Transportation

49 years ago today, a sniper blew up a semi hauling 20 tons of dynamite, killing the driver

49 years ago today, a sniper blew up a semi hauling 20 tons of dynamite, killing the driver

On September 30, 48 year old truck driver John Galt was operating a truck leased to Tri-State Motors, hauling a load of more than 20 tons of dynamite along I-44 en route to a mining area in southeastern Missouri.

Shots were fired on Galt’s truck, triggering a massive explosion that shattered windows 12 miles away in Springfield, Missouri. A crater that was 50 feet wide and 30 feet deep was left on I-44.

New cars, trucks last longer and carmakers hustle to improve interiors

New cars, trucks last longer and carmakers hustle to improve interiors

Cars are lasting longer than ever. While that's good for owners, it’s bad for the interior of the vehicle, where stains, cracks and outmoded electronics can undermine the overall driving experience.

So automakers and suppliers are being forced to rethink the way they make everything, from seat fabrics to door coatings to infotainment systems. Everything must be designed for the long haul.

The Best and Worst U.S. Places to Live Car-Free – CityLab

The Best and Worst U.S. Places to Live Car-Free – CityLab

Going car-free is a definite trend. Cars are expensive to own, maintain, and insure. They take a heavy toll on the environment. And not having a car can say something about a person’s identity.

But being able to go without a car isn’t just a matter of personal commitment—it depends a lot on where you live. Some cities are denser, have much better transit, and are more walkable and bike-able than others.

 

Bulkeley Bridge – Wikipedia

Bulkeley Bridge – Wikipedia

I bet you didn't know a 8-lanes of Interstate 84 in Hartford, CT cross a bridge completed in 1908, oldest interstate highway bridge in America. It's not a short bridge either -- it spans 1,192 feet. They did add two more lanes in 1964, and part of the bridge is concrete, but most of it is cut stone.

Nationalize Greyhound – Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

A modest proposal: Nationalize Greyhound – Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

When the narrator of Simon and Garfunkel’s classic 1968 song goes to “look for America,” he takes a Greyhound bus. Fifty years later, there’s never been a better time for America to go looking for Greyhound.

In the last three decades, the struggling inter-city bus company has gone through two bankruptcies and been passed from an American conglomerate, to a Canadian conglomerate, to a British one, FirstGroup. And in May, FirstGroup put Greyhound up for sale.