Thursday’s Headlines Taste Great and Are Less Filling
Is shooting for "car-lite" cities a more realistic goal than "car-free"? One author thinks so. Either way, new evidence suggests that less exposure to emissions lowers the risk of asthma.
By
Blake Aued
12:42 AM EDT on May 16, 2024
- In his new book “Bicycle City,” Dan Piatkowski argues for going “car-lite” as a more realistic and achievable goal than car-free cities. (Planetizen)
- Children born in a low-emission zone are 13 percent less likely to have asthma, according to a new German study. (Medical Xpress)
- Electrifying the nation’s bus fleet would produce massive environmental and health benefits, a Carnegie Mellon study says. (Streetsblog USA)
- Even back in the 1950s, urbanist Jane Jacobs was an avid cyclist and an early critic of American car culture. (Common Edge)
- The Brookings Institute has a new hub to track federal infrastructure grants.
- Streetsblog alum Angie Schmitt wrote an eyewitness account of a Greyhound passenger attacking a bus driver. (Unpopular Opinions)
- The National Highway Safety Administration opened an investigation into Waymo after one of its driverless cars was caught on video in San Francisco swerving into oncoming traffic to avoid a unicyclist. (Jalopnik)
- A study found that Massachusetts transit agencies need better funding and more rural service (New Hampshire Public Radio, Commonwealth Beacon).
- Despite Austin’s opposition to widening I-35, a regional planning board dominated by suburban counties voted against freezing funding for the project. (KUT)
- Houston turned a massive parking lot into a 37-acre park that also helps with stormwater drainage. (Fast Company)
- A new task force report reveals the contradiction between building new highways and Minnesota’s carbon emissions goals. (MinnPost)
- An Indianapolis city councilor is introducing Vision Zero legislation. (WISH-TV)
- Seattle’s first fully protected intersection is now open. (Seattle Bike Blog)
- The Omaha streetcar’s design is 90 percent complete, and the city placed an order for six cars. (3 News Now)
- Connecticut’s e-bike rebate program could move to a lottery system, as there were 6,400 applications for just 470 vouchers last year. (Government Technology)
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
Why BUILD America 250 Would Be Uniquely Bad For Passenger Rail
Congress' first draft of the new infrastructure law would be a massive step backwards for passenger rail, one advocacy group says — and not just because the last one raised the bar.
May 27, 2026
Wednesday’s Headlines Missed an Opportunity
The BUILD America 250 Act is headed for a House vote, and it looks like more of the status quo for federal transportation funding.
May 27, 2026
California Climate Funding Fight Pits Transit and Housing Advocates Against Oil Industry Giveaways
In a time when global events are sceaming, "WE NEED TO MOVE AWAY FROM FOSSIL FUELS," California considers a measure to cut transit (and affordable housing) funding to reduce oil prices.
May 26, 2026
Tuesday’s Headlines Have Long COVID
More on transit and passenger rail's slow recovery from the pandemic.
May 26, 2026
How Phoenix’s ‘Invisible’ Parking Lots Are Making Its Heat Problems Worse
How did parking lots swallow one of America's hottest cities — and make it even hotter?
May 26, 2026