Along for the Ride #221
June Jordan's vision for Harlem
Heya friends, happy Friday!
I have a very short preamble for the group this week, but I did want to say a very happy birthday to some sweet friends: Cole, Adam, and Drew! So grateful to be(e) your friend. (The best part of writing my newsletter is making things up as I go, including but not limited to birthday dedications—and typos……..). Ok let’s dive into the news shall we!
Celebrating Black History Month
Last week I went on a tangent in Bits and Bobs about my love for Buckminster Fuller, and afterward a friend (shout out to Sylvia) shared this article about a project dreamed up by June Jordan for the future of Harlem. It is a fascinating project led by June Jordan that considers how urban “renewal” projects could be imagined by existing inhabitants, supported by Bucky. However, as the Esquire magazine image above evokes, white media misinterpreted the project as a slum clearance and all credit for the project was given to Buckminster Fuller. Last Friday I read this in bed with tea before starting my day, and I’d highly recommend you do the same (I’d even recommend you read this before the rest of the newsletter!).
June Jordan was a NYC-based poet, essayist, teacher, and activist. As an extra treat, here’s her poem, Letter to the Local Police.
Prague makes a €3b investment in autonomous trains
As if it wasn’t already a phenomenal transit city, Prague plans to purchase 69 trains (!) as part of its plans to automate its rail networks. The new trains are expected to come into operation in 2029. According to Prague’s Deputy Mayor for Transport Zdenek Hřib “the aim is to reduce the current peak waiting time [for Metro C] from 115 seconds to 90 seconds.” Filed under things that make me happy and sad at the same time. Happy because this rocks, sad because … why is it so hard to do this everywhere else?
Why are people destroying AVs in San Francisco?
The rest of the world is trying to understand why an AV was set aflame in San Francisco two weekends back. People seem very committed to making this about anti-tech sentiments, meanwhile, I am sharing this article to say the fire happened on (a) Super Bowl Sunday where the local San Francisco Giants lost in overtime, and (b) Lunar New Year when many San Franciscans had plenty of fireworks to go around. Sports riots are not uncommon globally. I guess, I want the media to have a more sophisticated view on why the car was vandalized, and consider that it’s very likely there was little rationale involved in the attack to begin with.
Is Waymo expanding its reach in the Bay Area?
Nope. After Los Angeles and San Mateo County raised concerns that they were not properly consulted before Waymo submitted applications to expand their service the CPUC is (finally!) making steps to critically analyze their application. CPUC put a hold on Waymo’s application for expanded service “for further staff review,” according to the agency’s website (CPUC). The hold will expire on June 19th, 2024. We love it when governing bodies decide to be thoughtful with implementation!
Kansas Road Safety Bill Contemplates AV Trucking
Last week the Kansas Senate voted to approve a bill that would enhance roadside safety for all vehicles, including trucking. During the vote, a debate kicked off amongst senators, and a small subset tried to add an amendment banning autonomous delivery trucks. The Senate chose to move forward without the ban, but I imagine this won’t be the end of that debate.
GM plans expansion of assisted driving system
While Cruise may be barely keeping its head afloat, Super Cruise, GM’s assisted driving system is ready for its time in the spotlight. Cruise shared that by 2025, the the system will be able to navigate 750k miles of road in the US and Canada, including more rural, back woods roads. I shant be holding my breathe.
Will AVs change the way we work?
This piece explores the various concept cars that exist today (and are designed predominately around moving corporate executives around in work bunkers, which tbh is maybe my own personal hell). It’s like the people writing this have never experienced the sheer joy of working from a train. It’s literally the best.
“Prototype designers are experimenting with interiors that break all the rules. Once a car no longer needs a human driver, the room inside can be designed as a lounge or an office with a desk… It’s possible that cars could eventually morph into a kind of robot or rolling digital assistant, analysts say. But traditional carmakers accustomed to selling emotion, evocative design and horsepower might pitch it differently.”
I made this flourless chocolate cake on Sunday because it was raining. It certainly helped warm up ze soul; best enjoyed with whipped cream, raspberries, and a good friend.
This week I am dogsitting a literal cloud named Misha. Shout-out to my friend Adam for the dog pics this week. Truly the cutest.
That’s all from me. Have a beautiful weekend friends.
Sarah
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what is the transit themed gift pictured??