Trendwatch Cities & Mobility: August 7, 2020

How the pandemic enables smart cities – Ridesharing regulation in America – European experiments in urbanism 

COVID-19 Has Opened the Floodgates for Smart Cities — Whether We Like it or Not — Fast Company

The conditions created by the pandemic will make it easier for local governments to adopt technological solutions.       

Uber, Lyft Drivers Win Unemployment Ruling In NY — Axios   

This is the latest victory for Uber and Lyft drivers who have waged a lengthy campaign pushing for benefits comparable to those received by traditional workers.

California's Air Pollution Cops Are Eyeing Uber and Lyft — Wired

A proposal would require 60 percent of ride-hail miles to be in electric vehicles by 2030. And the companies are on board.  

Britain Is Creating a Government Organization Devoted to Biking and Walking — Bloomberg/CityLab

The new push to promote and fund active travel is as much about improving health as it is about curbing pollution.     

A ‘Smart District’ Takes Shape in the Netherlands — New York Times      

A living lab where new ideas will be tested and adapted, the district will not be built according to a set design plan but developed in response to the needs and habits of its 4,500 future residents and what is learned along the way.