A decade ago it seemed like biking and walking was making a comeback that could change the commuting culture of the United States.

Angie Schmitt spreads the word about the "Bicycling and Walking in the United States: 2018 Benchmarking Report," published semi-annually by the League of American Bicyclists.
"Pedestrian fatalities are soaring and bike commuting is leveling off nationally, despite progress in some cities and states — the latest evidence that we need leadership willing to do what works and willing to stop doing what doesn’t," according to Schmitt's summary of the report.
The contemporary trends stand in contrast to the story just a decade ago, when it seemed biking was on a "steady upward trajectory," writes Schmitt. Now biking and walking have leveled off, and many of the gains in people walking to work might be a result of more people working in post-recessionary years.
There is also institutional neglect to account for infrastructure projects that support biking an walking. "The number of new biking and walking projects being started and the total funding levels have fallen since the end of the last decade, when Obama passed his stimulus bill," explains Schmitt about findings in the report.
The article includes a call for states and the federal government to step up to support local governments in funding, planning, and constructing bike and pedestrian infrastructure.
FULL STORY: Walking and Biking are Hurt by Lack of National Leadership: Report

The Slow Death of Ride Sharing
From the beginning, TNCs like Lyft and Uber touted shared rides as their key product. Now, Lyft is ending the practice.

Cool Walkability Planning
Shadeways (covered sidewalks) and pedways (enclosed, climate controlled walkways) can provide comfortable walkability in hot climates. The Cool Walkshed Index can help plan these facilities.

Illinois Legislators Pass Controversial I-55 Road Expansion Legislation
Legislation to enable the addition of express toll lanes on Interstate 55 in the Southwest Side of Chicago, opposed by environmental justice advocates, cleared the Illinois General Assembly last month.

Federal Infrastructure Dollars Funding Road Expansions
Far from kickstarting a transformative change in transportation policy, the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law continues to fund traditional road-building projects.

Downtown Omaha Planning for its Post-One-Way-Streets Era
The Omaha City Council has decided to reverse the transportation model adopted in the city in the 1950s, for the benefit of traffic safety and local retail activity.

Planning for Proximity, for the Climate’s Sake
A new global platform will help the world identify and encourage opportunities for more proximity in the built environment—development patterns that can help reduce sources of greenhouse gas emissions and other forms of pollution if built well.
Bossier City - Parish MPC
Wichita-Sedgwick County Metropolitan Area Planning Department
City of Bangor
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Montrose County
Wichita-Sedgwick County Metropolitan Area Planning Department
City of Lomita
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.