Wednesday’s Headlines Go Small
Some carmakers like Ford have finally realized it's in their interest to sell smaller electric vehicles. But will drivers buy them, and will Republicans ever accept them?
By
Blake Aued
12:34 AM EDT on August 28, 2024
- Ford is shifting toward smaller electric vehicles with lighter batteries, but will the SUV-loving American public buy them? (The Atlantic; paywall)
- Republicans continue to rail against electric vehicles even though EVs align with many GOP objectives, like low fuel costs, lower taxes and energy independence. (Motor Trend)
- U.S. roads take up a ton of valuable land that could be used for housing instead. (Streetsblog USA)
- New York City residents who visited Paris for the Olympics saw firsthand the benefits of encouraging biking over driving. (NY Times)
- Only a third of San Antonio’s bus stops have shelters to shade riders from sweltering heat. (San Antonio Report)
- Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson mentioned the destruction of a Black neighborhood to make way for interstates during a brief DNC speech about the Biden administration’s infrastructure law. (Urban Milwaukee)
- D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser is backing away from a city environmental plan’s goal of cutting car trips nearly in half. (Greater Greater Washington)
- Philadelphia will close some streets to cars every Sunday in September to see how it affects businesses. (WHYY)
- Portland transit agency TriMet is shifting late-night light rail service to buses and making numerous other changes to the system. (Oregonian)
- Houston Metro officials said they’re replacing a damaged sidewalk they removed near a school, which some residents took as another sign of deprioritizing pedestrians. (Chron)
- The Arizona Republic profiles a Phoenix transit worker who was featured in a Kamala Harris campaign video shown at the DNC.
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
Where the Battles Against Harmful Highways and Hyper-Scale Data Centers Collide
Hyperscale AI data centers and highways are both harmful forms of fossil fuel infrastructure that get built without much community input — and it's time to fight back against both, one of our favorite podcasters argues.
September 22, 2026
I Survived the Santa Monica Farmer’s Market Crash
A survivor of a mass casualty reflects on what she's learned about car culture, grief, and resilience.
September 22, 2026
Tuesday’s Headlines Are a Speed Trap
There's a downside to enforcing traffic laws when cities do it to raise revenue rather than to save lives.
September 22, 2026
What Would It Take to Get ‘Fast, Free Buses’ Nationwide?
It might sound crazy — but is it crazy enough to work, even as governments take aim at steep transit cuts?
September 21, 2026
The Five Questions Every Community Should Ask Itself Before It Debuts a New Bike Path
…or plaza, or transit route, or any other investment in public space
September 21, 2026