History professor at the University of Virginia and the author of 'Fighting Traffic: The Dawn of the Motor Age in the American City.'
Peter Norton is a historian of technology with particular interests in streets and people. He is an associate professor in the University of Virginia's Department of Engineering and Society, where he has taught since 1998. He is the author of 'Fighting Traffic: The Dawn of the Motor Age in the American City.'
What Happened to L.A.’s Public Transit? The U.S. spends more on public transportation than most European and Asian countries, but it gets much less bang for its buck. History and geography are part of the explanation: American cities are younger than the European capitals, which were built for walking. Meanwhile, our sprawling suburbs seem to call for automobiles to connect them. But that isn’t the whole story. Many American cities, including Los Angeles, once had thriving public transit. So what happened?
Accusations of lying fly between James Comey and White House During his testimony Thursday, former FBI Director James Comey accused President Trump and other White House officials of lying when they said the FBI was in disarray and its staff had lost confidence in him. President Trump’s lawyer said Comey was wrong -- that the president never asked for his loyalty, and never asked him to back off the investigation into former NSA director Michael Flynn.
Farewell LA freeways, Peter Shire is back Angelenos don't want more freeways but we seem not to want mass transit either. Metro has killed the 710 freeway extension, and bus and train ridership is down across the region. What's the future of getting around in LA? And, Peter Shire is having a comeback. What attracts a new generation to his playful ceramics and furniture?