The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Hipster Cyclists

Op-Ed: Stop the Hipster Hate

Un-American to some, symbol of oblivious privilege to others, the urban hipster is a polarizing character. But the stereotype also lays blanket criticism on those simply trying to make people-scaled cities work.

April 22 - kevinklinkenberg.com

Trends Toward Single, Car-Free Living in Chicago

Chicago magazine reports on how developers are responding to a growing share of Chicago residents who don't own a car.

April 21 - Chicago Magazine

How Many Americans Know How to Ride a Bike?

A Five Thirty Eight article reveals the data on the ubiquity, and relative lack thereof in certain populations, of the ability to ride a bike.

April 21 - Five Thirty Eight

For Rent

BLOG POST

Airbnb and Affordable Housing

Does apartment-sharing reduce regional housing supply? Probably not very much.

April 21 - Michael Lewyn

Why So Difficult for States to Raise Gas Taxes? Learning from Alaska and Missouri

Look no further than the state with the lowest gas tax at 11-cents per gallon to see why even when gas prices are at their lowest in five years, it's still a struggle to increase the gas by less than a penny. Missouri may provide a better example.

April 21 - Planetizen


Will This Bipartisan House Bill to Index the Gas Tax Succeed?

The Bridge to Sustainable Infrastructure Act is taken seriously in Congress. With 17 bipartisan co-sponsors, it would index the gas tax to inflation, thus increasing the Highway Trust Fund revenue and bridging to a sustainable revenue source.

April 21 - The Hill

Los Angeles' CAO Shows How Trade-Offs Drive City Budgeting

Yesterday marked the release of the city of Los Angeles Mayor’s Budget for FY 2015-2016, and Chief Administrative Officer Miguel Santana delves into the details.

April 21 - The Planning Report


Greed Revealed in the Manufactured Housing Industry

A company owned by Berkshire Hathaway has been been indulging in some of the same tactics that led to the larger housing crisis about ten years ago.

April 21 - Rooflines

Need a Better Story? Get a Better To-Do List

If we can't grow our trust networks beyond our tribes, we can forget about working together successfully as communities and regions, let alone as a nation of citizens or in coalitions of nations in common causes.

April 21 - PlaceShakers

Foresight and the Built Environment

In the ever changing global landscape, organizations need to anticipate and adapt to shifting circumstances to survive. AJ Artemel spoke to Dr. Gereon Uerz of the Arup Foresight + Innovation team to discuss how this can be realized.

April 21 - Arup Connect

Pittsburgh Skyline

Pittsburgh Reduces Crime with 'Slumlord Buy-Out' Program

At least some of a remarkable 49 percent drop in crime in a rough Pittsburgh is attributed to a new nonprofit-sponsored program designed to put slumlords out of business and get rid of their problem tenants.

April 21 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Pronto Bikeshare

BLOG POST

Seattle Sets Bikeshare Record with the APA in Town

Planners have gathered in Seattle to enjoy the city. The city's bikeshare system is also enjoying the planners.

April 20 - James Brasuell

Cleveland Warehouse District

Policy Dos and Don'ts from 'Parking Guru' Donald Shoup

Distinguished Professor of Urban Planning Donald Shoup has caused a revolution in the field of parking economics over his four decades at UCLA.

April 20 - The Planning Report

Slow, Hazardous Progress for Chicago's Navy Pier Flyover Project

A report on the progress so far on the Navy Pier Flyover, a half-mile bridge for recreational users on Chicago's Lakefront Trail.

April 20 - Chicago Tribune

The Conservative Method of Resilience Planning

Explaining how planning and building for resilience reconciles with Conservative politics.

April 20 - City Journal

10-Cent Gas Tax Increase Proposed for Road Maintenance in California

SB 16 would also increase the diesel tax (which hasn't been raised in over two decades) by 12-cents, charge electric vehicles a flat $100 annual fee, and increase registration and license fees.

April 20 - Planetizen

'Broken Windows' Policy Targets Bikes—and Race—in Tampa

An in-depth investigation by the Tampa Bay Times reveals that Blacks on bikes are targeted by police as indicators of larger crimes.

April 20 - Tamps Bay Times

Students a Bright Light for the Future of Planning at the APA National Conference

The American Planning Association has invited students to contribute blog posts on their reactions to the APA National Conference. Their thoughts so far have revealed holistic concerns and creative thinking—positive signs for the next generation.

April 20 - American Planning Association

San Francisco Skyline

San Francisco Seeks Lighter Side of Market Street

San Francisco recently hosted a series of events to make the city's backbone, Market Street, a little more fun. It's the latest of many efforts to revitalize a street that has been problematic even as the rest of the city has boomed.

April 20 - Next City

Emergency Crude-by-Rail Safety Orders Take Effect

The emergency rules issued by DOT, including lowering oil-train speeds to 40 mph in urban areas, go into effect on April 20. They are in addition to rules expected to be released May 12 that address oil tanker car construction.

April 20 - The New York Times - Energy & Environment

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