Tuesday’s Happy New Year Headlines
The feds' new guide for traffic engineers places a higher priority on safety than in the past, but still focuses too much on drivers moving fast.
By
Blake Aued
12:01 AM EST on January 2, 2024
- The latest version of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices — which state and local engineers use to design roads — places a higher priority on safety, but not enough for many advocates. (NPR)
- Twenty-one states have joined a lawsuit against the U.S. DOT challenging the Biden administration’s requirement that states establish plans to reduce transportation emissions. (MSN)
- Starting this month, electric vehicle buyers will get an instant rebate rather than having to wait to claim the $7,500 federal credit on their tax returns. (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
- E-scooter company Superpedestrian went out of business due to a combination of COVID, onerous city requirements, lack of marketing and a flood of venture capital cash that led to staffing bloat. (Tech Crunch)
- Florida Democrats are urging Gov. Ron DeSantis to accept $320 million from the federal government to reduce carbon emissions. (Transportation Today)
- New California laws that took effect Jan. 1 set up pilot programs for automated speed programs in six cities and banned parking near crosswalks. (CBS News)
- Austin has built 56 miles of sidewalks since a 2016 bond issue, but 1,500 miles of gaps remain. (KXAN)
- Lexington, Kentucky leaders are recognizing that the city has to become car-optional to prevent pedestrian deaths (WKYT). Louisville is also looking for solutions to a spike in traffic fatalities (Louisville Public Media).
- Allegheny County, Pennsylvania is expanding a discount fare program for low-income residents. (Trib Live)
- Two new transit lines and 12 light rail stations are opening in Seattle this year. (The Urbanist)
- Denver “Bike Mayor” June Churchill helped secure $1 million from the city for transportation safety. (Denverite)
- This Houston constable deputy doesn’t even bike, but he’s known as the “Bike Whisperer” because of his knack for finding stolen cycles. (Houston Landing)
- Momentum Mag listed its top cycling gear and bike guide stories of 2023.
Blake Aued has been doing Streetsblog's daily national news digest for years. He's also an Atlanta Braves fan, which enrages his editor in New York.
Read More:
Streetsblog has migrated to a new comment system. New commenters can register directly in the comments section of any article. Returning commenters: your previous comments and display name have been preserved, but you'll need to reclaim your account by clicking "Forgot your password?" on the sign-in form, entering your email, and following the verification link to set a new password — this is required because passwords could not be carried over during the migration. For questions, contact tips@streetsblog.org.
More from Streetsblog USA
Study: The Missing Ingredient in the Fight To End Car Crash Deaths is… Fewer Cars
The common denominator in every car crashes is a car. So why don't we talk about it?
October 27, 2026
Op-Ed: Toronto’s Bike Lane Fight Should Be a Wake Up Call for the US, Too
The people of Toronto have shown up big to protect their bike lanes from removal. Will Americans stand with them?
October 27, 2026
Six Days on the Road and Tuesday’s Headlines May Not Make It Home Tonight
Jalopnik points out that there are certain vehicles that average people have no business driving.
October 27, 2026
Why Deadly, Illegal E-Motos Are On The Rise – And Why E-Bikes Are Being Blamed When They Crash
...and what we can do to protect our kids *and* the e-bike revolution.
October 26, 2026
Monday’s Great Smokey Headlines
While other countries work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the U.S. is moving in the opposite direction.
October 26, 2026
