The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Red-Light Running Cyclist Kills Pedestrian

On 7/14, a cyclist riding in the bike lane on The Embarcadero hit a pedestrian crossing with the traffic light. She died a month later. While rare, this fatality shows why all vehicles, motorized or not, need to respect traffic laws.

August 15 - NPR: The Two-Way

Deindustrialization and Vulnerability

An overdependence on offshore suppliers has left the American economy extremely vulnerable to disaster, writes political activist Matt Stoller.

August 15 - AlterNet

Multi-Million Dollar Student Housing in Manhattan

It is not uncommon for wealthy Chinese to spend seven figures - in cash - on real estate "as housing for children studying in New York."

August 15 - The New York Times

BMW Unveils Design Alternatives for BART

A follow-up to last month's story, BMW Group DesignworksUSA released three interior concepts - each one more posh and modern than the last - for BART's "Fleet of the Future." No spy shots needed.

August 15 - The Huffington Post

Why Latin America Needs a Planning Revolution

Futile efforts to deal with rampant urbanization could fetter the region's robust economy and squander its potential to become a global economic powerhouse, according to the McKinsey Global Institute (MGI).

August 15 - The Economist


Invest in America's Infrastructure

A new report from an advocacy group called Build America's Future argues that investment in U.S. infrastructure is desperately needed to keep the country from falling behind.

August 14 - The Infrastructurist

Closing Coal Plants Difficult With Nation's Energy Needs

Across the heartland and the East Coast record heat waves have caused enormous electricity usage, but no blackouts have occurred. Yet there are concerns that EPA regulations that cause older coal plants to shut down could have dire consequences.

August 14 - The New York Times - Energy & Environment


Defying U.S., Israel Approves Controversial Housing Development

The Israeli announcement that 1,600 more housing units would be built in occupied East Jerusalem is causing a diplomatic crisis.

August 14 - Globe and Mail

The Overdue Pedestrianization of Chicago's Streets

To be released at the end of the year, the Draft Chicago Pedestrian Plan will primarily address safety issues that street users experience for decades.

August 14 - The Architect's Newspaper

Gas Prices Drive Canadians to Bikes

Sunny Freeman of The Canadian Press takes to the streets to talk to bicyclists about their choice of conveyance. She says a gas price spike during the summer of 2008 pushed many Canadians onto two wheels.

August 14 - Canadian Business

Seattle to Eliminate Downtown Ride Free Area

A recent "political compromise" forces Metro to phase out the City's highly popular free bus service that serves over 10 million riders per year.

August 13 - Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Berlin Wall Site Now a Hot Neighborhood

The Berlin Wall was constructed 50 years ago by Communist East Germany. Parts of the wall remain as a remembrance, but much of the area has been transformed into hip neighborhoods and parks.

August 13 - NPR

Amman May Nix Bus Rapid Transit

The Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) may no longer be pursuing a bus rapid transit (BRT) system because of opposition from within government circles.

August 13 - TheCityFix.com

Community Development Corporations Step In Where Business Fear to Tread

With hundreds of billions of dollars in short-term commercial real estate loans underwater, it's safe to say commercial real estate is in trouble. But can community development corporations confront the lending shortfall?

August 13 - Shelterforce

Seattle Plays a Zero-Sum Emissions Game

Aspiring to become carbon-neutral by 2050, the Emerald City commits to an ambitious plan that relies on a 10% purchase of carbon offsets.

August 12 - GOOD Magazine

A $1.5-Billion Forward Pass by L.A. City Council

Unanimous approval of the five-year outline to build a 72,000-seat football stadium in Downtown L.A. goes to show that the City Council is all game for a politically radioactive project.

August 12 - The Los Angeles Times

Political Hurdle For VMT Fees Proves Too High For The Netherlands And Oregon

Two years ago a Dutch city embarked on a trial for distance-based pricing that placed a meter on the dashboard showing the price of the trip. The plan was scratched due to an election. In OR, VMT fee legislation for electric vehicles has stalled.

August 12 - The New York Times - Environment

Businesses Claims That Bike Lanes Ruin Business

In downtown Vancouver, where bike lanes have replaced parking spots on some strips, shop owners have complained that they are bad for business. A new study disproves the theory - kinda.

August 12 - The Vancouver Sun

Sun Setting on Ontario's Solar Power Push?

Despite incentives from the provincial government and claims that they have created 20,000 jobs in green energy, Ontario's solar power industry is grinding to a halt because of delays in approvals from the provincial utility.

August 12 - Globe and Mail

Philadelphia Tries to Crack Down on Youth Mobs

In the face of recent violence committed by roaming groups of teenagers, officials in Philadelphia are imposing stricter curfews for youth.

August 12 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

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