James Brasuell, AICP is the former editorial director of Planetizen and is now a senior public affairs specialist at the Southern California Association of Governments. James managed all editorial content and direction for Planetizen from 2014 to 2023, and was promoted from manging editor to editorial director in 2021. After a first career as a class five white water river guide in Trinity County in Northern California, James started his career in Los Angeles as a volunteer at a risk reduction center in Skid Row. Prior to joining Planetizen, James worked at the Cal Poly Pomona College of Environmental Design, as an editor at Curbed LA, as editor of The Planning Report, and as a freelance contributor for The Architect’s Newspaper, the Urban Land Institute – Los Angeles Chapter, FORM, KCET, and the California Planning & Development Report.
290 Miles of Bike Superhighways to Connect Copenhagen and its Suburbs
The first bike super highway connecting Copenhagen and one of its suburbs was completed in 2012. That first, 11-mile leg only hints of the ambitious plans for the network.
The New Whistleblower: Using Satellite Images to Spot Environmental Damage
West Virginia-based SkyTruth is culling satellite and aerial images to blow the whistle on unreported damage to the environment.
Review: Smithsonian South Mall Master Plan
Writing for The Dirt, Jared Green takes a critical eye to the proposed master plan for the Smithsonian's South Mall campus, designed by high-profile Danish architecture firm Bjarke Ingels Group.
Portland to Evaluate Neighborhood Greenway Program
Portland will launch an effort to evaluate and improve its influential neighborhood greenway system of bike friendly residential corridors.

What Can Vancouver Teach Melbourne?
Melbourne has topped numerous global lists for its quality of life, but it certainly has room to improve. Former Vancouver Planning Director Brent Toderian sees lessons from his hometown for the world class city down under.