In which parking minimums figure heavily in a polemic regarding the nature of cool.

Jordan Fraade follows up on the recent (perpetual is more like it) proliferation of city rankings, such as "Most influential," "Strongest brand," and Most livable," with a post responding to the "America's coolest cities list" published by Forbes. Fraade's problem with the list, in fact, revolves around one of demography's favorite subjects, the urban hipster, as well as two of planning's favorite subjects, bike lanes and parking minimums.
The list selected Washington D.C. as its coolest-of-the-cool cities. Although Fraade acknowledges that the nation's capital is worthy winner, he also notes the trouble with the list. "The problem with a 'coolest city' ranking is the way it takes things any city ought to be proud of – diversity, urbanity, art, energy, walkability, transit accessibility – and attaches them to a polarising sociological identity. Most Americans probably don’t have strong opinions about multimodal transit, or bicycle infrastructure. But they do have strong feelings about snobbish urban hipsters."
In fact, writes Fraade, "DC shines so bright in Forbes’ eyes that it appears to have blinded the magazine to the fact that a local backlash against 'cool kids' is under way."
As evidence of the backlash Fraade discusses Washington D.C.'s last minute retreat from reforms to minimum parking requirements when the city recently rewrote its zoning code. Additionally, the work of anti-bike columnist Courtland Milloy is cited as evidence of the general public's general distaste for all things hipster, even when those things are bike lanes with multiple and quantifiable benefits.
FULL STORY: The big problem with 'coolest city' lists

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

The French Solution to Congested Tunnels: Make Them Car-Free
Bay Area transportation officials keep expanding car capacity. Lyon’s Croix Rousse Tunnel offers a different way.

Missouri Governor Reverses Anti-Discrimination Housing Policies
A new state law bars cities from prohibiting source-of-income discrimination against tenants using Section 8 housing vouchers.

USDOT Launches Unfunded 'SAFE ROADS' Program
The program targets “distractions” and “political messages or artwork,” and paves the way for autonomous vehicles.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Fort Worth
planning NEXT
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie