Todd Litman's blog

Finding Hope In Challenging Times

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Submitted by Todd Litman on March 26, 2017 - 1:00pm

Despite depressing U.S. federal politics, there are many encouraging planning trends if you look internationally and locally.

Unaffordability is a Problem but Sprawl is a Terrible Solution

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Submitted by Todd Litman on February 21, 2017 - 5:00am

Many households spend more than they can afford on housing and transportation, but the latest International Housing Affordability Survey is wrong to recommend sprawl as the best solution. Real solutions must reduce both housing and transport costs.

Faulty Assumptions in the TTI Urban Mobility Report

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Submitted by Todd Litman on January 27, 2017 - 12:00pm

The annual Urban Mobility Report (UMR), published by Texas Transportation Institute (TTI), should come with a warning label.

Shining a Light on Smarter Development Policies in India

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Submitted by Todd Litman on January 6, 2017 - 10:00am

A new study uses night sky satellite images to measure urban development patterns in India. The results can help guide smarter growth.

Defending Multi-Modalism

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Submitted by Todd Litman on December 5, 2016 - 5:00am

An efficient and equitable transport system must be diverse to serve diverse travel demands. Planners need better tools to quantify and communicate the benefits of walking, cycling and public transit to sometimes skeptical decision makers.

Truly Responsive and Inclusive Planning

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Submitted by Todd Litman on November 15, 2016 - 10:00am

Current planning practices can alienate some voters, which contributed to Donald Trump’s success in the recent US election. How have planners contributed to this problem, and how can we achieve more responsive and inclusive planning?

Rethinking Traffic Safety

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Submitted by Todd Litman on October 3, 2016 - 5:00am

The United States has, by far, the highest traffic fatality rate among peer countries. Don’t blame drivers; planners need to rethink transportation safety.

Urban Sanity: Understanding Urban Mental Health Impacts and How to Create Saner, Happier Cities

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Submitted by Todd Litman on September 6, 2016 - 5:00am

Some experts claim that city living causes mental illness and unhappiness, but a new study indicates that urban environments provide many mental health benefits. Better planning can help make sane and happy cities.

Funding Multi-Modalism

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Submitted by Todd Litman on August 3, 2016 - 5:00am

The new Republican Party Platform wants to stop spending federal fuel tax funds on walking, cycling, and public transit. That would be unfair and inefficient.

Arbitrating Fairness: Potty Parity

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Submitted by Todd Litman on July 14, 2016 - 2:00pm

Planners are often involved in social equity analysis. How issues are defined and measured can affect what seems fair and just. Consider, for example, the fairness of toilet access.

Watch: How Induced Demand Explains the Vicious Cycle of Congestion

History (Un)made: Berkeley City Council Votes to Eliminate Single-Family Zoning

Lone Star Grid

Study Calls Seattle Nation's 'Most Economically Integrated' City

Cultivating a Culture of Transit

Big Benefits from Small Modes

Public Drinking in America

Latkes, Hamantashen, and Urbanism

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Todd Litman's blog

Finding Hope In Challenging Times

Unaffordability is a Problem but Sprawl is a Terrible Solution

Faulty Assumptions in the TTI Urban Mobility Report

Shining a Light on Smarter Development Policies in India

Defending Multi-Modalism

Truly Responsive and Inclusive Planning

Rethinking Traffic Safety

Urban Sanity: Understanding Urban Mental Health Impacts and How to Create Saner, Happier Cities

Funding Multi-Modalism

Arbitrating Fairness: Potty Parity

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