Who’s to Blame for Tuesday’s Headlines?
Are the people in this photo inherently "vulnerable", or is this car just dangerous?
By
Blake Aued
12:01 AM EDT on April 30, 2024
- Americans’ growing penchant for ever-bigger, dirtier and more dangerous trucks and SUVs isn’t just a matter of consumer preference. Federal policies that subsidize light trucks and charge tariffs on smaller vehicles from abroad, as well as loopholes in safety standards, are also to blame. (Vox)
- A Governing podcast discusses how administrative barriers and public opinion make traffic-calming measures difficult to implement.
- A new report from the Mineta Transportation Institute examines the cybersecurity threats facing transit. (Transportation Today)
- Rather than talk about how cyclists and pedestrians are “vulnerable,” it’s more accurate to call drivers “dangerous,” a Bike Portland writer argues.
- Houston’s Metropolitan Transit Agency is reducing service on the Silver Line, which could lead to the loss of a federal grant and is unlikely to improve disappointing ridership numbers (Chron).
- Outside Milwaukee, Wisconsin traffic deaths fell by 36 percent between 2002 and 2022. Within the county, they more than doubled. (Wisconsin Public Radio)
- Atlanta formally launched its Vision Zero initiative on Juniper Street, which had 620 crashes over a four-year period. (Rough Draft)
- A rail link from the Orlando Airport to attractions like Disney World would cost $4 billion, according to a new Florida DOT study, which sounds like a lot but is actually less than previous estimates (Trains). Meanwhile, Florida’s Brightline set records for ridership and revenue in March on its Miami-to-Orlando line (Newsweek).
- The first leg of Sound Transit’s 2 Line connecting Eastside Seattle communities opened on Saturday. (Axios)
- San Francisco parking officers say they fear for their safety after being ordered to crack down on parking violations. (CBS News)
- A Chicago watchdog group is calling to consolidate the region’s transit agencies to save money, although transit officials say funding, not structure, is the problem. (Block Club)
- Drivers killed a record 35 people in Missouri road work zones last year. (KCUR)
- Donors from outside the district are pouring money into a Baltimore city council race where the hot-button issue is bike lanes. (Brew)
- Momentum Mag ranks the 30 most picturesque bike routes in the world.
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
Friday Video: Why America Hates Bikes (And How to Make It Love Them)
Two of our favorite YouTubers teamed up for a great explainer on the history of anti-bike bias in the United States.
September 18, 2026
Friday’s Headlines Put the Pedal to the Metal
Oh, wait, there are no pedals? Let me try to pull up the brakes on this touchscreen.
September 18, 2026
Are Brain-Rot Transit Ads Ruining Our Commutes?
Advertisements give transit systems across the country badly-needed revenue. But how much is too much?
September 18, 2026
Thursday’s Headlines Are a Gas, Gas, Gas
Key House Republicans killed an irresponsible, politically motivated bill to suspend the federal gas tax.
September 17, 2026
Traffic Noise Kills 6,330 Americans a Year; We Stopped Counting in 1982
Removing just five decibels of noise from our neighborhoods would save lives. So why aren't we even measuring it, never mind taking action to quiet our streets?
September 17, 2026