Friday’s Headlines Reinvent a Worse Wheel

Because they spend so much time driving without passengers, Uber's Routeshare shuttles won't be much better for traffic or air quality than private cars.

By Blake Aued

12:01 AM EDT on June 6, 2025

Quote Catalog, CC

Yes, Uber's new Routeshare service resembles buses, but it's a version of buses that causes more congestion and creates more pollution. (Grist)
The Federal Highway Administration has removed climate change and DEI from its criteria for bridge grants. (The Trucker)
Salt strewn on Northern roads to keep them from freezing is causing mass die-offs in rivers. (Washington Post)
Andrew Miller doesn't think robotaxis will replace private car ownership. (Changing Lanes)
Trump says he's pulling $4 billion in funding for California high-speed rail. (Los Angeles Times)
In Bakersfield, a grand jury took the highly unusual step of investigating the city's bike lane installations and accusing it of being "biased toward bicycles." (CalBike)
Memphis city council members are proposing to slash the city transit agency's $30 million in half. (MLK50)
Progressive Democrats in Oregon want to tax gas and cars to expand transit, make school routes safer and subsidize electric vehicles, buses and bikes. (Capital Chronicle)
The Trump administration is threatening to withhold Michigan's transportation funding unless it changes its immigration and diversity policies. (MLive)
Almost 80 percent of Miami residents support expanding the Metromover. (Herald)
Boston mayoral candidate Josh Kraft's first TV ad attacks incumbent Michelle Wu's support for bike lanes. (CBS News)
A Massachusetts bill would allow cities to install automated cameras to catch speeders and red-light runners. (WGBH)
Austin is now fining drivers for blocking bike lanes and EV chargers. (KXAN)
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson wants to tax the "ultra-rich" to avert massive transit cuts. (Sun-Times)
Philadelphia will eliminate a car lane on 47th street to make room for bikes. (Voice)
A Virginia man was charged with vandalism for drawing a crosswalk at a dangerous intersection. (The Guardian)
An Indianapolis nonprofit is training stakeholders on traffic safety. (Capital Chronicle)
CNU Public Square highlights the revitalization of Providence's Westminster Street.
African cities are building cycle tracks and starting bikeshares. (UNEP)
The UK's Labour government announced a plan to spend more than $15 billion on transit projects. (BBC)