Here is a look at some of the transportation headlines gathered by us and the Metro Library. The full list of headlines is posted on the library’s blog.

Villaraigosa lobbies Washington with jobs plan (L.A. Times)

Los Angeles Mayor and Metro Board Chairman Antonia Villaraigosa is in Washington trying to get Angelenos some good jobs building Measure R projects. Unfortunately, current federal rules prevent local hiring preferences on federally funded transportation projects. But fixing unemployment could be a major boon to the Obama Administration and the fact that California has some of the highest unemployment in the country has Washington official taking a closer look at the mayor’s pitch. What Villaraigosa would like to see is a new law that permits local authorities to develop rules that would encourage contract bidders to hire and buy locally.

Which types of people choose a walkable lifestyle? (This Big City)

A study by Transport for London (London’s transit agency) reveals some interesting facts about those Londoners who choose walking as their primary mode of transport. In London, those who walk the most are generally younger (20-44), female and single. These results mostly reflect where certain people choose to live – as walking is far more prevalent in the urbanized central city versus the outer suburbs. What’s the purpose of such a study? Transport for London is looking to encourage walking and this demographic data will help them target their marketing efforts.

Can Getaround Convince People To Rent Their Cars To Strangers? (Fast Company)

Car sharing is huge in other big cities in the U.S. but remains a tough sell in Los Angeles. One possible reason: in L.A. most people who could afford a car-sharing membership already own cars. But as L.A.’s transit system expands and Angelenos shift away from the car-culture a crop of new peer-to-peer car sharing concepts (RelayRides, Spride, and Getaround) may be a perfect fit for the city. Traditional car sharing allows people to rent a car by the hour from a centralized company; peer-to-peer sharing sharing enables individuals to rent their cars to strangers when not in use. As more Angelenos ease into transit-oriented lifestyle this concept could allow them to keep their cars as a lifeline but make money off of them when they would otherwise sit unused.