Senior Fellow @MIT Mobility Initiative + Contributing Writer at Vox, focused on transport. Words in @Slate @TheAtlantic @CityLab davidzipper.com
Washington, DC
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Hey folks, I'm going to spend less time here and more on other platforms.
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Paved with Good Intentions, my free newsletter: davidzipper.com/newsletter
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Fun fact: Norway now wants fewer electric cars and more transit, biking, and walking.
electrek.co/2022/05/17/norwa…
I’d like to thank the people of Norway again for their incredible support of electric vehicles. Norway rocks!! 🇳🇴
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I’ve spent much of this year learning about car bloat, the process through which smaller vehicles are being replaced by increasingly massive SUVs and trucks.
What I’ve learned: Huge cars are terrible for society, often in ways that are hidden.
A summary 🧵
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Weekend reminder that SimCity's creators couldn't accurately reflect the scale of urban parking lots because if they did the game fell apart.
theatlantic.com/technology/a…
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One way to make traffic enforcement more equitable: Have fines scale with income.
Last weekend one of Finland's wealthiest citizens was caught going 20 mph over the speed limit. His ticket was €121,000.
abcnews.go.com/ABCNews/finni…
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A group of San Franciscans realized that they can disable Waymo and Cruise robotaxis by placing a traffic cone on the vehicle's hood.
They're now encouraging others to do it: "Hell no, we do not consent to this."
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Today's F-150 owners like to describe their vehicle as "powerful" and "rugged" -- while using it mostly for "shopping/errands" and "pleasure driving." (The vast majority don't tow anything all year.)
axios.com/ford-pickup-trucks…
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Well, this is interesting:
In NYC, a new bill would invite residents to submit photos of cars blocking bike lanes, schools, and sidewalks -- and then receive 25% of each $175 ticket.
bloomberg.com/news/articles/…
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The Economist just 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: economist.com/interactive/un…
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Good news: Automakers are finally realizing that car touchscreens are a disaster.
Drivers hate them, and they're also dangerously distracting. Buttons and knobs are poised for a comeback.
Me, in @Slate
slate.com/business/2023/04/c…
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Spain is banning short domestic flights where train service is easily available.
euronews.com/green/2024/02/2…
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Biden is giving free publicity to the Hummer EV, a 4.5-ton behemoth so inefficient that it pollutes more per mile than a *gas-powered* sedan.
Source: aceee.org/blog-post/2022/06/…
On my watch, the great American road trip is going to be fully electrified.
And now, through a tax credit, you can get up to $7,500 on a new electric vehicle.
ALT President Biden test drives an electric vehicle.
Community note
It should be noted that some rules for the clean vehicle tax credit are on hold until further IRS guidance is issued in March: cnbc.com/2023/01/25/inf…
IRS resources:
1) Credits for New Electric Vehicles Purchased in 2022 or Before: irs.gov/credits-deduct…
2) Credits for New Clean Vehicles Purchased in 2023 or After: irs.gov/credits-deduct
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A climate policy worth copying:
French citizens who get rid of their car can now get €3,000 towards a new e-bike (€4,000 if they're low-income).
ebiketips.road.cc/content/ne…
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Today I met with officials in Helsinki, which has had a ~75% drop in road deaths over the last thirty years (including recent years with no ped/cyclist deaths at all).
Me: “How much of a role has IT played in reducing crashes?”
City official: “Zero. We simply slowed down cars.”
NEW! @USDOT is seeking your feedback on a critical topic – Intersection Safety. See “Enhancing the Safety of Vulnerable Road Users at Intersections” and see how you can contribute bit.ly/3QIiJgY
ALT Intersection depicting several road users
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In Paris, owners of big, heavy cars will have to pay extra to park.
Deputy Mayor: “There are no dirt paths , no mountain roads … SUVs are absolutely useless in Paris. Worse, they are dangerous, cumbersome and use too many resources to manufacture."
theguardian.com/world/2023/j…
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What should we do?
🔹 Tax vehicles by weight.
🔹 Test vehicles for pedestrian and cyclist safety (still doesn’t happen in the US)
🔹 Require a CDL for the most gigantic vehicles
Left alone, this problem will only worsen. Governments must step up.
slate.com/business/2023/01/e…
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New report finds that over 8,000 pedestrians were killed on US roadways in 2022.
Jimmy Carter was president the last time that happened.
ghsa.org/resources/Pedestria…
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The 9,000-lb Hummer EV is so inefficient (and its battery so huge) that it produces more CO₂ emissions than a gas-powered Chevy Malibu.
aceee.org/blog-post/2022/06/…
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Fifty years ago, William Whyte studied how New Yorkers schmoozed, sat, and relaxed the small open spaces available to them. This 1980 treasure was the result.
Join me as I share a few timeless lessons. 🧵
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Wow. France just banned domestic flights between cities <2.5 hours away by train.
reuters.com/article/us-clima…
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I like this trend of painting"unauthorized" crosswalks.
Cities almost always rush to erase them. That shows local agencies *can* move quickly to change streetscapes -- they just choose not to when residents request safety improvements. People should know that!
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NEW: The District of Columbia will soon charge owners of supersized trucks/SUVs extra for the damage they inflict on society.
It's a groundbreaking model that other cities and states should study.
A 🧵 about my latest in @CityLab
bloomberg.com/news/articles/…
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Something I love about Oslo: This city is incredibly quiet.
Lots of people are walking/biking/scooting. And most vehicles are electric, while speed limits are typically 30 km/hr (19 mph), so engine/tire noise is negligible.
A reminder that cities aren't loud; *cars* are loud.
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Here we go again.
The NY Times cannot find anything positive to say about the most healthy and climate-friendly transportation innovation of the last decade.
In 6 days, the NY Times has run 4 articles about e-bikes -- all negative.
A few other stories the paper might consider:
🔹 E-bikes pollute far less than even electric cars
🔹 Compared to autos, e-bikes pose minimal risk to other people
🔹 Unlike cars, e-bikes provide exercise
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It really says something about this country that a miniature kei car is "too dangerous" for public roads, but a lifted 8,000-lb pickup is just fine.
arstechnica.com/cars/2024/08…
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My comment:
It’s absurd that the federal government offers $7,500 off an electric car, but $0 off an electric bike, cargo bike, golf cart, or Neighborhood Electric Vechicle— all of which have a much smaller carbon footprint.
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To reduce emissions, Spain and France are moving to ban short flights that can easily be served by rail.
The US should do the same.
NEW: Southwest Airlines will launch a new route from Baltimore (BWI) to Richmond (RIC).
At 121 miles, this represents one of the airline’s shortest routes, possibly in the top 5. BWI-RIC will commence on June 4 with 2x daily flights.
Details: ishrionaviation.com/news/sou…
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An AV engineer is stuck in a Tesla driven by her boyfriend's dad, who turns on FSD against her wishes:
"AITA for yelling to be let out of the car when my boyfriend's dad turned on the one feature I asked him not to?"
(Answer: No.)
teddit.net/r/AmItheAsshole/c…
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New noise cameras in New York City's Upper West Side will snap a pic of cars and motorcycles exceedig 85 decibels (like being next to a lawnmower).
Fines are $220 for a first citation, and up to $2.625 for repeated offenders.
theguardian.com/us-news/2023…
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Wow. Paris just voted to triple the parking costs for SUVs.
A huge victory in the fight against car bloat.
bfmtv.com/paris/direct-votat…
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Suggestion: Any news outlet claiming that e-bikes are "shockingly expensive" should mention that the average new car in the US now costs $47,680.
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DOJ announced that it's suing eBay for selling 343,000+ "rolling coal" devices that enable trucks to violate the Clean Air Act. Fines could reach $2 billion.
We love to see it.
cnbc.com/2023/10/11/doj-sues…
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This is a huge step in the right direction — and long overdue.
The Federal Motor Safety Standards have real teeth. If this rule comes into effect, carmakers will finally have to address how car bloat endangers pedestrians.
apnews.com/article/us-pedest…
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This is @GM's new Hummer EV.
The car is terrible for both road safety and the environment. The Biden administration needs to regulate it, not praise it.
A 🧵 explaining why
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Problem 1: Car bloat endangers others on the street
Tall vehicles have bigger blind spots and are more likely to strike a person’s torso or head.
Heavier vehicles exert more force crashing into a person, bicycle, or smaller car. They also have longer braking distances.
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Wow. At long last, the NY Times places the US's abysmal record for road safety in international context.
nytimes.com/2022/11/27/upsho…
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To those complaining that speed-limiting tech is an attack on their freedom:
You do realize that -- by definition -- speeding is illegal, right? People are not free to do illegal things.
Last week the National Transportation Safety Board recommended that speed-limiting technology be required on all new cars.
It’s an excellent idea. @USDOT should do it.
My latest in @FastCompany. 🧵 below
fastcompany.com/90985257/you…
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Summary: Car bloat is terrible – for road safety, for the planet, for equity, and for road maintenance.
But bigger cars are often more profitable, so automakers like making them.
The only way out: Government action
theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv…
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Problem 2: Car bloat worsens climate change
Heavier cars require more energy to move, which makes them guzzle gas.
When electrified, their huge batteries are so inefficient that the biggest models generate more pollution that some gas-powered sedans.
fastcompany.com/90854942/the…
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Last week the National Transportation Safety Board recommended that speed-limiting technology be required on all new cars.
It’s an excellent idea. @USDOT should do it.
My latest in @FastCompany. 🧵 below
fastcompany.com/90985257/you…
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You love to see it:
A new bill in New York State proposes weight-based car fees, forcing owners of oversized SUVs/trucks to pay hundreds of additional dollars to register their vehicles.
*This* is how to push back against car bloat.
curbed.com/2023/06/new-york-…
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Yesterday the Treasury Department clarified that buying a colossal electric pickup truck like the Ford F-150 Lightning or Rivian R1T qualifies you for a $7,500 federal tax break.
Meanwhile, buying an e-bike still gets you nothing.
nytimes.com/2022/12/29/busin…
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Pontevedra, Spain has seen 20%+ population growth since going car-free in 1999.
Mayor of Pontevedra: "Not only have we not had a single road-related death in over a decade, but air pollution has been reduced by 67%."
politico.eu/article/ponteved…
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BREAKING: The federal e-bike bill is BACK.
A new proposal would give Americans up to $1,500 off a new e-bike.
This bill is similar to its predecessor, which came tantalizingly close to passing last year. BUT there are some key differences.
🧵
panetta.house.gov/media/pres…
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Problem 4: Car bloat destroys roadways
Cars have become so heavy that US autohaulers can’t carry a full load w/o exceeding federal weight limits.
Car companies and truckers are asking Congress to raise those limits – but doing so would pulverize asphalt.
slate.com/business/2023/06/e…
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Yeesh. Electric SUVs and trucks are so heavy that crash tests don't work for them.
In a collision, these things can pulverize another vehicle -- let alone a cyclist or pedestrian.
insideevs.com/news/626078/ii…
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Problem 3: Car bloat shreds tires
Heavier cars exert more pressure on tires, eroding them faster.
Tire particles are absorbed into water, where they damage ecosystems. They also float through the air, harming human health when ingested.
theatlantic.com/technology/a…
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Some might say: “But people want big cars!”
Not necessarily. US automakers offer no alternative, and car bloat pushes buyers to upsize – if only to avoid being at a disadvantage on the road b/c *others* have big cars.
slate.com/business/2022/11/s…
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"E-bikes and scooters displace 4x as much demand for oil as all of the EVs in the world."
arstechnica.com/cars/2023/11…
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Tesla’s Director of AI is *so close* to an epiphany here.
I forgot how cool European cities are. More compact, denser, more unique / interesting, cleaner, safer, pedestrian/bike friendly, a lot more pedestrian only plazas with people relaxing / hanging out. A lot more of outside is an outdoor living space, not just transportation space.
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If you're visiting NYC, a 15-minute e-bikeshare trip now costs $10.19. (pricing: citibikenyc.com/pricing)
That's 3.5x the subway fare -- for 15 minutes on an e-bike.
What the hell are we doing?
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Hard to overstate how much of an improvement speed cameras are compared to police issuing tickets.
Speed cameras are *way* more fair -- and also more reliable.
theconversation.com/police-s…
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Finally, the Biden administration is taking a stand against car bloat.
@NHTSAgov has proposed banning SUV & pickup hood designs that are especially likely to cause head injuries.
In @FastCompany, I explained why this could be a watershed moment. 🧵
fastcompany.com/91195993/car…
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A driver going 50-70 mph veers into a bike lane, killing a person riding an e-scooter.
Do city officials respond by protecting the bike lane? Implementing a road diet?
Nope. They banned e-scooter use after 11p. #victimblaming
wrtv.com/news/public-safety/…
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Cost of using Stockholm's e-bikeshare:
24 hours: $0.98
7 days: $2.32
1 year: $14
Meanwhile, in San Francisco a four-minute e-bikeshare ride is $6.40.
The absurd expense of US bikeshare is a policy choice.
vice.com/en/article/g5vm8x/s…
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Straight into my veins:
"Return to buttons! Touchscreens risk distraction, says watchdog. Prioritize safety, not just tech."
interestingengineering.com/t…
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No federal e-bike rebate in the new Congressional package.
So you can get $7500 for buying an electric SUV, but 0 for buying an e-bike/e-cargo bike that pollutes a fraction as much (and poses virtually no risk of killing someone in a crash).
I do not understand the logic here.
Inflation Reduction Act first read thru: No, ebike credit not included. Yes, huge disappointment.
But looks like Neighborhood Access and Equity Grant Program has $3b for transportation infrastructure. Good.
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Shout it from the rooftops:
"Most mini trucks have the same roughly 6-foot bed size as the F-150."
abc12.com/the-new-hot-truck-….
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We’re only 13 days into 2023, but this might be the year when we finally realize that oversized, lightning-fast electric SUVs/trucks are a disaster – both for road safety and for the planet.
A 🧵
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"Paris intends to triple parking charges for large SUVs in order to push them out of the city and limit emissions and air pollution."
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo: “It is a form of social justice."
theguardian.com/world/2023/d…
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Oversized SUVs and trucks kill people in crashes, catalyze climate change, and widen inequality. And the problem is getting worse.
A 🧵 about my deep dive on car bloat, in @Slate
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Colorado is considering a weight-base car fee to address car bloat:
🔹 Fee would would apply to cars >3,500 lbs, up to $29.90/yr
🔹 $$ collected would fund bike lanes, road diets, automatic cameras, etc
🔹 Only collected in the 12 most populous counties
cpr.org/2023/09/29/colorado-…
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First, some basic info:
🔹 >80% of US car sales are now trucks/SUVs. Europe is behind, but catching up.
🔹 Models keep expanding. Ex: The 2023 F-150 is ~800 lbs heavier and 7 in taller than in 1991.
🔹 EVs can make the problem worse due to huge batteries.
jalopnik.com/trucks-and-suvs…
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Problem 5: Car bloat makes cars expensive
Big, heavy cars can be sold for more $. That’s why Stellantis CEO Sergio Marchionne made a famous pivot away from sedans in 2016, a move other carmakers followed.
It’s a key reason cars have become so pricey.
money.com/average-new-car-pr…
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Well, this is spicy:
A bill introduced today in the House would give property owners nationwide "sole discretion" over whether/how much car parking to build on sites within 1/2 mile of a transit stop. In other words: No parking minimums.
reason.com/2023/05/08/federa…
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Even some automakers are recognizing the dangers of car bloat and calling for change.
Here is Stellantis' CTO in a recent interview.
europe.autonews.com/automake…
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There is a simple technology that would prevent this from happening.
It's called the speed governor, and it's been available for over a century. Carmakers have always hated it.
THREAD 🧵
Disturbing security cam video of the catastrophic crash in Windsor Hills… New details NOW on @ABC7 Eyewitness News at 5pm
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Norway has one of the lowest crash death rates in the world, w/fatalities dropping ~50% in the last decade.
In Oslo, I asked a senior Norwegian transportation official what role car tech has played enhancing safety.
Her answer: "None. We focus on road design and enforcement."
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This woman knows her stuff, and she pulls no punches:
"It's a joke in my field that if you pay for FSD, you're paying to be a crash test dummy."
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The US is not the only country where people own smartphones, but it is the only one seeing a 40-year high in pedestrian deaths
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It speaks volumes that European safety officials are scrambling to keep gigantic American SUVs and trucks out of Europe because they pose unacceptable danger to those walking and biking.
Americans don't realize how deadly our cars really are.
economist.com/letters/2024/0…
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This year 4,726 Denver residents received a $400 rebate off an e-bike or a $900 off an e-cargo bike (low-income residents can get more).
According to a city survey, recipients say their new e-bike/e-cargo bike is replacing 3.4 car trips per week(!).
washingtonpost.com/transport…
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This is amazing. NYC has a bounty program for reporting idling trucks, and one guy made $64k from it last year.
nytimes.com/2022/03/19/nyreg…
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In Paris, just 4.3% -- 4.3%!! -- of the trips within the colored areas now occur in private cars.
Source: institutparisregion.fr/mobil…
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This is amazing:
Starting next March, all French car ads must include a message promoting other modes, such as "For short journeys, opt for walking or cycling" or "In everyday life, take public transit."
Applies across TV, print, radio, internet, etc.
telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2…
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Don't laugh: Golf carts could have a bright future as urban mobility vehicles.
- Smaller, slower, and safer than a car
- Ample storage capacity
- Usable by many people unable to ride a bike/cargo bike
tampabay.com/news/transporta…
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New study finds that electrifying SUVs could *increase* emissions by gobbling up scarce battery material that could otherwise help electrify smaller cars (not to mention e-bikes, minicars, etc).
doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.20…
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If you don't believe me, feel free to search the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards for anything related to pedestrian impacts: nhtsa.gov/laws-regulations/f….
BTW the US is the only rich country with a trend like this. Source: ghsa.org/resources/Pedestria…
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Pedestrians need sidewalks, not “safety tips.”
Pedestrians should wear reflective clothing and lights at night and wear bright colors during the day. Be seen. Stay safe while walking. Learn more pedestrian safety tips at Michigan.gov/walksafe.
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“It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends on his not understanding it.”
— Upton Sinclair
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Summary of 107 academic studies about e-bikes:
🔷 Use of e-bikes "is associated with lower energy and emissions."
🔷 E-bike riding "is a form of moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity."
🔷 E-bikes "can cause a significant modal shift."
doi.org/10.1016/j.tranpol.20…
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From curbing flights to taxing SUVs, France has enacted some of the most creative and climate-friendly transportation policies in the world.
An appreciative 🧵:
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GM is killing off the Chevy Bolt and retooling its factory to produce electric trucks.
In one fell swoop, a step backward for road safety, emissions mitigation, and EV affordability.
cnbc.com/2023/04/25/gm-bolt-…
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Replies like this always baffle me.
Is the idea that e-bikes are useless because they can’t tow a horse box?
How often are you running around towing horse boxes?
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"No one I spoke to for this piece could name a recent sizable pedestrianization or traffic-reduction scheme that had been reversed once it had been given time to have an effect."
wired.com/story/car-free-cit…
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