No car? San Francisco, Portland, Washington D.C., Boston, New York Among Best Cities to Live in Without a Vehicle
During the COVID-19 pandemic, some Americans have bought cars for the first time to avoid using mass transit or ride-hailing vehicles, but not everyone is ready to embrace car culture.
And for those who don't want to get behind the wheel, walkability and public transportation options can make the difference for where they choose to live. A new ranking of the nation's best cities for living without a vehicle includes some of the usual suspects, such as San Francisco and New York, as well as a few surprises, such as Providence, Rhode Island.
The assessment of 150 cities conducted by lawn car services company LawnStarter examined 20 metrics, including walkability, bicycling infrastructure, pedestrian safety, transit options and gun safety.
Read the article at USA Today.
U.S. Fuel Efficiency Dropped in 2019 While Emissions Rose
The EPA said this week in its automotive trends report that the fuel efficiency of the U.S. vehicle fleet had declined in 2019, dropping by 0.2 mpg to 24.9 mpg.
That in itself is not unprecedented. While the EPA has pointed out that since 2004, fuel economy along with CO2 emissions had improved for the past 12 out of 15 years, that means we've also seen declines at times, with the last taking place in 2014. Important to note, the average fuel efficiency of the U.S. vehicle fleet 15 years ago was measurably lower, at 19.3 mpg.
But something else rose in 2019. The average estimated real-world CO2 emissions rate for new vehicles rose by less than 1%, after seeing a record low in 2018. The emission rate increased by 3 grams per mile traveled in 2019, reaching a total of 356 grams for that year.
Read the article at MSN.
So, How Was Your 2020?
Last April, FMW interviewed Ruth Alfson, CAFM. She was in a unique situation; just weeks before COVID-19 appeared, Ruth joined the City of Cincinnati as fleet manager. So, in addition to learning the lay of the land as at any new job, she adroitly guided her team to support the City in the wake of the pandemic. Not that we had any doubt that she would succeed; Ruth is highly accomplished. Last week, Donald Dunphy followed up with her and asked the question: “So, how was your 2020?”
When we saw a headline extolling the effectiveness of rear automatic emergency brakes, we wanted to learn more. So this week, senior editor Mike Sheldrick gives us some insight into both front and rear AEBs and the many reasons why we need them. We were also reminded of an article our late, great editor Mark Boada wrote last June: Full Autonomy and Auto Safety: Let’s Not Wait for Perfection When the Excellent is Already Here.
Like many of you, I spend a good deal of time at my desk these days and I welcome productivity hacks. With my mind on working smarter instead of longer, this article from Fast Company popped out at me and I pass it on to you. If you have any good tips that make your cloistered day a little better, please send them along.
Stay safe everybody! I've got my heart set on seeing everyone in person at NAFA I&E in beautiful Pittsburgh in August!
Janice Sutton
Editor in Chief
2021 Mustang Mach-E Electric SUV is Everything Most of us Could Ask For
If you care about cars, technology or climate change, it’s impossible not to feel a thrill walking up to a 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E.
Not that the first electric SUV to bear the legendary Mustang pony badge is a big deal, or anything, but hey, the first edition is sold out, and the waiting list for others isn't getting any shorter.
The sleek, five-seat newcomer successfully transfers the magic of the Mustang to the vehicle that launches Ford’s transition to electric power. It’s a handsome, tech-rich vehicle. Like the classic Mustang coupe and convertible that created the pony car’s mystique, buyers who want all-out performance will have to wait for coming GT and other models, but initial models of the Mach-E make Ford a strong player as electric vehicles bid for widespread acceptance.
Read the article at USA Today.
Ed Pierce Joins FMW as Contributing Editor
Fleet Management Weekly is delighted to announce that fleet marketing expert Ed Pierce has joined our team as Contributing Editor.
Pierce has long been involved in the fleet industry. In his 20 years at Holman/ARI, he rose to the position of Vice President of Global Branding. He then founded the B2B marketing firm, ITA Communications, with a focus on serving fleet service providers.
Ed Pierce said, "As a voracious reader, past interviewee, long-time columnist, and vocal promoter of Fleet Management Weekly, I am honored to contribute to the muniments that make it a must-read resource for anyone involved in fleet!"
