David Zipper

Freelance Contributor

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City council is voting on the Bissonnet Corridor Safe Streets Project

Searching for the ‘Smoking Gun’ in US Pedestrian Deaths

Why did American streets get so deadly for those on foot or bikes? A leading transportation safety researcher sees some surprising factors behind the crisis.

April 14, 2026

April 14, 2026

Searching for the ‘Smoking Gun’ in US Pedestrian Deaths

Why did American streets get so deadly for those on foot or bikes? A leading transportation safety researcher sees some surprising factors behind the crisis.

City council is voting on the Bissonnet Corridor Safe Streets Project

April 1, 2026

April 1, 2026

Why Trump’s War on DC’s Streets Matters

The federal effort to remove a popular bike lane in Washington, DC, is part of a broader campaign to impose control over the city’s streets — and sideline its residents.

Protestors Rally In DC As Trump Administration Attempts To Remove Bike Lanes

March 26, 2026

March 26, 2026

Could Congestion Pricing Pay Off for Chicago?

Second City leaders have discussed following Manhattan’s lead in tolling roads to ease traffic. But a Chicago-style version of New York’s policy might look very different.

US-HOLIDAY-THANKSGIVING-TRAFFIC

March 21, 2026

March 21, 2026

Why Governor Kathy Hochul Wants to Water Down New York’s Climate Law

The proposal comes as the Trump administration slashes emissions regulations on a much larger scale.

Northeastern US To Swelter In First Heat Wave Of The Season

March 18, 2026

March 18, 2026

Here Comes the Self-Driving Traffic Surge

Autonomous vehicles from companies like Waymo and Zoox are set to trigger an increase in car usage that clogs urban streets. Cities should prepare now.

Zoox Begins Testing Robotaxis In San Francisco

March 10, 2026

March 10, 2026

The US Is Counting Traffic Deaths Wrong

By emphasizing the number of people killed per mile rather than deaths per capita, traffic safety groups risk normalizing the factors that make American roads so deadly.

8 High School Students Hit By Car

February 23, 2026

February 23, 2026

An Insurance Expert Appraises the Safety Record of Self-Driving Cars

Are autonomous vehicles operated by companies like Waymo and Tesla making the streets safer? The insurance industry’s research arm is watching closely.

Google Campus Ahead Of Alphabet Earnings Figures

February 10, 2026

February 10, 2026

The Best Tactics for Tackling Speeders

Drivers who exceed speed limits are the cause of about one-third of all crash deaths in the US. To slow them down and save lives, cities have several effective tools.

The Best Tactics for Tackling Speeders

January 30, 2026

January 30, 2026

Congestion Pricing’s Unexpected Winners: Suburban Drivers

NYC’s controversial toll program hasn’t just sped up trips inside Manhattan, a new paper finds. It’s easing traffic in outer boroughs and neighboring counties.

NYC Taxis And Buses Pick Up Speed With Congestion Pricing Toll

January 22, 2026

January 22, 2026

Achieving ‘Transportation Abundance’ Is All About Density

To drive down transportation costs and move the needle on affordability, Americans need to embrace living closer together.

NYC Mayor Mamdani Makes A Housing-Related Announcement

January 14, 2026

January 14, 2026

E-Bike Boosters Ask: Is It All Downhill From Here?

After a Covid-era boom, makers of battery-powered bikes are facing slowing sales, rising tariffs and a policy backlash. But these useful machines can still live up to their hype.

Rivian Mobility Spinoff Readies $4,500 E-Bike As First Product

January 6, 2026

January 6, 2026

We Still Don’t Know if Robotaxis Are Safer Than Human Drivers

And even if self-driving technology proves to be less dangerous, there are many better ways to improve traffic safety and prevent fatal crashes.

Waymo Seeking Over $15 Billion Near $100 Billion Valuation

December 22, 2025

December 22, 2025

When It Comes to US Transportation, 2025 Had Some Wins, Too

Amid federal-level threats and funding cuts, cities have still found ways to fight congestion, boost road safety and forestall the public transit death spiral.

NY Congestion Pricing Plan’s Fate Unclear After Court Ruling

December 5, 2025

December 5, 2025

A Bright Idea for Road Safety: Traffic Light Timing

Cities that adjust stoplight cycles to emphasize safety can curb dangerous driving without racking up big costs or triggering pushback from motorists.

Survey Calls U.S. Traffic Signals Inefficient

November 25, 2025

November 25, 2025

Bikeshare Shouldn’t Kick Tourists to the Curb

Barcelona’s bikeshare program excludes non-Spanish visitors. Other cities charge tourists much higher fees to rent two-wheelers. Which policy makes more sense?

Red rental bikes from bicing, Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

November 19, 2025

November 19, 2025

On the French Riviera, Street Reforms Come From the Right

Politically conservative Côte d’Azur cities like Cannes and Nice have embraced pedestrianization, car bans and bike lanes. That’s a departure from global norms.

Cycle Lane Infrastructure as Green Policy Guides French City Transportation

October 23, 2025

October 23, 2025

American Roads Are Paved With Inefficiency

Why do US highway projects cost so much? A researcher finds some surprising sources of infrastructure inflation, and points to ways to make road work more affordable.

High-Yield Munis Post Worst Month Since 2023 After Tariff Rout

October 17, 2025

October 17, 2025

What Comes After the ‘War on Cars’?

Podcast hosts Doug Gordon and Sarah Goodyear deliver a book-length takedown of the automobile — and a plea to stop centering cities around driving.

Britain To Ban Sale Of Diesel And Petrol Cars From 2040

October 10, 2025

October 10, 2025

‘Car Brain’ Is Making the US Unhealthy and Dangerous. EVs Won’t Fix It.

A trio of new books argue that we need to confront the full range of costs that car-based living has imposed on our cities, our health and our society.

cars-weekend

October 9, 2025

October 9, 2025

The Secret to Vancouver’s Public Transit Ridership Recovery

The Canadian city’s transit agency, TransLink, bounced back from Covid even as other North American systems have struggled. Its leader explains why riders returned.

Drug Decriminalization Spawns A Political Debacle For Progressives