Public Safety

California State Water Project

New Oil and Gas Drilling in California May Be Subject to Moratorium

Gov. Gavin Newsom pleased environmentalists by doing what his predecessor, Gov. Jerry Brown, refused – halting all new oil and gas fracking and placing a moratorium on another extraction method linked to a massive oil spill in Kern County.

December 9, 2019 - Los Angeles Times

Transportation Network Companies

Uber Could Record Rides in the U.S.

Uber wants to launch a program in the United States soon that would allow users to consent to an audio recording of their ride.

November 21, 2019 - The Washington Post

Street Vendor

Street Vending Makes Public Spaces Better. Stop Criminalizing It.

While recent crackdowns on street vending suggest it is a problem to be fixed, the reality is that street vendors energize urban spaces and make them more accessible for everyone.

November 20, 2019 - Curbed

Baltimore Vacancy

Demolitions Can't Keep Pace With Vacancies in Baltimore

As the city of Baltimore grapples with a declining population, it faces obstinate challenges in controlling the problems associated with vacant buildings, including the "vicious cycle" of vacancies causing more vacancies.

October 29, 2019 - The Washington Post

Protest

Gender Bias in Urban Systems

A list of all the ways cities and infrastructure are designed for men, and at the expense of women.

August 29, 2019 - Streetsblog USA

Cincinnati

Opinion: It’s Time for Cincinnati to Embrace Vision Zero

Pedestrian fatalities are rising, and one city council candidate has had enough.

May 14, 2019 - Cincinnati Enquirer

Neighborhood-Based Apps

Neighborhood-Based Apps and the Socialized Fear of Crime

Violent crime is at the lowest rate in decades, but don't tell that to the people who use neighborhood-based apps like Nextdoor, Citizen, and Neighbors.

May 9, 2019 - Vox

Suburban Office Building

Watch: What it Takes to Retrofit Suburbia

June Williamson explains the necessary components of the next generation of the suburban retrofitting project, and why these actions are so necessary.

April 27, 2019 - Redesigning Cities via YouTube

Internet of Things for Cars

Study: Self-Driving Cars Have Trouble Detecting People of Color

The automated decision-making processes of self-driving cars are ill equipped to protect that safety of people of color in public.

March 7, 2019 - Vox

Broadway Downtown

A Sprinkle of Stores: Wrestling With Jacobs's Uncertainty

Jane Jacobs used vague terms to describe the number of stores necessary for a safe and vibrant streetscape. Here, author Fanis Grammenos attempts to discover a more specific number to attach to this prescription.

February 27, 2019 - Fanis Grammenos

Woman on Transit

Study: Crime Concerns Cause Transit's Gender Gap

A new study of transit use in Los Angeles finds safety concerns are keeping women off of public transit.

January 17, 2019 - Streetsblog USA

Bus Stop and Bike Lane

Op-Ed: Change the Bike Planning Calculus to Include Women's Safety

The gender gap in walking and biking is deep and wide in Seattle. Here's a call to action.

November 14, 2018 - Crosscut

Dallas Bike Lane

Opinion: Bike Lane Funding in Dallas on the Line

As the Dallas City Council prepares to vote this month on a general fund budget, the future of bike lanes is not looking good.

September 4, 2018 - The Dallas Morning News

Homeless Encampment

How L.A. Plans to Address Intersecting Issues of Homelessness and Open Space

In California, agencies are working to redefine enforcement and safety procedures as the number of homeless individuals who seek refuge in vulnerable open or wild landscapes continue to increase.

September 1, 2018 - The Planning Report

Eyes on the Street

Eyes from the Street – A Finer Filter

Evidence described here suggests that urban design for "eyes on the street" is not enough to lower crime.

July 2, 2018 - Fanis Grammenos

Port of Oakland

Federal Judge Strikes Down Oakland's Ban on Coal Exports

Shipping coal from Utah to export to Asia through a new cargo facility in Oakland, California took a significant step forward on May 15 with a strongly worded ruling condemning the adequacy of the city of Oakland's environmental analysis.

May 18, 2018 - KQED: California Report

Canadian Street

Eyes from the Street: The Neighbourhood Fabric that Matters

The mantra “eyes on the street" focuses on the physical and functional traits of urban fabric but fails to explain the high crime rate of my Jacobsian neighbourhood. Time to reconsider, look for explanations, and exchange mantras for research.

April 9, 2018 - Fanis Grammenos

Pope Mobile

Pope Francis Calls on Us to Be Better Drivers

Imagine all the people, driving safely and courteously.

January 7, 2018 - The New York Times

Female Cab Driber

Women-Only Ride-Hailing: A Safety Solution?

In Mexico, one popular app illustrates the feasibility and efficacy of women-only transportation models.

January 2, 2018 - CityLab

Rural Traffic

Obama-Era Truck Safety Regulations Up for Debate

The Trump Administration has been defending the interests of the truck industry against regulations proposed during the Obama Administration.

December 6, 2017 - NPR via KPCC

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.