Multi-modal Transportation

People, cars, bikes and buses traveling through a busy intersection on 5th Avenue and 23rd Street in New York City with shining sunlight background.

When it Comes to Vehicle Travel, Less is More

Motor vehicle travel provides many benefits, but also imposes large costs on users and communities. With better planning people can drive less, rely more on non-auto modes, enjoy more access, and be better off overall as a result.

October 25, 2023 - Todd Litman

Los Angeles Protected Bike Lane

Opinion: Los Angeles Must Prioritize Bikes and Buses

L.A. has a plan for improving mobility. Why are city leaders ignoring it?

December 21, 2021 - Los Angeles Times

Texas Highways

Smart Congestion Costing: A Critical Evaluation of the 'Urban Mobility Report'

The new "Urban Mobility Report" provides widely-cited congestion cost estimates. However, its analysis is neither comprehensive nor objective. Anybody using these estimates should understand its omissions and biases.

August 29, 2019 - Todd Litman

BART System

BART's New Trains: Back to the Drawing Board to Make More Room for Bikes

BART is readying its "Fleet of the Future," which includes adding more room than originally designed for bike storage.

June 1, 2019 - San Francisco Examiner

St. Louis Transit

The Transit App Now the Transit App for All of St. Louis

The Transit app will replace the Metro on the Go app for multi-modal trip planning around St. Louis.

March 12, 2019 - Government Technology

Mobility

Google Maps Goes Multi-Modal

A bunch of new features makes Google Maps user-friendly for transit commuters.

October 3, 2018 - Smart Cities Dive

Biking in Denver

Analysis: Denver's 20-Year Vision for Not-Quite-Complete Streets

The Denveright plan puts pedestrians first, but could do more for public transportation and bikes, says a critique from Streetsblog Denver.

August 15, 2018 - Streetsblog Denver

Bike Commute

Can a Bike Commute Cause More Harm Than Good?

Researchers at Columbia University are investigating pollution intake among cyclists to determine if cycling really is a healthy way to commute.

December 5, 2017 - Doggerel

Monterey-Salinas Transit

Alternative Transportation Pays Dividends for Income Equality in Midsized Cities

A new study finds a connection between multimodality and income inequality in midsized cities.

November 14, 2017 - The Urban Edge

Ground Transportation

Taxis Taking a Back Seat to Uber and Lyft at Airports

The Bay Area provides a case study of the effect of transportation network companies on ground transportation to and from airports.

July 18, 2016 - The San Jose Mercury News

Crosstown Study Map

Details of the District DOT's Multi-Modal Crosstown Makeover

A conceptual study released earlier this spring would add new options for alternative modes of transportation between the neighborhoods of Columbia Heights and Brookland in Washington, D.C.

June 3, 2016 - Greater Greater Washington

LinkNYC

Sidewalk Labs and Transportation For America to Develop Connected Streets

Sidewalk Labs has teamed up with Transportation for America in the hopes of better connecting transportation technology with desired transportation outcomes.

June 2, 2016 - Next City

SEPTA Cycle-Transit Plan a Model for Multi-Modal Commuting

As ridership grows on the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) rail system, system planners are looking to a novel approach to relieve crunched station parking: bikes.

August 27, 2015 - Next City

Uber Sidecar Lyft

Op-Ed: Rideshare Beats Streetcars for Short Trips

Especially for parties with more than one passenger, summoning a car can make more sense, according to a recent op-ed. Transit still wins out for longer trips, but streetcars might just not be worth it downtown.

August 7, 2015 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

New York Cycling

Bikes Have the Attention of the Ford Motor Company

The age-old conflict between cars and bikes finally has the attention of one of the giants. Ford's Info Cycle project mounts sensors on street bikes to map out how multi-modal city travelers move around.

July 27, 2015 - CityLab

Houten Train Station

Houten, Netherlands: Where Cars and Bikes Coexist

Well-known in transportation planning circles, Houten's suburban multi-modality can be found almost nowhere else. Perimeter ring roads, train access, and bike-friendly features have cut car trips down to 44 percent.

June 29, 2015 - CityLab

MTA Testing Bike Racks on Staten Island Buses

What is the one transit facility New York lacks that every other major city in the country has? Bike racks on buses. A new system was tested recently on the Verrazano Narrows Bridge, but it's a long way from delivery.

March 11, 2015 - StreetsBlog NYC

Bikeshare in Eugene Looking Like a Winner for 'ConnectOregon' Grants

Bike Portland reports that a state committee recommended a Eugene bikeshare system as a top priority for a new round of "ConnectOregon" grants.

January 14, 2015 - Bike Portland

Two-Year 'Action Plan' to Support Early Implementation of 'moveDC' Long Range Plan

The District Department of Transportation released its moveDC "Action Plan" this week. While the moveDC plan sets a 25-year agenda, the Action Plan identifies 36 specific actions for implementation in the next two years.

October 22, 2014 - Greater Greater Washington

Progress for Cook County's Long Range Transportation Plan; Funding Questions Remain

Chicago's home county this year launched its first transportation since 1940. Initial outreach efforts have produced a draft vision statement and four planning scenarios.

October 21, 2014 - Chi.Streetsblog

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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.