Poor infrastructure can have powerful impacts on how different groups access resources and experience the public realm.

A panel of experts at the Shared Mobility Summit examined how poor infrastructure affects public health and dignity, reports Jeff McMahon. Neuroscientist Robin Mazumber pointed to hardships endured by the elderly and mentally ill: "[Poor infrastructure] caused loneliness. It contributed to a sedentary lifestyle." For Mazumber, a focus on universal design is key to making cities and the public realm more accessible and comfortable for all.
"At the heart of successful universal design is dignity, Mazumder said. When streets feel unsafe to cross, pedestrians have an undignified experience. When they feel unsafe to share, so do bicyclists." Mazumder points to "beg buttons" as one example of "undignified" urban design. In an example from Sweden, the government chose "to plough snow from sidewalks and bike paths first, instead of prioritizing streets" because "Sweden determined that 79 percent of its pedestrian injuries occurred during winter, and the overwhelming majority of those—69 percent—happened to women. An analysis found that women and children were more likely to be using icy sidewalks in winter than men, who were more likely to be commuting on ploughed streets." Injuries during wintertime went down by 50 percent.
"Infrastructure can also send discouraging messages to people who aspire to using alternative modes," as when unsafe roads prevent people from biking or walking safely or shared vehicles are tucked away in hard-to-find places. "The answer, which some UK governments have begun to pursue, is to put low-impact modes in the front, Roberts said, where they’re most visible and easiest to use."
Transportation systems, Zabe Bent, director of design for the National Association of City Transportation Officials argued, must be geared toward more than just getting people to and from work. "We just don’t think about access to food—and food security is huge—access to education," pointing out that only 30 percent of community colleges in the U.S. are near transit.
FULL STORY: How Infrastructure Decides Who Enjoys Dignity And Health

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
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.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie