How Much Can Bicycling Help Fight Climate Change? A Lot, If Cities Try
A new study from the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy attempts to measure the potential of bikes and e-bikes to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
November 18, 2015
“Bright Clothing” Isn’t the Answer to Pedestrian Deaths
So far this year, nine people have been killed while walking in Columbus, Ohio. Predictably, pedestrians have been caught up in the police response, as the cops increased enforcement of jaywalking. It got even worse with comments from Sergeant Brooke Wilson made to the local NPR station.
November 18, 2015
Why Transit Agencies Are Looking to Taxis and Uber to Provide Paratransit
In a six-month pilot program, Boston's MBTA is exploring the use of taxis as an alternative to large vans for paratransit service, which is required by the Americans with Disabilities Act.
November 17, 2015
The Looming Transit Breakdown That Threatens America’s Economy
While federal transit funding stagnates, the nation's largest rail and bus systems have been delaying critical maintenance projects. Without sustained efforts to fix infrastructure and vehicles, the effects of deteriorating service in big American cities could ripple across the national economy, according to a new report from the Regional Plan Association [PDF].
November 16, 2015
Speeding Is a Big Problem Where Police Stopped Google Car for Slow Driving
A Google car made headlines last week when police pulled it over for driving too slowly on El Camino Real in Mountain View, California.
November 16, 2015
How Giving Bike Share Prime Real Estate Attracts More Riders
We've written before about how bike-share "station density" -- how closely together stations are placed -- is a key variable in how successful systems are in attracting riders.
November 13, 2015
Animation Explains How Bad Planning Makes Car Ownership Compulsory
This is a pretty great animation explaining how American cities were undermined by a slavish dedication to storing and moving cars. It's by comedian Adam Conover from TruTV's "Adam Ruins Everything," who also made this great video explaining the screwed up origin of the word "jaywalking."
November 12, 2015
Milwaukee’s Clever Parking Crater Repair Strategy: A Colorful Mural
Here's a creative fix for the parking crater problem plaguing so many American cities: Milwaukee recently transformed part of one of its craters with a colorful paint scheme and some outdoor furniture.
November 12, 2015
Study: Sprawling Areas Require 3 Times as Much Pavement Per Person
One of the big downsides to sprawl is the public cost of maintaining infrastructure that is extended over wide areas. A new study of New Jersey by Smart Growth America [PDF] attempts to quantify this relationship by looking at the amount of space devoted to roads in communities of varying densities.
November 11, 2015
The Future of Parking Arrives in DC
Something pretty remarkable is happening with DC parking policy. The city has begun a sophisticated program based on the work of economist Donald Shoup: meters with prices that adjust to demand, at that time, in that location.
November 11, 2015