davidzipper

davidzipper, 3 hours ago to cars

In Fast Company, I wrote about how wild it is that Ford, GM, and Stellantis no longer offer any sedan models in the US.

That's bad for Americans -- and it's risky for the Big Three.

https://www.fastcompany.com/91123174/detroit-killed-the-sedan-we-may-all-live-to-regret-it

#cars #SUVs #transportation

davidzipper, 5 days ago to random

As I told Canada's CBC News:

"'We are so used to subsidizing cars, treating streets as car parking, we don't even recognize what we've lost in doing so.' [Zipper] suggested using spaces once occupied by cars for bike lanes, gardens or cafés."

https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/car-free-streets-montreal-vancouver-toronto-seasonal-permanent-1.7193687

davidzipper, 15 days ago to cars

In Vox, I explained how federal policy encourages car bloat, making American vehicles more enormous, polluting, and dangerous than they'd otherwise be.

That's the exact opposite of what we should be doing.

https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/24139147/suvs-trucks-popularity-federal-policy-pollution

#cars #safety #policy

davidzipper, 26 days ago to random

Been a while since I've seen a book cover go this hard

davidzipper, 1 month ago to Trains

I spoke with Dave Alff about his now book exploring the past, present, and future of the Northeast Corridor -- Amtrak's most essential route.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-04-12/how-the-northeast-corridor-became-amtrak-s-essential-rail-line

#amtrak #trains #history

davidzipper, 1 month ago to architecture

Cities should create public places that invite people to sit, schmooze, gaze, and eat.

William Whyte’s groundbreaking findings about vibrant urban spaces shouldn’t be controversial. But they are.

Me, in Bloomberg CityLab

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-04-02/what-william-whyte-understood-about-hostile-architecture?srnd=citylab-design

#cities #architecture #urbanism

davidzipper, 1 month ago to random

As I told NBC News:

“If we’re serious about reducing greenhouse-gas emissions, we have to be serious about reducing transportation emissions, and in order to do that we have to address the main source of those emissions, which come from cars and trucks on highways."

“And to that extent, we need to rethink how much we want to expand highways.”

https://www.nbcnews.com/science/environment/countries-spurn-cars-us-continues-embrace-highways-rcna145681

davidzipper, 1 month ago to random

In Slate, I explained why the Key Bridge collapse probably won't worsen traffic congestion -- despite most people assuming otherwise.

https://slate.com/business/2024/03/baltimore-bridge-collapse-what-will-traffic-be-like.html

davidzipper, 1 month ago to random

"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."

https://www.wired.com/story/car-free-cities-opposition/

davidzipper, 1 month ago to random

A month ago Paris voted to triple parking rates for SUVs. Now the idea has spread around the world, to Melbourne.

The city council in Yarra, a part of Melbourne, voted unanimously to consider adopting weight-based parking fees.

https://amp-theguardian-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/amp.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/mar/14/melbourne-yarra-city-council-parking-fees-suvs-utes

davidzipper, 2 months ago to random

Conclusion from 32 studies about the economic impact of bike lanes:

"Making streets friendlier for bikes — and sidewalks friendlier for pedestrians — is actually good for business. The rise of complete streets and road diets...has been a huge [economic] boon."

https://www.businessinsider.com/bike-lanes-good-for-business-studies-better-streets-2024-3

#bikes #cities

davidzipper, 2 months ago to cars

It’s nonsensical – and very dangerous – that cars can be driven 50+ mph over the speed limit.

In Vox, I wrote about the growing movement to require speed governors.

https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/24086680/speeding-limit-car-crash-accidents-deaths-intelligent-speed-assistance-tech

#cars #safety #speed

davidzipper, 2 months ago to ebikes

In Bloomberg CityLab, I wrote about a new study that explores the power (and limits) of e-bike rebates.

TLDR: E-bike incentives can compel more people to ride (especially those with moderate/low incomes), unlocking benefits for public health, street efficiency, and urban quality of life. But they're an inefficient way to fight climate change.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-02-28/how-cities-can-get-the-most-of-e-bike-rebate-programs?srnd=citylab-transportation

#ebikes #bikes #cities #climatechange

davidzipper, 2 months ago to cars

New study on "car harm":

"Since their invention, cars ... have killed 60–80 million people and injured at least 2 billion."

"Currently, 1 in 34 deaths are caused by [cars]."

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2024.103817

#cars #publichealth #transportation

davidzipper, 2 months ago to ireland

Dublin is about to get even better:

"Ireland’s largest city is beginning a process of replanning central streets so that private cars and commercial trucks will be allowed access only if their final destination is downtown."

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-02-17/dublin-takes-aim-at-traffic-congestion-with-a-car-ban-on-certain-trips

#dublin #ireland

davidzipper, 3 months ago to transit

In CityLab, I spoke with Jarrett Walker about his newly revised book -- and the strategies that can help #transit agencies survive the myriad challenges they now face.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-02-08/-human-transit-makes-fresh-case-for-the-power-of-public-transportation

davidzipper, 3 months ago to cars

In Slate, I wrote about yet another problem due to car bloat:

Researchers found that SUVs and pickups have grown so huge that they can destroy highway guardrails.

Taxpayers are on the hook for fixes that could cost billions.

Add it to the list of societal challenges worsened by oversized cars (pedestrian deaths, climate change, unaffordable mobility, highway erosion...).

https://slate.com/business/2024/02/car-safety-guardrails-bloat-electric-vehicles.html

#cars #highways #suvs

davidzipper, 3 months ago to cars

Could mandatory speed governors reduce crash deaths? California State Senator Scott Wiener says "yes."

I interviewed Sen. Wiener about his new bill that would prevent new cars in CA from going >10 mph over the speed limit.

In Bloomberg CityLab:
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-02-05/california-lawmaker-on-tech-to-stop-speeders-this-isn-t-crazy-town

#cars #safety #california

davidzipper, 3 months ago to cars

Wow. Paris just voted to triple the parking costs for SUVs.

A huge victory in the fight against car bloat.

https://www.bfmtv.com/paris/direct-votation-sur-le-stationnement-des-suv-a-paris-les-bureaux-de-vote-ont-ouvert_LN-202402040118.html

#paris #cars #safety #climate

davidzipper, 3 months ago to boston

Me on free fares:

“My question is what problem is [free fares] attempting to solve? If the goal is to reduce emissions from cars, [then] the way to attract people who could otherwise drive ... is to provide service that is fast, frequent, and reliable.”

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/01/29/metro/boston-mbta-buses-cost/

#boston #transit

davidzipper, 3 months ago to random

Wow. Carmakers are going to hate this, but I think it's great:

A new California bill would require all new cars to contain speed governors that prevent them from going 10 mph+ over the speed limit.

https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/car-speed-governors-bill-18624126.php

davidzipper, 3 months ago to Tennessee

What happens when a small Appalachian town builds a lattice of second-story, outdoor sidewalks so pedestrians don't have to compete with cars for street space?

I visited Morristown, TN to find out.

Me, in CityLab

#urbanism #sidewalks #tennessee

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2024-01-24/morristown-why-a-tennessee-town-built-a-skywalk-to-rescue-downtown

davidzipper, 3 months ago to cars

The Guardian: "As they get bigger, the environmental harm caused by motor vehicles also grows. Setting some limits is the way forward."

https://amp-theguardian-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/amp.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/jan/22/the-guardian-view-on-suvs-the-trend-towards-vast-cars-needs-to-be-reversed

#cars #suvs

davidzipper, 3 months ago to random

Micromobility boosterism in the Financial Times:

"In cities at least, the e-car won’t be the vehicle of the future. I suspect it will keep falling further behind e-bikes, e-mopeds and e-scooters."

https://www.ft.com/content/61adc32b-6ce0-4a25-b010-e205a0e5db44

davidzipper, 3 months ago to Aviation

Amidst all the front-page 737 Max coverage, glad to see Axios note that the US takes aviation safety extremely seriously while basically letting carmakers design whatever they like.

https://www.axios.com/2024/01/13/airline-safety-boeing

#aviation #safety #crash