Transportation

A Transportation Grant Program's Trump-Era Rebrand
Under Trump, an Obama-era transportation grant program designed to fund innovative multi-modal projects became a rural highway-building machine.

Can the Paris Metro Make Room for More Riders?
The good news: Transit ridership is booming in the French capital. But severe crowding now has authorities searching for short-term solutions.

There’s No App for Getting People Out of Their Cars
“Mobility as a Service” boosters say that technology can nudge drivers to adopt transit and micromobility. But big mode shifts will take more than a cool app.

Navigation Apps Changed the Politics of Traffic
In an excerpt from the new book The Future of Transportation, CityLab’s Laura Bliss adds up the “price of anarchy” when it comes to traffic navigation apps.

Nairobi Should Rethink Its Colonialist Approach to Urban Design
The road being built in Nairobi is for the rich. Even if it will no longer traverse the city’s major park, it’s not the future-thinking urban design that Kenya needs.

Are D.C.’s Streets Finally Getting Safer?
As the District lagged on its Vision Zero goals, bike and pedestrian advocates in Washington turned traffic fatalities into a rallying cry, and got results.

How Airline Deregulation Fueled Regional Inequality in the U.S.
The concentration of airline service resulting from deregulation has tilted the economic playing field toward larger metropolitan areas.

It’s Getting Riskier to Walk and Bike After Dark
The last decade has seen a gruesome rise in nighttime traffic fatalities for walkers and bike riders, with no conclusive explanation.

Uber’s Beef With L.A. Is Bigger Than Data
The ride-hailing giant is convinced that L.A.’s data-tracking tool is violating state privacy laws. But the stakes for its business go further.

Want Better Streets? Just Add Paint.
Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Asphalt Art Initiative wants to bring a boost of color to the streets of America’s small and mid-size cities.

Secrets of the World’s Most Livable City
Viennese lawmaker Maria Vassilakou explains why the Austrian capital ranks so high on quality-of-life rankings, despite its rapidly growing population.

Why Chile’s Massive Protests Started With a Subway Fare Hike
An estimated 1.2 million people gathered in Santiago Friday, in what has been called the largest protest in the nation's history. It all began with the Metro.

Can Green License Plates Help Plug Electric Cars?
The U.K. government wants to boost sales for ultra-low-emission vehicles by offering special number plates—and perks—for EV drivers.

The Rise and Fall of the Exuberant Airline Map
A new book reveals how airline flight maps have evolved over the past century, from exoticizing to stylish to more basic.

The Map That Unlocked the Mysteries of Pittsburgh
To untangle the roads of Allegheny County, a 1940s traffic engineer devised an ingenious way to help people like me find their way around.

CityLab University: Tax Increment Financing
Behind the dry-as-dust name is a powerful (and controversial) tool for financing urban redevelopment. Here’s a quick guide to understanding TIF.

How to See Fall Colors Without a Car
Americans often hit the road to see fall foliage, but it can be difficult to take the same trip without a car. These places make it a little easier.

Cities With More Black Residents Are More Likely to ‘Police for Profit’
Cities with more black residents rely more on “policing for profit”—using traffic tickets and fines as a larger source of revenue.

A Horrifying Glimpse Into Your Dystopian Future Transit Commute
A comic artist’s take on what the future of transportation might really feel like.

San Francisco’s Busiest Street Is Going Car-Free
A just-approved plan will redesign Market Street to favor bikes, pedestrians, and public transit vehicles. But the vote to ban private cars didn’t happen overnight.