Editor's Blog - May 2019
Vast Majority of Mayors Believe Their Cities Are Too Car-Oriented, Survey Finds
Mayors from around the U.S. in a new survey released on Tuesday raised concerns about pedestrian and cyclist safety and indicated that they believe their cities are too car centric.
The 2019 Menino Survey of Mayors was spearheaded by researchers at Boston University and is based on interviews with 119 mayors conducted last summer.
Ikea store has zero parking spaces
A typical Ikea store comes with a sprawling parking lot—in Burbank, California, for example, the lot has room for 1,700 cars. But as the company works to shrink its carbon footprint, including the pollution from customers driving to suburban stores, it’s also rethinking parking. A new seven-storey building that will house an Ikea store in central Vienna, now under construction, will have zero parking spaces.
DfT plans 'package of measures' to head off smart motorway fears
The transport secretary is finalising ‘a serious package of measures’ to tackle concerns over the safety of smart motorways, MPs have been told.
During a House of Commons debate on all lane running (ALR) schemes, in which the hard shoulder is removed to create an extra lane, transport minister George Freeman stated that the outcome of a government ‘stocktake’ of smart motorways would be made public imminently.
Combining cycling and public transport in Scotland
The bus operator Borders Buses has just implemented the first fully bike-friendly local bus route in Scotland where riders can now wheel their bicycles directly on board. This good practice of integrating cycling with public transport – combining active and mass mobility – delivers the best of both worlds.
https://ecf.com/news-and-events/news/buses-combining-cycling-and-public-transport-scotland
Car ban plan for York’s historic centre
Private motor vehicles may also be restricted on roads close to primary schools in the city at drop off and pick up times.
York City Council deputy leader Andy D'Agorne said: “We need to consider all options for creating a largely car free environment.”
https://www.ciht.org.uk/news/car-ban-plan-for-york-s-historic-centre/
First Cross-Country Commercial Freight Run by a Self-Driving Truck in Record Three Days
Plus.ai, a leading provider of self-driving trucking technology, today announced that it has completed the first coast-to-coast commercial freight run with an autonomous truck on behalf of Land O’Lakes, Inc. Spanning 2,800 miles,
https://plus.ai/Plus-ai-Completes-First-Cross-Country-Commercial-Freight.html
New UK housing 'dominated by roads'
A report says too many highways engineers are still approving roads that do not fully account for pedestrians and cyclists.
It follows a government survey suggesting an increase in public concern over the impact of cars on people's health and the environment.
The new report comes from University College London (UCL).
Queensland eyes largest-ever road rollout in 2020
The sunshine state’s biggest-ever road upgrade program will get underway this year.
http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2020/1/22/queensland-eyes-largestever-road-rollout-in-2020
Helps for visually impaired transit riders
Moovit says Aira’s mobile app or smart glasses allow Aira agents to see a user’s environment through their smartphone camera. This partnership is expected to assist agents in helping users navigate public transit more effectively, with better real-time data.
https://www.itsinternational.com/news/moovit-helps-guide-visually-impaired-transit-riders