Features

Transit Use is Growing, But Not Where You Think

Transit saw some big ridership increases over the past few years, but maybe not where you'd expect. Data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows the top ten metropolitan areas where transit use has increased the most.
19 November 2009 - 9:00am

From Policy to Implementation, CNU Transportation Summit Examines "The Greatest Place"

Mike Lydon reports from the CNU Transportation Summit in Portland, Oregon, the country's laboratory of smart growth. "Change is imminent," says Congressman Earl Blumenauer via video.
16 November 2009 - 9:43am

Checklists to Rethink the Streetspace

Remaking streets into attractive and successful places can be a challenge. But following a few straightforward checklists can simplify the process. Amber Hawkes and Georgia Sheridan guide the way, in this final article in their series on Remaking the Streetspace.
16 November 2009 - 5:00am

Planning for Sustainability in New York City

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is both a local challenge and a global imperative, says Rohit Aggarwala, the director of Long-Term Planning and Sustainability for New York City. Nate Berg caught up with Aggarwala to talk about his office's sustainability plans and the possible dangers posed by federal intervention.
9 November 2009 - 10:00am

Starchitecture and Sustainability: Hope, Creativity, and Futility Collide in Contemporary Architecture

Can today's contemporary architects, schooled in modernism and invention, in fact incorporate the sort of green building materials and techniques that make a real difference? And does design really matter? Josh Stephens takes a look.
1 November 2009 - 10:41pm

Developing the Open City

New communication and interaction technologies are dramatically changing the way the public understands and participates in government. The emerging openness of data and information at the city level is broadening the urban policy conversation, but challenges and questions lie ahead as the open city develops.
15 October 2009 - 10:00am

Creating Neighborhood Capital from Strip Malls

Strip malls are in virtually every American city, but they're rarely an important part of those cities. Ava Bromberg says they can be. Her idea is to turn strip malls into community-owned hubs that generate capital within their neighborhood and keep it there.
1 October 2009 - 10:00am

A Ride on Dubai's New Metro Rail System

The new Dubai Metro rail system recently began operations in the desert city. Christopher Corbett, an American planner who's been living and working in Dubai, takes us on a visual tour.
21 September 2009 - 5:00am

SPECIAL REPORT: A Lobbying Free-For-All

Thousands of special interest groups are competing to influence the new transportation bill. Reporter Matthew Lewis sheds light on the most significant players, in an extensive report from the Center for Public Integrity.
17 September 2009 - 5:00am

Top 100 Urban Thinkers

Planetizen is pleased to announce the results of our crowdsourcing experiment to rank the most influential urban thinkers of all time.
14 September 2009 - 12:02pm

REVIEW: Contemporary Urbanism in Brazil: Beyond Brasilia

Susanna Diaz reviews a new book covering the history and thought of urban planning in Brazil, edited by Profs. Vicente del Rio and William Siembieda of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
3 September 2009 - 5:00am

Rethinking the Street Space: Toolkits and Street Design Manuals

Cities are taking charge when it comes to their streets. A number of big American cities have come out with manuals and toolkits to guide their design. In the third part of their series on streets, Amber Hawkes and Georgia Sheridan look at some of the emerging street design manuals and how they're working.
31 August 2009 - 9:00am

Eco City Structure - From Land Uses Up

The future of architecture is in its expression as city structure, not just as buildings, and in its self-conscious ecological awareness, says architect Richard Register.
27 August 2009 - 5:00am

REVIEW: Urban Design for an Urban Century: Placemaking for People

Julia Galef reviews Urban Design for an Urban Century: Placemaking for People by Lance Jay Brown, David Dixon, and Oliver Gillham.
20 August 2009 - 5:00am

To Cite or To Site: Competing Ideologies for Addressing Homelessness

To fight homelessness, some cities provide services, some build housing, and some arrest people. Often it's a combination of the three, but now many critics are calling on officials to de-emphasize the law enforcement element. Los Angeles is Ground Zero.
17 August 2009 - 5:00am

Rethinking the Street Space: Evolving Life in the Streets

For more than 100 years, street design policy was stagnant. But now, planners and policymakers are expanding their ideas about what streets can be. In the second part of their series on streets, Amber Hawkes and Georgia Sheridan examine the history of street design -- and look to the future.
10 August 2009 - 5:00am

Brainstorm: Who Are the Top Urban Thinkers?

Planetizen is creating a list of the most important people who have shaped urban places, and we want to know what you think. Vote on people nominated by the Planetizen community, or suggest your own. The polls close September 7.
6 August 2009 - 5:00am

Simple Solutions and Complex Technology at the World Parking Symposium

The "parking puzzle" plagues cities all over the world, but it gets easier to solve when good ideas are shared. Andrea Broaddus and Michael Kodransky attended the recent World Parking Symposium and report back on some of the latest technologies and innovations.
27 July 2009 - 5:00am

Rethinking the Street Space: Why Street Design Matters

Streets aren't just for driving, and cities are starting to realize it. Amber Hawkes and Georgia Sheridan explain why street design matters and where we are today in terms of designing the "street space."
23 July 2009 - 5:00am

Prince Charles vs. the Architects

A dust-up between architects and the Prince of Wales over a speech and a £1b development is bringing the age-old battle between traditional and modern architecture to a head. Managing editor Tim Halbur summarizes the news.
20 July 2009 - 5:00am
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