The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
How Design Professionals Can Effect Change on Capitol Hill
Congressman Earl Blumeanauer explains what landscape architects, architects, planners and engineers can do to bridge the gap between politics and more livable communities during ASLA's advocacy day.
Are Electric Cable Cars the Future of Trucking?
John Metcalfe explores a new kind of hybrid vehicle that could revolutionize trucking and cut down air contaminants in one of the most polluted regions in the country.
Quality of Place Trumps Density, says Richard Florida
Ten years after publishing of The Rise of the Creative Class, the prominent city-booster says high-rises are “vertical suburbs” and we need “urban environments that stir the spirit.”
Friday Funny: Best Cities for Cheapskates
Granted, this post may straddle the borderline between funny and sadly pertinent in these challenging economic times. But, we think any rankings that rely upon the number of Dollar General stores in a 30-mile radius deserves a bit of a chuckle.
How Tokyo Gets Transportation Right
As a New Yorker visiting Tokyo, Eric Jaffe set out to keep a scorecard comparing his home city's transportation infrastructure with that of the Japanese capital. He found that the score wasn't even close.
Minority Births Now Majority
In another milestone demonstrating the coloring of America, the Census Bureau reported this week that 2011 saw 50.4% births of color. In addition to the ethnic make-up of the country, aging data was reported.
Will Sixties Architecture Go Down Without a Fight?
As the number of prominent buildings from the 1960s facing the wrecking ball increases, from the Mummers Theater in Oklahoma City to the Mechanic Theater in Baltimore, Mark Lamster bemoans the assault on the architecture of that era.
How Bikes Are Changing Our Urban and Social Spaces
In honor of national Bike to Work Day, we post an article by Jason Severs looking at the ways in which the bicycle - "the next great technology platform" - is changing our physical environment and social interactions.
Can the "Missing Middle" Generate Cincinnati's Thriving Re-Urbanization
Dan Parolek kicks off a series on recent efforts to revitalize the Queen City based on a strong foundation of coveted resources, including a variety of urban housing types.
The Changing Face of Urbanism in India
Neha Thirani speaks with Rahul Mehrotra, urban planner and chairman of Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design, about the challenges facing "emerging India," including its parasitic gated communities, preservation, and 392 "urban time bombs."
Message and Media: Connecting in a Noisy World
Scott Doyon argues that getting the next generation of collaborators involved in community improvement efforts will require more than simply using the tools of social media - it will require connecting with what people are passionate about.
What Will It Take to Make the Electric Car Affordable?
Even as auto manufacturers roll out bigger, better technology for electric vehicles, high production costs – particularly from battery manufacturers – are keeping sales figures low, Tim Fernholz reports.
Will Gehry Revisions Placate Memorial Critics?
Frank Gehry unveiled revisions to his controversial design for a proposed memorial honoring Dwight D. Eisenhower this week, in an effort to appease a chorus of critics that includes Ike's own family, reports Lonnae O'Neal Parker.
BLOG POST
Transit and seniors
<p> I occasionally have speculated that our aging society would lead to increased transit ridership, as seniors lost the ability to drive. But I recently discovered that seniors are actually less likely to use public transit than the general public. One study by the American Public Transit Association showed that 6.7% of transit riders are over 65 (as opposed to 12.4% of all Americans).(1) The oldest Americans are even more underrepresented on America's buses and trains: only 1.5% of transit riders are over 80, about half their share of the population (2). The only other age group that is underrepresented on public transit is Americans under 18. </p>
Visionary Skyscraper Finally Completed
Add this to the "oh yeah" file. After eight years of construction, the completion ceremony for the OMA-designed China Central Television (CCTV) Headquarters in Beijing was held this week.
Major Stumbling Block to Transportation Bill May be Removed
In a promising sign for the negotiation and passage of a comprehensive transportation bill, the GOP is hinting it may be willing to part with demands to include a permit for the Keystone XL oil pipeline in the final bill, reports Ben Geman.
California Tries To Wring Every Last Cent From Redevelopment
California's erstwhile redevelopment agencies are pleading with the state to maintain funding for projects they consider crucial. So far, the Department of Finance has taken a decidedly conservative approach.
Quick Fixes for Transit Safety
Transit rider and <em>Good</em> reporter, Alissa Walker, describes some simple solutions for making transit safer.
Will Generation Y Drive a Rust Belt Redux?
In search of cheap rent and an urban experience with some <em>bona fide</em> street cred, young people are making the move out to the Rust Belt, Will Doig reports.
America's Rivers Under Threat
Hillary Rosner speaks with Bob Irvin, president of American Rivers, on their newly released list of the most endangered rivers in the country.
City of Moorpark
City of Tustin
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
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.
