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Tech NewsAirlines Have Been Banning Booze on Flights as a Covid-19 Precautionary Measure
A basic measure to mitigate the spread of the novel coronavirus is to maintain a distance of at least six feet between yourself and another person. But this becomes tricky in the tight quarters of a commercial aircraft, particularly for flight crew who may be required to make their way through aisles to service passengers. … Continued
By Catie Keck -
Tech NewsCoronavirus Is Delaying MTA’s Completion of Contactless Subway Payments
New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority is delaying rollout of its contactless payment system for the subway and bus systems, which was originally scheduled for October. Now, as a result of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, completion of the system is reportedly being pushed back into December. The system, OMNY, uses contactless credit cards or non-PIN-restricted debit … Continued
By Catie Keck -
Tech NewsCitibike, Revel Shut Down in Coordination With New York City Curfew
Joining Minneapolis, Louisville, Philadelphia, Chicago, Los Angeles and the nation’s capitol, New York City instituted a curfew last night meant to curb ongoing protests against lynchings of black and brown Americans by police. For reasons unknown, and at Mayor de Blasio’s behest, this curfew also included service stoppages for app-booked mobility options like Citibike and … Continued
By Avery Ellis -
Tech NewsTransportationYou Can Carry This Inflatable Electric Bike in a Backpack
They’re better for the environment than a gas-guzzling car, but the other big advantage of commuting every day on an electric bike is that they’re easier to park. With Poimo, a prototype inflatable e-bike created at the University of Tokyo, you don’t even need to find a bike rack when you get to work, just … Continued
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Tech NewsTransportationLyft, Like Uber, Will Also Now Require Drivers and Passengers Wear Face Coverings
Lyft, which has somehow spent the last few months of the coronavirus pandemic merely suggesting passengers and drivers wear face coverings, said on Thursday that it will soon make it a requirement. Per CNN, the app will request that both parties agree to a “personal health certification” within a few weeks. Said update will inform … Continued
By Tom McKay -
EartherCoronavirus Has Taken a Paris Agreement-Size Chunk Out of US Emissions
New data shows how the coronavirus has continued to completely alter how we use roads. Traffic is way down and so are greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles. The reduction has been so dramatic, in fact, that it’s put the U.S. on track to meet its goals set forth in the Paris Agreement. The University of … Continued
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Tech NewsTransportationModes of Transportation, Ranked From Coolest to Least Cool
Even in the middle of a worldwide pandemic, rollerblading isn’t very cool. See, I’ve been spending a lot of time looking out my window (as one tends to do during The Quarantine), watching as the occasional jogger or delivery person with a pizza strapped to the back of their bike rides by. This got me … Continued
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Tech NewsThe Flying Pinto Was the Worst Idea in Flying Car History
What happens when you combine a car like the Ford Pinto with a plane like the Cessna 337? Nothing good, it turns out. People have been dreaming of flying cars for over a century now, with purely theoretical weird designs of the 1920s, and small-run novelties of the 1950s. But when two guys in California … Continued
By Matt Novak -
EartherCities Are Closing Streets to Cars During Coronavirus—They Should Make It Permanent
Oakland city officials kicked off a program Saturday to limit 74 miles of streets to only pedestrians and cyclists. That’s right: No cars, baby. This type of move is critical during the coronavirus pandemic. People are stuck inside but in need of fresh air and exercise. Finding space outside to do so safely with the … Continued
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EartherClimate ChangePublic Transit Is the Way to a Green New Deal
A new report shows that the majority of voters across party lines want to see massive transformation in the transportation sector if it means increasing access and funding for public transportation. And this report outlines exactly how the U.S. can accomplish that by 2030. A Green New Deal for transportation is here, and it’s pretty damn … Continued
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EartherClimate ChangeBernie Sanders’ and Joe Biden’s Transportation Plans Still Need Some Major Work
Transportation is the single biggest source of greenhouse gas pollution in the U.S. And not enough is being done to fix that by our current president (in fact, Trump wants to make the problem worse). With former Vice President Joe Biden and Senator Bernie Sanders both vying for the White House and working to highlight … Continued
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EartherClimate ChangeCoconut Oil Could Be the Next Disastrous Biofuel
In the Philippines, the coconut tree is called the tree of life due to its many uses and central role in the country’s economy. In Luzon, the most populated island in the country, coconut farms flush with green coconuts can be found on the coast, on top of hills, and in valleys alongside creeks and … Continued
Nithin Coca -
Tech NewsGoogle Maps Is Getting a New Look and Other Upgrades For Its 15th Birthday
It’s tough for most of us to recall what life was like before the invention of Google Maps. Remember printing out your MapQuest directions and trying to read and drive at the same time? Totally safe! For its 15th birthday, Google Maps is getting a fresh look on iOS and Android, along with more information … Continued
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EartherClimate ChangeThe UK Plans to Ban the Sale of Gas and Hybrid Cars by 2035
The UK is going hard in its game to ban cars. Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced at the launch of talks related to COP26, the next chapter of international climate talks, that his government would accelerate its ban on the sale of gas- and diesel-run vehicles from 2040 to 2035. Leaders are even adding hybrids … Continued
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EartherClimate ChangeNow Is the Perfect Time to Start Letting People Work From Home
While working from home is a luxury for some, it’s becoming a necessity for others. The world is currently witnessing its “largest work-from-home experiment,” as Bloomberg put it, due to the rapid spread of the Wuhan coronavirus that’s killed more people than the 2002-03 SARS outbreak. Many businesses across China are forcing workers to stay … Continued
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Tech NewsGadgetsRiding Segway’s S-Pod Feels Like Zooming Into the Future
For the able-bodied, walking, while healthy, can be a pain. That’s especially true in Las Vegas, where the Strip feels like a neverending sprawl of interconnected casinos and flashing neon lights. Given that I average around 20,000 steps a day while at CES, taking Segway-Ninebot’s new S-Pod—a self-balancing stroller—for a spin felt like a good … Continued
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Tech NewsElon Musk Dances Like Nobody’s Watching at Tesla Event in China
Billionaire tech founder Elon Musk made quite a splash in China today, where he took the stage to show off the Tesla Model 3 that’s made at the company’s new multibillion-dollar plant near Shanghai—the first outside of the U.S. The Tesla CEO was so happy, he started to dance. Or, at least we think that’s … Continued
By Matt Novak -
Tech NewsGadgetsSegway Makes a Self-Balancing Stroller for Adults
There were lots of great reasons to hate on the original Segway: it was overhyped, it was expensive, it was easy to fall off, but most disappointing was that it required extensive standing. We were promised a future with minimal physical exertion, and Segway-Ninebot’s new S-Pod personal transporter finally delivers that—almost two decades later. Like … Continued
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Tech NewsTransportationCuomo: Eyy, I’m Vetoing the Bill That Would End the NYPD’s E-Bike Crackdown Here
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has vetoed a state bill that would have legalized electric bikes and scooters the New York Post reported on Thursday. The bill passed with overwhelming support from legislators this summer, The move is a blow to delivery workers in NYC, who have been targeted by police for seizures and $500 fines. … Continued
By Tom McKay -
Tech NewsTransportationTravis Kalanick Flees Sinking Ship
Christmas Eve news dump: Former Uber CEO Travis Kalanick, the man behind the ride-hailing company’s meteoric global rise despite its highly speculative business model that’s never turned a profit, is leaving its board of directors, Uber said in a statement on Tuesday. He’s also dumped all of his remaining stock in the company. Kalanick’s resignation … Continued
By Tom McKay