Tuesday’s Headlines Died by Engineering

The Congress for the New Urbanism wholeheartedly endorses a new book explaining how traffic engineers made up their standards out of thin air.

By Blake Aued

12:34 AM EDT on June 11, 2024

Photo: Transportation for America

Wes Marshall's new book "Killed by a Traffic Engineer" exposes the pseudoscience behind road design. The technical manuals engineers wrote and follow actually have little basis in fact, according to the former traffic engineer. (CNU Public Square)
Why do fewer women bike than men? An Australian study found that women are more likely to be deterred by darkness, hills or bad weather, among other factors like office dress codes. (The Conversation)
These are top 10 rail projects under construction in 2024, according to Railway Tracks & Structures.
Electric vehicles with a range of 300 miles or more are increasingly available for less than the price of the average gas-powered car. (Inside EVs)
The Federal Highway Administration doesn't have enough money to maintain roads that are falling apart faster due to climate change. (Smart Cities Dive)
Two Carnegie Mellon researchers how robots can serve as street-sweepers or crossing guards without getting in the way of disabled people on the sidewalk. (Futurity)
Instead of a $15 billion improvement plan, New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority is now focused on making sure the system doesn't fall apart now that Gov. Kathy Hochul blocked congestion pricing. (NY Times)
A bill in the Michigan legislature would put $2 billion into transit over the next 10 years (Bridge Detroit). Another one would boost penalties for drivers who kill or injure cyclists and pedestrians (WNEM)
The increasingly congested Lake Tahoe region is planning a network of walking and biking trails. (Nevada Today)
The mayor of Rochester, New York outlined a 10-point Vision Zero plan. (Rochester First)
One small Texas town is developing a sidewalk plan so that residents don't have to walk in the streets. (CBS Austin)
Seattle Bike Blog approves of bikeshare Lime's new e-bikes.
Paris is using the Summer Olympics as an opportunity to promote cargo bike delivery. (Momentum Mag)
Belgium is rewriting its highway code so that it no longer caters to motorists. (Global Cycling Network)