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
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.
Let’s End Traffic Stops
The technology to make traffic enforcement obsolete is becoming available. But in the U.S. willing to use it?
Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
The 120 Year Old Tiny Home Villages That Sheltered San Francisco’s Earthquake Refugees
More than a century ago, San Francisco mobilized to house thousands of residents displaced by the 1906 earthquake. Could their strategy offer a model for the present?
Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.
BLM To Rescind Public Lands Rule
The change will downgrade conservation, once again putting federal land at risk for mining and other extractive uses.
Indy Neighborhood Group Builds Temporary Multi-Use Path
Community members, aided in part by funding from the city, repurposed a vehicle lane to create a protected bike and pedestrian path for the summer season.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Clanton & Associates, Inc.
Jessamine County Fiscal Court
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service