Today's Headlines

Zen and the Art of Tuesday’s Headlines

People need to stop crashing out about the menace posed by electric motorcycles, The Guardian reports.

By Blake Aued

12:01 AM EDT on August 18, 2026

A shared electric moped fleet in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Constantin Müller, CC

Bad press about the threat of e-motorbikes is threatening the broader mobility movement in general, with the fast vehicles getting lumped in with e-scooters and ordinary e-bikes. While some regulation is needed, over-regulation could put the brakes on a fast-growing mobility mode that often replaces driving. Meanwhile, the real threat — cars — gets less media attention. (The Guardian)
The Federal Transit Administration awarded Amtrak $5.3 billion for 43 projects, including bridge and track repairs, new trains, locomotives, double-tracking in Massachusetts, North Carolina and San Diego, and a Chicago maintenance facility. (Trains)
NPR‘s “All Things Considered” explored the U.S. DOT’s war on “DEI” bike lanes.
Air quality in Manhattan improved slightly since congestion pricing started, and it didn’t get any worse in the outer boroughs. (New York Times)
Oren Hadar writes about how Los Angeles caters to drivers, to the point that pedestrians have to wait a frustratingly long time for a crosswalk signal so that cars don’t have to stop. (The Future Is L.A.)
California rideshare drivers are on the verge of forming a union. Now can they negotiate a contract? (L.A. Progressive)
Light rail service to West Seattle has been delayed for another three years. (KIRO)
Jarrett Walker is encouraged that a transit referendum passed in a right-leaning town like Spokane. (Human Transit)
Doubts are growing in Charleston that the Federal Transit Administration will come through a $374 million grant for a bus rapid transit line. (Post and Courier)
The Utah Transit Authority is expanding its microtransit service area. (KSL)
Public comment on Utah’s new five-year transportation plan overwhelmingly favored rail over highways. (Salt Lake City Weekly)
Pittsburgh closed a loophole in its longstanding law banning parking on sidewalks and in bike lanes. (USA Today)
Joe Cortwright argues that the Rose Quarter Freeway widening project in Portland is turning into a fiscal black hole. (City Commentary)
The Cincinnati Enquirer profiled a mother who’s been advocating for safer streets since losing her daughter in a hit-and-run eight years ago.
A Daily Tar Heel column in favor of light rail also gets in a few digs at Duke.
The Ontario Court of Appeals ruled that Premier Doug Ford can rip up Toronto bike lanes, overturning a previous ruling. (National Newswatch)
Bus trips in Ho Chi Minh City are up 44% since 134 routes went fare-free. (Vietnam Plus)

Blake Aued

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.

Today's Headlines

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