The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Putting the Park in Parking Lots
Lester Brown of the Earth Policy Institute proposes renovating city parking lots into actual parks would go a long way to improving the air quality of cities.
Urban Gardens: Not Just For Hipsters and Yuppies
Hipsters and yuppies are the only people doing urban gardening, right? Grist says no, and gives examples of diversity in Denver throughout the community gardens there.
Six States' Attempts To Increase Fuel Taxes
A new 21-page report evaluates the efforts of ID, NH, MA, MN, OR, and VT to raise state fuel taxes from 2006-2009. Why did only two succeed? This analysis looks only at how the debates were played out in print media in each of the states.
Has Expansion of the Welfare State Hindered Social Mobility in London?
Joel Kotkin examines the causes of growing disaffection among Britain's youth and the associated class conflicts that were highlighted by the recent general election.
Automakers Working to Improve MPG Through Traffic Signals
BMW and Audi are studying ways to improve fuel efficiency using strategies that outside of the vehicle.
Are Planners Socialists for Trying To Encourage 'Livability'?
Conservative commentators criticize the Obama administration for supporting 'livability' programs, calling them social engineering. Neal Pierce argues that 'livability' is shorthand for a strategy that tackles a number of serious problems.
TOD in Peril on Route 66
A planned extension of Los Angeles' Gold Line light rail out through the Route 66 towns of Azusa and Glendora was sold as a way to bring transit-oriented development to struggling towns. With the economy down, will it still work?
New Top Gun for APA
Mitchell Silver, planning director of Raleigh, North Carolina, was elected to APA President in April. In this interview, Silver talks about his goals for Raleigh and the skills a planner should have.
Why New Urbanists Get Hated On
Renowned New Urbanist Jeff Speck tackles the critics and their reasons, from Modernists to libertarians.
Gulf Spill Invigorates Peak Oil Movement
With the day-to-day news of oil gushing in the Gulf and BP's failure to cap it substantially, more Americans are thinking about what could happen if and when we run out of oil.
Intersection Density is Predictive
A new study by Reid Ewing and Robert Cervero in JAPA finds that "intersection density" is the single best indicator that people will walk and bike instead of driving.
The Evolving Nature of Cities
Brookings says that the old distinctions no longer apply; we're headed into an era of "Next Frontier", "New Heartland" and "Diverse Giant" metros.
HOT Lanes for Honolulu?
Honolulu, HI is an island paradise, but it also has big city traffic problems. Sam Staley of the Reason Foundation says relief could come in the form of privately-funded HOT lanes.
Changing Behaviors with Bike to Work Day
Cong. Earl Blumenauer and Mayor Adrian Fenty both turned out in biking gear at Bike to Work Day in Washington, D.C., along with 900 riders who committed to bike commuting on that day.
Cities of the Future, 2030
Six architecture firms were commissioned to envision cities 20 years from now for the Venice Biennale. The one thing they all shared? Self-driving cars.
Optimizing Singapore
IBM dispatched a team to Ho Chi Minh City on a charity mission to see if they could optimize the city of nine million people with infrastructural improvements. Jebediah Reed talks with IBM's team leader.
A 'String' Theory for High Speed Rail
This post from <em>Gizmag</em> looks at Anatoly Unitsky's String Transport Systems, which are trains that operate on above-ground rails at speeds of up to 300 miles per hour -- in theory.
BLOG POST
Being Productive On The Bus
<p> In a recent blog post (at http://www.planetizen.com/node/44518) Steven Polzin argues that drivers are more productive because they get places faster. His post, in turn, generated an avalanche of critiques noting the negative externalities of auto travel (e.g. pollution, death and injury from traffic accidents, health costs of obesity, etc.). </p> <p> But what I'd like to address is something else: the positive productivity benefits of transit use. Let's suppose that it takes me 30 minutes to reach destination X on the bus, and 15 minutes by car. Obviously, the car is more productive. Right? </p>
Green Urbanism's Affordability Problem
Nature writer David Oates embeds himself in green, urban Portland and finds much to like about the green city movement but also much room for improvement.
Public Transit And Road Building Lobbies - Tied At The Hip?
Why would the nation's major public transit organization work so closely with America' major road lobbying group, even when it comes to opposing landmark climate legislation aimed at reducing 33% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions from transportation?
One Hundred Miles
County of Mendocino
planning NEXT
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
Montrose County
Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA)
The Pocatello Development Authority
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
