The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Amsterdam Bikes

How One City Cultivates its Bike Culture

As a case study of bike culture, in which riding bikes is a normal and respected decision, Jeremy Holmes studies the example provided by Roanoke, Virginia.

September 5 - Mobility Lab

Friday Eye Candy: Social Media and the Beauty of Transit

Jenni Avins shares a collection of videos created on Instagram's new Hyperlapse app that capture the beauty of transportation from every corner of the world.

September 5 - CityLab

San Antonio, Texas, Riverwalk, Evening

Friday Funny: A Mayor Dares to Dream of a Revitalized Waterfront

The satirical site The Onion once again checks in with the world of planning and urbanism—this time choosing Erie, Pennsylvania Mayor Joe Sinnott to present some crazy ideas about the city's waterfront.

September 5 - The Onion

Safe Routes to School

BLOG POST

Green Health Tools for 'Back to School'

Nisha Botchwey and Kirsten Cook detail the articles available on the subject of green health and schools in the Summer 2014 issue of the Journal of Planning Education. (Articles mentioned in this post have Open Access through September.)

September 5 - JPER

Breaking News: $5 Billion Tesla Battery 'Gigafactory' Headed to Nevada

With competition from California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas, Elon Musk, the CEO of Bay Area-based Tesla Motors, chose the Silver State to build his much sought after $5 billion battery "giga factory."

September 4 - Wall Street Journal


Plans for a 550-Mile 'Atlantic Coast Pipeline' Announced

A trio of natural gas providers is planning to build a 550-mile pipeline from West Virginia to North Carolina. The companies are hoping to secure approval for the project from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission by 2016.

September 4 - Pittsburgh Business Times

The Villages Florida

The Fastest Growing Small Cities In America

Joel Kotkin explores the small cities that are growing the fastest in the United States, and what factors lead to this growth.

September 4 - Forbes


How to Make the Sharing Economy Work for Governments

Gabe Klein discusses some of the merits and challenges of forging private-public partnerships between disruptive companies and government entities.

September 4 - Urban Land Magazine

California High Speed Rail Construction and Litigation Update

Notwithstanding a favorable court ruling freeing state bond funds, construction is delayed on the 800-mile project, reports Ralph Vartabedian of the LA Times. Jessica Calefati of the Mercury News writes on opponents' appeal to the state Supreme Court

September 4 - Governing

Qualitative Study of Gentrification in Fort Collins, Colorado Neighborhood

Stanford researcher Clayton Hurd is studying the Tres Colonias, an overarching name for three neighborhoods in Fort Collins, Colorado, with dwindling numbers of Hispanic homeowners facing mounting gentrification pressures.

September 4 - The Coloradoan

Elevated Cycletracks: Future Urban Staple or Glitzy Dream Project?

With London's proposed SkyCycle and Copenhagen's successful Cykelslangen, are elevated cycletracks a viable transportation solution?

September 4 - ASLA The Dirt

A Massive List of Tools for Digital Public Engagement

Here are 50 tools for online engagement. These digital platforms can help local government consult, collaborate with, and empower citizens in planning decisions.

September 4 - CommunityMatters

Pedestrian Danger

America's Failing Walkability

In a recent Huffington Post article, F. Kaid Benfield of the Natural Resources Defense Council breaks down some of the barriers for walkability in the United States.

September 4 - Huffington Post

Is Living in New York City a Consumption Choice?

To what degree are people's location decisions dictated by their consumer preferences? Jordan Weissmann of Slate Magazine discusses whether living in an expensive city like New York City is a consumption choice.

September 4 - Slate Magazine

Crested Butte Colorado

Painting the Streets Blue in Crested Butte, Colorado

This isn't some new take on the bright green of bike lanes all over the country—it's not even the same shade of blue worn by the Denver Broncos. It's Bud Light painting the mountain town's Elk Avenue blue for $500,000 for its #WhateverUSA promotion.

September 3 - The Denver Post

$102 Million Brings Chicago-St. Louis High Speed Rail a Step Closer

A $102 million investment by Illinois along with federal funds from the Recovery Act will pay for double-tracking and a new rail bridge to enable 109 mph service on a key section of Amtrak's Chicago to St. Louis high speed rail corridor.

September 3 - Chicago Sun-Times

Local Climate Change Response Prevailing Over Federal Action

With national action tackling climate change remaining weak, regional and local municipalities are taking substantive actions to address the oncoming severe affects of climate change.

September 3 - Brookings Institution

Euro-Envy Reconsidered: Talkin' Time, Distance, and Change

Most North American urbanists turn to Europe for inspiration and direction. Some of that brilliance, Ben Brown reminds us, is due to time and distance.

September 3 - PlaceShakers

Report: Fracking Doesn't Pose Danger to California Groundwater

The Bureau of Land Management will resume oil and gas leasing in California after a report by a scientific research organization established by the state legislature showed no correlation between fracking and groundwater pollution.

September 3 - Los Angeles Times

Hitchhiking as Transportation Solution

With 80 percent of our passenger capacity empty, Jenny O'Brien discusses the potential of hitchhiking apps as a transportation solution in a recent TEDxKC talk.

September 3 - YouTube

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Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.

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.