The Monday Roundup

Here’s the news that caught our eye this week: – Some European airports are beginning to resume flights today, after four days during which no air travel to or from Europe was possible due to clouds of ash from an Icelandic volcano, heavily disrupting global trade, particularly in perishable goods. Some stranded travelers have found … Read more

Here’s the news that caught our eye this week: – Commuting—in car traffic at least—is the number one thing that makes U.S. Americans unhappy, according to one study. – New Jersey, with a pedestrian fatality rate twice that of the nation as a whole, has a new law requiring that you come to a complete … Read more

Here’s the news that caught our eye this week: – Even a police officer dressed in a bunny suit can’t get a break when trying to cross the street in a crosswalk. – The US federal government may soon prohibit text messaging while driving a commercial truck. Texting while driving is already illegal in 20 … Read more

– Sure, 2009 was no 2008, but in the U.S. we drove less, and walked, biked, and took the bus significantly more than in 2001. – At the Los Angeles Streets Summit, NYC transpo commish Janette Sadik-Khan’s keynote speech produced some interesting perspectives. – Much is often made of the dangers of teen driving—but it … Read more

Here’s the news that caught our eye this week: – Yes, the newly minted health bill has a transportation angle. – Think bike parking corrals are cool? The ribbon was just cut on San Francisco’s first public “parklet” in a former street parking spot. – An Oregon farmer is arguing that it would be better … Read more

– Nationwide, traffic fatalities were at a record low last year, but are still 34,000 too many, according to Sec’y LaHood’s blog. Could a national Vision Zero campaign be in the works? – In Los Angeles, zoning policies encourage building apartment complexes right next to freeways. But it turns out that this is terrible for … Read more

– Statistically speaking, what’s more distracting than talking on the phone while driving? Adjusting the radio while driving. And what’s even more distracting than that? Driving with children. – Speaking of distracted driving, what about those digital billboards? The NY Times takes a look. – In Washington, DC, the local transportation department, DDOT, has issued … Read more

Here’s the news that caught our eye this week: – With the Olympics ending, the Vancouver mayor is hoping to keep some of the magic going—including the transportation measures that boosted foot and bike traffic, created a streetcar, and reduced downtown car traffic by thirty percent. – A round of major federal transportation infrastructure grants … Read more

– 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 … Read more

– China is forging ahead in building high speed rails for sleek, fast trains, while the Obama administration warns of the US falling behind. – What if every time there was a crash involving a car and someone on foot or on a bike, the person behind the wheel of the 2,000 pound machine were … Read more

Here’s the news that caught our eye this week: – The ballooning recall of Toyota models with sticky accellerators has cast light on the reluctance with which the auto industry responds to safety issues. – While many of our Portland readers were at City Hall to rally and attend the new bicycle plan hearing, the … Read more

Here’s the news that caught our eye this week: – Another voice has joined the chorus pointing out that the federal government can create more jobs by building public transit rather than freeways. – The 2010 Winter Olympics will be in Vancouver, BC, and the big question on the minds of many is how to … Read more