Europe

Pandemic Watch: We've Been Here Before (but at Lower Case Levels)
The White House COVID-19 Response Team explains why governors are wrong to lift mask mandates and ease restrictions by putting the current level of coronavirus infections in the country in perspective, i.e., comparing it to the two prior surges.

'The World's Most Beautiful Avenue' Getting A Green Makeover
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo approved a new plan to revitalize the Champs Élysées ahead of the 2024 Summer Olympics.

Pandemic Update: Sea Change in Sweden
The European outlier of Sweden was embraced by American conservatives as an example of a government relying not on heavy-handed business and social restrictions but voluntary compliance by individuals to reduce viral spread. No longer.

Sweden's 'One-Minute City' Reimagines the Street at a Hyper-Local Level
Rather than trying to meet all of a community's needs within a one-minute radius, Sweden's Street Moves pilot program gives residents the power to decide how street space gets used.

GE's Massive Offshore Wind Turbine Makes Waves in the Industry
With a diameter longer than two football fields, a new wind turbine design promises to revolutionize the wind energy industry.

Watch: The Car-Free City Becomes Reality
The latest City Beautiful video shows off the fruits of car-free initiatives in European cities.

Germany Locks Down to Protect Healthcare System
Beginning Dec. 16, all of Germany will be subject to stricter coronavirus restrictions to reduce infections following a meeting with the chancellor and the 16 state governors. Schools will close and restaurants will be confined to take-out service.

New Market-Rate Housing Lowers Rents for Everyone, According to New Research
A study published by a German researcher adds ammunition to the cause of improving housing affordability by legalizing and building new supply.

Barcelona's Long-Term, Pedestrian-First Plan Continues with the 'Barcelona Superblock'
Mayor Ada Colau announced the next step in Barcelona's plan to convert the city center into a "new city for the present and the future."

Uncertain Times for Trade Shows and Conferences
Expecting a dark winter, conferences are being canceled worldwide, putting millions of jobs at risk.

England Begins Second Lockdown to Protect the National Health Service
The day after Election Day in America, the U.K. Parliament voted overwhelmingly to impose a 4-week lockdown in England to ensure that nation's prized healthcare system doesn't collapse due to treating mounting coronavirus infections.

Abandoned Rural Spain Rebounds With People Fleeing Cities
COVID-19 is leading an exodus to rural areas, according to this article. The shift could hurt the economies of cities, but it also presents opportunities for younger residents and people looking for a more sustainable lifestyle.

North Dakota Physicians Plead for State and Local Leaders to Mandate Masks
The medical community is sounding the alarm in North Dakota, where hospitals are overwhelmed with COVID patients. With the governor opposed to issuing a statewide mask mandate, physicians are asking local governments and the public for help.

Planning Age-Friendly Cities
Manchester researchers are part of a network of European cities collaborating on strategies to support the aging population in cities worldwide.

European Cities Pledge €14 Billion to Fight Poverty and Social Exclusion
The city pledges, part of Eurocities Inclusive Cities 4 All initiative, focus on real actions on key social issues for cities, such as housing, childcare, skills training, active support to employment, healthcare, long-term care and equal opportuniti

Tourism-Based Urban Economies Will Have to Innovate to Survive the Pandemic
It is time to make bold, disruptive changes to Barcelona's economy, according to this article, by fueling innovation, sustainability, and policies to improve residents' quality of life.

Debunking Traffic Safety Myths as Pedestrian Fatalities Increase
Angie Schmitt, former editor at Streetsblog USA, has written a new book about pedestrian fatalities, which works to dispel some of the myths about traffic safety in the United States.

Students Under 18 Ride for Free on Paris Buses and Trains
The city of Paris is taking another step to entice more people out of cars and onto transit.

The Sounds of Cities: Three Aural Vignettes
Monocle's The Urbanist podcast explores urban acoustic ecology to unveil the sonic signature of the coronavirus pandemic, the Greek island of Corfu, and Vienna streetscapes.

Madrid Has the Bike Infrastructure Model the U.S. Needs
A happy accident, Madrid may have stumbled onto a bike infrastructure program with great results. Only time will tell if "slow" lanes yield long-term positive results.
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