Streetsblog.net
Will More Bike-Share Systems Opt for “Smart Bikes,” Not “Smart Docks”?
When Portland launched its bike-share system last week, it became the biggest American city to go live with a "smart bike" model. The system allows users to drop off bikes anywhere within the service area, as opposed to the more prevalent "smart dock" model, where users pick up and return bikes only at fixed stations.
July 25, 2016
Elon Musk’s “Master Plan” Won’t Work for Cities
Earlier this week tech entrepreneur Elon Musk released his updated "master plan" for Tesla, including some thoughts on how autonomous mini-buses will supplant today's transit and "take people all the way to their destination." Like every Musk pronouncement, this one got a lot of buzz -- but it also drew some healthy skepticism.
July 22, 2016
Portland’s Long-Awaited Bike-Share System Gets Off to an Impressive Start
Tuesday was a very exciting day in Portland, as the city celebrated the launch of its long-awaited bike-share system, Biketown. The network makes 1,000 bikes available in an eight-square mile area of the city.
July 21, 2016
Seattle’s New Park-and-Rides Cost a Fortune But Won’t Move Many People
Seattle area voters will vote this November on a $53 billion transit expansion package. But along with new light rail lines stretching across the region, Seattle will also be getting a publicly owned parking empire.
July 20, 2016
Houston FTW: Transit Execs Aim to Fix Sorry Bus Stops
The lousy state of American bus stops is a serious problem. Transit riders say bad waiting environments are one of their top concerns, according to a recent survey and report by TransitCenter [PDF]. That's why Streetsblog is highlighting some of the sorriest bus stops in the nation this month.
July 19, 2016
Focusing Only on Commutes Overlooks Women’s Transportation Needs
Commuting accounts for only about 15 percent of trips in the United States. But when planners make transportation infrastructure decisions, they often base them on commuting patterns, not other types of trips.
July 18, 2016
A 50-Year-Old Cartoon Satirizing Car Culture Still Rings True Today
If aliens came to Earth, who would they assume is in control -- people or cars? Cars, of course. That's the premise of this 50-year-old animation dug up by Alex Ihnen at NextSTL.
July 15, 2016
No, Driverless Cars Won’t Make Transit Obsolete
When driverless cars hit the market (which may not be as soon as advertised), nobody denies that they will change transportation planning.
July 14, 2016
Ohio’s Transit Agencies Are Caught in a Death Spiral
Ohio's transit agencies are in a world of hurt. Both Cincinnati's SORTA and Cleveland's GCRTA are facing budget crises. Even Columbus's COTA -- which has been in an expansion mode -- is now facing a shortfall.
July 13, 2016
Pokémon Go — Americans Are Walking Again Because of a Video Game
Hundreds of reporters -- and all of your Facebook friends -- are talking about Pokémon Go, the "augmented reality" game that lures people to go outside and explore in search of virtual critters.
July 12, 2016