The Orwellian Era of Transportation Planning: NMA E-Newsletter #629
By Christopher M. DiPrima, NMA Board Member George Orwell’s seminal 1984 has defined political discourse for over 70 years. Among the book’s most prescient concepts is doublethink, the practice of using contradictory terminology to obscure the government’s actions. In 1984, the Ministry of Peace propagates war; the Ministry of Plenty rations goods; the Ministry of […]
So, Who IS Responsible in a Driverless Car Accident?
Editor’s Note: This post first appeared as NMA Weekly E-Newsletter #617 from November 2020. If you would like to receive the weekly NMA E-Newsletter, subscribe today. For years, an ongoing debate has been raging in the media about who would be responsible when a driverless vehicle injured or killed another road user. Perhaps, we will […]
Officials Pitch Wishful Thinking as Fact in Washington State Plan to Reduce Driving: NMA E-Newsletter #626
By guest writer Mariya Frost, Director, Coles Center for Transportation Washington Policy Center Editor’s note: This post first appeared on the Washington Policy Center Blog. The state Department of Commerce is very clear about its views on driving: officials must reduce or altogether eliminate people’s need to drive. In their latest draft of the state energy […]
Compunction to Shame Motorists needs to Stop
Editor’s Note: This post originally appeared as an NMA Weekly Newsletter #593 emailed to members in May 2020. If you would like to receive the newsletter, join today the thousands of other active motorists who have made that choice! From the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, anti-car groups have shamed, cajoled, and humiliated city officials […]
Vision Zero: The Consequences of Intolerance
Editor’s Note: This post originally appeared as NMA E-Newsletter #373 in March 2016. Motorists need to understand what we are facing when it comes to Vision Zero. This piece outlined just one example and was written before the current COVID-19 crisis. Ecosystem: A system, or a group of interconnected elements, formed by the interaction of a […]
Don’t Let Congestion Pricing Take Hold in the US
Before the pandemic, cities around the country were talking about implementing congestion pricing. Experts believe that charging a fee for parts of streets and highways used the most at the busiest times of day reduces demand. They believe that this tax incentivizes drivers to switch to other modes, other routes, or even travel at different […]
A Bait and Switch on the Use of Smart Streetlights in San Diego
Street furniture, such as the lowly streetlight, has recently seen an upgrade to a higher status. No longer just an illumination device, streetlights have now been drafted to gather street data and even police surveillance. Since 2018, San Diego police have used streetlight footage nearly 400 times to help in criminal investigations such as sexual […]
Rails-to-Trails and other Insights
By NMA Member Art Delagrange I retired at 55. Now approaching 80, I haven’t been able to cycle the last few years, but before that, I spent much time cycling, mostly on rail/canal trails. I have operated locomotives on rails that later became a trail and a shared rail & trail. I think rails to […]
7 New Auto Tech Products to Watch In 2020
This past decade was a trendsetter in the automobile revolution and modernization. Each year, automakers launch new vehicles in the market, but with the whirl of technology, these vehicles embrace new and diverse technologies. The year 2020 started with a massive spin and brought a slew of revolutionary products that will renovate vehicles even more. […]
Big Bike and Common Sense
By Shelia Dunn, NMA Communications Director Editor’s Note: This piece first appeared as NMA Weekly E-Newsletter #578, which was emailed to NMA members on February 9, 2020. If you would like to receive the weekly E-Newsletter, a one-topic dive into an important aspect of motorists’ rights, become an NMA member today! When did traffic safety become […]