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Pittsburgh and the Challenge of Changing a City’s Car Culture
Since Mayor Bill Peduto assumed office in 2014, Pittsburgh has been a city that doesn't shy away from changing its streets. Most recently, two more protected bike lanes are now slated for downtown, and of course Peduto made a splash partnering with Uber to test autonomous vehicles on city streets.
October 12, 2016
There Will Never Be “Enough” Parking
Employees at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, have to accumulate 13 years of service time before they get an on-site parking permit. To get a sense of how much employees become invested in this system, check out this YouTube video of one man's elation the day he gets his parking privileges (and notice how towering parking garages dominate the landscape).
October 11, 2016
How Many Americans Are “Captive Drivers”?
The concept of the "captive" transit rider -- the idea that there is a fixed number of people who ride transit because they have no alternatives -- is deeply flawed. Among other problems, it overlooks how low-income people without cars are sensitive to the quality of transit and will choose not to use poor service. And yet discussions of "captive" vs. "choice" transit riders persist.
October 10, 2016
Don’t Believe the Hype About a Boom in Freight Traffic
U.S. DOT estimates that total freight volume in the country will grow 45 percent by 2040. If that sounds like a reasonable guess that will help plan for the future, think again.
October 7, 2016
Criticism Compels Uber to Pull Ad About Giving Up on the Subway
What do modern ride-hailing services mean for the future of transit?
October 5, 2016
The Risks We Take By Not Letting Kids Walk to School
American kids don't walk and bike to school much anymore. Even after some modest progress in recent years, only about 20 percent of 5- to 14-year-olds walked or biked to school in 2012, compared to 48 percent in 1969, according to the National Center for Safe Routes to School.
October 4, 2016
When Commuter Rail Has the Potential to Be Something More
American commuter rail lines tend not to draw many riders. That's what happens when service is limited and the line is set up to shuttle suburban park-and-ride commuters to an urban center in the morning and back home in the evening.
October 3, 2016
It’s Not Good Transit If the Streets Nearby Aren’t Good for Walking
All transit stops aren't created equal. The street environment around the station -- especially safe, convenient pedestrian access -- has a major influence on how people use transit.
September 30, 2016
Portland Cracks Down on a Old Urban Scourge: Drive-Throughs
Drive-through services at restaurants and stores can be a real headache for pedestrians. They generally require multiple curb cuts across the sidewalk and generate a lot of conflicts with motor vehicles.
September 29, 2016
Why Are American Traffic Fatalities Rising So Quickly?
Summer is barely over but this much is already clear: Traffic safety on American streets is taking a big step backward in 2016.
September 28, 2016