Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In

Did you wear your helmet when you biked to work this morning? Whether you did or you didn't, it's up to you. So why are there so many people shrieking about it? On one side, the 85-percenters, overstating the protection helmets offer against head injuries. On the other side, the 3-footers, claiming that it's actually safer to go helmetless because drivers give you more space and a host of other reasons. Some recent hysteria around bike-share and head injuries fueled this fire. I'm not sure Jeff and I put that fire out with our discussion, but we at least tried to make some sense of it.

Speaking of fiery discussions, did you see the back-and-forth between Colin Dabkowski, a Buffalo News journalist, and walkability guru Jeff Speck after the most recent Congress for the New Urbanism? We clear up once and for all some misconceptions about how New Urbanism's winners-and-losers strategy does and doesn't address social equity.

And in between, we take a moment to celebrate a small victory in San Francisco, where a community pushed back against the fire department's push to widen streets.

Subscribe to the Talking Headways Podcast on iTunes or Stitcher or by signing up for our RSS feed.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

SEE IT: Council Member Paladino’s Son Curses Out Foe’s Volunteers — And Got 16 Speeding Tix This Year

It was an attack that Ben Chou's team says was "completely unprovoked." But the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

November 3, 2025

Monday’s Headlines: South Williamsburg Edition

Satmar Hasidic leader Moishe Indig endorsed Zohran Mamdani — but didn't demand any anti-bike lane promises from the mayoral frontrunner, he said.

November 3, 2025

NYPD Criminal Bike Crackdown Continues Even as Mamdani Makes Overtures to Tisch

Street safety advocates should not be pleased by Zohran Mamdani's decision to invite NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch to stay on. Here's why.

November 3, 2025

City Council Majority Backs Bill to Force Amazon to Hire Its Delivery Workers

Thirty-four City Council members from across the political spectrum want to force Amazon to directly employ and better train its delivery workers.

November 3, 2025

Spooky Stuff: On Halloween, Some Places Have Deadlier Roads Than Others

New York City hasn't proven to be that scary on the candy-filled holiday. But it's still a bad idea to mix kids, darkness and cars.

October 31, 2025

Friday’s Headlines: After the Flood Edition

Flooding that would happen once in a while now happens a few times a year. Plus other news.

October 31, 2025
See all posts