Steven Higashide
@stevenhigashide.com
Fighting for clean transportation at @ucs.org. Author, BETTER BUSES, BETTER CITIES + JUSTICE AND THE INTERSTATES. Posts my own opinion.
Reposted by Steven Higashide
1/🚨⚠️The US freight system relies on heavy-duty vehicles like semis to move the goods we buy. Emissions control systems that cut 90 percent of diesel emissions from these vehicles are under attack by the Trump EPA and Congress. This is bad news for clean air.
🔗 act.ucs.org/4zdraIB
🔗 act.ucs.org/4zdraIB
August 12, 2026 at 4:20 PM
1/🚨⚠️The US freight system relies on heavy-duty vehicles like semis to move the goods we buy. Emissions control systems that cut 90 percent of diesel emissions from these vehicles are under attack by the Trump EPA and Congress. This is bad news for clean air.
🔗 act.ucs.org/4zdraIB
🔗 act.ucs.org/4zdraIB
Reposted by Steven Higashide
The MTA announced Thursday that the program, which began as a pilot in 2023, will now be available on all every local and Select Bus Service routes across the five boroughs.
Read More: http://specne.ws/ZJRbo7
Read More: http://specne.ws/ZJRbo7
MTA expands 'Open Stroller' program to all city buses
Parents and caregivers will be able to keep one stroller open while riding
specne.ws
August 7, 2026 at 12:00 PM
The MTA announced Thursday that the program, which began as a pilot in 2023, will now be available on all every local and Select Bus Service routes across the five boroughs.
Read More: http://specne.ws/ZJRbo7
Read More: http://specne.ws/ZJRbo7
The EPA stopped updating an essential power-sector emissions dataset. But a group of researchers stepped in to recreate it - and @ucs.org analysis of the data shows that, nearly everywhere, the average electric vehicle is cleaner than the most efficient gas hybrid. blog.ucs.org/dave-reichmu...
August 5, 2026 at 5:42 PM
The EPA stopped updating an essential power-sector emissions dataset. But a group of researchers stepped in to recreate it - and @ucs.org analysis of the data shows that, nearly everywhere, the average electric vehicle is cleaner than the most efficient gas hybrid. blog.ucs.org/dave-reichmu...
Reposted by Steven Higashide
A change on a website doesn’t change what works on our streets.
That's why NACTO has archived and compiled resources for the five proven safety countermeasures recently removed from the Federal Highway Administration's website.
Access the documents:
nacto.org/latest/the-e...
That's why NACTO has archived and compiled resources for the five proven safety countermeasures recently removed from the Federal Highway Administration's website.
Access the documents:
nacto.org/latest/the-e...
The evidence hasn't changed: Proven safety tools continue to be effective best practice - NACTO
NACTO makes available resources related to five proven safety countermeasures that were removed from FHWA website Earlier this month, the Federal Highway Administration pared down its list of proven s...
nacto.org
July 29, 2026 at 7:50 PM
A change on a website doesn’t change what works on our streets.
That's why NACTO has archived and compiled resources for the five proven safety countermeasures recently removed from the Federal Highway Administration's website.
Access the documents:
nacto.org/latest/the-e...
That's why NACTO has archived and compiled resources for the five proven safety countermeasures recently removed from the Federal Highway Administration's website.
Access the documents:
nacto.org/latest/the-e...
Reposted by Steven Higashide
1/ Bloomberg Law reports that EPA is proposing major air pollution rules that don’t consider the health benefits of clean air while still calculating industry compliance costs. That’s not a balanced cost-benefit analysis. It’s only half of an equation.
EPA’s Truck Rule Extends Novel Approach to Cost-Benefit Analysis
The EPA’s new proposal to ease truck pollution standards marks at least the third time this year that the agency has floated a rule that doesn’t consider the monetized value of human health effects.
news.bloomberglaw.com
July 20, 2026 at 6:12 PM
1/ Bloomberg Law reports that EPA is proposing major air pollution rules that don’t consider the health benefits of clean air while still calculating industry compliance costs. That’s not a balanced cost-benefit analysis. It’s only half of an equation.
Reposted by Steven Higashide
Trump’s war on science comes for bikes and Vision Zero.
Proven Safety Countermeasures are a set of street design tools that FHWA career engineers judge to have been proven to improve safety.
They delisted Bike Lanes, Road Diets, and three speed management tools. highways.dot.gov/safety/prove...
Proven Safety Countermeasures are a set of street design tools that FHWA career engineers judge to have been proven to improve safety.
They delisted Bike Lanes, Road Diets, and three speed management tools. highways.dot.gov/safety/prove...
July 11, 2026 at 2:56 PM
Trump’s war on science comes for bikes and Vision Zero.
Proven Safety Countermeasures are a set of street design tools that FHWA career engineers judge to have been proven to improve safety.
They delisted Bike Lanes, Road Diets, and three speed management tools. highways.dot.gov/safety/prove...
Proven Safety Countermeasures are a set of street design tools that FHWA career engineers judge to have been proven to improve safety.
They delisted Bike Lanes, Road Diets, and three speed management tools. highways.dot.gov/safety/prove...
The EPA is asking Congress to invalidate California clean car standards that predate the iPhone and that have already been fully implemented. @davereichmuth.bsky.social has more on the pro-polluter agenda: blog.ucs.org/dave-reichmu...
Why the EPA Is Attacking California’s Clean Car Standards (Again)
Automakers are already complying with these standards, put into place before the first iPhone release. Why is the EPA targeting them?
blog.ucs.org
July 9, 2026 at 10:53 PM
The EPA is asking Congress to invalidate California clean car standards that predate the iPhone and that have already been fully implemented. @davereichmuth.bsky.social has more on the pro-polluter agenda: blog.ucs.org/dave-reichmu...
Reposted by Steven Higashide
Starting today!
Our Talking Headways book club is where we list the books of over 100 authors that have kindly joined us on the podcast.
Starting tomorrow through June 26 you can get free shipping on all the books @bookshop.org
Any purchase helps out the authors and our show but not billionaires.
Starting tomorrow through June 26 you can get free shipping on all the books @bookshop.org
Any purchase helps out the authors and our show but not billionaires.
Talking Headways Book Club @ The Overhead Wire
The books below are from our Talking Headways podcast guests in order if available
bookshop.org
June 23, 2026 at 5:27 PM
Starting today!
Reposted by Steven Higashide
UCS Scientist Dr. Jessica Dunn testifies in Congress on how recycling electric vehicle batteries and strong environmental safeguards can support a sustainable transportation future.
WATCH: m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ul3e...
WATCH: m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ul3e...
June 24, 2026 at 3:39 PM
UCS Scientist Dr. Jessica Dunn testifies in Congress on how recycling electric vehicle batteries and strong environmental safeguards can support a sustainable transportation future.
WATCH: m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ul3e...
WATCH: m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ul3e...
Reposted by Steven Higashide
Join us as we launch Science Rising, a new initiative encouraging scientists to speak out and take action against the Trump administration's anti-science actions:
Uniting to Protect Science & Democracy: Science Rising National Launch Event
The Union of Concerned Scientists invites you to join the public launch of Science Rising, a new initiative mobilizing the science community to speak out and take action against the Trump administrati...
secure.ucs.org
June 1, 2026 at 2:36 PM
Join us as we launch Science Rising, a new initiative encouraging scientists to speak out and take action against the Trump administration's anti-science actions:
Reposted by Steven Higashide
Don't look now, but the 90-day delinquency rate for auto loans is higher than at any point since at least 2004 (and probably earlier). Per www.newyorkfed.org/microeconomi...
May 29, 2026 at 4:00 PM
Don't look now, but the 90-day delinquency rate for auto loans is higher than at any point since at least 2004 (and probably earlier). Per www.newyorkfed.org/microeconomi...
Reposted by Steven Higashide
1/ As the EPA continues to fall short, a solution to curb freight pollution at the source could improve air quality for millions and help transition away from fossil fuels use.
Addressing Freight Pollution at the Source
Indirect Source Rules (ISRs) provide state and local governments a tool to address inequitable pollution impacts from the freight system.
www.ucs.org
May 27, 2026 at 8:52 PM
1/ As the EPA continues to fall short, a solution to curb freight pollution at the source could improve air quality for millions and help transition away from fossil fuels use.
Reposted by Steven Higashide
🚌 Transportation in the US has historically been a bipartisan issue, but not under the second Trump administration. Steven Higashide, director of our Clean Transportation program, explains how Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is weaponizing the department to advance Trump’s authoritarian agenda.
May 12, 2026 at 5:43 PM
🚌 Transportation in the US has historically been a bipartisan issue, but not under the second Trump administration. Steven Higashide, director of our Clean Transportation program, explains how Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is weaponizing the department to advance Trump’s authoritarian agenda.
Reposted by Steven Higashide
When I first started bringing nondrivers to our state legislature transportation committees, I remember, it was a shock for legislators to hear from dozens of people outside the transportation consulting firm lobby
The Highway Lobby Spends Millions to Make Sure We Pay Billions
Our car-dependent transportation system is no accident.
blog.ucs.org
May 12, 2026 at 1:33 PM
When I first started bringing nondrivers to our state legislature transportation committees, I remember, it was a shock for legislators to hear from dozens of people outside the transportation consulting firm lobby
One reason Congress writes checks for bigger highways despite the public demanding different choices? The influence game played by the road lobby.
New research summarized by @kevshen.bsky.social here (blog.ucs.org/kshen/the-hi...) scrutinizes the tactics of the DC groups pushing road construction.
New research summarized by @kevshen.bsky.social here (blog.ucs.org/kshen/the-hi...) scrutinizes the tactics of the DC groups pushing road construction.
The Highway Lobby Spends Millions to Make Sure We Pay Billions
Our car-dependent transportation system is no accident.
blog.ucs.org
May 11, 2026 at 3:36 PM
One reason Congress writes checks for bigger highways despite the public demanding different choices? The influence game played by the road lobby.
New research summarized by @kevshen.bsky.social here (blog.ucs.org/kshen/the-hi...) scrutinizes the tactics of the DC groups pushing road construction.
New research summarized by @kevshen.bsky.social here (blog.ucs.org/kshen/the-hi...) scrutinizes the tactics of the DC groups pushing road construction.
Ghost-in-the-machine-writing: AI company looking for "prestigious," award-winning writer... to do hourly gig work polishing AI-generated plays, novels, and short stories.
March 27, 2026 at 5:37 PM
Ghost-in-the-machine-writing: AI company looking for "prestigious," award-winning writer... to do hourly gig work polishing AI-generated plays, novels, and short stories.
Reposted by Steven Higashide
www.curbed.com/article/mta-...
A common issue that pervades a lot of app design - people in SV don’t seem to conceive of worlds where you don’t have service bc you’re underground, you run out of data completely, etc. Really great to see @mta.info move this in-house!
A common issue that pervades a lot of app design - people in SV don’t seem to conceive of worlds where you don’t have service bc you’re underground, you run out of data completely, etc. Really great to see @mta.info move this in-house!
March 25, 2026 at 12:23 PM
www.curbed.com/article/mta-...
A common issue that pervades a lot of app design - people in SV don’t seem to conceive of worlds where you don’t have service bc you’re underground, you run out of data completely, etc. Really great to see @mta.info move this in-house!
A common issue that pervades a lot of app design - people in SV don’t seem to conceive of worlds where you don’t have service bc you’re underground, you run out of data completely, etc. Really great to see @mta.info move this in-house!
"To commit to building public transit infrastructure is to decide to keep being a society." -David Alff www.nytimes.com/2026/03/15/n...
Commuters, Rejoice! The New Portal Bridge Is Ready for Riders.
www.nytimes.com
March 15, 2026 at 3:08 PM
"To commit to building public transit infrastructure is to decide to keep being a society." -David Alff www.nytimes.com/2026/03/15/n...
Reposted by Steven Higashide
Everything the US moves around needs diesel fuel to power the trucks, trains, & boats: food, goods, crops, commodities, everything. Oil products powers ~90% of US transport. It's why we should electrify transport as a national security imperative: to reduce the risk of price shocks to the economy.
Average diesel prices today versus a year ago:
Texas ⬆️$1.06/gal
Ohio ⬆️$1.05/gal
Michigan ⬆️$1.02/gal
New Mexico ⬆️99c/gal
Washington ⬆️97c/gal
Maryland ⬆️96c/gal
Indiana ⬆️95c/gal
Iowa ⬆️95c/gal
Oregon ⬆️94c/gal
North Carolina ⬆️93c/gal
Texas ⬆️$1.06/gal
Ohio ⬆️$1.05/gal
Michigan ⬆️$1.02/gal
New Mexico ⬆️99c/gal
Washington ⬆️97c/gal
Maryland ⬆️96c/gal
Indiana ⬆️95c/gal
Iowa ⬆️95c/gal
Oregon ⬆️94c/gal
North Carolina ⬆️93c/gal
March 8, 2026 at 3:52 AM
Everything the US moves around needs diesel fuel to power the trucks, trains, & boats: food, goods, crops, commodities, everything. Oil products powers ~90% of US transport. It's why we should electrify transport as a national security imperative: to reduce the risk of price shocks to the economy.
Reposted by Steven Higashide
#EVs are a critical grid reliability and electricity affordability solution. New @latimes.com opinion piece calls for #EV investments to deliver benefits. #CALeg, @assemblydems.bsky.social, @casendems.bsky.social, use the budget to invest in EV car and truck incentives! #InvestInCleanAir
Contributor: In wildfire country, EVs aren’t a grid problem — they’re a power solution
California needs a smarter, more flexible power grid — and EVs are actually one of the most powerful tools we have to strengthen it.
www.latimes.com
March 5, 2026 at 4:03 PM
#EVs are a critical grid reliability and electricity affordability solution. New @latimes.com opinion piece calls for #EV investments to deliver benefits. #CALeg, @assemblydems.bsky.social, @casendems.bsky.social, use the budget to invest in EV car and truck incentives! #InvestInCleanAir
Reposted by Steven Higashide
* U.S. JUDGE RULES TRUMP ADMINISTRATION UNLAWFULLY SOUGHT TO UNDO NEW YORK'S MANHATTAN CONGESTION PRICING PROGRAM
@reuters.com
@reuters.com
March 3, 2026 at 4:50 PM
* U.S. JUDGE RULES TRUMP ADMINISTRATION UNLAWFULLY SOUGHT TO UNDO NEW YORK'S MANHATTAN CONGESTION PRICING PROGRAM
@reuters.com
@reuters.com
Reposted by Steven Higashide
As the guy who wrote the book on zoning abolition, I'd like to go on record as saying: if you can use zoning to stop the concentration camps, fucking go for it.
Local zoning is the way! A lot of these are being stopped or stalled by neighborhood organizing.
These warehouses often need to be purchased, permitted, approved for occupancy and specs. Each one of those steps can be interrupted.
Ppl are pressuring corps not to sell, counties to deny permits, etc
These warehouses often need to be purchased, permitted, approved for occupancy and specs. Each one of those steps can be interrupted.
Ppl are pressuring corps not to sell, counties to deny permits, etc
February 23, 2026 at 7:12 AM
As the guy who wrote the book on zoning abolition, I'd like to go on record as saying: if you can use zoning to stop the concentration camps, fucking go for it.
He'll be remembered for his accomplishments, such as "being an administrator"
Yeesh: Molinaro leaving the Trump administration for the mere prospect of winning a place in the glamorous and powerful world of the state Assembly's GOP minority, a chamber he has already served in for five years. If this is a prank, it's an elaborate one.
Trump Official Will Leave Top Transit Post — for a State Assembly Seat
www.nytimes.com
February 14, 2026 at 12:38 AM
He'll be remembered for his accomplishments, such as "being an administrator"
Reposted by Steven Higashide
Thank you, @dorismatsui.bsky.social, for standing up for strong fuel-economy standards that save families money, cut pollution, and reduce oil dependence. Clean transportation is affordable transportation. #CleanerCars #RouteZero
February 9, 2026 at 6:01 PM
Thank you, @dorismatsui.bsky.social, for standing up for strong fuel-economy standards that save families money, cut pollution, and reduce oil dependence. Clean transportation is affordable transportation. #CleanerCars #RouteZero
Reposted by Steven Higashide
💰🚗For more than a half century, fuel efficiency standards have saved US drivers money. How much money? TRILLIONS. Fuel efficient vehicles mean less expensive trips to the gas pump and more money for education, for family outings, for groceries. (🧵👇)
February 2, 2026 at 7:28 PM
💰🚗For more than a half century, fuel efficiency standards have saved US drivers money. How much money? TRILLIONS. Fuel efficient vehicles mean less expensive trips to the gas pump and more money for education, for family outings, for groceries. (🧵👇)