Europe

Fracking

Pumping More Oil to Lower Gas Prices

Proponents of increased oil drilling in the U.S. to replace banned Russian oil argue that it will decrease prices at the pump. A Texas reporter examined the claim with a University of Texas energy analyst. If only it was that simple.

March 14, 2022 - KXAN

pallets of green oil barrels stacked

Banning Russian Oil

President Biden announced a ban on the importation of Russian energy on Tuesday in response to Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine. He warned that gasoline prices will go even higher as a result. Europe will not be joining the ban.

March 10, 2022 - The New York Times

A close up image of the exterior of the U.S. Capitol Rotunda illuminated at dusk.

Senate Vote Illustrates America's Polarized Response to Pandemic

A Senate joint resolution to roll back the Biden administration's only vaccine mandate to be upheld by the Supreme Court passed on a party-line vote on March 2. In Europe, the legislative branch often needs to approve these measures to become law.

March 7, 2022 - The New York Times

Gas Pump

The Missing Sanctions on Russia

President Biden took aim at Russia in his State of the Union address for the war it has started in Ukraine, vowing that they will "pay a price" which so far has yet to extend to their oil and gas exports.

March 6, 2022 - The Associated Press

Bike Traffic

Paris To Ban Most Cars in 'Quiet Zone'

Continuing Mayor Anne Hidalgo's efforts to make Paris more accessible to pedestrians and cyclists, the city plans to implement a 'car-light' zone in the city center that prohibits through traffic.

February 28, 2022 - Fast Company

East Nashville

Nashville Releases 5-Year 'WalknBike' Plan

The plan lays out the city's plans for improving its bike infrastructure and sidewalk network.

February 28, 2022 - News Channel 5 Nashville

Mobility App

How One Ride-Hailing Company Is Encouraging a Shift to Micromobility

A small change in the design of ride-hailing apps can make users more likely to choose walking or biking for short trips.

February 27, 2022 - Fast Company

New York Subway Stairs

Subways as Shelters

Subways in Kyiv and Kharkiv are performing as bomb shelters, including the world's deepest station, after the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine began on Wednesday night.

February 27, 2022 - Quartz

Public Health

The Pandemic Is Not Ending—But Restrictions Are

The science hasn't changed but the politics have, and policymakers are responding appropriately. Transmission of the coronavirus during the Omicron wave remains at an all-time high, although infections are decreasing globally.

February 20, 2022 - Bloomberg Prognosis

A statue of the Little Mermaid, overlooking the waterfront of Copenhagen, Denmark, is adorned with a mask during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Danish Paradox: High COVID Transmission Leads to Endemicity

The nation with the world's highest COVID infections per capita was the first in Europe to end almost all coronavirus restrictions. The decision comes with the declaration that as of Feb. 1, COVID is no longer a "socially critical disease" in Denmark

February 14, 2022 - The Atlantic

An image of a sign asking people to wear masks during the Covid-19 pandemic.

COVID Deaths: U.S. in a League of its Own

An analysis by The New York Times compares current and cumulative COVID deaths in the U.S. to other large, wealthy countries. Data analyzed include vaccination, age and obesity levels, and public trust, all factors that influence outcomes.

February 9, 2022 - The New York Times

Medellin

Paris Approves First Aerial Gondola

An aerial tramway project in the French capital cleared feasibility studies and could open in 2025.

February 8, 2022 - Bloomberg CityLab

Pandemic Endgame: Danish Epidemiologist's Prediction

Based on the results of a new study on the transmission of the Omicron variant in Denmark released by the Statens Serum Institut, Tyra Grove Krause, the institute's chief epidemiologist, said, "We will have our normal lives back in two months."

January 10, 2022 - Daily Mail

Hospital Signs

State Hospitalization Record Breaks as Omicron Surges

Infections from the Omicron variant, which early studies suggest cause less severe illness than the Delta variant, may be contributing to a record number of hospitalizations in Ohio, the highest since the start of the pandemic.

January 4, 2022 - WSYX

London Bikes

Bike Lanes Don't Cause Congestion

Research from Europe shows bike infrastructure doesn't add to urban traffic and can shift mode share from cars to bikes and reduce the need for solo car trips.

January 2, 2022 - Streetsblog USA

Apartment staircase, Washington, D.C.

In Praise of Single-Staircase Construction

U.S. building codes mandate two staircases in multi-story buildings, but some argue this requirement reduces affordability and encourages wasteful, uninspired design.

January 2, 2022 - Slate

A vial of blood marked "Omicron" sits on top of paperwork indicating relevance to Covid-19.

The Great American COVID Testing Failure

Americans who want to know if they are infected with the coronavirus are waiting hours to get tested and not finding rapid tests for at-home testing. Health experts had presented a plan to the administration in October to avoid this crisis.

December 28, 2021 - Vanity Fair

A statue of the Little Mermaid, overlooking the waterfront of Copenhagen, Denmark, is adorned with a mask during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Coronavirus Geography: Denmark Could Be an Omicron Harbinger

Denmark is one of three countries that experts suggest watching to determine how the Omicron wave will affect the U.S. and other well-vaccinated nations. Cases are surging notwithstanding having 78% of its population fully vaccinated.

December 27, 2021 - The Washington Post

Magellanterassen at HafenCity, Hamburg, Germany

Living With Flooding in a German Port Town

A riverside neighborhood in Hamburg embraces flooding as part of its resilience planning, using old techniques to protect modern communities.

December 24, 2021 - Bloomberg CityLab

A person experiencing homelessness sleeps on the sidewalk, atop the stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Reimagining Homelessness and Mental Health: 'Radical Hospitality' in Trieste, Italy

Kerry Morrison, founder of Heart Forward LA, shares her journey researching the “failures” of the U.S. mental health system, and what L.A. could learn about radical hospitality from a city with a robust community-based approach—Trieste, Italy.

December 21, 2021 - The Planning Report

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.

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