. (City Lab)
- A small Federal Railroad Administration grant has brought new hope for passenger rail connecting Houston and Dallas. (Texas Monthly)
- Billionaire Dan Gilbert could be the one to lead Detroit to the transit promised land. (Michigan Advance)
- The Maryland Transit Administration is tapping Baltimore high school students who rely on public transportation to serve as advisors. (Fishbowl)
- In case you were wondering, some Austin sidewalks are red to indicate that they're shared with bikes and scooters. (KUT)
- John Oliver spent half an hour dunking on Elon Musk. (AV Club)
Today's Headlines
Wednesday’s Headlines Would Like to Downsize
Why are drivers killing more pedestrians than they have since 1981? Blame SUVs, "car bloat," automakers' avarice and feckless federal regulators.
By Blake Aued
Read More:
Stay in touch
Sign up for our free newsletter
More from Streetsblog USA
Opinion: NYC Is Partly To Blame For Failure of Privately Owned Citi Bike After Winter Storm
The Mamdani administration should fine Lyft for falling short of its contractual obligations — and reward it for meeting or surpassing them.
Wednesday’s Headlines Are Back to the Future
Some old Greyhound stations are architectural landmarks. Can they be repurposed?
February 11, 2026
Another Conspiracy Theory, This One Around a Vehicle Miles Tax, Comes to California
"None of this required secret meetings or hidden language in the bill. It only required repetition — and the willingness to treat worst-case hypotheticals as settled fact."
Safe Streets, Workers Rights, Crash Victims Targeted By Big Tech In Super Bowl Ads
Some Super Bowl commercials are ads. And some are warning shots.
This Bill Would Give Your Community More Money To Build Its Own Transportation Future
States monopolize federal transportation funding even though local and regional governments oversee most of our nation's roads. It's time for that to change, a new bill argues.
February 10, 2026
Tuesday’s Headlines Go Car-Free
Here's what cities can do to encourage residents to ditch their cars and cut their carbon footprint.
February 10, 2026
