Week Without Driving (weekwithoutdriving.org) Monday, September 29 – Sunday, October 5, 2025 The Week Without Driving helps motorists learn firsthand about the barriers and challenges that nondrivers face, and help identify ways to create transportation systems that serve everybody.

I was interviewed for this article about transit security. I emphasize that transit travel is overall very safe and it becomes safer the more non-criminals use it. "Why It’s So Hard to Keep America’s Public Transit Riders Safe," (www.cnn.com/2025/09/14/us/public-transit-safety-charlotte-stabbing)

This cites my research on public transit's relative safety and security. See "Safer Than You Think: Revising the Transit Safety Narrative" (www.vtpi.org/safer.pdf). Republicans Want to Scare You off Mass Transit. Cars Are Scarier. newrepublic.com/article/2003... via @newrepublic.com

Here is a terrific program I support that helps youths become comfortable using public transit. My research highlights the many benefits, including safety described in "Safer than You Think: The New Transit Safety Narrative" (www.vtpi.org/safer.pdf). www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...

“It’s Time for Smarter Solutions to Parking Problems” (www.timescolonist.com/opinion/comment-its-time-for-smarter-solutions-to-parking-problems-11172578). My research supports more efficient parking management (www.planetizen.com/blogs/135767...). Affordability, convenience and less pavement!

"Parking: The Dark Matter of the Urban Universe" (www.planetizen.com/blogs/135767...) generated debate on the ITE website. Critics assume that vehicle ownership is growing, but it peaked and is declining. See "They Future Isn't What it Used to Be" (www.vtpi.org/future.pdf) Less parking is needed!

"A Reality Check on Crime, Safety and Transit" (www.planetizen.com/blogs/135871...) It's time to correct misinformation about the dangers of transit and urban living. As transit travel increases crash casualties and crime tend to decline due to less driving and more non-criminal pedestrians.

Here is Russell King's newsletter that cites my column "Parking: The Dark Matter of the Urban Universe" (lnkd.in/dhmgBrkB) and report "Parking Management" (lnkd.in/gixZBybx). It's time to rethink parking mandates! www.linkedin.com/posts/russel...

My latest Bloomberg CityLab column. “We Need a Reality Check on Crime, Safety and Transit” (www.bloomberg.com/news/article... ). Despite common assumptions, traveling by bus, subway or train is far safer than driving. How can transit agencies correct misinformation about the real risks?

"Parking: The Dark Matter of the Urban Universe" (www.planetizen.com/blogs/135767...) Parking regulations affect our lives and communities in many, often mysterious ways. It's time to apply urban planning magic: fewer driveways and better managed public parking.

US cities are safe! Urban crime rates plummeted during the last thirty years, especially in large cities, illustrated below. New York is particularly successful. Unfortunately, most people don't know this; their perceptions are outdated. See "A New Transit Safety Paradigm" (www.vtpi.org/safer.pdf).

Mednarodni pregled prakse upravljanja parkiranja (International Overview of Parking Management) www.youtube.com/watch?v=ha02... I helped give an overview of parking problems and better solutions for the Slovenian National Conference on Sustainable Urban Mobility Planning. What do you think?

This Parking Reform Network map shows jurisdictions that reduce or eliminate parking mandates. It now includes Denver, Vancouver and Washington State. These reforms increase affordability, fairness, transportation efficiency and community livability. parkingreform.org/resources/ma...

"Mobility Across Canada" (tram.mcgill.ca/Research/Sur...). New study finds that over half of Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and Victoria commuters use non-auto modes, much more than census indicates. Non-drivers report more quality of life. More justification for non-auto investments.

Join me for an interesting discussion concerning walking and bicycling benefits, transit safety and parking reform in Conversations in Transportation, this Thursday, August 7 at 9:00 am Pacific Time, noon EST! Free. www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...

For three decades, the Transportation Research Board's annual meeting was a highlight of my year. However, the Trump administration is debasing TRB, as discussed in this article, so I won't bother. Very sad. "US Transportation Research at a Crossroads" (osf.io/preprints/os...)

"Pavement Busters' Guide" (www.vtpi.org/pavbust.pdf) has a new section, 'Off-Street Parking Inefficiencies.' Driveways displace on-street parking so off-street parking mandates often reduces parking supply. More reasons for parking reforms and better planning. parkingreform.org What do you think?

"ANALYSIS: What exactly does the court’s bike-lane decision mean?" (tinyurl.com/yef8dj8y) An Ontario court recognized that bikeways increase safety and removing them does not improve traffic flow as the government claimed. Also see "Evaluating to Bikeway Criticism" (vtpi.org/ebc.pdf)

US, Canada, Aus. & NZ rate poorly in portion of youths who use active modes for utilitarian travel (e.g., school, malls, friend’s house), indicating they lack independence and exercise. "Profiles of Active Transportation among Children and Adolescents" (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...).

We are facing a flood of uninformed attacks on bikeways; be prepared to respond! Here is Momentum Magazine’s new “Your Comeback Guide to all the Anti-Cycling Arguments You’ll Hear This Year” (momentummag.com/your-comebac...). Also see, "Evaluating Bikeway Criticisms" (vtpi.org/ebc.pdf).

"Mobility Across Canada: Insights from a National Transport Survey" (tram.mcgill.ca/Research/Sur...) Canadian Mobility Survey shows non-auto commuting is much more common than Census data indicate, and active modes have more positive impacts on traveler's health, wellbeing and productivity.

"America's Highway to Hell (And Poverty) cayimby.org/blog/america... This blog by California YIMBY summarizes my research on the economic harms of auto dependency and sprawl. Prosperity requires efficient transport. How would our transportation planning change if we applied these principles?

Check out the Parking Reform Network's great new video, "Parking Is Never Free" (www.youtube.com/watch?v=BujZfaz6wBo). No matter how free parking feels, it always comes at a cost. For more information see: "Comprehensive Parking Supply, Cost and Pricing Analysis" (www.vtpi.org/pscp.pdf)

Victoria's Downtown Resident's Association (www.victoriadra.ca) hosts a monthly Urbanism Book Club. The next meeting is next Wednesday, 30 July, 7:00 pm. We will read Jane Jacob's "Death and Life of Great American Cities" (free at www.academia.edu/31943664/_Ja...) allevents.in/victoria/urb...

Krugman (paulkrugman.substack.com/p/the-hellsc...) responds to exaggerated urban crime fears. This graph from "Safer Than You Think! Revising the Transit Safety Narrative" (www.vtpi.org/safer.pdf) shows that crime plummeted in recent decades. Good but overlooked news for cities! What do you think?

Delighted that Noble Prizewinner Paul Krugman cites my research today, "The Hellscapes of Their Mind" (paulkrugman.substack.com/p/the-hellsc...). It responds to inaccurate claims that cities are dangerous. For more information see my report, "New Transit Safety Paradigm" (www.vtpi.org/safer.pdf).

My updated research, "Learning from Montreal: An Affordable and Inclusive City" (www.vtpi.org/montreal.pdf) shows that Montreal is far more affordable and has less homelessness than peer cities because it allows multiplexes and other mid-rise housing in walkable neighborhoods. C'est bon!

CityNerd Ray Delahanty is a favorite blogger. His latest video challenges common planning practices that exaggerate highway expansion benefits and underestimate costs. Well done, Ray! Also see my report, "Smart Congestion Relief" (www.vtpi.org/cong_relief....) www.theurbanist.org/2025/07/12/c...

@toddlitman.bsky.social 📍

The City of Nanaimo eliminated parking minimums. That is good news for fairness and livability. parkingreform.org/resources/ma... Well done! Is your community ready to prioritize people and greenspace over cars? parkingreform.org/resources/ma... www.nanaimobulletin.com/local-news/c...

I support Friends of Rails to Trails - Vancouver Island (fortvi.ca) which advocates for a trail network between south and central Vancouver Island. That would have huge benefits as described in this interview. Well done Peter and Alastair! bccycling.ca/podcast?ss_s...

Latest good news from New York's decongestion pricing: traffic delays down 25%; subway ridership up 7%, buses up 12%; buses 3.2% faster; less traffic noise and air pollution; traffic injuries down 15% and pedestrian fatalities at historic lows. Everybody benefits! ny1.com/nyc/all-boro...

New US tax bill eliminates public healthcare and affordable housing. This will cause financial shocks for tens millions of families. More affordable transport options will be essential, as described in "Evaluating Transportation Affordability" (www.vtpi.org/affordability.pdf). See graphs.

We are Warm Showers (warmshowers.org) hosts, which means that a few times each year we provide basic accommodations to long-distance bicycle tourists. This week we had three. They are all wonderful guests full of energy and stories. Bon voyage, friends!

Russell King's free weekly Transport Leader Newsletter provides useful information about transport planning issues from an Australian perspective. This week he leads with a reference to my paper, The Mobility-Productivity Paradox." transportlc.org www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...

I spent Canada Day morning at our weekly protest against the planned $162 million Malahat Highway expansion through Goldstream Park, just north of Victoria. Better Island Transit (www.betterislandtransit.ca) advocates shifting the money to provide frequent and affordable bus service.

Does Constant Driving Really Make Our Country Richer? A new study reveals that constant driving is making America less productive and prosperous — and getting people on other modes could help right the ship. Kea Wilson Podcast interview with Todd Litman usa.streetsblog.org/2025/07/01/d....

Less driving, more prosperity! My latest Planetizen column. "The Mobility-Productivity Paradox. New research shows that excessive vehicle travel reduces economic productivity, and that less mobility provides more productivity. Yes, you read that right." (www.planetizen.com/blogs/135188...)

Russel King's Transport Leader Newsletter cites my transport affordability research: For more information see the "Evaluating Transportation Equity" article (vtpi.org/ITEJ-eta-Jun...) or detailed report (www.vtpi.org/affordability.pdf ). www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...

Better Island Transit (betterislandtransit.ca) advocates for more frequent and affordable bus service. Here is my letter on the subject published in today's newspaper. "Island Deserves Better Bus Services" (www.timescolonist.com/opinion/letters-june-26-pandora-situation-martin-mars-10863949)

"Why Driving is Bad for Business, Household Wealth and Community Prosperity" shows economic harms of excessive vehicle travel. The graph below from "The Mobility-Productivity Paradox" (www.vtpi.org/ITED_paradox.pdf) shows that GDP increases with fuel prices. nyc.streetsblog.org/2025/06/23/c...

Here is my latest Streetblog USA column: "Car Harms Monday: Why Driving is Bad for Business, Household Wealth and Community Prosperity in 8 Images." (nyc.streetsblog.org/2025/06/23/c...). It summarizes "The Mobility-Productivity Paradox" (www.vtpi.org/ITED_paradox.pdf). What do you think?

"Does widening roads reduce congestion? / Ali širitev cest zmanjšuje zastoje?" (www.youtube.com/watch?v=hM6VsufNWXY) This short video explains the concept of induced traffic; additional vehicle travel caused by urban roadway expansions. Also see "Generated Traffic" (www.vtpi.org/gentraf.pdf )

This post finds decoupling between economic productivity and mobility in the U.K., consistent with analysis in my report, "The Mobility-Productivity Paradox" (www.vtpi.org/ITED_paradox.pdf). In mature economies, auto-oriented planning is economically harmful. www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...

Here is our latest VTPI News which summarizes our latest publications. Below is the cover of my ITE Journal article, "Evaluating Transportation Affordability" (vtpi.org/ITEJ-eta-Jun...). Please let me know what you think. mailchi.mp/a32ae978829d...

Join us this Friday at 1:00pm for our casual Park & Read series with @toddlitman.bsky.social, executive director of the Victoria Transport Policy Institute, to chat about his article "Automobile Dependency: An Unequal Burden." RSVP: lu.ma/a7gy0eb3

Please join us, 1:00 pm this Friday, June 20, at the Parking Reform Network's Park & Read discussion of my Planetizen column, "Automobile Dependency: An Unequal Burden" (lnkd.in/gs_7F4UQ). It should be interesting and enlightening. www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...

This Times Colonist article quotes me concerning regional growth in active transport (walking and bicycling) as described in my report, "Good News from the CRD 2022 Travel Survey" (www.vtpi.org/CRDts.pdf). What do you think? www.timescolonist.com/local-news/p...

Public transit is the safest travel mode, communities become safer with more transit travel, and improving transit security is a very cost effective way to increase urban transport system efficiency and equity. "Safer Than You Think! Revising the Transit Safety Narrative" (vtpi.org/safer.pdf)

Here is a new journal article I coauthored: Navid Nadimi, Mohsen Zayandehroodi, Armina Jalilzadeh, Mohammad Ali Zayandehroodi and Todd Litman (2025), “Facilitating Elderly Tourism by Sustainable Transportation,” Research in Transportation Economics, Vol. 112 (doi.org/10.1016/j.re...).