The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Collective Bike Rides Tell a New Story about Justice on the Streets

Stephen Snell explains how bike-riding collectives change the story about the use of public space.

June 4 - Fast Forward Weekly

Shared Street

More Cities Adopting 'Naked Streets'

In the second post in an ongoing "Shareable Cities" series, Mike Clay discusses "naked streets"—a democratizing, stripped-down street management concept that removes streetlights, crosswalks, and other signage.

June 4 - Woodhouse

'Seattle's Greatest Social and Economic Experiment Is about to Begin'

That's how USA Today reporter John Bacon concluded his video on the Seattle City Council's historic vote to increase the city minimum wage to $15/hour in 3-7 years depending on the business. The outcome was never in doubt due to prior deliberations.

June 4 - USA Today

Arguing for More Housing in the Silicon Valley

San Francisco Chronicle architecture critic John King criticizes the housing policy of cities like Mountain View, Silicon Valley home to companies like Google and LinkedIn.

June 4 - SFGate

Bike Lane Backlash in Atlanta

A recent local news report from Atlanta shows that a lot of citizens just aren't buying what planners and advocates are selling when it comes to complete streets.

June 4 - 11Alive


Vermont Makes Record Investment in Transportation Infrastructure

Governor Peter Shumlin approved the largest transportation bill in Vermont history earlier this week. So what does the money go to?

June 4 - Office of Governor Peter Shumlin

Runners in D.C.

Ranking the Health and Fitness of Metro Areas (Infrastructure Matters)

Melanie Haiken shares insight into the findings of the American Fitness Index (AFI), which assesses the "Health and Community Fitness Status of the 50 Largest Metropolitan Areas."

June 4 - Forbes


St. Louis Transportation Wish List: Bike Paths, Streetcars, Sidewalks

St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay released a wish list of projects that could be funded by a proposed sales tax to fund transportation projects.

June 3 - St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Pending Massachusetts Zoning Code Bill Would 'Promote Sustainable Communities'

A Boston Globe editorial calls for the Massachusetts State Legislature to approve Bill H.4065 (An Act promoting the planning and development of sustainable communities).

June 3 - Boston Globe

'Rebuild by Design' Winners Announced for New York and New Jersey Resilience

HUD announced the winners of the Rebuild by Design competition yesterday, awarding $920 million to six projects in New York and New Jersey. $335 million will go toward the first phase of a 10-mile protective barrier for Manhattan.

June 3 - Next City

How to Put More Kick in Urban Parks and Recreation Planning

Los Angeles County planner Clement Lau makes a case for increasing the number of fields and facilities dedicated to a sport that is growing in popularity – soccer.

June 3 - UrbDeZine

Despite Rejection of Residential High Rise, Houston Still Open to Density

A recent ruling that favored local homeowners over a developer in Houston had some wondering whether Houston's days as a "development free-for-all" were over. Fear not, says Stephen J. Smith.

June 3 - Next City

Can Miami Change, or is Car Culture in its DNA?

Esteban Bovo, chair of the Miami-Dade County Finance Committee, recently provoked the ire of transit advocates when he said that car culture is in the DNA of Miami.

June 3 - Transit Miami

Los Angeles Mayor Garcetti Picks the First 15 'Great Streets'

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced $800,000 in funding for 15 "Great Streets" to be located around the city.

June 3 - Los Angeles Times

Shepard Fairey

How 'Hipster Economics' Romanticizes Blight and Compounds Inequality

A recent article refutes arguments used to defend gentrification, and in so doing identifies a culprit in glossing over the negative effects of displacement in areas both urban and suburban: hipster economics.

June 3 - Al Jazeera

Op-Ed: Time to End Reliance on Highway User Fees

It's time to fund federal transportation like most other nations do—rely less on highway user fees that dedicate funds to highways and transition to funding roads from the general fund, perhaps in the same amount that they contribute to GDP.

June 3 - The New York Times - Opinion

EPA Releases Carbon-Cutting Rule for Existing Power Plants

EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy announced on Monday the long-awaited proposed rule to reduce the largest source of carbon dioxide emissions. It calls for cuts of 30 percent by 2030, with the baseline year of 2005, to be finalized next year.

June 3 - The Hill

Long Commutes Pose Additional Risks for Students in New York City

A recent study shows significant variation in commute times for students depending on where they live in New York City. The concern with the findings is that longer commute times have greater impacts on students already facing other obstacles.

June 2 - Chalkbeat New York

Cincinnati Sign

Life as a 'Hipster Homesteader' in Cincinnati

A writer examines what it's like to live in the suburbs and work in the city of Cincinnati—to "exist in the physical and social margins" yet still play an active role in shaping the city's identity.

June 2 - Belt Magazine

Old Skool

The New Retirement Community Paradigm

After postponing home purchases during the recession, people over the age of 55 have been the first group to return to the home buying market.

June 2 - New York Times

Post News

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.