Friday’s Headlines Put the Pedal to the Metal
Oh, wait, there are no pedals? Let me try to pull up the brakes on this touchscreen.
By
Blake Aued
12:01 AM EDT on September 18, 2026
- We’ve written a lot about how Tesla’s self-proclaimed “self-driving mode” still requires human attention. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is now questioning how a human driver can take control of a Cybercab with no pedals and no steering wheel. (Wall Street Journal)
- Transit officials are calling on Congress to restore transit funding that was cut by the recent continuing resolution for transportation. (Passenger Transport)
- The Trump administration is letting truckers drive 16 hours per day instead of the previous limit of 14. (Reuters)
- In big cities like Chicago and San Francisco, micromobility ridership is coming close to matching transit’s. (Government Technology)
- San Francisco residents who vote against a ballot initiative to slightly raise property taxes to fund Muni would likely see their property values drop as a result. (New York Post)
- A arbitrator awarded $40 million to the family of a woman who was run over and killed after being forced out of an Uber on a Los Angeles freeway. (ABC News)
- An Omaha pizzeria’s walk-in cooler broke, but the owner chose to blame its closure on streetcar construction. (WOWT)
- A dozen Pittsburgh bus routes will be detoured during construction of improvements to Smithfield Street. (Trib Live)
- Dallas is considering whether to let sidewalks be painted any which color, or combination thereof, in the face of a state directive banning “political signage” like rainbows. (KERA)
- If you like listening to baseball on the radio, as God intended, you’re in luck — Congress passed a bill to prevent automakers from removing AM radios from new vehicles (Jalopnik; Radio World). In all seriousness, though, AM radio remains essential for older people and those in rural areas with poor cellphone reception and internet access to hear about emergencies.
- Twenty years later, Seattle residents still fondly remember the original acronym for the light rail line that didn’t become the South Lake Union Trolley. (Axios)
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
Seattle Aims to Turn Vision Zero Dreams Into ‘Durable Law’
The stars are aligning for Seattle to make big progress on Vision Zero — but can they pass the laws that will hold city leaders to that goal?
October 28, 2026
Wednesday’s Headlines Are On the Ballot
Transit advocates have high hopes for local referendums this November.
October 28, 2026
Who Will be Left Behind if the Bus Stops Running?
Transit is a lifeline for so many people. Don't cut it.
October 27, 2026
Environment for Sale: Trump Administration Threatens California’s Coastal Protections
Despite receiving over 22,000 comments telling them to keep their hands off the California coast, Trump and his friends can't help themselves
October 27, 2026
Study: The Missing Ingredient in the Fight To End Car Crash Deaths is… Fewer Cars
The common denominator in every car crash is a car. So why don't we talk about it?
October 27, 2026
