Thursday’s Headlines ‘Round About Midnight

Why doesn't the U.S. have more roundabouts? Plus, the growing threat of violence faced by transit workers, and the fallout from Bird's bankruptcy.

By Blake Aued

12:01 AM EST on December 28, 2023

Carmel, Indiana, is among the few U.S. cities investing extensively in roundabouts.

|City of Carmel

Roundabouts are generally safer than signalized intersections, but most parts of the U.S. don't have many, thanks to overzealous engineers and traffic-light salesmen. (Clean Technica)
Assaults on transit workers more than doubled between 2008 and 2021, according to federal data. (NBC News)
The Washington Post's Megan McArdle thinks Bird's bankruptcy may lead to a quasi-monopoly on micromobility for competitor Lime.
The Federal Highway Administration's proposed rules on road worker safety are getting mixed reviews from the construction industry. (Construction Equipment Guide)
Stepped-up traffic enforcement didn't slow the scourge of traffic deaths in Portland this year, which hit a 30-year high of 65 after drivers killed four people on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. (Willamette Week)
Cobb County, Georgia officials are considering a November 2024 referendum on a $12 billion transportation plan, half of which would be devoted to a network of bus rapid transit lines. But is the Atlanta suburb dense enough to support it? (AJC)
An Illinois court ruled that a cyclist who hit a pothole and took a spill can't sue because he wasn't the roadway's "intended" user — motorists are. (Men's Journal)
Baltimore light rail users are reluctant to ride after service was suspended for two weeks for emergency safety inspections. (WBAL)
Houston has updated 5,000 bus stops to meet or exceed the Americans with Disabilities Act's standards. (Mass Transit)
Two Illinois lawmakers make the case for digging Chicago transit agencies out of a looming $730 million budget deficit. (Sun-Times)
Des Moines buses are a lifeline for thousands of workers and students, but service could be cut by 40 percent unless local officials approve a new funding source. (Register)
New Orleans' Blue Bikes bikeshare surpassed 300,000 riders this year. (Biz New Orleans)
Honolulu once had an extensive streetcar system that carried 20 million riders a year until it was replaced by buses and cars. (Civil Beat)