Car bloat is making US streets dangerous

+ George Washington's exit strategy US Edition - Today's top story: Ever-larger cars and trucks are causing a safety crisis on US streets – here's how communities can fight back [View in browser]( US Edition | 5 August 2023 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( The U.S. is a car-centric society, and those vehicles are getting bigger. Light trucks – a category that includes minivans, SUVs and pickups – account for three-quarters of the new car market, and many models are getting larger. That’s bad news for pedestrians and cyclists, who are at increasing risk in crashes. Kevin Krizek, a professor of planning at the University of Colorado Boulder, believes it’s time for local governments to start pushing back and [making streets safer for people not in cars](. Through measures like reserving more parking for compact cars and creating car-free zones around schools, Krizek argues, city governments and residents can reclaim the right to travel safely on public streets. This week we also liked articles about [Mount Sinai](, the [evolution of housecats]( and the [collective effervescence experienced at Taylor Swift concerts](. Jennifer Weeks Senior Environment + Cities Editor Retractable bollards can be used to signal priority areas on streets for smaller vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians. Eugene Nekrasov/Getty images Plus [Ever-larger cars and trucks are causing a safety crisis on US streets – here’s how communities can fight back]( Kevin J. Krizek, University of Colorado Boulder Cars are getting bigger on US roads, and that’s increasing pedestrian and cyclist deaths. A transport scholar identifies community-level strategies for making streets safer. Who run the world? Cats! Grace Cary/Moment via Getty Images [Cats first finagled their way into human hearts and homes thousands of years ago – here’s how]( Jonathan Losos, Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis Natural selection changed just 13 genes to separate your Felix and Fluffy from their African wildcat ancestor. Special counsel Jack Smith delivers remarks on an indictment against former U.S. President Donald Trump on Aug. 1, 2023. Drew Angerer/Getty Images [A brief history of the Ku Klux Klan Acts: 1870s laws to protect Black voters, ignored for decades, now being used against Trump]( Joseph Patrick Kelly, College of Charleston One of the charges against Donald Trump dates back to the 1870s and was designed to give the federal government the power to ensure states held free and fair elections. - [Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour is a potent reminder that the internet is not real life]( Aarushi Bhandari, Davidson College Media outlets increasingly construct narratives about collective reality based on what’s happening on social media. - [Tourists search for Mount Sinai in Saudi Arabia – but does a geographical location for pivotal Bible event even exist?]( Jacob F. Love, University of Tennessee A scholar of the Hebrew Bible argues that very little is known about the location of Mount Sinai, and it is likely that it was once part of a foundational legend. - [George Washington knew when it was time to go, unlike Trump, because the founders worried about the judgment of history]( Maurizio Valsania, Università di Torino When America was young, its leaders had no trouble retiring from public service and public life. That’s not universally true now. - [Online romance scams: Research reveals scammers’ tactics – and how to defend against them]( - [Trump may try to delay his first federal trial – it’s a common legal strategy to fend off a criminal conviction]( - [Most Americans support NASA – but don’t think it should prioritize sending people to space]( - [From Chinatowns to ethnoburbs and beyond, where Chinese people settle reflects changing wealth levels and political climates]( - [‘Knowledge of self’: How a key phrase from Islam became a pillar of hip-hop]( - [Why homes often feel warmer than the thermostat suggests – and what to do about it]( - [Donors give more when asked to help people get back on their feet instead of meeting immediate needs – new research]( The Conversation Quiz 🧠- Here’s the first question of [this week’s edition:]( The Justice Department announced a new federal indictment of former President Donald Trump on Aug. 1. With which of these felonies was Trump charged? - A. Conspiracy - B. Treason - C. Embezzlement - D. Impersonating an officer [Test your knowledge]( - - More of The Conversation Like this newsletter? You might be interested in our weekly and biweekly emails: • [Weekly Highlights]( • [Science Editors' Picks]( • [This Week in Religion]( • [Politics Weekly]( • [Global Perspectives]( • [Global Economy & Business]( Trying out new social media? Follow us: • [Threads]( • [Bluesky]( • [Spoutible]( • [Mastodon]( • [Post.news]( • [LinkedIn]( - - About The Conversation We're a nonprofit news organization dedicated to [helping academic experts share ideas with the public](. We can give away our articles thanks to the help of foundations, universities and readers like you. [Donate now to support research-based journalism]( [The Conversation]( You’re receiving this newsletter from [The Conversation]( 303 Wyman Street, Suite 300 Waltham, MA 02451 [Forward to a friend]( • [Unsubscribe](