Wednesday’s Headlines Go Small
A new federal rule might finally reverse car bloat. Plus, why can't kei cars come to the U.S.?
By
Blake Aued
1:12 AM EDT on October 9, 2024
- A proposed federal rule requiring automakers to ensure vehicles’ front ends don’t create an excessive risk of pedestrian head injuries could finally force them to scale back gigantic trucks and SUVs. (Slate, Streetsblog USA)
- Europe and Asia are full of cheap microcars that pose less of a threat to cyclists and pedestrians, but regulators won’t allow them in the U.S. (CityLab)
- Hurricane Helene showed that transportation engineers are going to have to plan for more severe weather events, and figure out how to rebuild more quickly. (Wired)
- The federal government will spend almost $19 billion more on roads and bridges in 2025 than it is this year. (Engineering News-Record)
- Electric cars improve health by reducing air pollution, but that doesn’t create nearly the health benefits of walking and biking. (London School of Economics)
- Hillsborough County halted streetcar and bus service in Tampa on Tuesday in preparation for Hurricane Milton. (That’s So Tampa)
- The U.S. Supreme Court denied Uber and Lyft’s appeal of a California ruling requiring them to pay drivers back wages. (Politico)
- A Massachusetts program installs e-bike docks in low-income communities and allows residents to rent bikes for as little as $1 per day. (Fast Company)
- Budget cuts at the Maryland Transit Administration could threaten a federal grant to help replace dozens of aging rail cars. (Baltimore Banner)
- Sound Transit’s new Lynnwood light rail extension is providing a ridership bump for Snohomish County, Washington buses. (The Urbanist)
- Pittsburgh is installing new pedestrian-friendly traffic signals at 35 intersections along the future route of a bus rapid transit line. (Union Progress)
- Construction on a road diet project for Midtown Atlanta’s Spring Street is expected to start within weeks. (Urbanize Atlanta)
- Syracuse is accepting public feedback on a Vision Zero plan. (WRVO)
- At least 35 European cities are in the process of implementing zero-emissions zones. (Cities Today)
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
Wednesday’s Headlines Are Truckin’
Maybe we shouldn't rely so much on diesel to fuel buses or move so much freight by truck.
June 17, 2026
Opinion: AVs Can Do More Than Just Serve People Who Can Afford A Cab
What has emerged is an industry trend that prioritizes hype instead of mobility equity.
June 17, 2026
Tuesday’s Headlines Say C’est la Vie to Equity
Racist transportation planning is perfectly OK with the Trump administration.
June 16, 2026
Safety Last: Under Trump, U.S. Roads Continue To Be ‘Dangerous By Design’
This is nothing to be proud of: Of the 20 most-deadly states in a 2022 report, 19 showed no signs of improvement or became even more dangerous.
June 16, 2026
New York Cyclists Struggle As Illegal Vehicles Flood City Streets
"Better street design" is not "some kind of mystery," says best friend of cyclist Dmytro Stechenko, who was killed in head-on collision with an illegal stand up scooter rider in the May 28 Queensboro Bridge crash.
June 16, 2026
