- If U.S. officials can ever get over their fear of backlash from drivers, psychology and experience from European cities shows that restricting cars in cities will eventually become popular (BBC). London is an example, where the city is tearing up financial district roadways to turn them into bike lanes and pedestrian spaces (City Lab).
- Poor public transit is a barrier to health care, according to a new CDC report. (Johns Hopkins)
- Greater Greater Washington picks apart the New York Times' argument that distracted drivers are to blame for the rise in pedestrian deaths, rather than road design.
- The American trend toward bigger, heavier and deadlier SUVs is spreading to Europe. (The Guardian)
- The latest "driverless" cars actually do have drivers. They're just piloting the vehicles remotely like a drone or a video game. (New Atlas)
- All it took was a few Jersey barriers to drop drivers' speeds by six miles per hour on one Indianapolis street. (WFYI)
- Now that it's three-quarters finished, Minneapolis officials don't expect any more surprise cost increases for the Southwest light rail line. (MinnPost)
- Detroit is boosting frequency on one of its most popular east-west bus lines. (Freep)
- Double-tracking to boost passenger rail capacity along Lake Michigan's south shore is almost complete. (Northwest Indiana Business Magazine)
- Valley Metro's new light rail line opens Saturday. (Fox 10 Phoenix)
- There's still hope for rail service connecting New Orleans and Baton Rouge. (Engineering News-Record)
- A rat — or was it a squirrel? — went splat on a Chicago sidewalk's wet concrete, and now it's a tourist attraction. (NPR)
Today's Headlines
Thursday’s Headlines Plunge Ahead
Cities shouldn't be afraid of restricting cars. If they do, most people will not only get over it, they'll embrace it.
By Blake Aued
A car-free street in Tokyo.
Read More:
Stay in touch
Sign up for our free newsletter
More from Streetsblog USA
Friday’s Headlines Back the Bikes
Setting aside the fact that bike lanes don't make traffic worse, resisting bikelash on busy roads is essential to creating a useable network.
April 18, 2025
Does Driver’s Ed Really Make Roads Safer?
States like Georgia are taking a critical look at their drivers education programs — but some say the whole concept of driver's ed deserves scrutiny.
April 18, 2025
Friday Video: Ken Jennings Has a Web Series About Transit!
Jeopardy's host and most famous player is a big fan of the bus — and he's helping educate his fellow Washingtonians about why they should be, too.
Talking Headways Podcast: The Pacific Circuit
Alexis Madrigal connects containerization to globalization and its direct impacts on one Oakland neighborhood.
Thursday’s Headlines Wonder Why
Why are drivers killing so many pedestrians? Governing magazine has a number of familiar theories.
April 17, 2025
