What public transit can learn from Uber and Lyft
Riders on San Francisco's Muni light rail system. David Lytle, CC BYFor all of their complaints about it, Americans care about public transit. Surveys...
Bob Crow: Union man
SOME people would resent being treated as the pantomime villain of London politics. Not Bob Crow, who died early this morning. The leader of...
Subways in America: Gangway, please
IN LATE 2013, New York's Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) released a comprehensive report on its capital investment needs for the next two decades. Buried...
Cities can jump-start climate progress by plugging in their vehicles
Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck, left, and Mayor Eric Garcetti pose next to an all-electric car in this 2015 photo. AP Photo/Nick...
Chris Christie and the GOP: Pound foolish
CHRIS CHRISTIE'S overwhelming re-election as governor of New Jersey this week immediately got him hailed as the great hope of Republican pragmatists in the 2016 presidential elections....
Streetcars and urban renewal: Rolling blunder
LATE and over budget, streetcars are finally rumbling to life in Washington, DC. The long-awaited service, which has cost at least $135m to build,...
Etiquette on public transport: Spread ’em
THERE is a reason why men tend to spread their legs as wide as they can when they ride on public transport. It’s just...
The Economist explains: Why trams are a waste of money
STREETCARS—otherwise known as trolleys or trams—had their golden age around 100 years ago, carrying urban workers to nascent suburbs around Europe and America. But...
Fares: Maybe buses should be free
AFTER riding a tram in Strasbourg, Matt Yglesias, a blogger with Slate, has decided that proof-of-payment fare-collection systems—in which fares are enforced by inspectors who...
A streetcar in the mire: Washington, DC’s pointless streetcar service finally opens
“LATE and over budget, streetcars are finally rumbling to life in Washington, DC. The long-awaited service, which has cost at least $135m to build,...
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What the Solar Sector Taught Me About Scaling Bus Electrification
Around 2010, solar module prices dropped 80 percent. This was a game-changer for the sector. In many countries, it opened the doors to massive...
What Cities Can Learn from the Africa Region’s First Electric BRT
To meet global climate goals, ITDP research shows that cities must both reduce vehicle trips and electrify the remaining vehicles. Electrification discussions often focus...
How We Can Transform Urban Air Quality for the Better
Step outside on a busy street in any major city, and the air tells a story. It carries the smell of engines, the haze...
Rethinking the Future of Freight Transport for China’s Cities
As governments worldwide face looming climate targets and commitments, the road freight sector stands at a critical crossroads for decarbonization. Trucks facilitate the movement...
