Steven Higashide
@stevenhigashide.com
Fighting for clean transportation at @ucsusa.bsky.social. Author, BETTER BUSES, BETTER CITIES + JUSTICE AND THE INTERSTATES. Posts my own opinion.
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. (🧵👇)
Another fact underscoring the descent of USDOT: Elaine Chao (Trump 1 transpo secretary) resigned in protest after the January 6 attacks.
Sean Duffy described the 1/6 insurrectionists as people "peacefully walking, giving themselves a tour of the Capitol." www.mediamatters.org/fox-news/fox...
Sean Duffy described the 1/6 insurrectionists as people "peacefully walking, giving themselves a tour of the Capitol." www.mediamatters.org/fox-news/fox...
Why is the Dept of Transportation trying to torpedo NYC congestion pricing? Why - in God’s name - is Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on TV smearing the Minnesotans killed by ICE? For @newrepublic.com, I show Trump has turned USDOT into an authoritarian weapon. newrepublic.com/article/2051...
How Trump Weaponized the Department of Transportation
The policies that govern how we get from place to place are usually immune to partisanship. This administration is using them to advance Trump’s authoritarian agenda.
newrepublic.com
February 2, 2026 at 3:59 PM
Another fact underscoring the descent of USDOT: Elaine Chao (Trump 1 transpo secretary) resigned in protest after the January 6 attacks.
Sean Duffy described the 1/6 insurrectionists as people "peacefully walking, giving themselves a tour of the Capitol." www.mediamatters.org/fox-news/fox...
Sean Duffy described the 1/6 insurrectionists as people "peacefully walking, giving themselves a tour of the Capitol." www.mediamatters.org/fox-news/fox...
Reposted by Steven Higashide
"Nobody feels like it's safe to ride the public transport, the buses, the light rail" because federal agents are stalking transit stops.
"We shouldn’t have to worry if we’re going to have guns pulled on us on the way to work at all, but this is our reality.”
www.youtube.com/shorts/b9Rnd...
"We shouldn’t have to worry if we’re going to have guns pulled on us on the way to work at all, but this is our reality.”
www.youtube.com/shorts/b9Rnd...
Famed Indigenous chef Sean Sherman: My employee was taken.
“We were just trying to get him medication… But he was already gone.”
Last week, the internationally renowned Indigenous chef Sean Sherman told reporter Nate Halverson that federal agents detained…
www.youtube.com
February 1, 2026 at 11:06 PM
"Nobody feels like it's safe to ride the public transport, the buses, the light rail" because federal agents are stalking transit stops.
"We shouldn’t have to worry if we’re going to have guns pulled on us on the way to work at all, but this is our reality.”
www.youtube.com/shorts/b9Rnd...
"We shouldn’t have to worry if we’re going to have guns pulled on us on the way to work at all, but this is our reality.”
www.youtube.com/shorts/b9Rnd...
Reposted by Steven Higashide
Can't stress enough that no arm of any GOP-controlled governing body is actively at work doing anything to improve the lives of Americans. Even the typically staid and bipartisan USDoT has been transformed into an instrument of self-dealing and revenge.
newrepublic.com/article/2051...
newrepublic.com/article/2051...
How Trump Weaponized the Department of Transportation
The policies that govern how we get from place to place are usually immune to partisanship. This administration is using them to advance Trump’s authoritarian agenda.
newrepublic.com
January 30, 2026 at 4:11 PM
Can't stress enough that no arm of any GOP-controlled governing body is actively at work doing anything to improve the lives of Americans. Even the typically staid and bipartisan USDoT has been transformed into an instrument of self-dealing and revenge.
newrepublic.com/article/2051...
newrepublic.com/article/2051...
Interesting finding - another reminder that transportation is a network and a change in one link has wide-ranging ripples. And underscores how parochialism is the death of good transportation - politicians all want projects in "their" district but that's often not what brings the most benefit.
A strange but true finding about NYC congestion pricing:
Drivers’ time savings have overwhelmingly gone to those traveling *outside* the toll zone (i.e., driving from Brooklyn to Queens or within NJ) – not those headed into Manhattan.
Me, in Bloomberg 🧵
Drivers’ time savings have overwhelmingly gone to those traveling *outside* the toll zone (i.e., driving from Brooklyn to Queens or within NJ) – not those headed into Manhattan.
Me, in Bloomberg 🧵
Congestion Pricing’s Unexpected Winners: Suburban Drivers
NYC’s controversial toll program hasn’t just sped up trips inside Manhattan, a new paper finds. It’s easing traffic in outer boroughs and neighboring counties.
www.bloomberg.com
January 30, 2026 at 3:13 PM
Interesting finding - another reminder that transportation is a network and a change in one link has wide-ranging ripples. And underscores how parochialism is the death of good transportation - politicians all want projects in "their" district but that's often not what brings the most benefit.
Reposted by Steven Higashide
Political scientists have a term for how Trump governs: “Competitive authoritarianism.” Like Hungary under Orbán, he was elected but uses the gov't to abuse the law. trib.al/hY3VbAW
The DOT is usually immune from this partisanship. Instead, they're using it to advance Trump’s authoritarian agenda.
The DOT is usually immune from this partisanship. Instead, they're using it to advance Trump’s authoritarian agenda.
January 29, 2026 at 11:12 PM
Political scientists have a term for how Trump governs: “Competitive authoritarianism.” Like Hungary under Orbán, he was elected but uses the gov't to abuse the law. trib.al/hY3VbAW
The DOT is usually immune from this partisanship. Instead, they're using it to advance Trump’s authoritarian agenda.
The DOT is usually immune from this partisanship. Instead, they're using it to advance Trump’s authoritarian agenda.
Why is the Dept of Transportation trying to torpedo NYC congestion pricing? Why - in God’s name - is Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on TV smearing the Minnesotans killed by ICE? For @newrepublic.com, I show Trump has turned USDOT into an authoritarian weapon. newrepublic.com/article/2051...
How Trump Weaponized the Department of Transportation
The policies that govern how we get from place to place are usually immune to partisanship. This administration is using them to advance Trump’s authoritarian agenda.
newrepublic.com
January 29, 2026 at 2:55 PM
Why is the Dept of Transportation trying to torpedo NYC congestion pricing? Why - in God’s name - is Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on TV smearing the Minnesotans killed by ICE? For @newrepublic.com, I show Trump has turned USDOT into an authoritarian weapon. newrepublic.com/article/2051...
Reposted by Steven Higashide
"Non-violent tactics that waste a company’s time or money are really effective. For Enterprise, we’ve made and cancelled car reservations, saying the roads are too icy. At Home Depot... people [lined] up to buy ice scrapers and then getting in line to return them, in a way that clogs the lines."
"We had one hotel publicly refuse to house ICE, which became a big national news story when DHS went after them. That’s a hotel we were targeting, and it was mostly because of our pressure. We had two more hotels temporarily shut down to avoid housing ICE..."
www.laborpolitics.com/p/how-minnea...
www.laborpolitics.com/p/how-minnea...
How to Block ICE In Your City
Minneapolis organizer Aru Shiney-Ajay on effective tactics to disrupt ICE—and the need to target corporate collaborators
www.laborpolitics.com
January 27, 2026 at 2:05 PM
"Non-violent tactics that waste a company’s time or money are really effective. For Enterprise, we’ve made and cancelled car reservations, saying the roads are too icy. At Home Depot... people [lined] up to buy ice scrapers and then getting in line to return them, in a way that clogs the lines."
The Crossroads conference is tomorrow in DC - I'll be there and hope to see you as well. The transportation equity research the world needs to hear and #TRBAM doesn't want you to see ;)
For those who work on equity issues in transportation, this was a disruptive year, but researchers and advocates aren't going anywhere. Tomorrow theyll prove it.
My new @usa.streetsblog.org piece reflecting on #TRBAM week and the present political moment.
usa.streetsblog.org/2026/01/14/o...
My new @usa.streetsblog.org piece reflecting on #TRBAM week and the present political moment.
usa.streetsblog.org/2026/01/14/o...
Opinion: Transportation Researchers Still Care About Equity. This Week They’re Proving It — Streetsblog USA
This Thursday, progressives in transportation will fight back against the Trump administration.
usa.streetsblog.org
January 14, 2026 at 8:11 PM
The Crossroads conference is tomorrow in DC - I'll be there and hope to see you as well. The transportation equity research the world needs to hear and #TRBAM doesn't want you to see ;)
Reposted by Steven Higashide
Times are a changing here in CT. The land "East of the River" (That being the Connecticut River which bisects the state flowing from north to south) is seeing a surge in new long overdue housing projects that rivals far wealthier and far more in demand parts of CT
www.ctinsider.com/journalinqui...
www.ctinsider.com/journalinqui...
Towns east of the Connecticut River moved forward on thousands of new housing units in 2025
An overhaul of the languishing Enfield Square Mall could begin in the spring.
www.ctinsider.com
January 2, 2026 at 12:40 PM
Times are a changing here in CT. The land "East of the River" (That being the Connecticut River which bisects the state flowing from north to south) is seeing a surge in new long overdue housing projects that rivals far wealthier and far more in demand parts of CT
www.ctinsider.com/journalinqui...
www.ctinsider.com/journalinqui...
Reposted by Steven Higashide
this is the most incredible interview i’ve ever read. the aei guy tries so hard to get sliwa to trash mamdani and he simply won’t. he also brings up flaco (rip) unprompted.
www.wsj.com/opinion/free...
www.wsj.com/opinion/free...
![How would you describe Mamdani's politics?
He's not a communist. People call him that. That's ridiculous. He is a democratic socialist. David Dinkins [New York mayor from 1990-93] was a democratic socialist. We've had a long history in New York City of socialism.
What's the biggest challenge Mamdani faces as mayor!
I don't think the Zohranistas totally understand the fiscal irresponsibility we just went through with the Adams years and how little money there's left.
There's not enough money to do all the things that Zohran wants to do.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ssxnmhdtz6le6nxu7jfhglz6/bafkreic7pxra6vmrjmqo4jmw4vdagiluj6xtkovqb3f4ex7fc55m7pzaxu@jpeg)
January 1, 2026 at 11:16 PM
this is the most incredible interview i’ve ever read. the aei guy tries so hard to get sliwa to trash mamdani and he simply won’t. he also brings up flaco (rip) unprompted.
www.wsj.com/opinion/free...
www.wsj.com/opinion/free...
It’s encouraging to 1) see Mike Flynn named as NYC transportation commissioner and 2) see him standing with Mayor Mamdani at his private swearing-in ceremony, which the NYT found surprising www.nytimes.com/2026/01/01/n...
Mamdani Names Transportation Chief With Job of Making Buses Fast and Free
www.nytimes.com
January 1, 2026 at 6:58 PM
It’s encouraging to 1) see Mike Flynn named as NYC transportation commissioner and 2) see him standing with Mayor Mamdani at his private swearing-in ceremony, which the NYT found surprising www.nytimes.com/2026/01/01/n...
Reposted by Steven Higashide
Thank you to @vanhollen.senate.gov and @fetterman.senate.gov for reintroducing the Moving Transit Forward Act 🚌🚇, which would create a much needed federal program to fund increased transit service across the country. www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-r...
December 12, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Thank you to @vanhollen.senate.gov and @fetterman.senate.gov for reintroducing the Moving Transit Forward Act 🚌🚇, which would create a much needed federal program to fund increased transit service across the country. www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-r...
Reposted by Steven Higashide
Um, ok...
This paper forthcoming at the JOP provides evidence that rent control in Germany actually made tenants MASSIVELY *less* NIMBY.
This result was in the opposite direction of the authors' pre-registered expectations.
And the effect sizes are, truly, massive.
This paper forthcoming at the JOP provides evidence that rent control in Germany actually made tenants MASSIVELY *less* NIMBY.
This result was in the opposite direction of the authors' pre-registered expectations.
And the effect sizes are, truly, massive.
December 11, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Um, ok...
This paper forthcoming at the JOP provides evidence that rent control in Germany actually made tenants MASSIVELY *less* NIMBY.
This result was in the opposite direction of the authors' pre-registered expectations.
And the effect sizes are, truly, massive.
This paper forthcoming at the JOP provides evidence that rent control in Germany actually made tenants MASSIVELY *less* NIMBY.
This result was in the opposite direction of the authors' pre-registered expectations.
And the effect sizes are, truly, massive.
"any savings for car buyers will vanish quickly as drivers are forced to shell out more cash at the fuel pump..."
Trump fuel economy rollback may make cars cheaper, but higher gas bills will absorb savings reut.rs/4q0SCnE
Trump fuel economy rollback may make cars cheaper, but higher gas bills will absorb savings
The Trump administration's proposal to roll back Biden-era vehicle fuel efficiency standards may save automakers in the U.S. tens of billions of dollars and potentially lower upfront purchase costs for American car buyers.
reut.rs
December 11, 2025 at 2:46 PM
"any savings for car buyers will vanish quickly as drivers are forced to shell out more cash at the fuel pump..."
The trucking industry contributes $60 billion to surface transportation every year. A fair share would be closer to $150 billion.
Important fact to keep in mind as Congress debates a new transportation bill and the trucking industry lobbies for lower taxes.
Important fact to keep in mind as Congress debates a new transportation bill and the trucking industry lobbies for lower taxes.
The trucking industry keeps our economy moving—but that doesn’t give it a free pass for its negative impacts. From pollution in frontline communities to heat-trapping emissions and damaged roads and bridges, this fossil-fueled sector must pay its fair share.
Trucks Cause the Lion’s Share of Road Damage—and Their Industry Wants You to Keep Paying for It
There is no reason for US taxpayers to foot the bill for a trillion-dollar per year industry.
blog.ucs.org
November 3, 2025 at 5:30 PM
The trucking industry contributes $60 billion to surface transportation every year. A fair share would be closer to $150 billion.
Important fact to keep in mind as Congress debates a new transportation bill and the trucking industry lobbies for lower taxes.
Important fact to keep in mind as Congress debates a new transportation bill and the trucking industry lobbies for lower taxes.
Was glad to see this. As @davereichmuth.bsky.social wrote for @ucs.org, Toyota has called for the end of EV tax credits; it even asked its employees to lobby Congress to kill California's clean car rules blog.ucs.org/dave-reichmu....
October 27, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Was glad to see this. As @davereichmuth.bsky.social wrote for @ucs.org, Toyota has called for the end of EV tax credits; it even asked its employees to lobby Congress to kill California's clean car rules blog.ucs.org/dave-reichmu....
Last summer, I took a road trip through the Adirondacks in an electric car. It was drama-free - as I wrote for @ucs.org - largely because of a recently added fast charger near "Frontier Town," a convenience store that sells camping supplies and Pakistani food blog.ucs.org/steven-higas...
My Drama-Free EV Road Trip Through New York’s Wild North
The key to the trip was a recently-built charging station in rural Upstate.
blog.ucs.org
October 24, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Last summer, I took a road trip through the Adirondacks in an electric car. It was drama-free - as I wrote for @ucs.org - largely because of a recently added fast charger near "Frontier Town," a convenience store that sells camping supplies and Pakistani food blog.ucs.org/steven-higas...
Reposted by Steven Higashide
It's a sad day when our leaders turn their back on long established science to try and roll back public health protections while the dangers of climate change are palpable on a daily basis. We cannot let this stand. www.ucs.org/about/news/t...
Trump Administration Launches Broadside Attack on Science-Backed Endangerment Finding, Public Health Protections
Trump Administration Launches Broadside Attack on Science-Backed Endangerment Finding, Climate and Public Health Protections
www.ucs.org
July 29, 2025 at 6:50 PM
It's a sad day when our leaders turn their back on long established science to try and roll back public health protections while the dangers of climate change are palpable on a daily basis. We cannot let this stand. www.ucs.org/about/news/t...
Reposted by Steven Higashide
TONIGHT tune in to learn how to make your city's bus system better as we host a book talk with the author of "Better Buses, Better Cities" @stevenhigashide.com
actionnetwork.org/events/bette...
actionnetwork.org/events/bette...
"Better Buses, Better Cities" Book Talk with author Steven Higashide and Transbay Coalition
Join Transbay Coalition's book club for a talk with the author of "Better Buses, Better Cities: How to Plan, Run, and Win the Fight for Effective Transit" Steven Higashide! The virtual event is open t...
actionnetwork.org
July 16, 2025 at 4:40 PM
TONIGHT tune in to learn how to make your city's bus system better as we host a book talk with the author of "Better Buses, Better Cities" @stevenhigashide.com
actionnetwork.org/events/bette...
actionnetwork.org/events/bette...
Reposted by Steven Higashide
Excited to host a virtual book talk with the author of "Better Buses, Better Cities: How to Plan, Run, and Win the Fight for Effective Transit" @stevenhigashide.com. Register today! actionnetwork.org/events/bette...
Get your book through @islandpress.bsky.social at islandpress.org/books/better...
Get your book through @islandpress.bsky.social at islandpress.org/books/better...
actionnetwork.org
June 30, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Excited to host a virtual book talk with the author of "Better Buses, Better Cities: How to Plan, Run, and Win the Fight for Effective Transit" @stevenhigashide.com. Register today! actionnetwork.org/events/bette...
Get your book through @islandpress.bsky.social at islandpress.org/books/better...
Get your book through @islandpress.bsky.social at islandpress.org/books/better...
Reposted by Steven Higashide
useful piece for people who might be wavering on Zohran. from the outside he seems like a smart guy who is willing to build alliances with more experienced folks like Lander, I think that is key
Here it is: my urbanist NYC voter guide. While Zellnor Myrie and Brad Lander are (by far) the best candidates, you’re going to have to rank either Zohran or Cuomo if you want your vote to count.
I dove deep into this decision and came to the conclusion that Zohran is the superior choice.
I dove deep into this decision and came to the conclusion that Zohran is the superior choice.
An Urbanist NYC Voter Guide
And the pragmatic case for Zohran Mamdani over Andrew Cuomo
bettercities.substack.com
June 18, 2025 at 1:28 PM
useful piece for people who might be wavering on Zohran. from the outside he seems like a smart guy who is willing to build alliances with more experienced folks like Lander, I think that is key
Reposted by Steven Higashide
"The Elizabeth Line in London is used by more than twice as many people as expected, for example. For some reason, this is not being treated as a massive embarrassment, nearly as bad as a 100% cost overrun." backofmind.substack.com/p/department...
department of what now?
voices from the beehive, part 4
backofmind.substack.com
June 6, 2025 at 3:14 PM
"The Elizabeth Line in London is used by more than twice as many people as expected, for example. For some reason, this is not being treated as a massive embarrassment, nearly as bad as a 100% cost overrun." backofmind.substack.com/p/department...
Reposted by Steven Higashide
Cuts have consequences, illustrated. As seen on TV 📺
June 3, 2025 at 12:45 AM
Cuts have consequences, illustrated. As seen on TV 📺
“Everybody will say, ‘Silicon Valley’s reinventing the bus again.' But it’s more like they’re reinventing a worse bus”: @kevshen.bsky.social in @grist.org grist.org/transportati...
Uber's new shuttles look suspiciously familiar to anyone who's taken a bus
Beyond the jokes about Uber inventing bus lines are serious questions about what its shuttle service will mean for struggling transit systems, air quality, and congestion.
grist.org
June 4, 2025 at 1:40 PM
“Everybody will say, ‘Silicon Valley’s reinventing the bus again.' But it’s more like they’re reinventing a worse bus”: @kevshen.bsky.social in @grist.org grist.org/transportati...