Wednesday’s Headlines Are in a Good Place
How should we react to public indifference about the danger cars pose to society? Perhaps a sitcom has something to teach us.
By
Blake Aued
12:01 AM EDT on July 24, 2024
- Planetizen uses the hit TV comedy “The Good Place” to explore the ethics of urban planning and car dependency.
- Cities that are reforming their parking laws are a diverse group that’s growing exponentially. (Parking Reform Network)
- The U.S. added 700 public fast-charging stations in the second quarter of this year, bringing the total to 9,000. At this rate, charging stations will outnumber gas stations by 2030. (Bloomberg)
- Electric vehicles can be part of the power grid and essentially serve as generators during natural disasters. (Slate)
- Concrete bollards are better at protecting cyclists than flimsy flexposts that drivers can easily mow down, according to Pittsburgh City Paper.
- Almost 40 cities have raised their People for Bikes city bike scores by at least 20 points since 2020, with Minneapolis and St. Paul making the biggest leaps.
- The New York Times talked to Uber and Lyft drivers — but not any cyclists, pedestrians or transit riders, of course — about why traffic in the city is getting worse.
- Dallas-area transit riders are pushing back against potential cuts from cities that want to cut their contribution to the regional transit agency. (KERA)
- Austin officials hope a $48 million EPA grant can alleviate the worst environmental effects of widening I-35. (Monitor)
- Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles) had $200 million removed from the U.S. DOT budget for the Inglewood people mover, but the funding could be restored. (Daily Breeze)
- L.A. received a $139 million federal grant to improve public transportation before the 2028 Olympics. (Spectrum News)
- Salt Lake City council members aren’t sold on Mayor Erin Mendenhall’s vision for the Green Loop, a linear park with walking and biking trails similar to the Atlanta Beltline. (Tribune)
- Canada’s historic $30 billion investment in transit won’t cover operating costs, which are transit agencies’ biggest need. (National Observer)
- A Cycling UK survey found that 70 percent of respondents want the new Labor government to invest more in bike lanes. (The Guardian)
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: What Your Refrigerator Can Teach You About Saving Lives on the Roads
Refrigerator door alarms stop us from accidentally spoiling our groceries. Why should't infrastructure stop us from killing each other?
May 8, 2026
E-Bikes And Scooters Are Getting Even Safer In Europe: Data
Injury rates for e-bike and scooter users are plummeting in Europe even as the use of those devices has exploded since 2021.
May 8, 2026
Friday’s Headlines Slow-Play Their Transit Hand
The Trump administration is once again sitting on billions of dollars earmarked for transit projects.
May 8, 2026
New D Line Subway Will Change How Angelenos Get Around
Who plans to ride the D Line when it opens tomorrow? Read all about how great the new Metro D Line subway extension will be.
May 7, 2026
New Website Helps You Navigate the Route to a Car-Lite or Car-Free Lifestyle
A new tool is nudging Chicagoans onto two wheels.
May 7, 2026