Pedestrian Observations

New York Subway Coronvairus

Subway-Coronavirus Connection Suffers From Lack of Evidence

There is little evidence that the New York Subway is spreading the coronavirus, according to analysis by Alon Levy.

April 20, 2020 - Pedestrian Observations

New York Subway Stairs

How We Learn Public Transportation and Infrastructure Lessons

"Who do you learn from?" is a question that transportation planners, particularly in the United States, should ask themselves.

March 27, 2020 - Pedestrian Observations

Denver Region

Revisiting the Megaregion

The idea of cities as components of larger megaregions has lost some of its popularity, Alon Levy looks at regions around the world to try to understand how useful the concept is in understanding cities and regions.

September 5, 2019 - Pedestrian Observations

BVG

The Free Public Transit Debate

The pros and cons of fare-free transit involve a range of issues, from operations logistics and outcomes to costs and fiscal priorities.

July 25, 2019 - Pedestrian Observations

San Francisco Muni Buses

In Cities, Transit Isn’t Just for Commuting

A closer look at commuting and ridership shows the differences between urban and suburban transit patterns.

December 28, 2018 - Pedestrian Observations

Metro Subway Los Angeles

Can Los Angeles Fix its Bad Transit?

Transit writer Alon Levy argues it will take more than system improvements to integrate public transit into L.A.'s urban fabric.

November 20, 2018 - Pedestrian Observations

Road Safety

Traffic Safety Solution: Design, Not Enforcement

Alon Levy argues that the best path to traffic safety is through design rather than traffic law enforcement.

October 24, 2016 - Pedestrian Observations

Where and Why 'Not In Their Backyard' Becomes a Rallying Cry

We've all heard about NIMBY politics, but what about NITBY? What would prompt some people to adopt a "Not In Their Backyard" stance?

November 10, 2014 - Pedestrian Observations

Transferring Issue is 7 Line Extension's Downfall

According to Alon Levy, the 7 line extension from New York City to Secaucus, NJ will get workers "almost to their jobs," but not quite. It may seem trivial, but literature on the penalty of certain transfers may be pointing to failure.

October 28, 2011 - Pedestrian Observations

The "Suburbanization of Poverty" is a Decades-Long Trend

The current observation is that the urban poor are moving to the suburbs. Alon Levy says that this is nothing new, and the current effects of such movement is in fact just the "tipping point" of what's been happening for the last 50 years.

October 2, 2011 - Pedestrian Observations

Bill Proposes Privatization of Northeast Rail Corridor

House Transportation Committee Chairman John Mica has proposed a bill to privatize Northeast Corridor rail operations. This post from Pedestrian Observations looks at what such a plan would mean.

June 18, 2011 - Pedestrian Observations

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

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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.