Transportation
KPMG study: Say goodbye to the two-car family
The two-car family of American dreams is on the decline, according to a compelling study from KPMG, “Me, My Car, My Life.” The study identifies a number of the challenges and opportunities that come along with the changing automotive industry, and follows up on 2012’s “Self Driving Cars: The Next Revolution,” and last year’s “Self-Driving […]
Americans’ taxes subsidize congestion, study finds
The federal government is working at cross purposes with itself and local and state governments. In a study released last week by TransitCenter and Frontier Group, researchers discovered that federal tax subsidies are undermining transportation goals established by multiple levels of government. This discovery came through a review of commuter tax benefits. Currently, employers can […]
Transportation spending doesn’t fit public’s needs, study finds
We may be on the cusp of 2015, but transportation policies of state and federal governments are stuck in 2005, says the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (USPIRG). In a study released by the organization in September, researchers discovered that Americans drive no more in total than they did in 2005 and no more on […]
Cyclist backlash against governors’ safety report
A recent report from the Governors Highway Safety Association is causing upheaval among cycling advocates. The GHSA, a nonprofit that represents state transit safety departments, issues regular reports about safety concerns and uses the data to advocate for stronger regulations on motorcycle helmet, distracted driving, and seatbelt use laws, Governing reports. Last week’s bike safety […]
New laws in China to encourage electric vehicle production
China used to be a country of cyclists. Fifty years ago, cars were such a rare sight that young boys would idle at street corners in Beijing, hoping one would drive by just so they could get a whiff of the foreign scent of petrol. Today China is becoming a nation of cars, second only to […]
On the brink of the largest recall in U.S. history
Members of Congress are calling faulty air bags from Japanese manufacturer Takata “a public safety threat,” foreshadowing what could become the country’s largest recall in history and prompting skepticism about automakers’ ability to manage the recall. It could be massive, affecting more than 30 million cars and trucks — top-selling models from Honda, Toyota, Chrysler, […]
Guardrails off the market due to safety & fraud concerns
A guardrail company will, for the time being, stop selling a product that has been found to impale auto occupants in crashes. Trinity Industries’ guardrails, which had already been banned in 13 states and counting as of last week, will be off the market until “further testing” can be done, reports the New York Times. […]
Tesla’s autopilot feature may encourage sprawl
Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently announced that the auto innovator’s Model S will offer an autopilot feature, reports Wired, which lets the car drive itself in certain conditions. (We’ve reported on other self-driving car developments recently, including an autonomous Cadillac that’s in the works for model year 2017.) While the self-driving function may make some […]
Should federal transport spending take job creation into account?
Even as the amount of federal funding awarded to contractors falls, there’s broad recognition that the country must invest in its transportation infrastructure. Earlier this week the Council on Foreign Relations released Transportation Infrastructure: Moving America, its report on America’s aging transportation network, while policy wonks such as former U.S. Treasury Secretary Larry Summers and former […]
Millennials leading the way in carless commuting
While baby boomers continue to drive to work en masse, recently released census data suggests that transportation-related change is afoot. Commuters, led by young workers, are moving towards carless transportation, opting increasingly for public transport and walking, reports the Brookings Institution. Census information from the 2013 American Community Survey points out the specifics: workers aged […]
Paint job boosts transit efficiency in San Francisco
A mere fresh coat of paint has led to significant improvements in San Francisco’s public transit service. While the city has long designated transit-only lanes, the city’s buses and light rail are frequently plagued by cars entering their designated lane. Until recently, many of the lanes featured simple stencils noting this transit-only restriction. But since […]