Image: Electrek

Germany is preparing to tighten the rules governing shared electric scooters, proposing new legislation that would make rental operators like Lime and Bolt directly liable for damages caused by their vehicles.

The proposed law aims to close what officials describe as a legal loophole that has often left accident victims without compensation. Under the current system, injured parties generally need to prove that the rider was at fault. That can be nearly impossible when the rider leaves the scene or cannot be identified.

Instead, the new legislation would place strict liability on rental operators as the registered owners of the scooters. Riders themselves would also be presumed at fault unless they can demonstrate otherwise. The proposal would even extend to incidents involving improperly parked scooters that block sidewalks and create hazards for pedestrians.

According to Germany’s Federal Ministry for Justice and Consumer Protection, the change reflects a simple principle: companies that profit from shared micromobility services should also bear the risks those services create.

Source: Electrek

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Image: Rustic Tours

Motorcoach operators could see significant improvements in vehicle reliability and lower operating costs under a proposed rule announced by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that would overhaul portions of federal heavy-duty diesel emissions requirements.

The proposal, unveiled by EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, would revise elements of the agency's 2022 heavy-duty nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions rule while retaining the underlying emissions standards. Among the most significant changes for the bus industry is a proposal to eliminate emissions-related engine derates — automatic speed restrictions triggered when diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) systems malfunction.

For motorcoach companies, where unexpected roadside breakdowns can strand passengers and disrupt schedules, the proposed change addresses a long-standing operational concern.

Instead of forcing vehicles into reduced-speed mode or shutting them down due to DEF system failures, newly manufactured buses and other heavy-duty diesel vehicles would continue operating while providing drivers with audible or visual alerts, allowing repairs to be made safely, as METRO previously reported.

The EPA estimates that the broader package of regulatory changes could save the commercial vehicle industry approximately $12 billion, including up to $6,000 per new vehicle, by reducing warranty-related compliance costs and providing manufacturers with additional flexibility to meet emissions requirements.

The agency also proposes extending implementation timelines for portions of the 2027 heavy-duty emissions rule, allowing manufacturers additional time to validate new emissions technologies before bringing vehicles to market.

Source: Metro Magazine

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Opinion: America Needs to See Driver Education as a Public Safety Investment

Traffic crashes are not inevitable. They can be prevented through better driver preparation, earlier development of safe habits and stronger risk awareness.

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CBO: House Highway Bill Would Widen Trust Fund Deficit

The CBO analysis, released Thursday, found that cumulative shortfalls expected by the end of 2031 under the bill would be $99.5 billion for the highway account and $48.2 billion for the transit account, based on historical spending rates and higher authorized amounts in the legislation.

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Waabi Demonstrates AI Driver Transfer between Truck Platforms

Most autonomous driving systems require additional engineering, testing and validation each time they’re adapted to a new vehicle platform. Waabi says its generalized AI architecture eliminates that step, allowing the same virtual driver to operate across different truck models.

The latest demonstration builds on the company’s broader efforts to create an AI driver that can generalize beyond the environments that it was initially trained in.

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Canada, Ontario and Stratford Roll Out Public Transit Infrastructure Investments

The City of Stratford will have a greener, more efficient, and user‑friendly transit system after a joint investment of more than $9.7 million from the federal, provincial, and municipal governments. Funding will be used to replace buses to improve the reliability, efficiency, and environmental performance of the transit fleet.

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Government of Canada Seeks Proposals to Improve Rail Safety

The Minister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, the Honourable Steven MacKinnon, announced the launch of two calls for proposals under the Rail Safety Improvement Program: the Education and Awareness stream, and the Infrastructure, Technology and Research stream.

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BIXI Is Launching in Dorval with Six Stations

This new location strengthens the network in the western part of the Island of Montreal and offers residents a new option for sustainable, active, and flexible transportation. Six stations have been put into service, offering a total fleet of 66 bicycles, consisting of equal proportions of electric-assist bicycles and regular bicycles. Located near key areas including sports facilities, green spaces, the waterfront, and the Dorval train station, the new stations will make it easier for residents and visitors alike to get around for daily commutes and recreational activities.

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Taxi Fares Could Rise by 10% to Combat Fuel Costs

Taxi fares could rise by 10% in order to help drivers combat a rise in fuel costs.

Somerset Council has suggested the changes for all hackney carriages, defined as vehicles with eight or fewer seats which are hired at taxi ranks, hailed down or booked in advance. Under the plans, a maximum standard tariff would increase from £4.60 to £5.06 for the first mile, with each additional tenth of a mile increasing from 30p to 33p.

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Spain's New EU Transport Rules Paralyze Moroccan Freight Traffic, Transport Group Says

Spain’s rollout of new EU transport rules has caused major delays for Moroccan freight trucks, leaving drivers stranded for days, facing heavy fines and risking spoiled cargo, according to Morocco’s Association of Intercontinental Road Transport (AMTRI). The new measures, which took effect this month, apply stricter EU mobility rules to light commercial trucks weighing between 2.5 and 3.5 tons that operate in international transport. Until now, these requirements mainly applied to heavier trucks.

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Why Eurostar's New ‘Celestia’ Trains Are Being Upgraded to Survive Europe's Hotter Future

As scorching summers increasingly become the new normal across Europe, even high-speed rail is having to adapt. Eurostar has made the decision to upgrade its incoming fleet of trains to cope with temperatures of up to 55C after this summer's intense heatwaves exposed just how vulnerable transport networks are to extreme weather.

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Soaring Fuel Prices Hurt Korean Air’s Profitability

Korean Air’s second-quarter earnings took a significant hit from the fuel cost crisis caused by the Middle East conflict, although it has a more optimistic outlook for the remainder of the year. The carrier reported a net loss of KRW97.3 billion ($65.1 million) for the three months through June 30.

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China's Railway Passenger Trips Tops a Whopping 2.3 Billion in the First Half of 2026

A record number of passenger trips were made across China in the first half of 2026, with more than 2.3 billion recorded, up 5 per cent from the previous year, according to data released by the national railway operator Monday. An average of 11,468 passenger trains were operated daily during the six months, representing a 5.8 percent year-on-year rise, figures from the China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. (China Railway) showed.

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China’s Visa-Free Policies Fuel Inbound Travel Surge

China saw rapid growth in foreign arrivals in the first half of 2026 as the country's expanding visa-free policies fueled inbound travel, while the value of the Chinese passport continued to rise as more countries granted visa-free access to Chinese mainland residents, a spokesman for the National Immigration Administration said on Friday (July 10).

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Image: CCNY

Last week, the City College of New York (CCNY) Civil Engineering Department, along with Professor Camille Kamga, Director of the University Transportation Research Center (UTRC), highlighted the importance of sustained research funding for engineering education and infrastructure innovation. The department noted that students bring “unparalleled talent, drive, and a desire to build a better society,” but warned that when “critical research funding is abruptly halted, it is the students who feel it first.” Students lose access to the world-class, hands-on laboratory experiences they need to succeed.

The University emphasizes that investing in CCNY supports social mobility, prepares the future workforce, and helps shape the future of infrastructure. The engineering department encourages private donors and corporate partners to help bridge the funding gap and ensure students continue to lead.

Echoing that message, Matt Daus, IATR President and Transportation Technology Chair at the UTRC, stated, “The professors, students and our public and private institutional partners do not want to fall behind, and we will NOT let that happen. This is the time now for the private sector to support our research while we get through this rough funding patch we now temporarily face.”

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