National links: Once upon a time, Segways were the transportation of the future

Remember when the Segway went viral? Cities might protect against depression. California’s hottest new accessory is an accessory dwelling unit.

The Segway was the future, until it wasn’t: At the turn of the century an inventor came up with an idea he thought everyone would steal, so he kept it secret. The problem was, you can’t market a secret idea, and the hype of the unknown often leads to a letdown. That was the story of the Segway, an invention that was the future in the mind of many, but failed to deliver. (Dan Kois | Slate)

Cities may benefit mental health: For a long time cities have been connected to mental health disorders, but new research shows that larger cities might actually be a buffer against depression. Taking a more nuanced look into the details, researchers found that doubling a city’s population was associated with a 10% reduction in depression rates as residents had more opportunities to interact with others. (Sarah Sloat | Inverse)

Granny flats for the modern era: On January 1 2020, several laws in California allowed property owners to build extra units on their property. Formerly called “granny flats,” up to two accessory dwelling units can be built on most properties, and they have a low barrier to entry with reduced permitting and reasonable construction costs. In a state where housing is expensive, the success of ADUs is a welcome development. (Laurie Lauletta-Boshart | Comstock Magazine)

New interstate highway on tap in infrastructure bill: An amendment filed by Senators Rafael Warnock of Georgia and Ted Cruz of Texas would designate Interstate 14 between Texas and Georgia. The road was promoted by the senators as a way to connect key military installations and ports, but many question why we need any new highways at a time when climate change is looming. (Mella McEwen | Midland Reporter-Telegram)

What’s good for EVs may not be good for the climate: The infrastructure bill being debated in the Senate has billions of dollars to support charging infrastructure for electric vehicles that would make them more palatable to future buyers. But the bill doesn’t address the fact that the best way to reduce emissions is through active transportation; instead, it will entrench cars and their assocated land uses as the default way to travel. (Andrew Hawkins | The Verge)

Quote of the Week

“But we are not just exposed to ozone outdoors; it can also move indoors through windows, doors, and cracks in buildings. So it follows that if ozone concentrations increase outdoors, they will also increase indoors. Indeed, computer models predicted that during lockdown, indoor ozone concentrations would increase by 50%.”

Nicola Carslaw and David Carslaw in Fast Company discussing exposure to indoor air pollution.

This week on the podcast, we’re joined by Robert del Rosario, Director of Service Development for AC Transit in Oakland, Calif.