Technology
New App Makes Mass Transit Accessible to People with Cognitive Disabilities
A Columbus, Ohio research team is getting closer to releasing an app that could soon give people with cognitive disabilities more independence on mass transit systems across America.
June 25, 2020
Report: Uber’s Software Flaws Led to Fatal Crash
The self-driving Uber car that killed an Arizona woman in March 2018 was not programmed to identify pedestrians outside of a crosswalk and lacked software that could have spared her life, a federal safety agency said.
November 7, 2019
Robot Cars of the Future Can’t Fix Traffic, Pollution, Sprawl
A new study shows traffic congestion in cities will become significantly worse if autonomous vehicles proliferate.
November 1, 2019
Commuter Rail’s Potential Is Untapped
Chicago, Boston, Washington D.C. and Philadelphia have suburban rail systems that serve only 2 to 6 percent of commuters — but better and more-frequent service could appeal to people who are currently forced to use a car.
September 26, 2019
Ford to Citizens: Don’t Drop Dead
Automaker says high-tech gizmos in new cars will save lives — but no one really believes that.
January 9, 2019
TSA Brings Body Scanning to Transit Stations
Body scans as you enter the train are coming to a city near you. But the safety benefits are questionable.
August 17, 2018
Can Algorithms Design Safer Intersections?
Cities and tech firms are deploying new technology to gauge risks at dangerous intersections. These sensors, cameras, and machine-learning algorithms are promising, especially when it comes to measuring close calls that don't result in crashes - but cities are still figuring out how they can use this information. In the meantime, there's no reason to wait on designing safe streets.
June 7, 2017
App-Based “Microtransit” Provider Bridj Closes Shop
Bridj, the premium app-based "microtransit" service that tailored routes and prices based on customer demand, has folded after exhausting its funds.
May 1, 2017
Get Ready for Uber’s ‘Flying Cars’ Conference to Generate Lots of Dumb Headlines
Whizzing above the city may sound appealing in a Jetsons sort of way, but Uber's thinking on this technology is completely untethered from its impact on the cities and towns below, where the people are.
April 25, 2017
Talking Headways Podcast: Here I Am, Stuck in Seattle With You
Stuck in Seattle or Stuck in Sherman Oaks. There are so many places to get stuck these days and so many clowns and jokers making it worse.
December 19, 2014