Congress is considering resurrecting a fee on electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrids to address the Highway Trust Fund's revenue shortfall, with bipartisan interest from transportation committee leaders. The Congressional Budget Office previously estimated $64 billion in revenue from such a fee by 2034, though the $150 billion needed for surface transportation funding remains a gap. The Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General is reviewing FAA procedures related to the January midair collision between a military helicopter and a passenger plane near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, including exemptions from ADS-B technology. The FAA plans to extend flight limits at Newark Liberty International Airport through late October 2026 due to ongoing runway construction. The Modern Skies Coalition urges better oversight of the NextGen air traffic control system to avoid past failures. At DEFCON 2025, hackers identified cybersecurity vulnerabilities in U.S. commercial ships and ports, prompting the Coast Guard to strengthen network security and receive $25 billion in funding. Tesla has obtained state licensing for robotaxis in Texas, allowing continued operations despite upcoming regulatory changes. U.S.-Japan tariff reductions were delayed by President Trump’s reciprocal tariffs, reducing trade agreement credibility and potentially leading automakers to pass costs to consumers. The DOT is seeking public input on a strategic plan for surface transportation from 2026 to 2030.

The global taxi market is projected to grow from $274.6 billion in 2024 to $592.96 billion by 2033, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.93%. Key drivers include urbanization, rising demand for convenient and eco-friendly transportation, and the expansion of app-based ride-hailing services. Major players such as Uber, Lyft, and Didi are leading innovation, with trends highlighting the adoption of electric vehicles, digital payments, and GPS integration. Regional growth is strongest in Asia-Pacific, while North America and Europe lead in ride-hailing adoption. Challenges include driver shortages, poor technological integration in traditional taxi services, and operational inefficiencies. Companies like Lyft have expanded electric vehicle offerings to 14 U.S. cities, and YelloSoft launched an in-app wallet for smoother payments in 2024.

The article shares 15 viral travel tips from TikTok creators and industry experts to reduce stress and save money during air travel. Tips include booking flights on Tuesdays or Wednesdays for lower fares, bringing small gifts to flight attendants, using hotel shuttles to avoid Uber surcharges, using Apple AirTags for luggage tracking, freezing drinks for TSA compliance, packing carry-ons with full outfits, arriving early, downloading playlists for Wi-Fi, and leveraging incognito mode for cheaper flight searches. The advice is supported by data from sources such as the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Travel + Leisure, SITA, DOT, and Consumer Reports.

The article highlights concerns over underage teenagers, particularly boys, riding electric Citi Bikes in New York City without proper age verification or safety measures. Despite Citi Bike's terms requiring riders to be 16 or older, the article points out that many minors are using the service, often without helmets, leading to a rise in e-bike crashes. Stats show over 400 e-bike crashes in New York year-to-date, with a 20% increase from the same period last year, and nationwide injuries up 293% from 2019 to 2022. The article cites several tragic incidents, including a 14-year-old death in California and a 13-year-old death in Seattle. It criticizes Lyft, the owner of Citi Bike, for lacking age verification, relying only on self-reported birthdays, and contrasts this with other companies like Lime, which require ID verification and set a minimum age of 18. The author argues that Lyft, which verifies driver ages in ridesharing, should apply similar technology to e-bike riders. The article suggests that New York City’s Department of Transportation (DOT) or City Council could mandate age verification to protect minors.

An autonomous vehicle operated by Baidu's Apollo Go robotaxi service fell into a deep construction pit in Chongqing, China, on August 6, while carrying a passenger. The female passenger was uninjured and rescued by local residents. Videos showing the white Baidu Apollo vehicle at the bottom of a construction trench circulated on Chinese social media. Despite the presence of barriers and warning signs at the site, it remains unclear how the vehicle entered the trench. The incident has sparked public debate over the safety of robotaxis in China. Baidu operates one of the largest autonomous vehicle fleets in the country and runs commercial robotaxi services in cities including Wuhan, Beijing, and Chongqing. The company has also expanded its global ambitions by signing partnerships with Uber and Lyft. This incident follows similar safety concerns involving other autonomous vehicle companies, such as Pony.ai and Waymo.