The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

What And Who NYC Pedestrians Should Watch Out For

Not taxis, trucks, or buses as many might have thought. It's left turning motorists -especially if they are men! And you are less likely to get struck if you jaywalk than if you cross with the light, though if you do get hit it will be more serious

August 25 - The New York Times - N.Y. / Region

Is There a "Right" Kind of Mosque?

Attempts to eliminate all visible traces of Islamic influence from the design and nomenclature of the Park51 project contributes to the de-legitimization of Islam in America, writes Aisha Ghani.

August 25 - AlterNet

The New and Familiar

New restaurants are striving to look like (and to be) community institutions, reflecting old-style pubs, meeting halls and marketplaces.

August 25 - Metropolis Magazine

From Storm Drain to Sidewalk

An architect and planner in India has proposed a plan to convert Delhi's storm drains into a network of walkways and passages.

August 25 - The City Fix

Interactive Map Documents Road Quality

A new interactive map shows wear-and-tear on city roads, color-coding where work needs to be done and where smooth rides can be found.

August 25 - Treehugger


Maglev: Dreaming the Impossible Dream?

The idea of a magnetic levitation train has been bubbling for decades, but has yet to materialize in the U.S. Some say the idea is a pipe dream, but this column from <em>The Baltimore Sun</em> says the idea just needs the right home.

August 25 - The Baltimore Sun

Our 3D Augmented Future

"Augmented Reality" is currently a smart phone phenomenon that uses the phone's camera to overlay visual data on real spaces. Architecture student Keiichi Matsuda imagines a future where our visual space is completely overtaken by augmented reality.

August 24 - BLDGBLG


What the Traffic Jam Means for China

Popular Science's Clay Dillow reflects on what the massive traffic jam in Beijing means for China's planning and infrastructure.

August 24 - Popular Science

Invasion of the Granny Pods

The Rev. Kenneth Dupin of Virginia wanted to find a way to keep elderly folks independent and near their families while providing the care they need. So he invented the MEDCottage, and is working with cities to change zoning to allow it.

August 24 - NPR

Defending the "Great Good Place"

Public libraries are being relied on more than ever to assist Americans struggling with the economic crisis, even as they themselves are under threat, writes Neal Peirce.

August 24 - Seattle Times

Opposition to Mosque Proposals Mounting

Across the U.S., proposals for new mosques (such as for one in Murfreesboro, Tennessee) are meeting with hostile opposition, leading to worries over an ugly shift in public perception of Muslims.

August 24 - Washington Post

De-Paving and Improving Urban Permeability

A new test program to de-pave the city of Baltimore is turning the soil formerly covered by city school playgrounds. The project is aimed at reducing runoff.

August 24 - The Balimore Sun

Detroit's Big Plan

Detroit Mayor Dave Bing has officially announced the city's new 18-month policymaking process aimed at creating what his administration is calling the Detroit Strategic Framework Plan.

August 24 - Next American City

The 60-Mile Traffic Jam

A major route in China has been slammed with a major traffic jam, spanning more than 60 miles and lasting for more than a week.

August 24 - BBC

Turning Cities into Software

Many have called for "urban operating systems" to streamline how cities work, but few ideas have really taken hold. One small start-up, however, is making strides in developing that concept.

August 24 - Fast Company

L.A. To Test Variable Parking Prices

Los Angeles is planning to undertake a year-long experiment in demand-based pricing on parking in its downtown. The dynamic parking system will be put in place next summer.

August 24 - Los Angeles Times

Cyclists and Elderly Also At Risk on New York City's Streets

New York City's broad study of years of traffic and crash data have given new insight to the city's transportation safety problems. Cyclists and the elderly are especially vulnerable, according to the report.

August 23 - The New York Times

Downtown Rebirth Through Two-Way Streets

The city of Richmond, Virginia, is hoping to undo years of downtown driving confusion and congestion by converting its web of one-way streets into two-way streets.

August 23 - Richmond Times-Dispatch

Inside a Growing Chinese Megacity

Through the example of the booming megacity of Chongqing, this article explores how urban growth is occurring in China, and what it means to plan a rapidly growing city.

August 23 - Foreign Policy

A New Ethic for Urban Reinvention

In a unique collaboration, an American lawyer and a Venezuelan architect merge thinking on holistic design, planning and regulation

August 23 - myurbanist

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