The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Mayor Sam Adams pens an opinion piece for <em>Grist</em> in which he considers why Portland is not as well planned as it could be, and how a different approach to planning is necessary for American cities to address their most pressing challenges.

May 3 - Grist

Christine McLaren considers the history of urban housing in Berlin, and reveals a long-defunct program designed to address a problem faced by countless communities today.

May 3 - BMW Guggenheim Lab

Included in the 2005 federal transportation bill was $100 million for four regions to invest in bike and pedestrian infrastructure to determine, essentially, if they build it, will they bike and ride more and drive less. The final results are in.

May 3 - Fast Lane (DOT blog)

Sarah Goodyear explores the need to market non-automotive transportation on its emotional appeal, rather than reason, as argued by Darrin Nordahl in his new e-book, <em>Making Transit Fun!</em>

May 3 - The Atlantic Cities

William Brangham takes a look at Norfolk, Virginia, where rising sea levels have made major floods increasingly commonplace – and increasingly burdensome for taxpayers.

May 3 - Grist

Stephanie M. Lee reports on the complicated nature of creating an urban garden in San Francisco, and how the area's Planning and Urban Research Association (SPUR) hopes to streamline the process.

May 3 - SF Gate

Noah Kazis describes the explosive success of transit systems in London, Stockholm, and Singapore, and suggests that charging motorists for road use is the secret ingredient that keeps ridership high and public support strong.

May 3 - Streetsblog

Reflecting trends likely to effect many cities in the coming years and decades, Magdalena Wegrzyn reports on the growing need for affordable housing for seniors in the City of Longmont, 30 miles outside of Denver.

May 3 - The Denver Post

The most influential planning trend of recent decades began with a small group of urbanists with varied interests who decided to pool their talents. Peter Katz, founding executive director of CNU, recounts their story and airs some dirty laundry.

May 3 - Better! Cities & Towns

Jonah Lehrer, author of a best-selling new book on how creativity works, is interviewed by the perfect figure to discuss the intersection of creativity and cities -- Richard Florida.

May 3 - The Atlantic Cities

As Americans' appreciation for street eats rises along with the trend in gourmet food trucks, Carly Fisher examines the "World's Best Cities for Street Food," in a piece for <em>Food & Wine</em>.

May 2 - Food & Wine

Kaya Burgess and Rhoda Buchanan report on a ride for cyclists' rights in the English capital, where political support for more inclusive streets is gaining momentum.

May 2 - The Times

Atlanta area residents will go to the polls on July 31st to vote on a one-cent sales tax increase that provides an opportunity to transform mobility and growth patterns for decades to come. So why is the Sierra Club of Georgia opposing the measure?

May 2 - Streetsblog D.C.

Robert Steuteville looks at a recent report on the Golden State's supply and demand imbalance in the housing market. It's not what the <em>The Wall Street Journal</em> has led you to believe.

May 2 - Better Cities & Towns

Gaia Pianigiani discusses the recent opening of a new, luxury high-speed rail line in Italy – Europe's first private competitor to domestic, state-run HSR.

May 2 - The New York Times

Lauren Gravitz describes an unconventional solution to combat climate change, encouraging "countries with means" to "buy up coal, oil, and other deposits while they’re still in the ground--then leave them there."

May 2 - Fast Coexist

The seven largest metros in the nation are teaming up to unify the technologies that are revolutionizing life in the city, Steve Towns reports.

May 2 - Governing

Jeremy Smerd describes the competition over sidewalk space in New York, as commerce overflows out of buildings and into public space.

May 2 - Crain's New York Business

In an opinion piece for <em>The Denver Post</em>, Neal Peirce summarizes a new report on the practical ways in which metropolitan regions around the country are working across jurisdictional boundaries to lay the groundwork for prosperous futures.

May 2 - The Denver Post

Sarah Goodyear chronicles the transition of streets in America from public space to the exclusive domain of autos. Professor Peter Norton, author of "Fighting Traffic: Dawn of the Motor Age" explains the ingenuous strategy of the auto industry.

May 2 - The Atlantic Cities