Thursday’s Headlines Are Down on the Corner, Out in the Street

Bring a nickel, tap your feet as you avoid having to get into your car to drive out to the big-box strip mall.

By Blake Aued

1:03 AM EDT on October 3, 2024

Creative Commons

Corner stores are making a comeback as cities roll back exclusionary zoning policies. That's key to reducing auto dependency, because people aren't going to walk if they don't have anywhere to walk to. (CityLab)
An advisor to President Biden spoke at the recent Climate Week conference about the health benefits of decarbonizing transportation. (Smart Cities Dive)
A new study produced scientific evidence that people are less likely to walk during heat waves, which are becoming more frequent and severe due to climate change. (Cities)
Consolidation in the railroad industry has resulted in more extremely long freight trains that delay Amtrak trains on shared tracks, block pedestrian crossings and are more likely to derail. (Boondoggle)
Sound Transit is moving ahead with the West Seattle Link Extension despite cost estimates jumping by about $3 billion. (The Urbanist)
Milwaukee drivers could now see jail time if they're convicted of reckless driving repeatedly. (WISN)
A loophole in California law has long meant that autonomous vehicles, lacking a driver, can't be ticketed. A new law allows police to issue the manufacturer a "notice of noncompliance," but it's unclear what happens after that. (NBC Bay Area)
The first draft of a new Pittsburgh bus route map prioritizes more frequent service along popular routes. (WESA)
A construction industry-funded poll in Maryland found that two-thirds of voters want to spend more on roads, but only a third want to spend more on transit. (Maryland Matters)
Hurricane Francine knocked at least 80 New Orleans bikeshare bikes out of service, and now less than a third of Blue Bikes bikes are actually available to ride. (WWNO)
Less than half of Europeans drive on a daily basis, while 40 percent take transit, according to a study of 83 cities. (Euronews)
Straphanger writes about staying in a car-free Swiss village where residents get around by e-bike, electric bus, gondola and even a self-service funicular.