Ken McLeod

cdc.govTransportation Walking Among US Adults With and Without Transportation Insecurity, 2022 National Health Interview Survey Preventing Chronic Disease (PCD) is a peer-reviewed electronic journal established by the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. PCD provides an open exchange of informat...

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"About 1 in 6 US adults walk for transportation, but those with transportation insecurity are twice as likely to do so as those without" Transportation insecurity is "the lack of safe and timely access to reliable transportation for everyday activities and needs" www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2...

usa.streetsblog.orgWhy Deadly, Illegal E-Motos Are On The Rise – And Why E-Bikes Are Being Blamed When They Crash — Streetsblog USA...and what we can do to protect our kids *and* the e-bike revolution.

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"the federal government is the one responsible for regulating all vehicles on the road, and they must stamp out the e-moto crisis once and for all...That starts with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration stepping up and treating e-motos as what they are: dangerous illegal motorcycles"

streetsblogsf.bsky.social@streetsblogsf.bsky.social

usa.streetsblog.org/2026/10/26/w...

washingtonpost.comA candidate said Iowans don’t ride bikes. The state has a famous bike tour.The state’s 900,000 cyclists say people do indeed ride in Iowa, which each summer hosts the world’s largest, longest-running citizen bike tour.

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I would love to be surprised by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration doing literally anything related to e-motos Given the current administration, Congress is going to have to force it to act and it might not even follow through on what it's told to do by law and budget

Ken McLeod reposted

The Washington Post

@washingtonpost.com

“We don’t ride bicycles in Iowa,” Joe Mitchell said to President Trump during a GOP campaign rally. Iowa’s roughly 900,000 cyclists, many of whom have participated in an annual cycling tour that’s made the state synonymous with biking, weren’t amused.

Highlighting other comments on the New Car Assessment Program The Alliance for Automotive Innovation - "members remain concerned about the current trajectory of the overall program... there are issues that...create uncertainty, slow critical program updates, and undermine the program’s credibility"

Ken McLeod@kenmcld.bsky.social

Just submitted a comment for @bikeleague.org on NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program, also known as the 5-Star Safety Rating for new vehicles NHTSA says the 5-Star Safety Rating is "the gold standard" but it proposed a standard that is a decade behind its peers and not responsive to bicyclist deaths

" @consumerreports.org is deeply concerned by the extensive delays introduced into the updated 10-year roadmap for NCAP... Delaying these critical updates perpetuates the exact stagnation that has rendered NCAP an ineffective consumer shopping tool" www.regulations.gov/comment/NHTS...

"it is indefensible that NHTSA’s proposed NCAP roadmap looks to postpone the implementation of key advanced AEB testing scenarios, including bicyclist and motorcyclist detection... global peers have moved ahead. Euro NCAP has included AEB with pedestrian and cyclist detection...for years"

Ken McLeod@kenmcld.bsky.social

"AAA supports NHTSA’s inclusion of pedestrian, bicyclist, and motorcyclist...initiatives in the roadmap, including PAEB, crashworthiness pedestrian protection, bicyclist and motorcyclist AEB, blind spot warning and intervention, and future intersection scenarios" www.regulations.gov/comment/NHTS...

"AAA is concerned that delaying the crash avoidance rating system until 2028, and the updated crashworthiness, vulnerable road user, and overall safety ratings until 2029, will postpone information contemplated by applicable congressional directives and needed by consumers"

Ken McLeod@kenmcld.bsky.social

"Despite the significant resource investment required, the current NCAP Crash Avoidance program provides limited differentiation...Because evaluations for each technology are only published as a single pass/fail result, consumers receive very little information about relative performance" - Mazda

TBH I thought the example I would find from Mazda would be a vehicle that aced its tests, but the first result was one that didn't (and I guess more information would help consumers understand why, and why that's still okay relative to other vehicles)

Ken McLeod@kenmcld.bsky.social

"In general, the dates of implementing proven life saving content that other areas of the world have already implemented are disappointing as shown in the plan. Driver Monitoring...has a target of implementation of 2035!" - Automotive Safety Council www.regulations.gov/comment/NHTS...

"NHTSA should more widely communicate its safety ratings so that they are sought out by consumers" - Mazda, North American Operations Mazda kind of goes deep on how NHTSA does less with more compared to @iihs-hldi.bsky.social www.regulations.gov/comment/NHTS...

Ken McLeod@kenmcld.bsky.social

"For technologies and assessment methodologies that have already been introduced in other established global NCAP programs... and for which sufficient development and evaluation experience has been accumulated, to evaluate whether MEMA encourages NHTSA earlier implementation is appropriate"

That comment from MEMA doesn't explicitly say that bicyclist-Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) shouldn't be delayed three years without explanation, but it does heavily imply it since bicyclist-AEB has been introduced into most global NCAP programs already and has been in EuroNCAP for a decade

Ken McLeod@kenmcld.bsky.social

At least two comments support stronger inclusion of driver monitoring systems MEMA, the Vehicle Suppliers Association: www.regulations.gov/comment/NHTS... and AAMVA, the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators: www.regulations.gov/comment/NHTS...

"MEMA members have raised concern that this approach [of pushing distraction-mitigation driver monitoring systems off the roadmap] may defer incorporation of distraction-mitigation DMS substantially longer than warranted by the maturity and international deployment of this technology"

Ken McLeod@kenmcld.bsky.social

"NCAP drives the automotive industry to advance vehicle safety...However, as vehicle safety systems have become more complex, the demands on the program to remain relevant have increased while its annual budget has declined" - literally the auto industry noting a 60% reduction in budget since 2015

"we [the auto industry] ask that the agency provide interim updates if there are significant program delays that are expected to extend more than one year beyond the original timeline." The updated NCAP roadmap included 9 program delays of over one year, including a 3 year delay of cyclist-AEB

Ken McLeod@kenmcld.bsky.social

"For NCAP to be useful to both the auto industry and the public, it must test innovative safety technologies and provide real feedback to consumers about the efficacy of the technologies available on each vehicle" - Autos Innovate, who represents the auto industry www.regulations.gov/comment/NHTS...

smartcitiesdive.comGood luck finding parking in these big US cities: Inrix reportDrivers in downtown areas must choose between searching for on-street parking or paying high fees at public parking lots and garages, the transportation analytics company found.

"In many U.S. cities, off-street parking costs far more than on-street parking...'Canada and the United States are known for relatively high costs of off-street parking, reflecting the market demand for this scarce resource in downtown areas'” www.smartcitiesdive.com/news/inrix-p...

This sounds like a policy choice by cities to offer their scarce on-street parking at a lower than market price In my city, drivers complain about downtown parking for two reasons: 1) believing that on-street parking is a right, and 2) using private off-street lots Municipal lots are $8/day

yahoo.comPalm Beach roads won't have 'share-the-road' markings after pushbackFDOT will not use "share-the-road" bike markings on its Midtown paving project after pushback from Palm Beach officials over safety issues.

"The Florida Department of Transportation will not include share-the-road pavement marking in its [$8.2 million] project on State Road A1A" after town requested fewer "sharrow" markings When even the barest minimum is seen as an imposition www.yahoo.com/news/us/arti...

"encouraging bicyclists to share the lane on narrow and busy South County Road is dangerous, council members previously said. They pointed to the prevalence of pelotons, groups of bicyclists that ride side-by-side on the two-lane road" People bike there, they just don't want them to

"When a pedestrian pushes a crosswalk button, the system sends a signal over a cellular network. Drivers using a compatible smartphone app receive an audible and visual alert." Well intentioned, but app-based alerts seem unlikely to ever be commonly used by drivers www.king5.com/article/news...

king5.comking5.com

autocrypt.ioThe V2X Deployment Roadmap in Europe: What to Expect by 2024This article takes a deep dive into the current V2X deployment progress in Europe as of 2023 and what to expect in the coming years.

The biggest problem with connected vehicle (vehicle-to-everything or V2X) systems is that "first-mover advantage is not present in the V2X market, because the full benefit of V2X can only be realized after multiple OEMs and road operators deploy them" autocrypt.io/v2x-deployme...

In Europe they are trying to provide an incentive for automakers to integrate V2X in vehicles by including it in their 5-Star Safety Rating program, which they did last year In the US, V2X is not on the 10-year roadmap for our 5-Star Safety Rating program, through 2036

Aside from the driver clearly hitting the cyclists while not giving the legally required space (assuming he was attempting to safely pass them rather than hit them), this also seems bad: "He prefers taking back roads because he can easily pull off if he feels a vertigo attack coming on"

Ryan Fonseca@ryan-fonseca.bsky.social

It's a choice (a bad one) to tell readers this driver "passed too close to cyclists" when there's video evidence showing he drove his car into them, made contact and hurt someone. Fellow journalists: we can explore the nuances of punishment for drivers without obfuscating their dangerous behavior.

This article spends a good bit of time discussing whether the bicyclists were riding more that two abreast or as close to the side of the road as they could, but I don't think there's any good argument that the bicyclists caused the crash The driver always has the choice to not pass until it's safe

@ryan-fonseca.bsky.social

Very disappointing how author of the article really tries to make a false equivalence between the driver hitting the cyclists and the cyclists riding as a group "Ross had room to go farther left. The cyclists had room to go farther right. And in the absence of compromise [a cyclist was hit]"

Ken McLeod reposted

Ryan Fonseca

bethosbornesga.substack.comAre we actually trying to generate traffic congestion…question mark?If this was the main goal of our transportation, housing, and land use approaches, would we do anything different than we are doing today? Let’s test that hypothesis.

"Congestion actually supports multiple priorities [it] translates directly into revenue for energy companies, tax receipts for state and federal governments through fuel taxes [and] functions as a demand signal that keeps an entire transportation construction and engineering ecosystem employed" 🎯

bethosborne.bsky.social@bethosborne.bsky.social

Are we actually trying to generate traffic congestion…question mark? If this was the main goal of our transportation, housing, and land use approaches, would we do anything different than we are doing today? Let’s test that hypothesis. bethosbornesga.substack.com/p/are-we-act...

classiccarsarena.comClassic Truck Advertising History: Selling the DreamClassic truck advertising history: how pickup ads evolved from utilitarian spec sheets into rugged-lifestyle mythmaking that reshaped both the truck and its buyer.

"Toughness became a feeling you could purchase...The truck became aspirational, and aspiration has no ceiling on what people will spend...you are looking at a portrait of what Americans wanted to believe about themselves" classiccarsarena.com/magazine/his...

usa.streetsblog.orgWhy US Roads Are Full of SUVs and Trucks, Part II — Streetsblog USAYesterday, we looked at how SUVs and pick-ups captured the new car market. Today, let's talk about how they captured the used car market as well.

"Since the average American isn’t reading research briefs from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, though, the perception that a bigger car means better chance of surviving a crash remains" I don't think this was meant to shade our federal vehicle regulator, but they deserve it

streetsblogsf.bsky.social@streetsblogsf.bsky.social

usa.streetsblog.org/2026/10/21/w...

The vehicles that NHTSA regulates don't get mentioned on their page about pedestrian safety, even after years of news reports pointing towards that issue They do now test for pedestrian safety but it's hard to see how the way they communicate that is helpful www.nhtsa.gov/press-releas...

IIHS is awesome, but it's a private organization NHTSA is a government agency with a $1.3 Billion budget for FY 2027 Over $200 million of that budget goes to vehicle safety They should have the resources to research the issue of larger vehicles and have relevant communications about it

streetsblogsf.bsky.social@streetsblogsf.bsky.social

usa.streetsblog.org/2026/10/21/w...

Pretty much every news article about increasing pedestrian deaths for several years now has pointed towards the increasing size of vehicles In response, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has done very very little to discuss the issue or research it www.nhtsa.gov/road-safety/...

nhtsa.govnhtsa.gov

Nice policy statement by the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals (APBP) about e-bikes and e-motos www.apbp.org/assets/Polic... E-bikes are Bikes Some micromobility devices should be regulated as e-bikes E-motos are NOT E-bikes Address confusion re: E-motos at or before point of sale

California, Delaware, and New York City are identified as places with consumer protection measures that should be emulated Every state and local jurisdiction would have a far easier job protecting consumers if NHTSA used its authority to regulate e-motos as motorcycles

There are two "loopholes" being exploited at the national level by e-motos: 1) Pretending that the ability to limit the top speed makes an e-moto into an e-bike despite power levels exceeding the federal definition for e-bikes, 2) Pretending that e-motos are off-road dirt bikes despite marketing

"an e-moto rider and e-moto weighing a collective 350 lbs and travelling at 35 mph have more than five times the kinetic energy of an e-bike and rider weighing a collective 200 lbs [at] 20 mph" The unregulated nature of e-motos and misleading marketing of them as e-bikes is the biggest issue today

"Consumer protection agencies, attorneys general, and other appropriate enforcement authorities should be empowered to investigate non-compliant products and issue cease-and desist or stop-sale orders. Prohibitions on misleading sales are only effective when paired with meaningful penalties"

nationalacademies.orgTRB Webinar: Words that Work for Liability Neutral Transportation CommunicationsTransportation professionals regularly develop emails, technical guidance, reports, and public-facing materials that communicate an agency’s decisions and actions. Precise, objective language can help agencies communicate clearly while avoiding statements that may unintentionally create or increase liability. TRB will host a webinar on Thursday, October 29, 2026 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM Eastern that will examine legal concepts related to liability-neutral language and how they apply to transportation communications. Presenters will share examples of language that can introduce unnecessary risk, including subjective terms such as “dangerous,” or “sufficient,” and demonstrate how statements can be revised using objective, fact-based language. Attendees will learn practical approaches for critically reviewing their own writing and improving internal and public-facing communications. This webinar is sponsored by TRB’s Standing Technical Committee on Safety, Risk Management and Tort Liability. The registration fee is $60. Purchase a webinar package for discounted pricing. Complimentary registration is available for employees of TRB sponsors, standing technical committee chairs, involved CRP panel members, media, congressional staff, and TRB or National Academies staff. Visit MyTRB.org for details. A recording will be sent to all registrants after the webinar. Webinar agenda and presenters Liability neutral examples and pitfalls – Terri Parker, Missouri Department of Transportation Application of liability neutral principles – Mike Fleming, Washington Department of Transportation Question and answer session moderated by Joshua Root, Minnesota Department of Transportation The first 40 minutes of the webinar will be for presentations and the final 20 minutes will be reserved for audience questions. Learning Objectives At the end of this webinar, participants will be able to: Identify legal considerations associated with word choice in transportation communications and recognize language that may create unintended liability Apply liability-neutral writing principles to develop clear, objective, and fact-based professional communications Professional Development Hours Professional engineers (PEs) who register and attend the entire webinar as an individual will be awarded 1 Professional Development Hour (PDH). TRB’s webinar program awards PDH credits only to the registered individual, and not to other members of a group that view the webinar together. To be eligible for the credits, individuals must remain signed in for the entire webinar, including for any question and answer session following the presentations. This webinar will be delivered as a scheduled – e-learning live event and is categorized within RCEP as Technical, Health and Safety. Please check with your licensing board to ensure that TRB webinar PDHs are approved by your board. TRB will report credits earned to the Registered Continuing Education Program (RCEP). Complaints about registered providers may be sent to RCEP, 1015 15th Street, NW, 8th Floor, Washington, D.C., 20005. Continuing Legal Education Credits TRB is offering 1 CLE credits for this webinar. TRB did not seek approval for this webinar from the state board, so we advise that you contact your state board prior to registering for the webinar to see if credits would be accepted. Registered webinar attendees who sign in and view the entire webinar will receive a link to a certificate that they can fill out and provide to their board. Complete a certificate for each state in which you are required to file. Rules for CLE in some states require the provider to file attendance with the regulator as a service to lawyers. Please confirm jurisdictional reporting requirements with the state regulator. This certificate should be filed with the appropriate MCLE Board(s) or Commission(s) within 30 days of activity. Introductory remarks, keynote addresses, business meetings, breaks, receptions, etc., are not included in the computation of credit. TRB will retain a copy of your attendance; however, TRB is not required to submit attendance to the board. Pre-registration is required. Once the webinar starts, you will be unable to register. Individuals that are registered for a webinar but do not receive their confirmation emails due to their organization’s internal firewalls should contact TRB Helpdesk for assistance in signing in. View our FAQ page for more information. Registration questions? Contact TRB webinar program.

Why roads are never officially dangerous "objective language can help agencies communicate clearly while avoiding statements that may unintentionally create or increase liability...subjective terms such as 'dangerous'... can introduce unnecessary risk" www.nationalacademies.org/projects/TRB...

Per a recent WSJ article, "15 people [were] killed by a car along Union Avenue since 2020" but that doesn't make it "dangerous" It's just a six-lane urban arterial with a 35 mph speed limit and limited crosswalks and lighting Anyway, the DOT "places the onus for pedestrian safety on walkers"