Transport for London is testing out a new dust suppressant that will be sprayed on streets in 15 locations throughout London. The suppressant, which is made up of calcium magnesium acetate, is designed to absorb pollution from the air and “glue” it to the pavement.
technology
High tech hitchhiking as an alternative to transit
Zimride, a Silicon Valley start-up, allows people that need rides and people with cars traveling the same route to find each other. The New York Times reports that, as an alternative to transit or intercity …
Can congestion create kilowatts? Good vibrations from California
California Assemblyman Mike Gatto recently introduced a bill that would require the California Energy Commission to explore the possibility of generating electricity from the rumble of traffic on highways in the state. Piezoelectric technology, which …
IBM Global Commuter Pain Survey: Congestion down, complaints up
The fourth annual “Global Commuter Pain” survey report released by IBM has revealed that although global traffic congestion is lower in 2011, driver complaints have increased in the same time period. Mexico City was rated …
Testing now: Vehicles that communicate with each other to avoid crashes
US DOT launched a major test of innovative vehicle safety technology using cars and trucks that will communicate hazards in real time. The connected vehicle test will go on for a year in Ann Arbor, …
Big fixes for our big transportation problems
In a recent Wall Street Journal article, Robert Puentes suggests several big changes that could boost the economy and improve transportation decision-making: Encourage collaboration between the federal government, states, metro areas, and shippers and develop …
Google lobbies Nevada to allow self-driving cars.
Google has been testing cars that drive themselves, known as autonomous vehicles, and is now looking for a state that will allow them on the roads. Legislation to allow them has been introduced in Nevada …
Glass roads?
“There’s 25,000 square miles of road surfaces, parking lots and driveways in the lower 48 states. If we covered that with solar panels with just 15 percent efficiency, we’d produce three times more electricity than …
S.F. parking meters to alert drivers when spots are open
The new meters will send messages to smart phones to help drivers avoid cruising in search of a parking space. Read more here.
Avoiding traffic jams
Going beyond smart parking meters, a software application looks at your personal travel patterns over a period of time and makes predictions about the best way to get to where you are going. “According to …