davidzipper

davidzipper, 6 months ago to cars

My latest in Fast Company:

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.

https://www.fastcompany.com/90985257/you-shouldnt-be-driving-over-100-mph-and-your-car-shouldnt-let-you

#cars #safety #regulation #crashes

davidzipper, 6 months ago to random

More accurate than I realized at the time

https://slate.com/technology/2023/01/elon-musk-henry-ford-twitter-history-nazis.html

davidzipper, 6 months ago to climate

My latest in The Verge:

Would cities full of robotaxis worsen the environment or help repair it?

Based on what we've learned about ridehail -- a very similar service -- it's likely to be the former.

https://www.theverge.com/23948675/uber-lyft-cruise-robotaxi-pollution-autonomous-vehicles

#avs #uber #climate

davidzipper, 6 months ago to cars

New IIHS study finds that trucks & SUVs with hoods > 40 inches tall are 45% more likely to kill pedestrians than cars with low hoods.

Vertical/blunt hoods make vehicles even more deadly.

Reminder: NHTSA and USDOT continue to ignore these risks.

https://www.iihs.org/news/detail/vehicles-with-higher-more-vertical-front-ends-pose-greater-risk-to-pedestrians

#cars #safety #regulation

davidzipper, 6 months ago to ebikes

Yet another city providing e-bike incentives, this time in a red state:

Bloomington, Indiana is offering $500 e-bike vouchers ($1,000 for low-income residents).

https://indianapublicmedia.org/news/bloomington-offering-residents-up-to-1,000-to-purchase-e-bikes.php

#ebikes #indiana

davidzipper, 6 months ago to cars

From warrantless searches to automatic traffic cameras, cars have reshaped US criminal justice.

In Bloomberg CityLab, I spoke with Spencer Headworth about his new book, Rules of the Road, and the myriad challenges cars create for law enforcement.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2023-11-14/in-rules-of-the-road-a-timely-chronicle-of-cars-crime-and-the-law?srnd=citylab

#crime #cars #books

davidzipper, 6 months ago to Dallas

This is the best series on road safety I’ve ever seen.

Last week Dallas's NBC 5 ran a five-part investigation into the city's epidemic of car crashes.

Rather than blame drivers, the story delves into speed, street design, state preemption, and Vision Zero's failures.

https://www.nbcdfw.com/investigations/driven-to-death-dallas-traffic-death-rate-worst-among-10-largest-u-s-cities/3373511/

#dallas #safety #cars #crash

davidzipper, 6 months ago to fishing

My new article in Slate:

For the first time, the EPA is investigating the environmental harm caused by tires.

The federal government is finally acknowledging that tailpipe emissions are just one of the ways that cars befoul the planet.

#fishing #tires #pollution #cars #regulation

https://slate.com/technology/2023/11/car-tires-6ppd-pollution-epa.html

davidzipper, 6 months ago to random

New Johns Hopkins report finds that narrower street lanes are safer.

For roads with 30-35 mph speed limits, 10-12 ft lanes "have a significantly higher number of crashes compared to those with 9 ft lanes."

narrowlanes.americanhealth.jhu.edu

#safety #cities

davidzipper, 6 months ago to cars

MIT Technology Review asked me for a "hard problem at the intersection of technology and society that deserves more attention."

My answer: Replacing the gas tax with fees based on mileage driven

https://www.technologyreview.com/2023/11/01/1081939/big-questions-problem-solving-bill-gates-jennifer-doudna-lina-khan/

#cars #climate #regulation #gasoline #electrification

davidzipper, 6 months ago (edited 6 months ago) to Norway

In Vox, I explained why Norway’s “EV miracle” is a cautionary tale.

Eye-popping incentives have spurred electric car sales -- but they've also widened inequality and undermined transit/biking.

Excessive EV promotions create their own problems.

https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/23939076/norway-electric-vehicle-cars-evs-tesla-oslo

#norway #evs #climatechange #electrification

davidzipper, 6 months ago to SanFrancisco

Me, in Slate:

California's DMV has revoked Cruise's robotaxi permit, citing safety concerns.

It's a disaster for Cruise, an existential risk for the AV industry, and a cautionary tale for other states.

#autonomous #sanfrancisco #california

https://slate.com/business/2023/10/cruise-suspended-california-robotaxis-self-driving-cars-san-francisco.html

davidzipper, 6 months ago to california

NEW: California DMV has revoked Cruise's permit to operate driverless vehicles, effective immediately.

California DMV cites an "unreasonable risk to public safety."

Note that Cruise is now expanding into Seattle, DC, Miami, Dallas, and many other cities. Question: If Cruise is too dangerous for California, why is it safe enough for other states?

#autonomous #california #sanfrancisco

https://email.dmvonline.ca.gov/t/y-e-xnltyk-dythvudjl-m/

davidzipper, 7 months ago to random

The Estonian capital of Tallinn is a fare-free pioneer, charing residents nothing to ride buses and trams since 2013.

The policy has been a flop. Locals are driving more than ever.

My new article in Fast Company:
www.fastcompany.com/90968891/est...

davidzipper, 7 months ago to cars

According to The Guardian, Australia may expand the size of parking spots in order to accommodate huge SUVs/trucks.

Disappointing. To fight climate change, we need policymakers to regulate car bloat rather than enable it.

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/oct/15/australia-may-increase-standard-car-parking-spaces-as-huge-vehicles-dominate-the-streets

#cars #climatechange #suvs

davidzipper, 7 months ago to climate

The US Department of Justice announced that it's suing eBay for selling 343,000+ "rolling coal" devices that enable automobiles to violate the Clean Air Act. Fines could reach $2 billion.

We love to see it.

#climatechange #cars

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/10/11/doj-sues-ebay-for-rolling-coal-devices-fines-could-hit-2-billion.html

davidzipper, 7 months ago to cycling

New analysis finds that bike trips in the USA rose 37% from 2019 to 2022.

https://www.axios.com/2023/10/12/biking-cities-bike-friendly-bicycle-us-map?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter_axioswhatsnext&stream=science

#bikes #bicycle #biking

davidzipper, 7 months ago to nyc

During the 2022 holiday season, NYC made 11 blocks around 5th Avenue car-free.

Result:
🔹 6.6% growth in retail sales (compared to similar blocks w/car traffic)
🔹 $3M added spending

Lesson: Car-free streets can be very, very good for business.

https://patch.com/new-york/midtown-nyc/midtown-holiday-open-street-gave-3-mil-boost-local-biz-mayor

#urbanism #nyc #newyork

davidzipper, 7 months ago to cars

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 (should be higher, but it's a start)

🔹 $$ collected would fund bike lanes, road diets, automatic cameras, etc

🔹 Only collected in the 12 most populous counties

#cars #safety @colorado #suvs

https://www.cpr.org/2023/09/29/colorado-pedestrian-safety-suv-truck-owners/

davidzipper, 7 months ago to cars

Ahh, so the US can declare vehicles too dangerous for public use -- but only if it's a niche product (in this case, one involved in 4 deaths over 3 years).

It still won't touch the oversized trucks/SUVs that endanger all Americans who walk, bike, or use a smaller car.

#safety #cars #suvs #regulation

https://edition.cnn.com/2023/10/01/us/onewheel-electric-skateboard-recall-deaths/index.html

davidzipper, 7 months ago to tesla

New study cites widespread "over-hype" about autonomous vehicles: "The results provided empirical evidence for regulating propaganda about AV technology."

(cough Autopilot cough FSD)

#Tesla #AVs

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tra.2023.103757

davidzipper, 7 months ago to tesla

In the Washington Post, my take on Tesla Autopilot:

“Even if [Tesla owners] accept [Autopilot's risks], what about everyone on a public road or street who is not in a Tesla? None of us signed on to be a guinea pig.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/09/28/tesla-trial-autopilot-crash/

#tesla #safety #streets

davidzipper, 8 months ago to Germany

Hanover, Germany is removing 4,000 center city parking spots, using the space to plant trees and expand cafe seating.

Reminder: No need to wait for autonomous vehicles to get rid of on-street parking -- cities can do it now!

#cities #germany #urbanism

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/german-city-bans-cars-and-removes-traffic-lights-in-centre/ar-AA1gXrwV