Uber enters the safe streets advocacy fray by offering a new publicly available data tool and launching a coordinated advocacy campaign.
Shin-pei Tsay, director of Policy, Cities & Transportation for Uber, announced this week a new "City Mobility Campaign" to "create and support legislation at the state, local and federal level to increase funding for infrastructure to help protect cyclists and pedestrians."
In a post published on the Uber Newsroom website, Tsay also shares a letter written by Uber—on behalf of PeopleForBikes, the North American Bikeshare Association, and the League of American Bicyclists—to the Housing Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure calling for federal policies and programs to prioritize the safety of vulnerable roadway users.
Tsay also announced the creation of a new free data tool. The tool combines JUMP bike volume with a complete city street view. "We are making this public so that cities and citizens alike can understand and advocate for the best bike infrastructure possible," writes Tsay. "This tool allows for data-driven decision making to improve bike safety throughout the city and can be used to compare weekday and weekend volume, and be filtered based on the time of day."
Hat tip to Katie Pyzyk for sharing the news and for providing insight about the implications of the announcement—noting especially the significance of Uber's expanded role as a safe streets advocate.
FULL STORY: Uber Announces New Mobility Infrastructure Initiative for Safe Streets
Can Robotaxis Handle London's Famously Tangled Streets?
Black Cab drivers say autonomous cars won’t be able to handle London’s unique conditions.
Protected Bike Lanes, Vehicle Lane Reductions Cause Stir in Baltimore
Residents and business operators say they weren’t warned about a road diet planned for a major thoroughfare in Baltimore. Planners and advocates say the changes have been a long time coming.
Pensacola Launches Active Transportation Plan
Pensacola, Florida, one of the least safe localities for pedestrians in a state full of them, is seeking public feedback for a new Active Transportation Plan.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
The state-sanctioned urbicide of Austin
People don’t kill cities. Freeways do.
US to reduce Colorado River water deliveries to Mexico
A new Colorado Treaty amendment reduces Mexico’s Colorado River water allocation by 250,000 acre feet.
5 New England states march closer to 800 megawatt wind energy project
Securing federal approval for the project may be complicated under the Trump administration, which has historically been hostile towards domestic wind power.
Baltimore to break ground on $50 million Transit Priority Project
The project will bring faster bus trips, safer streets and better bike connections to Baltimore.
Airbnb launches $250 million 'last-dollar financing' housing accelerator, makes first investment in Austin
The company will put $6.4 million towards affordable housing development in Texas’ capital.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
Eagle County Government
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Nashville Planning Department
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
Journal of the American Planning Association