EV battery sustainability is a must to meet climate ambitions

Better governance of the extraction of EV minerals is essential to the future of mineral-producing countries, the electric vehicle industry and global transportation.

By Ethan N. Elkind and Patrick R. P. Heller • Sept. 8, 2020

PSU team maps Philadelphia's telework trends

Students with the Nittany AI Alliance developed an AI-driven algorithm to illustrate the "teleworking risk" of regional census tracts and inform potential transit changes.

By Kristin Musulin • Sept. 8, 2020

Explore the Trendline➔

Top 5 stories from Smart Cities Dive

From worsening climate change to a shifting transportation landscape and the housing affordability crisis, cities have their work cut out for them.

By Smart Cities Dive staff

A worsening parking situation is suffocating Bostonians

Boston residents have been speaking out against insufficient parking for some time now, and the local government's response has been lukewarm at best.

By Shuja Uddin • Sept. 3, 2020

Amazon Prime Air gets clearance for drone delivery on 'highly rural' test range

Amazon said drones will help realize 30-minute delivery and expects its current model to carry 85% of the products sold on its marketplace.

By Matt Leonard • Sept. 2, 2020

Micromobility 'here to stay' despite COVID setbacks: NACTO

Shared bikes and scooters saw 136 million trips in 2019, up 60% from 2018, and ridership has largely rebounded from the pandemic's initial blows. 

By Chris Teale • Sept. 2, 2020

Revel returns to NYC streets with new safety features

After the deaths of three riders forced service to stop last month, the company said it is back with a mandatory in-app safety test and helmet selfie requirement, among other features. 

By Chris Teale • Aug. 28, 2020

Senate Democrats reveal climate plan to achieve net-zero carbon economy

The report calls on Congress to spend at least 2% of annual U.S. GDP on climate actions and require federal regulators to ensure publicly-traded companies disclose climate risks.

By Catherine Morehouse • Aug. 27, 2020

GHSA calls for unified leadership on micromobility rules, safety

Local governments should be given as much flexibility as possible to regulate the devices and provide infrastructure for their safe use, the Governors Highway Safety Association reports. 

By Chris Teale • Aug. 27, 2020

Uber-led road safety coalition looks to combat 'concerning' driving trends

The ride-hailing giant, in partnership with the National Safety Council, Governors Highway Safety Association and others, hopes to tackle speeds, DUI and distracted driving as people resume traveling. 

By Chris Teale • Aug. 26, 2020

Delaware transit agency to power electric buses with solar array

The Delaware Transit Corporation will install the 60,000-square-foot array at its facility in Dover, where it will power the facility and charge electric buses.

By Katie Pyzyk • Aug. 26, 2020

Uber, Lyft to stay in CA, sparing already limited mobility landscape

The companies will continue operating in the state after threatening to suspend service, nearly impacting more than 158,000 drivers and the riders who rely on ride-hailing due to curtailed transit. 

By Chris Teale • Aug. 21, 2020

Seattle approves minimum wage plan for ride-hailing drivers

It is the second city in the nation to mandate a minimum wage for drivers, requiring compensation of at least $16.39 an hour beginning on Jan. 1.

By Chris Teale • Updated Sept. 30, 2020

Michigan to build first-in-nation AV corridor from Detroit to Ann Arbor

The 40-mile corridor for driverless and connected vehicle testing and deployment will be led by a subsidiary of Sidewalk Infrastructure Partners in partnership with the state.

By Chris Teale • Aug. 14, 2020

Young entrepreneurs dream up IoT-powered scooter sanitization system

The patent-pending device from KirbyPod may offer a solution to the pandemic-related health risks currently plaguing shared mobility.

By Kristin Musulin • Aug. 13, 2020

The business case for sustainable urban transport

With such a strong business case and demonstrable ROI to speak for investments in sustainable transport, governments have a moral obligation to act.

By Meagan Crawford • Aug. 13, 2020

Cities can't rely on autonomy to solve pedestrian safety: LADOT head

In an AV webinar hosted by Axios, Seleta Reynolds said cities must apply digital transformation to their infrastructure to complement the goals of the autonomous driving sector.

By Kristin Musulin • Aug. 12, 2020

Nevada permits Motional to test AVs without a driver

The "driverless milestone" will be followed by a "rigorous, self-imposed testing and assessment period" in the coming months, said Motional CEO Karl Iagnemma.

By Kristin Musulin • Updated Nov. 18, 2020

Can health and safety efforts save ride-hailing post-pandemic?

Companies are adopting new ways to bolster riders' confidence, but the industry may struggle to recover if health concerns linger or labor issues expand.

By Chris Teale • Aug. 12, 2020

Republic Services and Nikola cancel major electric truck order

Plans to develop at least 2,500 new electric refuse vehicles, the waste industry's largest order by far, are being reversed due to "longer than expected development time, and unexpected costs."

By Cole Rosengren • Updated Dec. 23, 2020

Lyft, Uber ordered to reclassify California drivers, putting all eyes on Prop 22

The ruling puts added pressure on a state ballot measure that would classify app-based drivers as independent contractors.

By Kate Tornone , Kristin Musulin • Updated Oct. 23, 2020

Uber focuses on delivery as pandemic erodes ride business

Uber Connect, a consumer-to-consumer delivery service, puts the tech company in competition with parcel carriers and USPS, though not on price.

By Emma Cosgrove • Aug. 10, 2020

NUMO tool evaluates micromobility data against policy goals

More than 50 partners convened to develop a recourse site that details appropriate ways to implement data-sharing requirements and use the data. 

By Kristin Musulin • Aug. 10, 2020

The complimentary benefits of active commuting during coronavirus

A shift toward cycling can help city dwellers avoid crowded transportation while fostering health benefits that could alleviate the intensity of COVID-19. 

By Albert Still • Aug. 10, 2020

Tuk tuks could shift from novelty to necessity in the COVID era

Rickshaws and pedicabs offer a key advantage over most common forms of city transportation: They operate in the open-air at a time when air flow is more important than ever.

By Jason Plautz • Aug. 4, 2020

New Hampshire law signals 'stepping-stone' to flying cars

Gov. Chris Sununu signed legislation late last month regulating inspections, registration and fees for 'roadable vehicles,' which would operate on state roads and in the air.

By Chris Teale • Aug. 4, 2020