Accidental Passengers

Was it the weather or the vaccine mandate that caused the Southwest Airlines scheduling cluster bleep last week? Also up the TSA finds a record number of weapons at airport checkpoints and Rod Morrison has noticed something about our traffic patterns....

Waiting for the bus is getting longer and longer with fewer and fewer drivers available. Elon Musk's The Boring Company has completed its first public loop project in Nevada and beware of deer this time of year as car vs Bambi accidents are on the rise.

Boston's MBTA has had so many accidents it's ridership is defaulting back to the highways creating massive commuter back-ups. SpaceX launches the first fully civilian tourist crew for a three day orbital excursion, and New York's MTA laid off so many workers during the pandemic there are not enough to restart the system.

To combat the critical shortage of commercial truck drivers the Biden Administration is proposing a pilot program to license teenage interstate truck drivers. On the west coast, an earthquake detection system allegedly alerts commuter trains to shock waves.

While the city of Albuquerque supports the idea of free public transit they are worried that zero fare does not equal zero crime. An in Massachusetts the dearth of school bus drivers has forced the Governor to bring in the National Guard to get kids to school.

Under a new abortion law in the Lone Star state, rideshare drivers can be fined for taking patients to have the procedure. Uber and Lyft say they will cover all fines incurred by drivers under the new regulations. In Japan and Sweden, trial runs of autonomous container ships are beginning, and a Vermont man breaks a record for scamming Tesla out of brand new vehicles.

Subways in the Northeast, including Boston and New York are flooded by the remains of Hurricane Ida as travel bans in the major cities were called. Two of the wealthiest men in the world are competing to help NASA reclaim space. One of them is a very poor loser. And a personal story of rescue after a flash flood turns the morning commute into a life threatening nightmare.

Schools are desperate for bus drivers and are actually resorting to paying parents not to use the service. Southwest Airlines flight crews are exhausted and begging the company for relief, and the Boston "T" may have a new Guinness World Record!

Tens of thousands of Americans and U.S. allies are stuck behind Taliban lines in Afghanistan with a military airlift as their only hope of escape. The CDC has extended it's public transit mask mandate for 4 more months, and Tesla's autopilot system seems to really really like bright lights such as those atop ambulances and cop cars....

Inside the newly passed federal infrastructure bill is a surprise chewy center called a Milage Tax Pilot Program designed to make driving more expensive. A pandemic legacy is infecting our roadways - feral drivers who cant stop speeding. And finally, the CEO of Spirit Airlines is blaming weather and the lack of flight crews for epic airline cancellations and delays. But is that the real reason?

Spirit Airlines cancelled over two thousand flights last week due to bad weather, staffing issues., fuel shortages and system failures. Can they recover? Great Britain is joining Sweden, Germany and California in piloting electric highways that power E-trucks to alleviate the need for massive batteries for long hauls. And finally, Elon Musk says Tesla drivers should hold off on the autonomous driving feature in his Tesla's until the systems are perfected.

Toyota is leading the way in trying to slow our national switch to electric vehicles for two very important reasons. American Airlines says its running out of jet fuel and may have to cut back on flights. And finally, a new poll says seniors are impatient for autonomous vehicles, but is the technology ready to handle them?

The shortage of truck drivers is causing the inflation of food prices, fuel prices and in fact the prices of everything. Experts say transportation of the future will be mobility on demand, and world cruise sellouts have cruise lines thinking that is the way to restore their industry post pandemic.

Rats and other vermin are feasting on high priced Teslas and the company is just shrugging it's shoulders at angry customers. Southwest Airlines is not treating all passengers the same when it comes to buying tickets and MBTA riders have become snake fascinated with an abandon Dunkin ice coffee that has been sitting in a station for months

A nationwide bus driver shortage is hitting critical mass affecting disabled passengers oft times leaving them stranded. One American Airlines flight was cancelled after a group of Massachusetts teenagers staged a revolt refusing to follow TSA guidelines requiring masks on board planes, and the Bay Area Rapid Transit discovers goats can be their best friends during wildfire season.

With air rage incidents sky rocketing, the TSA is restarting self-defense for flight crews. A slew of start ups are making electric air taxis a reality, and the Governors Highway Safety Association has a new report that finds minorities are more apt to be the victims of traffic deaths.

American Airlines did not bring back enough furloughed pilots to meet post pandemic needs and had to cancel dozens of flights on Fathers Day, public transportation is doing it's bit for the Covid vaccination effort and Boston's MBTA is contemplating driver-less Blue Line trains.

Amtrak has some big expansion plans which might be hindered by freight service. Yellowstone is test driving autonomous buses in the park, and Boston's Blue Line is looking at a possibly soggy future.

Transit Agencies are mulling over free rides as they struggle with finding a way to make their services more equitable. Congress finally gets a report on what pilots have known for years - there are unidentified flying objects in our skies, and a revolutionary new scooter evaporates into thin air leaving the question of whether it ever really existed in the first place.

Airlines are damaging vital wheelchairs at an alarming rate despite legislation giving them a high duty of care. The Massachusetts Steamship Authority becomes the latest victim in a rash of transit oriented ransomware attacks, and China moves forward on the idea of connecting Beijing with the United States by high speed rail.

A school bus driver cracks under pressure and slaps a child over a face mask. More and more mid-air confrontations and out and out cabin brawls are turning air travel into the not-so-friendly skies. And last but not least, one new airplane company is building a cutting edge eco friendly super sonic jet that can take you anywhere in less than 4 hours and at a bargain price to boot.

Ridership is back up on New York's buses, subways and commuter rails but will people go back to pre=pandemic usage? A move is afoot to make so called slow roads, those created during the lockdown to be more pedestrian friendly than car centric may become permanent features in urban areas. Finally, airlines consider making passengers weigh in before a flight in order to be more fuel efficient.

1970's like gas lines appeared this week as drivers in the southeast U.S. found themselves with empty tanks after cyber hackers attacked one of the country's major fuel pipelines. The CDC has all sorts of new guidelines in particular for ocean liners which has cruise ship companies vowing to give U.S. ports a wide berth, and autonomous vehicle owners can't seem to be persuaded to stay out of the back seat despite numerous deaths.

A shortage in computer chips is causing a dearth of rental cars which in turn is boosting a boom for ride share and used car sellers. President Biden helps to celebrate Amtrak's 50th birthday, and the TSA says no way to the CDC's partial lifting of mask rules.

The U.S. is falling behind in autonomous car legislation unlike Great Britain where self driving cars have been held in abeyance until the laws catch up. The Boeing 737 Max was back up in the air after a 2 year crash investigation only to get grounded again for an electrical hiccup, and Chicagoans say they prefer telecommuting even if their mass transit is top notch.

Two men die in Texas after going for a ride in a new autopilot equipped Tesla. Neither man was driving. In Hawaii they are desperately trying to finish a 20 mile railway which is years overdue and 3 billion dollars over b budget. And Finally, Alaska tries to follow New York's example of dumping subway cars in the ocean but can't seem to get their mass transit to sink....

Both Congress and the Massachusetts legislature are considering zero fare mass transit bills to jump start public transportation as we come out of the pandemic. France is about to ban short airplane flights to save the environment, and suicides by train are on the decline.

Two airlines made the mistake this week of trying to make political stands, first annoying social media then annoying local state governments. Meanwhile, the President's Infrastructure Bill proposes to give Amtrak 80 million dollars which has rail fans holding their breath and United Airline has decided to create it's own flying school to combat the looming pilot shortage.

The Cruise Industry is getting back into the swing of things everywhere but in the United States, March has an unusually high number of train crashes around the world, and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation wants to know how they are doing and what you think they ca do better,

The new Secretary of Transportation, Pete Buttigieg says road expansion is not the wave of the future and the car is no longer king of the roads. Any airline pandemic vouchers have already reached their sell by date, much to the consternation of customers still hesitant to fly, and we reveal how those in flight movies get chosen.

The Massachusetts BayTransit Authority is receiving $1 Billion in Covid relief funding from the federal government but instead of saving jobs and maintaining routes they plan to shore up budget gaps and pension shortfalls. Airlines looking to dig out from pandemic induced debt discover their loyalty programs may be worth more than the planes, employees and terminal rights combined. And finally, Missouri is one step away from allowing licensed gun owners to carry weapons on public transit.

The new Covid Relief package gives enough Monet to transit agencies to stave off service cuts and layoffs. Meanwhile Greyhound Bus takes a stand against transporting illegal immigrants who don't have a negative Covid test, and if you have a spare 600 thousand dollars Southwest Airlines has an engine-less jet you might like.

Air rage is becoming more prevalent as the pandemic stretches on. Meanwhile, the Biden Administration is trying to figure out what to do about the nation's deplorable infrastructure and the TSA has published its top ten list of things they have found in their searches.

First up is a tale of two states and how they have drastically different approaches to public transit. Next up plane parts rain down on Colorado and the Netherlands resulting in only minor injuries but a suspension of aircraft with Pratt Whitney hollow fan blade engines. And finally, a tour bus company decides to turn it's fleet into mobile vaccination clinics.

The MTA is finding itself fighting crime and homelessness these days. In Fort Worth Texas an ice storm and insufficient road preparation was responsible for a 133 car pile up leaving 6 dead and dozens injured, And lastly how about a high speed rail ride between New York and Boston?

The new Secretary of Transportation has apropos to require Covid-19 tests before you are allowed toffy. The airlines are not really thrilled by the prospect. THE super Bowl ads have been rated and we will tell you which ones made the grade and which were a waste of money. Then United Airlines is investing in electric air taxis to make sure you get to the airport on time.

The Biden Administration is requiring masks on public transit but it is still unclear how and who will enforce it. The President also wants tp transfer the entire fleet of federal vehicles to electric power and after years of planning Apple is getting ready to debut it's own car.

President Biden has signed an executive order mandating masks on all public transportation including airplanes, trains, buses and the like. Transit agencies are contemplating electric buses...still. And last of all, French doctors are recommending silence in the subway and say talking can spread Covid-19,

President Biden says we need green transportation alternatives and his favorite is the electric car. The Covid pandemic has eliminated the work commute for million and it turns out they miss it honking and all. And batting clean up are the thousands of millipedes migrating in the mountains of Japan which are so numerous that they halt trains on their tracks.

The loss of both civility and club lounges at airports exposed two politicians to heckling and rude behavior. Yellow Cabs are on the endangered species list having taken perhaps fatal blows from Uber, Lyft, and the Coronavirus. Also up, American and JetBlue Airlines have become fast friends and partners in an attempt to survive the pandemic but will congress try to break them up?

President-elect Biden has made his pick for Secretary of Transportation - but was it a good choice? Also up, airlines ban all emotional support animals except canines, and one rental scooter company is giving free rides to Seattle's essential workers.

New federal funds for 2021 may make a difference for both airlines and transit agencies. Also on tap, the Senate Commerce Committee has released it's final report on the FAA's handling of the Boeing 737 Max fiasco.

The new Covid-19 relief package was not enough for intercity bus companies. Cruise lines say the vaccine came just in time to save them, and Delta Airlines has a nice news, bad news Christmas holiday

Even though New York City & Chicago's subway systems say their ridership is down, crime is up. If you are traveling for the holidays the CDC has a word of advice: don't. And finally, if you take a New York subway train in the near future you may here some iconic city dwellers making the PA announcements such as Robert Deniro and Joe Pesci.

2020 saw a massive jump in railroad trespassers drawn in by the lure of train track photography. Transit agencies are getting pushback over service cuts necessary now that federal funding has dried up. Also in the line up, what separates a pilot's brain from the rest of us.

A proposed Covid vaccine passport has the airlines excited and Libertarians shaking in their shoes. Virgin Hyperloop does their first test run with human passengers and Taiwan Airlines has a flight to no where geared for singles looking for love in the air.

Most airlines had a good holiday except Delta who didn't figure on needing pilots. Elon Musk is meeting his goals but not everyone is happy about the way he is doing it. Also on tap, a new travel advisory in Canada says don't let moose lick your car....

The Transportation Climate Iniative once touted as a necessary step toward a more greenhouse neutral environment has been put on the back burner as unfriendly to the Covid damaged economy in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. The New York subways are now struggling with a new problem. They have become home to the burgeoning homeless population in the Big Apple. And finally, James Bond's favorite car, the Aston Martin, tries to get back into public graces with a new SUV.

Threatened transit agency service cuts are becoming a reality as Congress fails to shore up failing services with emergency funds. Also on tap, hover cars were a dream of the future 60 years ago. They may finally be hitting the roadways. Also, have you ever lost your ear buds while waiting for a train? There's an app for that.....

California's Proposition 22 which allows ride share app based business to treat users as independent workers instead of employees sailed through the balloting votes. Overall public transit came out a winner on Election Day while Lincoln Continental ends it's luxury car champion reign as the last one prepares to roll off the assembly line.

The big bus companies say its only a matter of time before you will no longer be a blessing to leave the driving to them if congress does not step in. Also up, this year Thanksgiving travel is expected to be a real turkey and American Airlines is giving customers a chance to check out the 737 Max before they put it back into service.