The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Europeans Have More Cars Than Americans - Say What?
The love affair between Americans and their cars is a well known trope. But according to a new paper from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace on worldwide car usage, America's car ownership rate is among the lowest in the developed world.
Making Art out of America's Interstates
They may not be pretty to drive, but they sure are nice to look at from afar. Kelsey Campbell-Dollaghan profiles the work of aerial photographer Peter Andrew, who captures the beauty in America's Interstate System.
L.A. Eases Parking Requirements to Activate Streets
This week L.A. City Council members voted to approve an ordinance that gives the city more flexibility to lower parking requirements in select areas of the city to encourage adaptive reuse and walkability, report David Zahniser and Kate Linthicum.
I.B.M. Invests in Future of Africa's Cities
Steve Lohr reports on the new I.B.M. research lab in Kenya, which will work to tailor technological solutions to the prominent issues in Africa's major cities.
There’s a Lot Riding on U.S. DOT’s Definition of 'Congestion'
As the new federal transportation bill, known as MAP-21, moves to the implementation stage, major finding decisions will ride on the nuances by which the U.S. DOT defines and measures "congestion," "roadway performance," and "cost effectiveness".
Chalk Art: Child's Play or Vandalism?
Next time you suggest your child goes outside to play, you might want to make sure they're not packing chalk. Josh Harkinson looks at the nationwide crackdown on chalk art. It's not just adults being cited.
No Room for Street Vendors on Model Roads
"Model road" project in the Indian city of Ahmedabad has sidewalks, crosswalks, and on-street parking, but no street vendors.
America Walking More....And Less
A new report out from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finds conflicting trends in Americans' walking habits. What's clear, however, is that an astonishing 38% of adults have not walked more than 10 minutes straight in the last week.
Saudi Arabia's Women-Only Industrial City Aims to Close Gender Gap
Caroline Davies reports on the development of a women-only industrial city in Saudi Arabia, that the government hopes will give women a more prominent role in their country's development while maintaining their second-class status.
Desire for Streetcars Spreads Across America
From Atlanta to Kansas City to Los Angeles, cities across the country are welcoming a return of streetcars to their downtowns in the hopes of boosting economic growth and improving circulation. Some see the cars as just the latest urban planning fad.
Auto Dealers Seek 'Gas Price Floor'
Would raising the gas tax to $1 and establishing a 'gasoline price floor' provide market stability for auto dealers? Some dealers, including the nation's largest, say 'yes'. Economists agree. Politically impossible? Read on.
Wayfinding in New York Gets a New Look
With the Federal Highway Administration mandating mixed-case signage nationwide, New Yorkers are getting used to the city's new generation of street signs, writes David W. Dunlap.
As Tech Companies Flock to the City, Facebook Doubles Down on the Suburbs
Once seen as the vanguard of hip and cutting-edge, Facebook is either bucking the trend once again or being left behind with their plans to bring the city to its suburban Menlo park campus to lure employees.
Does a Newly-Approved Project Violate Philly's New Waterfront Master Plan?
A proposed waterfront apartment building received final approval from Philadelphia's Historical Commission last week, disappointing waterfront advocates and preservationists who claim its design violates the city's new waterfront master plan.
Is the Cleaning of Superfund Sites Causing More Harm than Good?
Three decades after it was established, the EPA's Superfund program is taking on some of the most complex and costly projects ever attempted. With many focused underwater, some worry the stirring up of polluted sediment will exacerbate the problem.
Despite Efforts, America Remains Dangerously Overweight
Newly released data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention depicts America with an enduring obesity problem. In twelve states more than 30% of the population is obese. No state has less than a 20% obesity rate.
Chinese Cities are Huge, But What's it Like to Live There?
We get it, China's cities are big and getting bigger. But what's it like to live there? Isaac Stone Fish takes a closer look at the quality of life in Chinese cities, and finds them almost uniformly monolithic and unlivable.
What is Your State Known For?
Renee DiResta uses Google's autocomplete feature to understand how Americans "really think about 'those people' in other states." Play with her wonderfully enlightening interactive map to view the top terms associated with each state.
Is Obama Out to Abolish the Suburbs?
Stanley Kurtz traces the mechanisms by which he believes President Obama intends to "abolish" the suburbs in a possible second term, and the roots of his desire, stretching back to his training as a community organizer.
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)
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