SEPTA’s AI gun detection pilot aims to reduce gun violence, address staffing concerns

Through the six-month pilot, Pennsylvania-based ZeroEyes will use the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority’s existing camera system to spot any object in the shape of a gun, but critics say greater surveillance creates risk of misidentification.

By Stephenie Overman • Jan. 5, 2023

Federal safety regulators begin investigation into self-driving taxis

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is delving into reported incidents of GM’s Cruise autonomous ride-hailing vehicles hard braking or becoming disabled.

By Dan Zukowski • Dec. 22, 2022

Bridging the road safety divide with connected car data.

Whether in a motor vehicle, on a bike or motorcycle or as a pedestrian, road and traffic safety remains a serious problem.

By Harnit Anand, Manager, Global Innovation, Future Roads & Smart City Incubation • Dec. 12, 2022

Portland, Oregon, passed a controversial homelessness mitigation plan. Here’s why and what comes next.

Amid discontent over the city’s homelessness crisis, Portland’s city council passed resolutions to address the issue. But opponents say parts of the plan won’t work and appear politically motivated. 

By Katie Pyzyk • Dec. 6, 2022

Smart cities in 2022 - what you need to know

Rail expansion, emerging technologies such as digital twins and air taxis and new approaches to transit and housing have driven the news this year. Catch up with highlights from Smart Cities Dive.

By Danielle McLean • Dec. 2, 2022

Charlotte phone app warns drivers of behavior that puts pedestrians, others at risk

As part of the North Carolina city’s ongoing Vision Zero campaign, drivers using the TravelSafely app will be alerted when they are driving too fast in certain areas or approaching pedestrians in crosswalks. 

By Danielle McLean • Nov. 23, 2022

New gun-control laws forge ahead in Columbus, Ohio

Some cities have recently restricted the use and possession of guns. Columbus is targeting large-capacity magazines and unsafe handling while eyeing universal background checks and an assault weapon ban.

By Danielle McLean • Nov. 11, 2022

Auto industry reassesses autonomous vehicles, creating uncertainty for city leaders

AV developers promise safer, more sustainable mobility in cities but are dogged by crashes and errors. Are better technologies just around the corner?

By Dan Zukowski • Nov. 7, 2022

E-scooter accidents surge as the micromobility devices’ popularity grows

The number of scooter-related emergency room visits grew nearly 450% in the U.S. between 2017 and 2021, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

By Charles Pekow • Nov. 1, 2022

Landlords bear the burden of gun safety in their communities

Most states leave tough decisions about the complicated issue of firearm restrictions to multifamily property owners.

By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Oct. 12, 2022

When Canada geese swarm cities, officials flock to solutions

Once on the brink of extinction, Canada geese have roared to a comeback. Today, their overpopulation in much of the U.S. leads to feces-contaminated parks and waterways.

By Adina Solomon • Oct. 6, 2022

Connected vehicle insights help Washington D.C. better understand school zone traffic safety

The district uses crash, volume, speed and demographic information from Safety View by GM Future Roads and INRIX to help reduce injuries among children.

Sept. 26, 2022

Community involvement needed in traffic safety strategies, Vision Zero manager says

A systematic approach to planning that assumes human error was among the strategies urged at a Washington, D.C.-area summit. Meanwhile, U.S. DOT seeks public input on vulnerable individuals and intersection safety.

By Charles Pekow • Sept. 23, 2022

To break an impasse in connected vehicle tech, transportation leaders call for a federal policy framework

A national framework could address the chicken-and-egg problem of who should invest in the technology first, carmakers or communities, transportation experts say. Without such guidance, each is hesitant to move forward.

By Michael Brady • Sept. 19, 2022

With attacks on public transit up, cities struggle to make riders feel safer

Already grappling with depressed ridership, U.S. cities are responding to increased violent crime on public transportation, which recent analyses have reported, with “transit ambassadors” and other approaches.

By Dan Zukowski • Sept. 14, 2022

San Diego adds social worker to assist homeless public library patrons

The two-year pilot will provide support for unhoused individuals experiencing substance use or mental health issues instead of relying on untrained library staff to do so. 

By Danielle McLean • Sept. 12, 2022

Automatic braking systems have trouble seeing pedestrians at night: IIHS test

Automatic emergency braking systems, a standard feature on most new cars, did well in identifying pedestrians during the day but performed poorly at night in tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

By Dan Zukowski • Aug. 31, 2022

Smart streetscapes center plans community-driven research in 3 cities

Harlem, New York; New Brunswick, New Jersey; and West Palm Beach, Florida, will become test beds for community-informed engineering research on smart cities technologies.

By Maria Rachal • Aug. 17, 2022

For his new smart desert city, billionaire Marc Lore eyes Nevada, Utah and Arizona

During a town hall in New York City, the Diapers.com founder and his team envisioned Telosa having dozens of “15-minute cities” and a resident-controlled endowment to help pay for government services.

By Adina Solomon • July 29, 2022

Coral Gables, Florida, deploys drones designed to respond to emergencies sooner than police

Bond's Air Guardian surveils for threats during large events, identifies suspects during ongoing criminal activity and assesses fires or natural disasters before first responders can arrive. 

By Danielle McLean • July 26, 2022

Miami Beach pilot aims to address loud cars with noise-detecting cameras

Following implementation in Knoxville, Tennessee, and New York City, the Florida city is looking to use technology to help crack down on noise violations from vehicles.

By Danielle McLean • July 22, 2022

After a bridge collapse, Pittsburgh greenlights comprehensive bridge evaluation

The “City of Bridges” approved a two-year, $1.5 million contract on Tuesday for engineering review of all 150 city-owned bridges, with a report expected by October.  

By Austyn Gaffney • July 20, 2022

Some cities are trying to secure abortion access. Can they succeed?

City leaders and prosecutors are vowing to protect those seeking an abortion as multiple states implement restrictions. Experts say the effectiveness of their methods is unclear.

By Karen Kroll • July 18, 2022

NYC seeks to cut gun crime-related testing time in half with dedicated DNA unit

The science-driven unit aims to accelerate testing on gun crime evidence to 30 days or less, which the city says will expedite cases.

By Katie Pyzyk • July 12, 2022

Pedestrian deaths continue to rise, with Sun Belt cities the most dangerous: report

Between 2010 and 2020, 81 of the top 100 metropolitan areas grew deadlier for pedestrians, with Sun Belt cities having some of the worst track records, according to the latest Dangerous by Design report, released today.

By Dan Zukowski • July 12, 2022