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Pickups, SUVs and vans with hood height greater than 40 inches are 45% more likely to cause fatalities in pedestrian crashes according to a study by Insurance Institute for Highway Safety released this week.
AP | Vehicles with higher, vertical front ends raise risks for pedestrians
Austin, TX is testing an asphalt coating to reduce the heat trapped in the city’s concrete and asphalt during the hot summer months. There is a name for these hot cities that seer their infrastructure generate even more heat, “urban heat islands.” @austin_monthly
Local governments are trying to protect street lights from copper theft. From 2018 to 2022 copper theft increased 650%. Options to curb the theft include solar powered streetlights, alarms, and adding cameras. Los Angeles has a current call for innovation for additional solutions.
Route Fifty | LA explores new options as copper thieves target streetlight wiring
If you live in Austin, TX you know city council has dialed back its parking spot requirements. That’s one way to handle parking. Boston, MA is tackling parking with Parking Districts. Parking districts will take meter parking funds and reinvest them in the local parking district for transportation related projects
Governing | Boston’s Parking Districts Would Reinvest Funds in Neighborhood
A 387 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery allows this electric school bus to travel 300 miles on a single charge. The company has been making electric buses for a decade.
Ars Technica | A giant battery gives this new school bus a 300-mile range
San Diego has launched an all electric binational bus with a route to the international border. San Diego plans to make make its fleet all-electric by 2040.
Governing | San Diego Debuts Binational, All-Electric Commuter Bus Line
The future of e-bike legislation is safety standards. Seems as though most e-bike laws and regulations do not cover safety testing and certification. New York City has become the 1st city to require safety testing and certification. In 2022, nationwide there were 25,000 emergency room visits for e-bike injuries. The regulatory gold standard is UL 2849.
UL Solutions | Micromobility Device Safety Testing and Certification
California has suspended Cruise’s robotaxi permits stating that it is a safety issue and alleging misrepresentation about a robotaxi-human accident. @businessweek
Add Albuquerque to the list of cities that are experimenting with free public transit. Albuquerque has been piloting free fares on certain routes since 2017. Then we all saw it get super popular to consider free public transit, and the wave continues. Supporters say it boosts ridership. Opponents say it harms reliability and service.
Governing | Albuquerque Makes Final Push for Fare-Free Transit
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has proposed increasing the mpg requirements for car manufacturer fleets from 44.2 miles per gallon for passenger vehicles sold in model year 2024 to a fleet average of 57.8 mpg in model year 2032. 26 states have sued including Texas, Utah, Wyoming, Florida and New Hampshire.
Governing | West Virginia, Virginia Join Coalition to Challenge EV Rule