Friday’s Headlines Will Be There in 15 Minutes
We promise: Whether you live in a 15-minute city or a 20-minute suburb, you will be allowed to leave.
By
Blake Aued
12:01 AM EST on January 12, 2024
- The popular idea of the 15-minute city isn’t writ in stone. In some cases, maybe it’s better to aim for the 20-minute suburb, writes New Urbanism cofounder Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk (CNU Public Square). Then again, that might get some pushback, since UK ministers are already setting transportation policy based on 15-minute conspiracy theories (The Guardian).
- This New York Times Magazine story does a good job of explaining how kinetic energy — vehicle mass and speed — contributes to the carnage of traffic deaths U.S. But it puts too much emphasis on driver agency and traffic enforcement, and not enough on street design.
- State DOTs could save thousands of lives and billions of dollars if they focused on other modes of transportation beyond driving. (RMI)
- Everything is really bigger in Texas, including the traffic. Five of the 10 most congested cities in the U.S. are in the Lone Star State. (Austin American-Statesman)
- To an architect, pedestrian bridges are “symbols of ingenuity and connectivity.” (Arch Daily) But why is it that people on foot are the ones who have to go out of their way, and not drivers?
- The planned expansion of I-94 in Milwaukee is now the subject of a federal civil rights investigation. (Wisconsin Public Radio)
- Washington, D.C, drivers are racking up tickets and killing people with impunity, so the city council is getting serious about cracking down on speeders. (WTOP)
- A proposed California law would finally give cities like San Francisco the ability to regulate robotaxis. (San Francisco Standard)
- Recent art festivals that temporarily doubled Miami Beach’s population laid bare the inadequacies of the region’s transportation infrastructure. (Dezeen)
- Looking to start biking in 2024? Here are Momentum Mag‘s picks for the best bikes in the $500 price range.
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
Wednesday’s Headlines Are Truckin’
Maybe we shouldn't rely so much on diesel to fuel buses or move so much freight by truck.
June 17, 2026
Opinion: AVs Can Do More Than Just Serve People Who Can Afford A Cab
What has emerged is an industry trend that prioritizes hype instead of mobility equity.
June 17, 2026
Tuesday’s Headlines Say C’est la Vie to Equity
Racist transportation planning is perfectly OK with the Trump administration.
June 16, 2026
Safety Last: Under Trump, U.S. Roads Continue To Be ‘Dangerous By Design’
This is nothing to be proud of: Of the 20 most-deadly states in a 2022 report, 19 showed no signs of improvement or became even more dangerous.
June 16, 2026
New York Cyclists Struggle As Illegal Vehicles Flood City Streets
"Better street design" is not "some kind of mystery," says best friend of cyclist Dmytro Stechenko, who was killed in head-on collision with an illegal stand up scooter rider in the May 28 Queensboro Bridge crash.
June 16, 2026
