Nude Cruise, Boarding Planes Suspicious Bike Chains In This Week's Beyond Cars Roundup

Flying is one of those strange times where you just have to go with the flow and do as everyone else does. So you put your liquids in a small separate bag, make an impromptu whiskey purchase at 5 a.m. and always board your plane on the left hand side. Hang on, you’re right, you do always board your flight on the left-hand side. Have you ever stopped to wonder why that might be? - Owen Bellwood Read More

If there’s one thing New York City Mayor Eric Adams wants you to know about the student protests on the campuses of Columbia University and City College of New York, it’s not that the students are justifiably upset about the ongoing genocide in Palestine. No, after nearly 300 people were arrested for protesting, Adams blamed “outside agitators,” saying, “This is a global problem that young people are being influenced by those who are professionals at radicalizing our children.” It might sound crazy, but the NYPD has actually discovered irrefutable proof — a bike chain. - Collin Woodard Read More

Do you feel your life isn’t hellish enough as it is? Do you feel that both cruise ships and the city of Miami are too sanitary and clean? If you answered yes to either of these questions, then I’ve got good news for you: there’s a nude cruise setting sail from the port of Miami in February 2025. - Andy Kalmowitz Read More

Aircraft safety is a hot topic these days, with Federal Aviation Administration investigators looking into door seals at Boeing, aircraft slides flying off mid air and engine failures plaguing several planes in recent months. But what happens if the power in your plane actually does go out? That’s an issue that nobody really wants to think about, but you can rest assured that you should be safe and sound thanks to this nifty little fan. - Owen Bellwood Read More

A federal judge ruled last week that a British airline passenger must pay $20,638 for interfering with the flight crew on a United Airlines flight between London and Newark, New Jersey on March 1. According to the Department of Justice’s account, the unruly passenger got into an argument so heated with his girlfriend that he had to be restrained and the flight diverted to Bangor, Maine. The fine is staggering, but it’s a far better outcome than the potential 20 years in prison. - Ryan Erik King Read More

The Department of Transportation announced a new final rule last week that would require airlines to automatically refund passengers whose flights are canceled or significantly delayed. There are some exceptions, but in general, it’s a huge win for passengers who are tired of airlines giving them the runaround. As with anything that benefits normal people, though, this new DOT rule has reportedly upset Senator Ted Cruz enough that the New Republic reports he’s proposed legislation to put a stop to this whole “consumer protection” nonsense. - Collin Woodard Read More

If you’re anything like most of the Jalopnik staff, you’ve probable dreamed of becoming a storm chaser at some point in your life. The idea of running down twisters at the wheel of a Subaru Crosstrek is a pretty fun vision, but what if I told you that you could forge a successful storm chasing career as a humble train driver? - Owen Bellwood Read More

A Wavy Boats video of a group of partiers dumping two garbage cans full of trash into the ocean while leaving the Boca Bash then returning to the party has been making the rounds online and now, with law enforcement. The social media response has been intense, and though none of the offenders’ identities have been confirmed, some of the alleged boaters appear to be minors. The folks on the boat were filmed from many angles, and can be seen showing off for the cameras, so they were aware they were being filmed and still chose to use the ocean as a landfill. - Logan Carter Read More

SpaceX employees are sustaining an outrageous amount of injuries, once again exceeding the industry average in 2023, according to safety data reported to U.S. regulators by the aerospace company helmed by CEO Elon Musk. - Andy Kalmowitz Read More

BMW calls the 15-horsepower 48 volt electric motor in the new CE 02 electric scooter an “externally excited air-cooled synchronous motor.” That’s a really fancy way of saying that the Motorrad division of the company raided the automobile side of the company’s parts bin for a current 3-series alternator and repurposed it to power its little bargain urban leccy bike. Considering it starts at $7,599, BMW had to cut some costs somewhere, so why not use something that is pretty much off the shelf? - Bradley Brownell Read More