The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Mapping Silicon Valley's Clandestine Private Transit Network

Project to map corporate shuttle routes of Silicon Valley giants such as Apple, Google, & Facebook, outlines the forces behind gentrification in San Francisco and reveals a startling pattern of reverse sprawl.

September 7 - Wired

Satellite PIcture of Hurricane Sandy

NOAA Report Links Extreme Weather To Climate Change

A report by NOAA & UK's Met Office says climate change may have contributed some of the extreme weather events in 2012.

September 7 - The Guardian

Does Obama's Keystone XL Decision Still Matter?

John Upton notes some startling changes among Gulf oil refineries - the ones that had been clamoring for the Keystone XL pipeline to be built in order to access Canada's oil sands. It's been two years - and the oil is flowing - with or without it.

September 7 - Grist

Red transmilenio bus stopped at station in Bogota

10 Most Innovative Sustainable Cities Recognized

Siemens and C40 have announced the winners of the inaugural City Climate Leadership Awards, recognizing the global cities demonstrating leadership and innovation in fighting climate change across ten separate categories.

September 7 - Fast Company Co.Exist

Bike and Pedestrian Improvements Boost Vehicle Speeds in NYC

New data from New York's Transportation Department shows that although miles of Manhattan street space have been turned over to bikes and pedestrians since 2008, average traffic speeds have actually increased, despite a consistent volume of vehicles.

September 7 - The New York Times


Buy Mass Transit Tickets With a Smartphone In Portland

Portland launches first U.S. mobile ticketing apps to enable mass transit riders to buy tickets with their iPhone and Android smartphones.

September 6 - Engadget

Philadelphia Skyline

Philly Swaps Squad Cars for Foot Patrols

Philadelphia's police force has increased the proportion of police on foot in its most violent neighborhoods. Not everyone likes the new presence, but the change has has achieved remarkable reductions in violent crime.

September 6 - The Economist


California County Votes to Secede

Dissatisfied with state regulation and feeling that rural interests go unrepresented, the Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors voted this week in favor of leaving the Golden State to create a state called Jefferson.

September 6 - The Los Angeles Times

App To Warn You When You Are About To Be Hit By A Car

Carmakers are developing technologies to alert drivers and pedestrians if they are about to collide.

September 6 - The Car Connection

Maglev Breaks Speed Record in Japan Trials

New maglev train in Japan reached 310 mph on a test track. With construction about to begin, some worry that declining population would make the project unsustainable.

September 6 - Wired

Size of A City's Middle Class Predicts Poor's Economic Mobility

Researchers find that among the largest 100 metro regions in the U.S. , those with a larger middle class, provide higher economic mobility.

September 6 - The Atlantic Cities

Why Cities Should Aim Beyond Carbon Neutrality

Keynote at Future of Cities Forum conference argued that carbon neutrality is not enough, He urged cities to adopt regenerative urban development that mimic natural processes and actively improve the environment.

September 6 - Future Cities

Developers Hack Conventional Office Spaces to Attract Corporate America

The decline of the 9 to 5 business district and changing corporate culture have landlords and tenants clamoring "to make their offices less square" and architects and planners eager to help transform conventional office spaces.

September 6 - Los Angeles Times

Baltimore Red Line Gets Green Light in $1.5 Billion Transportation Spending Plan

A new 14.1-mile light rail project through downtown Baltimore is among the 17 projects to be funded by Maryland's recent gas tax increase, Governor Martin O'Malley announced this week.

September 6 - The Baltimore Sun

A Never-Ending Map Of Imaginary Cities

Artist spends decades creating an always-growing hand-drawn paper map of an imaginary place. Development is determined by drawing a random card from a custom deck of cards.

September 5 - Visual News

Amsterdam Bikes

College Campuses Embrace Bike Share

In order to differentiate themselves from other universities, some are offering perks to students, such as bike share programs or free bikes in exchange for not driving.

September 5 - The New York Times

An image of a path through sand dunes to ocean in New Jersey

At What Cost an Ocean View?

New Jersey has to decide how to protect homes, roads and development from future storms. The Army Corps of Engineers has proposed to build protective sand dunes, but a small number of beachfront property owners refuse to allow the plan to proceed.

September 5 - The New York Times

Google's Photo Share Takes You Where It's Street View Cannot Go

Android app enables users with smartphones to take panoramic photos of remote places to share on Google Photo Sphere.

September 5 - Los Angeles Times

London Skyline

Seven Skyscraper Design Fails

This week, sun rays bouncing off the "Walkie-Talkie" skyscraper in London have caused cars to melt and forced the city to ban parking in the area. Here are 7 other skyscraper design fails that have led to mishaps and disasters for cities.

September 5 - Future Cities

Walking While Distracted: Pedestrian Injuries Rise Amongst Teens

A study finds that 20% of high school students cross the street while being distracted by a digital device.

September 5 - WNYC: Transportation Nation

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