In this episode of Look Both Ways, David & Wes discuss how robotaxis affect urban resilience after a blackout brought mayhem to San Francisco’s streets. As robotaxis expand in cities across the United States and Europe, how will they react to emergencies and unforeseen events? If autonomous vehicles freeze en masse, transportation networks could grind to a halt.

Other topics:

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Additional resources:

Info about the Waymo meltdown during the San Francisco blackout

David’s recent Bloomberg article questioning whether AVs really are safer than humans

Wes' paper with Peyton Gibson on the disparate approaches cities take to maintaining roads and sidewalks

Wes' paper with Nick Coppola about municipal policy impacts sidewalk availability & width

Wes' paper with Nick Coppola about how much static obstructions affect the clear width of sidewalks

David’s 2025 article in Bloomberg about Denver’s innovative sidewalk program

Crossroads, the “TRB alternative” taking place in DC Jan 15

David’s 2025 article about transportation research censorship under Trump

Look Both Ways with David & Wes 

Today, we're tossing our regularly scheduled programming out the window in order to recap the transportation news that made us laugh, cry, and shout in 2025 — and then we share what we'll be looking out for in 2026.

And yes, we still have some rail drinks at the end...

Some additional resources:

David’s favorite dress from Toronto’s 2025 bike wars

David’s most promising innovation: DADSS

David’s favorite article of the year, about vehicle blind zones changing over time

David’s most thought-provoking book: More and More and More by Jean-Baptiste Fressoz

Music by Charlie Van Stee

Email us at [email protected]

Look Both Ways with David & Wes 

Today, we're talking about:

Some additional resources:

The rise and fall of Rad Power Bikes: From breakout success to the brink of shutdown

CPSC Warns Consumers to Immediately Stop Using Batteries for E-Bikes from Rad Power Bikes Due to Fire Hazard; Risk of Serious Injury or Death

Music by Charlie Van Stee

Email us at [email protected]

Look Both Ways with David & Wes 

Today, we talk about:

Some additional resources:

Politico Article: Trump administration proposals seek to eliminate transit funding

Politico Article: Graves pans DOT proposal axing mass transit account

Music by Charlie Van Stee

Email us at [email protected]

Look Both Ways with David & Wes 

Today, we talk about:

Music by Charlie Van Stee

Email us at [email protected]

Look Both Ways with David & Wes 

Today, we talk about:

Here is David's article on the Anti-Car Books:

And "The Traffic Noise Externality: Costs, Incidence and Policy Implications" paper by Enrico Moretti & Harrison Wheeler: 

Music by Charlie Van Stee

Email us at [email protected]

Look Both Ways with David & Wes 

Today, we talk about:

Here is David's article (the first of its kind) on Why US Cities Pay Too Much for Buses:

And some other resources that might help your cause:

Music by Charlie Van Stee

Email us at [email protected]

Look Both Ways with David & Wes 

Today, we talk about:

If you are interested, here is David's new article on Cities & Self-Driving Cars:

and his old one on MaaS:

Here is Wes' paper on how cities with more protected & separated bike lanes are safer for everyone:

(if you don't like academic papers, this video explains our results: www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwYeNz1jCkM)

as well as the back-and-forth...

Music by Charlie Van Stee

Email us at [email protected]

Look Both Ways with David & Wes 

Today, we talk about:

If you are interested, here is David’s article on the popularity of automated traffic enforcement:

Music by Charlie Van Stee

Email us at [email protected]

Look Both Ways with David & Wes 

Today, we talk about:

If you are interested, here is Wes’ paper about Paratransit:

And David’s article on the growing divide in road safety between the US and Canada:

Music by Charlie Van Stee

Email us at [email protected]