Ken McLeod
@kenmcld.bsky.social
Bicyclist and policy wonk hoping to make the US more safe for people when they need to go places. Policy Director @bikeleague.org
Currently visiting family in Florida and it was surprising and a bit worrying to go on a run and find that there are now big bollards blocking golf carts from using a shared use path that goes over an interstate
Not sure if a crash happened or what, but they've decided to cut off a vital link
Not sure if a crash happened or what, but they've decided to cut off a vital link
Golf carts are puttering their way toward becoming a legit transport mode.
This year, Cleveland, Corpus Christi, and South Carolina officially legalized them on local streets. Major media outlets like the Wall Street Journal and CBS News have covered their soaring popularity (esp in suburbs).
This year, Cleveland, Corpus Christi, and South Carolina officially legalized them on local streets. Major media outlets like the Wall Street Journal and CBS News have covered their soaring popularity (esp in suburbs).
Why one Michigan town is regulating its golf cart boom
St. Johns, Michigan, is one of more than two dozen communities in the state to pass ordinances regulating golf carts on public roads.
www.cbsnews.com
December 22, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Currently visiting family in Florida and it was surprising and a bit worrying to go on a run and find that there are now big bollards blocking golf carts from using a shared use path that goes over an interstate
Not sure if a crash happened or what, but they've decided to cut off a vital link
Not sure if a crash happened or what, but they've decided to cut off a vital link
NHTSA released estimates of traffic fatalities in the first half of 2025, so I made a quick visual to show that bicyclists are one of only two categories with increasing fatalities
Data: crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/V...
Visual: www.datawrapper.de/_/EFpSk/
Data: crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/V...
Visual: www.datawrapper.de/_/EFpSk/
Early Estimates of Motor Vehicle Traffic Fatalities and Fatality Rate by Sub-Categories For the First Half (January-June) of 2025 | Created with Datawrapper
For the first half of 2025, NHTSA estimates a decrease of about 8.2 percent as compared to the first half of 2024. Only two reported subcategories showed an increase in reported fatalities - pedalcycl...
www.datawrapper.de
December 19, 2025 at 7:41 PM
NHTSA released estimates of traffic fatalities in the first half of 2025, so I made a quick visual to show that bicyclists are one of only two categories with increasing fatalities
Data: crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/V...
Visual: www.datawrapper.de/_/EFpSk/
Data: crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/V...
Visual: www.datawrapper.de/_/EFpSk/
Reposted by Ken McLeod
When people ride on the sidewalk it's because it feels more appropriate than the alternatives available.
Engineering solutions are always more effective than regulatory.
Engineering solutions are always more effective than regulatory.
Toronto councillors want e-bikes, e-scooters off the sidewalk. Now, staff just need to figure out how to make it happen
A bid to help police impound electric scooters and bikes was softened Wednesday night. Now city staff can propose their own solutions.
www.thestar.com
December 18, 2025 at 9:17 PM
When people ride on the sidewalk it's because it feels more appropriate than the alternatives available.
Engineering solutions are always more effective than regulatory.
Engineering solutions are always more effective than regulatory.
Reminder for anyone who needs it that there is a roadmap for updates to the New Car Assessment Program
www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa....
It was published in late 2024 to comply with 49 USC 32310
It's likely that the Trump administration will not follow this roadmap, but it'd be nice if they did
www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa....
It was published in late 2024 to comply with 49 USC 32310
It's likely that the Trump administration will not follow this roadmap, but it'd be nice if they did
December 19, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Reminder for anyone who needs it that there is a roadmap for updates to the New Car Assessment Program
www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa....
It was published in late 2024 to comply with 49 USC 32310
It's likely that the Trump administration will not follow this roadmap, but it'd be nice if they did
www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa....
It was published in late 2024 to comply with 49 USC 32310
It's likely that the Trump administration will not follow this roadmap, but it'd be nice if they did
Great thread and blog by @nacto.bsky.social about state adoption of the MUTCD!
"For a document that emphasizes uniformity and rigidity, there is inconsistency and a lack of transparency in the states’ updates to the MUTCD"
Congress now requires more frequent updates, so these features matter more
"For a document that emphasizes uniformity and rigidity, there is inconsistency and a lack of transparency in the states’ updates to the MUTCD"
Congress now requires more frequent updates, so these features matter more
Happy (?) birthday to the 11th edition of the MUTCD!
It’s been two years since the FHWA published the 11th Edition of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, which sets detailed standards for U.S. road markings, speed limits, stop signs, and traffic signals.
nacto.org/latest/the-1...
It’s been two years since the FHWA published the 11th Edition of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, which sets detailed standards for U.S. road markings, speed limits, stop signs, and traffic signals.
nacto.org/latest/the-1...
The 11th edition of the MUTCD, two years later - NACTO
It’s been two years since the Federal Highway Administration published the 11th Edition of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), which was the first update to the manual in almost 15 ...
nacto.org
December 19, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Great thread and blog by @nacto.bsky.social about state adoption of the MUTCD!
"For a document that emphasizes uniformity and rigidity, there is inconsistency and a lack of transparency in the states’ updates to the MUTCD"
Congress now requires more frequent updates, so these features matter more
"For a document that emphasizes uniformity and rigidity, there is inconsistency and a lack of transparency in the states’ updates to the MUTCD"
Congress now requires more frequent updates, so these features matter more
Is it just an intractable issue with pedestrian safety campaigns that no matter how much people correctly identify drivers as the reason that pedestrians are unsafe, the campaigns can't just focus on that? www.mass.gov/news/massdot...
December 19, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Is it just an intractable issue with pedestrian safety campaigns that no matter how much people correctly identify drivers as the reason that pedestrians are unsafe, the campaigns can't just focus on that? www.mass.gov/news/massdot...
Great partnership by Lime and @bikeleague.org showing how bicycle infrastructure gets more people riding and reduces incidents
Baltimore, Nashville, and Phoenix are all Bronze Bicycle Friendly Communities, showing that these effects are not just in the best cities for biking, but in any city
Baltimore, Nashville, and Phoenix are all Bronze Bicycle Friendly Communities, showing that these effects are not just in the best cities for biking, but in any city
December 18, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Great partnership by Lime and @bikeleague.org showing how bicycle infrastructure gets more people riding and reduces incidents
Baltimore, Nashville, and Phoenix are all Bronze Bicycle Friendly Communities, showing that these effects are not just in the best cities for biking, but in any city
Baltimore, Nashville, and Phoenix are all Bronze Bicycle Friendly Communities, showing that these effects are not just in the best cities for biking, but in any city
The @bikeleague.org supports the "Stay In Your Lane" Act because it requires manufacturers to produce information and safety assurances for Operational Design Domains, meaning operating conditions where their system is designed to function safely based on the presence/absence of certain road users
Tesla would have to rein in FSD under new Democratic bill
Automakers would be required to restrict their Level 2 driving system to safe road environments. That could seriously hamper Tesla’s Full Self-Driving rollout.
/1
Automakers would be required to restrict their Level 2 driving system to safe road environments. That could seriously hamper Tesla’s Full Self-Driving rollout.
/1
Tesla would have to rein in FSD under new Democratic bill
The bill takes aim at unrestricted Level 2 systems.
www.theverge.com
December 18, 2025 at 4:42 PM
The @bikeleague.org supports the "Stay In Your Lane" Act because it requires manufacturers to produce information and safety assurances for Operational Design Domains, meaning operating conditions where their system is designed to function safely based on the presence/absence of certain road users
We all pay for crashes
NHTSA says that 22% of adults aged 19–64 with hospital-admitted crash injuries became Medicaid-eligible
35% of those who converted to Medicaid stay on Medicaid indefinitely with lifetime Medicaid costs of $316,000 (2019 estimate)
crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/V...
NHTSA says that 22% of adults aged 19–64 with hospital-admitted crash injuries became Medicaid-eligible
35% of those who converted to Medicaid stay on Medicaid indefinitely with lifetime Medicaid costs of $316,000 (2019 estimate)
crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/V...
I really don’t understand how doing this isn’t a one-way ticket to jail. Driving is just about the only activity where you can mangle another person’s body without any real consequence as long as you remember to say “oopsies” afterwards.
www.fox32chicago.com/news/chicago...
www.fox32chicago.com/news/chicago...
December 18, 2025 at 4:21 PM
We all pay for crashes
NHTSA says that 22% of adults aged 19–64 with hospital-admitted crash injuries became Medicaid-eligible
35% of those who converted to Medicaid stay on Medicaid indefinitely with lifetime Medicaid costs of $316,000 (2019 estimate)
crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/V...
NHTSA says that 22% of adults aged 19–64 with hospital-admitted crash injuries became Medicaid-eligible
35% of those who converted to Medicaid stay on Medicaid indefinitely with lifetime Medicaid costs of $316,000 (2019 estimate)
crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/V...
Reposted by Ken McLeod
"'I turned around and saw her slumped over. It will forever be a picture that is burned into my head.'
Miles' car was struck head-on by a speeding drunk driver in 2023. Her 6-year-old daughter was killed in the crash."
There's so much more we can do to prevent these tragedies
Miles' car was struck head-on by a speeding drunk driver in 2023. Her 6-year-old daughter was killed in the crash."
There's so much more we can do to prevent these tragedies
December 18, 2025 at 2:43 PM
"'I turned around and saw her slumped over. It will forever be a picture that is burned into my head.'
Miles' car was struck head-on by a speeding drunk driver in 2023. Her 6-year-old daughter was killed in the crash."
There's so much more we can do to prevent these tragedies
Miles' car was struck head-on by a speeding drunk driver in 2023. Her 6-year-old daughter was killed in the crash."
There's so much more we can do to prevent these tragedies
Very cool to see Luka Doncic gift e-bikes to players and staff
E-bikes are great
Unfortunately, I have to be a buzzkill and note that the "e-bikes" he chose appear to not be legally e-bikes in the state of California
The "e-bikes" he chose have power and speeds in excess of the 3-class system /x
E-bikes are great
Unfortunately, I have to be a buzzkill and note that the "e-bikes" he chose appear to not be legally e-bikes in the state of California
The "e-bikes" he chose have power and speeds in excess of the 3-class system /x
Luka Doncic gifts more than 100 e-bikes to Lakers players, staff
Luka Doncic gifts more than 100 e-bikes to Lakers players, staff
The Lakers superstar plays Santa after practice Tuesday. "Everybody works hard, even the people you don't see in the back."
www.latimes.com
December 18, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Very cool to see Luka Doncic gift e-bikes to players and staff
E-bikes are great
Unfortunately, I have to be a buzzkill and note that the "e-bikes" he chose appear to not be legally e-bikes in the state of California
The "e-bikes" he chose have power and speeds in excess of the 3-class system /x
E-bikes are great
Unfortunately, I have to be a buzzkill and note that the "e-bikes" he chose appear to not be legally e-bikes in the state of California
The "e-bikes" he chose have power and speeds in excess of the 3-class system /x
"the 'intoxication detection' system, which uses Maisart AI to detect drunk drivers...would provide 'driver alerts and vehicle-control interventions, as needed, to help prevent alcohol-related accidents.'"
I'd be interested in trying this on a closed track www.carscoops.com/2025/12/your...
I'd be interested in trying this on a closed track www.carscoops.com/2025/12/your...
Your Next Car Might Decide If You're Drunk And Do Something About It | Carscoops
A supplier's new technology could detect drunk drivers via the driver monitoring camera
www.carscoops.com
December 17, 2025 at 7:38 PM
"the 'intoxication detection' system, which uses Maisart AI to detect drunk drivers...would provide 'driver alerts and vehicle-control interventions, as needed, to help prevent alcohol-related accidents.'"
I'd be interested in trying this on a closed track www.carscoops.com/2025/12/your...
I'd be interested in trying this on a closed track www.carscoops.com/2025/12/your...
Reposted by Ken McLeod
An astonishing percentage of Americans are open to car-free living.
The problem isn't attitudes. The problem is the failure to invest in viable options.
humantransit.org/2025/12/many...
The problem isn't attitudes. The problem is the failure to invest in viable options.
humantransit.org/2025/12/many...
Many Americans Are Open to Car-Free Living — Human Transit
Is Americans a “car culture” or are they “car dependent”? Do they drive because they love driving, or are they in an unhealthy relationship with a substance it would be happy to do without? Obviousl...
humantransit.org
December 11, 2025 at 6:55 PM
An astonishing percentage of Americans are open to car-free living.
The problem isn't attitudes. The problem is the failure to invest in viable options.
humantransit.org/2025/12/many...
The problem isn't attitudes. The problem is the failure to invest in viable options.
humantransit.org/2025/12/many...
When NHTSA last had a big initiative to end distracted driving this was a featured cell phone www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa....
They haven't updated their first proposed VOLUNTARY guidelines in over a decade www.regulations.gov/document/NHT...
Definitely not "safety first"
They haven't updated their first proposed VOLUNTARY guidelines in over a decade www.regulations.gov/document/NHT...
Definitely not "safety first"
December 17, 2025 at 7:01 PM
When NHTSA last had a big initiative to end distracted driving this was a featured cell phone www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa....
They haven't updated their first proposed VOLUNTARY guidelines in over a decade www.regulations.gov/document/NHT...
Definitely not "safety first"
They haven't updated their first proposed VOLUNTARY guidelines in over a decade www.regulations.gov/document/NHT...
Definitely not "safety first"
"most Americans want stronger safeguards that prevent impaired driving... 67% support requiring all new cars to include alcohol-impairment prevention technology"
Congress called for NHTSA to implement impairment prevention technology in the last transportation bill newsroom.aaa.com/2025/12/driv...
Congress called for NHTSA to implement impairment prevention technology in the last transportation bill newsroom.aaa.com/2025/12/driv...
Drivers Support Promising Solutions to Curb Impaired Driving, New AAA Survey Shows – AAA Newsroom
newsroom.aaa.com
December 17, 2025 at 2:45 PM
"most Americans want stronger safeguards that prevent impaired driving... 67% support requiring all new cars to include alcohol-impairment prevention technology"
Congress called for NHTSA to implement impairment prevention technology in the last transportation bill newsroom.aaa.com/2025/12/driv...
Congress called for NHTSA to implement impairment prevention technology in the last transportation bill newsroom.aaa.com/2025/12/driv...
"we are prioritising mobility-focused use cases such as traffic flow analytics, pedestrian and cyclist safety" -interesting
"The system combines wind and solar generation with energy storage and a grid connection" -lost me
Not sure what it is, hope it helps though cities-today.com/north-texas-...
"The system combines wind and solar generation with energy storage and a grid connection" -lost me
Not sure what it is, hope it helps though cities-today.com/north-texas-...
North Texas to pilot mobility data using street assets - Cities Today
North Texas cities are preparing pilots to test mobility data on existing street infrastructure, following Omniflow’s selection in an NTXIA smart cities programme.
cities-today.com
December 17, 2025 at 2:33 PM
"we are prioritising mobility-focused use cases such as traffic flow analytics, pedestrian and cyclist safety" -interesting
"The system combines wind and solar generation with energy storage and a grid connection" -lost me
Not sure what it is, hope it helps though cities-today.com/north-texas-...
"The system combines wind and solar generation with energy storage and a grid connection" -lost me
Not sure what it is, hope it helps though cities-today.com/north-texas-...
"Japanese roads don't permit high speeds, defaulting to just 24 miles per hour in urban areas and 18 mph on side streets."
Visiting family in Florida and it is literally impossible to leave the neighborhood without entering a 40 mph road
Kei trucks "typically top out at around 37.3 miles per hour"
Visiting family in Florida and it is literally impossible to leave the neighborhood without entering a 40 mph road
Kei trucks "typically top out at around 37.3 miles per hour"
December 16, 2025 at 6:28 PM
"Japanese roads don't permit high speeds, defaulting to just 24 miles per hour in urban areas and 18 mph on side streets."
Visiting family in Florida and it is literally impossible to leave the neighborhood without entering a 40 mph road
Kei trucks "typically top out at around 37.3 miles per hour"
Visiting family in Florida and it is literally impossible to leave the neighborhood without entering a 40 mph road
Kei trucks "typically top out at around 37.3 miles per hour"
"One thing I like about Chinese cars is that so many are designed to prioritise tech and extreme comfort like American cars used to"
There are many reasons to dislike the US trend of giant trucks as everyday family vehicles, but also they're just terrible to drive
There are many reasons to dislike the US trend of giant trucks as everyday family vehicles, but also they're just terrible to drive
Here's something interesting: an "Avita 12" luxury electric sedan from China.
One thing I like about Chinese cars is that so many are designed to prioritise tech and extreme comfort like American cars used to. Seems to work too judging by that cup of water on the wingcam.
One thing I like about Chinese cars is that so many are designed to prioritise tech and extreme comfort like American cars used to. Seems to work too judging by that cup of water on the wingcam.
December 16, 2025 at 4:31 PM
"One thing I like about Chinese cars is that so many are designed to prioritise tech and extreme comfort like American cars used to"
There are many reasons to dislike the US trend of giant trucks as everyday family vehicles, but also they're just terrible to drive
There are many reasons to dislike the US trend of giant trucks as everyday family vehicles, but also they're just terrible to drive
"Mayor Daniel Lurie announced an executive directive that formally links police enforcement with public health data and transportation engineering"
Great to see this, the siloing between enforcement and engineering in American approaches to traffic safety is desperately in need of reform
Great to see this, the siloing between enforcement and engineering in American approaches to traffic safety is desperately in need of reform
Protected bike lanes, protected intersections, pedestrian islands, raised crosswalks. We know what needs to be done - hoping this Act and Mayoral Directive get improvements in the ground:
www.kqed.org/news/1206717...
www.kqed.org/news/1206717...
After Vision Zero, San Francisco ‘Overhauls’ Approach to Tackling Traffic Violence | KQED
Mayor Daniel Lurie’s street safety announcement followed news of the death of a 1-year-old child in the city’s Hayes Valley neighborhood in a car crash on Sunday.
www.kqed.org
December 16, 2025 at 2:36 PM
"Mayor Daniel Lurie announced an executive directive that formally links police enforcement with public health data and transportation engineering"
Great to see this, the siloing between enforcement and engineering in American approaches to traffic safety is desperately in need of reform
Great to see this, the siloing between enforcement and engineering in American approaches to traffic safety is desperately in need of reform
NY State Senator sponsoring a Stop Super Speeders bill "said some of his colleagues seem to believe that 'drivers are entitled to special treatment and that any efforts to hold drivers accountable impinges upon that God-given American right to be free behind the wheel'” stateline.org/2025/12/16/s...
States crack down on aggressive driving • Stateline
State legislators are taking steps to curb aggressive driving.
stateline.org
December 16, 2025 at 2:31 PM
NY State Senator sponsoring a Stop Super Speeders bill "said some of his colleagues seem to believe that 'drivers are entitled to special treatment and that any efforts to hold drivers accountable impinges upon that God-given American right to be free behind the wheel'” stateline.org/2025/12/16/s...
Reposted by Ken McLeod
Act NOW to oppose transferring corridor ownership and state funding for the proposed Shenandoah Rail Trail to the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation, which opposes the rail trail and seeks an economically infeasible excursion rail service instead: www.shenandoahrailtrail.org/news/project...
Project Ambushed: TAKE ACTION — Shenandoah Rail Trail
We had a BIG surprise this week (not in a good way) that threatens the future of the Shenandoah Rail Trail . A new proposal was presented at the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) meeting on Dec...
www.shenandoahrailtrail.org
December 13, 2025 at 3:31 AM
Act NOW to oppose transferring corridor ownership and state funding for the proposed Shenandoah Rail Trail to the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation, which opposes the rail trail and seeks an economically infeasible excursion rail service instead: www.shenandoahrailtrail.org/news/project...
“The parking in front of my house was removed on my side of the street, and I don't want you to give it back to me.”
Great energy from a local resident! @parkingreform.org
Great energy from a local resident! @parkingreform.org
“Some of the comments that we heard use language that makes it sound like that square footage of the street in front of someone's home belongs to them,” Narita said. www.smdailyjournal.com/news/local/w...
‘We have to sometimes be inconvenienced’
San Mateo commissioners didn’t mince words while weighing the future of controversial bike lanes that replaced parking spots in the North Central neighborhood — the city is growing, and residents
www.smdailyjournal.com
December 15, 2025 at 9:13 PM
“The parking in front of my house was removed on my side of the street, and I don't want you to give it back to me.”
Great energy from a local resident! @parkingreform.org
Great energy from a local resident! @parkingreform.org
"the agency’s in-house research team, is piloting two speed feedback signs at high-congestion points on the MBT"
DDOT saw >5,000 users/day in October, and "that one out of five of those users travelled more than 15 miles per hour during that period" aashtojournal.transportation.org/ddot-starts-...
DDOT saw >5,000 users/day in October, and "that one out of five of those users travelled more than 15 miles per hour during that period" aashtojournal.transportation.org/ddot-starts-...
AASHTO Journal - DDOT Starts Speed Management Pilot for Popular Trail
The District Department of Transportation, which oversees transportation for the City of Washington, D.C., recently launched a new pilot project to promote safety on the Metropolitan Branch Trail or M...
aashtojournal.transportation.org
December 15, 2025 at 4:44 PM
"the agency’s in-house research team, is piloting two speed feedback signs at high-congestion points on the MBT"
DDOT saw >5,000 users/day in October, and "that one out of five of those users travelled more than 15 miles per hour during that period" aashtojournal.transportation.org/ddot-starts-...
DDOT saw >5,000 users/day in October, and "that one out of five of those users travelled more than 15 miles per hour during that period" aashtojournal.transportation.org/ddot-starts-...
"Violence that occurs in the traffic realm is, by definition, traffic violence. A car crash is always a car crash...[if you] feel a sense of unease saying these words, it is because we have been raised in a culture that has systematically and deliberately worked to shift the blame for that violence"
"The impact was so loud that I can't even describe it right now," a Beacon Hill resident named Joe who witnessed the crash just told me.
He described hearing the car accelerate from near the public library before hearing the impact.
He described hearing the car accelerate from near the public library before hearing the impact.
December 15, 2025 at 4:38 PM
"Violence that occurs in the traffic realm is, by definition, traffic violence. A car crash is always a car crash...[if you] feel a sense of unease saying these words, it is because we have been raised in a culture that has systematically and deliberately worked to shift the blame for that violence"