Cyclist wins a "race" across Philadelphia, beating a car and city transit in fight through morning traffic.
"Sparked by national Bike-to-Work Week, the Bicycle Coalition for Greater Philadelphia held its fourth annual 'Commuter Race' across the heart of Philadelphia during the morning rush hour."
"The contestants began at 45th and Spruce Streets, in West Philadelphia, at 8 a.m. with the goal of being first to the finish line at the Municipal Services Building, in the heart of Center City."
"While the bicyclists knew that their guy would win, his finish time - 10 minutes, 47 seconds - was 4 minutes better than they expected. Finishing second, about 10 minutes behind, was a driver from Philly CarShare. The bus ride took almost 40 minutes."
"Coalition member Alex Doty said the cyclists always win races like this -- and get in some exercise -- and cities win through the reduction of pollution and traffic."
"'When I bicycle commute, it changes a part of the day that is usually one of tedium and turns it into something that is joyful,' Doty said. 'I miss it when I don't do it. I don't think many other people miss their commutes.'"
FULL STORY: Bicyclist beats motorist and straphanger in race to City Hall
How Commutes Influence Happiness, Health
More evidence is piling up that commuting by anything but private automobile can increase happiness, social capital, and health.
Why I Gave Up the Bus...For a Bike
In August, I moved into a high density apartment complex just 1.5 miles from my office and a five minute walk to a bus stop. One of the central advantages of the building's location was its access to alternative transportation modes. While I could park my car for "free" (the real cost is built into the lease), I was interested in keeping it parked as much as possible. Now, after nearly three months of experimentation, I'm ready to give up the bus, and the reasons are central to understanding the future of transit in the US.
Philadelphia Leads the Largest Cities in America for Bicycle Mode Share
A new report from The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia shows that Philadelphia's bicycle mode share is more than double that of Chicago's (the big city with the second-greatest share).
Florida Considers Legalizing ADUs
Current state law allows — but doesn’t require — cities to permit accessory dwelling units in single-family residential neighborhoods.
Manufactured Crisis: Losing the Nation’s Largest Source of Unsubsidized Affordable Housing
Manufactured housing communities have long been an affordable housing option for millions of people living in the U.S., but that affordability is disappearing rapidly. How did we get here?
HUD Announces Plan to Build Housing on Public Lands
The agency will identify federally owned parcels appropriate for housing development and streamline the regulatory process to lease or transfer land to housing authorities and nonprofit developers.
NOAA: Southwest ‘Megadrought’ to Persist
Roughly 40 percent of the 48 lower U.S. states are currently in some state of ‘abnormally dry conditions.’
Jersey City Program Offers Battery Swaps for Electric Bikes and Scooters
Residents can swap depleted batteries for fully charged ones as well as charge and park their devices at two pilot sites.
Research: Walkability Linked to Improved Public Health
A study reveals that the density of city blocks is a significant factor in communities’ walkability and, subsequently, improved public health outcomes for residents.
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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.
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