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NEW ARTICLE: 2025 was a rocky year for US transportation. But there were some big wins.
At the top of the list: Manhattan congestion pricing. After 11 months, traffic is smoother, air is cleaner, and streets are quieter (but more bustling).
In Bloomberg, I shared a few more causes for celebration.
Who had the worst transportation idea of 2025?
My vote goes to US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. Congratulations, sir.
From the End of Year episode of Look Both Ways: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyncpPov2as&t=1s
Also available on any podcast app.
The End of Year episode of Look Both Ways is up!
Join Wes and me as we delve into the best, worst, and weirdest transportation news of 2025.
https://lookbothwayspod.podbean.com/e/episode-12-the-end-of-year-extravaganza/
Look Both Ways with David & Wes is the transportation podcast by David Zipper & Wes Marshall. Today, we're tossing our regularly scheduled programming out the window in order to recap the transportation news that made us laugh, cry, and shout in 2025 — and then we share what we'll be looking out for in 2026. And yes, we still have some rail drinks at the end... Some additional resources:David’s biggest laugh of the year (pedestrians told to keep to the left in Melbourne) David’s favorite dress from Toronto’s 2025 bike wars David’s most promising innovation: DADSS David’s favorite article of the year, about vehicle blind zones changing over time David’s most thought-provoking book: More and More and More by Jean-Baptiste Fressoz Music by Charlie Van Stee(courtesy of bensound) Email us at lookbothwayspod@gmail.comor find us at www.davidzipper.com and www.wesmarshall.org
Cars are now being programmed to violate traffic rules. What could go wrong?
Me, in Fast Company. (no paywall)
On Monday's Look Both Ways with David & Wes livestream, Wes and I will debate the best, worst, and weirdest transportation news of 2026.
Join us on 12/15 at 6p ET: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nL69AVTzBJ4
Yes, VanMoof went bankrupt, and Rad Power may follow suit.
But consolidation in the e-bike industry is a sign of maturity -- much like in the auto industry a century ago.
From the latest episode of Look Both Ways with David & Wes:
Video: www.youtube.com/@LookBothWayspod
Audio:
lookbothwayspod.podbean.com
In Bloomberg, I argued that traffic lights are a street safety solution that’s hiding in plain sight
For instance, cities can
▪️ Install Leading Pedestrian Intervals to make those on foot more visible
▪️ Use "rest in red" to halt reckless drivers after dark
▪️ Lower the green wave speed on high-crash corridors
Note: None of these require AI or V2X mumbo jumbo.
Pushback from drivers is rare; they may not even notice.
Why do so many bikeshare systems seem to fleece visitors by charging them astronomical prices?
My exploration, in Bloomberg
When conservatives are in charge, how do you build support for limiting cars, expanding transit, and encouraging walking and biking?
The French Riviera offers some intriguing lessons.
My latest, in Bloomberg CityLab:
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-11-19/french-riviera-cities-make-a-conservative-case-for-car-free-streets?srnd=phx-citylab-transportation
US highway spending is a mess.
Yale prof Zach Liscow & colleagues found that South Carolina’s DOT spends $375,500 repaving a mile of highway – more than twice as much as North Carolina.
In Bloombeg, I spoke with Liscow about the wild inefficiencies of state DOTs.
