In US cities, ~2/3 of crash deaths occur on streets owned by the state – not local gov. Outdated, deadly state roads are preventing cities from building the safe, comfortable, and transit-friendly streets that residents want. My deep dive, in Vox.
Vox
The most dangerous roads in America have one thing in common
We can fix our staggering car fatality crisis. Start with these roads.
 #transportation #cities #states #visionzero image
Me, in Bloomberg CityLab: Robotaxi companies are presenting themselves as transit’s new best friend. Don't fall for it. Cities full of robotaxis would be a disaster for public transportation. #AVs #selfdriving #cities #transit https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-10-24/robotaxis-aren-t-going-to-help-save-public-transportation image
On NPR 's On Point, I discussed the feds' proposal to restrain car bloat: "It's a watershed moment for NHTSA, [proposing] not a suggestion, but a rule within the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards to protect pedestrian safety." Recording/transcript:
Trucks and SUVs are bigger β€” and more dangerous β€” than ever. New safety rules aim to fix that
Pedestrian deaths in this country are at an all-time high. And now, the government is stepping in. For the first time ever, the National Highway Tr...
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The only way to avoid crash deaths from oversized SUVs & pickups is to reduce car bloat. Technology alone won’t do it – even if automakers claim otherwise. Me, in Slate
Slate Magazine
The Solution to Giant Killer Cars Is Really, Really Simple
It’s not cars that are more sophisticated.
 #cars #safety image
Want cheaper housing? Better transit service? More restaurants within walking distance? Zoning rules can make it easier – or impossible. In CityLab, I spoke with Sara Bronin about her new book, Key to the City, and zoning's hidden powers. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2024-09-23/zoning-s-hidden-power-is-the-key-to-understanding-cities?srnd=citylab-housing #cities #zoning #housing #books image
My initial reaction: This is a huge step in the right direction β€” and long overdue. The Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards have real teeth. If this proposal comes into effect, carmakers will finally have to address how car bloat endangers pedestrians.
AP News
US seeks new pedestrian safety rules aimed at increasingly massive SUVs and pickup trucks
The U.S. government’s road safety agency wants the auto industry to design new vehicles including SUVs and pickup trucks so they reduce pedestria...
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This week’s Economist cover story is brought to you by US automakers and the federal government, both of which have been ignoring car bloat for decades. image
In The Verge, I explained why self-driving cars could be a disaster for climate change and road safety -- even if they work perfectly. The answer lies in the Jevons paradox, a classic 19th century economic theory.
The Verge
What a 160-year-old theory about coal predicts about our self-driving future
When you make something easy to use, people want to do it more.
 #climate #climatechange #cars image
The Economist has published a deeply-researched story about car bloat -- and it's very, very damning. "For every life that the heaviest 1% of SUVs and trucks save, there are more than a dozen lives lost in other vehicles." Well worth your time: https://www.economist.com/interactive/united-states/2024/08/31/americans-love-affair-with-big-cars-is-killing-them image
On NPR's Morning Edition, I sounded off about car bloat: Oversized trucks and SUVs "create danger for everybody else on the street because of their mass and because of their height, whether you're walking or biking or inside a smaller car." https://www.npr.org/2024/08/23/nx-s1-5084276/pedestrian-protection-bill-bigger-cars-trucks #cars #bike #walk image