The Hub 5/10/19: Clean Air Council’s Weekly Round-Up of Transportation News
“The Hub” is a weekly round-up of transportation-related news in the Philadelphia area and beyond. Check back weekly to keep up to date on the issues Clean Air Council’s transportation staff finds important.
Curbed Philly: City to add 400 more electric Indego bikes – Philadelphia’s bike share system, Indego, is adding 400 pedal-assist electric bikes to their fleet after a successful pilot with just 10 e-bikes. The city also announced that there will be 12 new Indego stations throughout the city. The city is hoping that the pedal-assist bikes and new stations will attract new riders that would have previously been unable to use the bike share system.
PlanPhilly: Philadelphia sues Uber on eve of driver revolt – The City of Philadelphia filed a lawsuit against Uber alleging that the ride-hailing company owes back taxes for the past two years. The lawsuit was filed the day before a nationwide ride-hailing strike and two days before Uber goes public on the New York Stock Exchange.
Billy Penn: Ballot question: Should Philly hire unarmed traffic cops? – Voters will be asked to consider the establishment of “Public Safety Enforcement Officers” on election day in Philadelphia, May 21.The officers would be unarmed, and only able to issue traffic violations. The measure is intended to reduce congestion and make Philadelphia’s streets safer.
City Lab: Why Uber and Lyft Drivers Are Striking – Ride-hailing drivers across the nation participated in a strike demanding a variety of worker protections. Drivers in many cities are advocating for better job security, and a minimum of an 80/20 fare split with the company. Many cities are also seeking a minimum wage, either per hour or per mile.
Strong Towns: Cracking Down on Pedestrians Won’t Make Streets Safer – Honolulu is considering a law that would fine pedestrians one hundred dollars for crossing any street after dark except at a marked crosswalk or traffic signal. One author argues that punishing pedestrians without designing an environment that makes it practical for them to get where they need to go is not a solution.
