The Nib unlocks the illustrative and narrative power of cartoons to explain the neglected state of public transit in the Unite States, and to make the case for effective and empowered transit planning.
A cartoon by Josh Kramer and Dan Nott sets out to answer a popular question these days: Why is U.S. Public Transit Crumbling?
The story starts in New York City, where the subway system has recently set records for delays, and expands to the many other U.S. cities that have no subways at all.
Along the way, cartoon caricatures of Randal O'Toole, David King, the Koch Brothers, Benjamin Ross, and Alissa Walker make appearances. International points of comparison include Toronto, Vienna, Bogotá, and Medellin.
FULL STORY: Why is U.S. Public Transit Crumbling?
Minnesota, Vermont Experiment With Rural Trip Planning Websites
Pilot programs in the two states aimed to make transit information more accessible for riders in rural areas, where on-demand and microtransit services make trip planning more complex.
Excerpt: How Individualism Harms Public Transit
Jarrett Walker calls for a more social approach to transit planning.
Atlanta Launches Regional Transit App
The app streamlines transit information from the region’s sometimes disjointed public transit system, which covers 13 counties.
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?
In Both Crashes and Crime, Public Transportation is Far Safer than Driving
Contrary to popular assumptions, public transportation has far lower crash and crime rates than automobile travel. For safer communities, improve and encourage transit travel.
Report: Zoning Reforms Should Complement Nashville’s Ambitious Transit Plan
Without reform, restrictive zoning codes will limit the impact of the city’s planned transit expansion and could exclude some of the residents who depend on transit the most.
Judge Orders Release of Frozen IRA, IIJA Funding
The decision is a victory for environmental groups who charged that freezing funds for critical infrastructure and disaster response programs caused “real and irreparable harm” to communities.
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