Dan Zukowski

Journalist, feature writer, essayist.

Transportation Reporter, Smart Cities Dive

Smart Cities Dive • December 22, 2022

Federal safety regulators begin investigation into self-driving taxis

GM’s Cruise autonomous ride-hailing vehicles have reportedly been involved in multiple incidents of hard braking or becoming disabled, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said.

Smart Cities Dive • December 22, 2022

Electric vehicle sales surged in 2022

Consumers flocked to buy electric vehicles, and transit agencies turned to electric buses as states began mandating zero-emission vehicles.

Smart Cities Dive • December 22, 2022

7 top news stories about Amtrak and high-speed rail in 2022

With historic funding from the 2021 infrastructure law, Amtrak plans construction and expansion while others push high-speed rail projects.

Smart Cities Dive • November 21, 2022

Electric transit bus orders boom after FTA funds 1,100 buses

As federal money from the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law begins to flow, growing numbers of transit agency orders for electric buses are challenging bus manufacturers to deliver these vehicles amid continued supply chain disruptions.

Smart Cities Dive • November 18, 2022

Archer Aviation debuts production version of eVTOL aircraft

Archer Aviation unveiled the production version of its eVTOL aircraft on Thursday in Palo Alto, California. Named “Midnight,” the aircraft is designed for urban air mobility, operating on short distance trips of about 20 miles with a charging time of approximately 10 minutes between flights. It can carry four passengers plus the pilot. The all-electric aircraft is designed to fly at about 2,000 feet, and the company says it will be 1,000 times quieter than a helicopter. Six small downward-facin

Smart Cities Dive • November 8, 2022

Can a computer drive better than humans? Perhaps soon, tech execs and researchers say

Tech firms are developing advanced computer chips, artificial intelligence and vehicle connectivity for the next generation of autonomous vehicles.

I am the transportation reporter for Smart Cities Dive, where I cover trends and developments in public transportation, zero-emission and autonomous vehicles, urban air mobility, passenger rail and related federal and congressional actions.

Previously, I served as a feature writer and correspondent for Trains magazine, and my byline has appeared in CityLab, Grist, Salon, Sierra magazine, Hakai, Mongabay, Pacific Standard, and elsewhere. My writing career began as a business journalist for the WardsAuto group of automotive industry publications, reporting on manufacturers and suppliers, along with consumer, marketing and government issues.

Between stints in journalism, I've led the national public relations accounts at major agencies for Kawasaki, Honda and Toyota, counseling CEOs and upper management.

I am a member of the Lexington Group for Transportation History, the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA), American Society of Business Publication Editors (ASBPE), and Investigative Reporters & Editors (IRE).