Australia

Red articulated public transit bus in Sydney, Australia.

Sydney Could Automate Traffic Lights to Prioritize Buses

The proposal is part of the government’s bid to increase transit ridership and make bus service faster and more reliable.

November 1, 2023 - The Guardian

Lush urban community garden with raised beds in dense New York City neighborhood with brick apartment buildings in background.

Even Small Urban Green Spaces Boost Biodiversity

A recent study from the University of Melbourne demonstrates the positive impacts small urban greening projects can have on city ecosystems.

October 23, 2023 - Earth.com

Black and white photo of Pike Place Market entrance in Seattle with "PUBLIC MARKET" and "Meet the producer" signs

Revisiting ‘Third Places’ as a Pandemic Recovery Tool

In Chuck Wolfe's latest piece on downtown recovery for GeekWire, he proposes revisiting a multifaceted ‘third place’ agenda as a focus for downtown recovery.

June 22, 2023 - GeekWire

The public market at Warwick JUnction in Durban, South Africa is visible with the city ‘s high-rise buildings in the background.

6 International Models of Urban Revitalization

The New York Times recently published an article exploring six cities from around the world reinventing themselves for the 21st century: Paris, Sydney, Medellin, Lisbon, Singapore, and Durban.

April 3, 2023 - The New York Times

An image of a sign asking people to wear masks during the Covid-19 pandemic.

COVID Deaths: U.S. in a League of its Own

An analysis by The New York Times compares current and cumulative COVID deaths in the U.S. to other large, wealthy countries. Data analyzed include vaccination, age and obesity levels, and public trust, all factors that influence outcomes.

February 9, 2022 - The New York Times

Delivery Drone

The Hidden Costs of Drone Delivery

Ultra-fast drone delivery promises convenience, but comes at a high cost for workers, the environment, and public space.

October 11, 2021 - The Conversation

Electric Cars

American Jobs to Build Electric Vehicles Excludes Miners

Mining jobs needed to produce the metals for processing into battery parts used to build electric vehicles in America will not be developed in the U.S. but in Australia, Brazil and Canada, mainly to avoid battles with environmentalists.

June 2, 2021 - Reuters

New York Bike Delivery

How Electric Bikes Help in Battling COVID-19

For the last six months, the world has been on a stand-still. As government-imposed lockdowns spread across the country in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, people have been looking left and right for alternatives to cope with the “new normal.”

September 15, 2020 - E-Ride Solutions

Coronavirus and Urbanism

Learning from Down Under

The governors of Arizona, California, Florida, Texas, and other states where COVID-19 infections are threatening to overwhelm hospitals should consider what their counterpart in Victoria, Australia, did on July 7 to contain the coronavirus.

July 15, 2020 - The Guardian

Wildfire Smoke

How Suburbs Can Help the Climate Fight

Rethinking the "brutalscape" of infrastructure that supports the suburbs could be the key to the evolution of suburbs.

December 11, 2019 - The Conversation

Mine Processing Plant

Demand for Lithium Drops as Global Electric Vehicle Sales Slump

It was long thought that a finite supply of lithium, a key element needed for electric vehicle batteries, would constrain the production of zero-emission vehicles, but the opposite happened: a slow down in EV demand has caused lithium prices to drop.

September 7, 2019 - Oil Price

Paris Trees

Study: Not All Green Spaces Are Created Equal

Tree canopies deliver the most benefits to health and social outcomes to neighborhoods.

August 1, 2019 - Pacific Standard

Warringah Freeway

Wave of New Apartment Building in Sydney Means Relief for Renters

Sydney built more than 30,000 multi-unit homes last year. That new supply has meant falling rents in most of the city.

July 18, 2019 - The Sydney Morning Herald

Tesla

Tesla’s Renewable Energy Vision—Big Benefits Without Major Lifestyle Changes

Tesla’s fancy cars generate much of the company’s revenue, while its solar energy products are decidedly less flashy.

July 16, 2019 - The Verge

Pop-Up Park

The Surprising Benefit of Pop-Up Parks to Bio-Diversity

A new study finds that interim recreational use of underutilized sections of crowded cities can benefit more than just humans.

July 8, 2019 - Next City

California Wildflowers

Where, and Why, Allergies Are Worst

Your senses (or lack thereof) aren't deceiving you. Some cities really are worse for seasonal allergies than others, and some of the reasons are entirely preventable.

July 3, 2019 - The Guardian

Valencia, Spain

Electric Scooters Blast Profanity and Racism After Hacking in Australia

People have found many destructive ways to express their displeasure with electric scooter share, but this is a first.

April 27, 2019 - The Washington Post

Hong Kong High Rises

Asian, Australian Property Markets Begin to Cool

Markets for residential property income of East Asia's most expensive cities are slowing down. The U.S.-China trade war is one factor, along with local controls and a mainland Chinese economy applying the brakes.

January 11, 2019 - The Vancouver Sun

New York City

Report: Walking to Work Pays Off for the Economy

A new report by Victoria Walks, an advocacy organization in Australia, quantifies the benefits of choosing to walk. The report also benefits the multiplier of the choice to invest in pedestrian infrastructure.

December 16, 2018 - The Age

Pacific Northwest Shipping

Pacific Northwest Gears Up for Another Fossil Fuel Export Fight

Just two years after killing what would be the world's largest methanol plant at the Port of Tacoma, the project has reemerged at the Port of Kalama. According to the EIS for the plant, global CO2 emissions will be reduced, though increased locally.

November 19, 2018 - The Daily News

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