– What did the big quake do to Haiti’s transportation and urban infrastructure? And what was it like before? This photo essay tells part of the story.
– Federal funding has been withheld from a controversial light rail project in the Bay Area after local organizations filed a Civil Rights Act complaint stating that the project would result in increased fares and decreased service for low-income residents. See more details on the project’s history here.
– A federal judge in New York City has upheld rule limiting the number of people allowed to ride bikes together without permits to 50. The rule was created by the Manhattan police department in response to Critical Mass rides.
– Anchorage, Alaska is considering a bill that would mean that anyone riding a bicycle on a sidewalk or bike path would have to yield to cars at intersections (regardless of signal phase) and at driveways. Current city law requires the people in cars to yield.
– While there’s a chance that some cars may accelerate out of control, the greater danger still comes from people’s driving behavior.
– San Francisco is going all out for electric cars.
– The Pacific Northwest has the highest internet usage in the nation, and the Sightline Institute wonders what that means for transportation.
– In Dubai last week, city employees were asked to observe a Car-Free Day by leaving their cars at home. Municipal parking lots sat empty all day (though surrounding neighborhoods experienced a surge in demand for parking).
– Old photos show what happens when cities are given over too much to cars: Houston in the 1980s, Hartford before and after the interstate, both looking unfortunately similar to Rotterdam after the war.
– Video of the week: The latest StreetFilm captures a day in the bicycling life of Mike McGinn, the new mayor of Seattle. He rides 6.5 miles to work every day and his scheduler takes topography into account when planning his meetings and appearances.