Social Interaction

Low angel shot of three people with four dogs in enclosed grassy dog park.

Fighting the ‘Loneliness Epidemic’ in Cities

While urban design alone can’t mend the tears in our social fabric, planning decisions and thoughtful, inclusive design can offer or hinder opportunities for interaction.

December 17, 2023 - Bloomberg CityLab

Atlanta public library

‘Social Infrastructure’ and the Interactions That Bond Us

Richard Florida talks with sociologist Eric Klinenberg about his new book and the places and organizations that help hold society together.

September 17, 2018 - CityLab

Google Maps Store

How Technology Is, and Isn't, Affecting Street Life

By analyzing four public spaces using William H. Whyte's groundbreaking techniques for studying street life, a team of researchers led by Keith Hampton reached some surprising conclusions about how technology is changing our social interactions.

January 20, 2014 - The New York Times

Heavy Traffic Means Less Social Streets

Streetfilms looks back at Professor Donald Appleyard's pioneering work observing the social life of streets, which proved that streets with less traffic fostered more social interactions than those with heavy traffic.

January 23, 2011 - Streetfilms

Taking the 'Mass' Out of Mass Transit

Is the isolation of personal rapid transit truly viable for mass transit?

September 29, 2010 - TheCityFix

Kotkin and Clubs

In a widely-read review of Joel Kotkin's book, a statistic claiming that suburban dwellers join significantly more social clubs than urban residents is called into question by Robert Steuteville.

April 9, 2010 - New Urban News

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Websites

The best of the Internet—since 2002.

Top Apps

Planning apps for a brave new world.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

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.