Tasked with making Los Angeles more pedestrian-friendly, a planner decides to give up his car.
"Two years ago, Simon Pastucha - an urban designer and planner for the city of Los Angeles - left his Mercedes SUV at the dealership and hasn't looked back."
"As one of the Planning Department's two urban designers, Pastucha spends his days advising developers and city agencies on how to make L.A. a more walkable, welcoming and attractive city. So it helps to see the city from foot or passenger window."
"'As a designer, I'm trying to work out how the city functions,' he explained. 'We have billions of dollars invested in this (transit) system. We need to see what works and what doesn't.'"
"But how does a professional with children and far-flung meetings survive in car-centric Los Angeles without owning an automobile?"
FULL STORY: Commuter kicks car habit
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.
Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.
Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.
MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.
Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
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