Gas prices are driving a select few die-hards to trade in their cars for running shoes.
"Alan Geraldi must leave his suburban San Francisco home by 6 a.m. if he wants to get to work by 10 a.m. His office is only 23 miles away, but his commute is by foot. Morning commutes in the San Francisco Bay Area can often take an hour or more thanks to freeway congestion, but ultra-marathoner Alan Geraldi leaves his gas guzzler behind and runs to work.
The 44-year-old attorney, who races in 100-mile 'ultra-marathons,' says soaring gasoline prices prompted him to take up these twice-a-week runs earlier this year. A favorite stretch takes him across an overpass spanning an often congested freeway. On a recent commute, he points to a sea of headlights.
'See, it's already getting backed up,' Mr. Geraldi says between short breaths. 'I like that.'"
FULL STORY: Going the Distance to 'Save Gas'
US workers spend nearly an hour a day commuting
High housing costs and return-to-office policies are forcing more American workers to live farther from work, pushing the average daily commute time to nearly an hour.
US Traffic Deaths Fell by 12% in One Year. How Did it Happen?
Biden-era investment in safe streets, shifts in travel patterns brought on by the pandemic, and increased traffic enforcement are all possible reasons why traffic deaths dropped significantly between 2024 and 2025.
US Traffic Patterns are Shifting, but Car-centric Development Persists
Los Angeles, Honolulu, and San Francisco ranked among the nation’s most congested cities, while New York reduced traffic and increased transit speed and ridership thanks to its congestion pricing program.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
The state-sanctioned urbicide of Austin
People don’t kill cities. Freeways do.
US to reduce Colorado River water deliveries to Mexico
A new Colorado Treaty amendment reduces Mexico’s Colorado River water allocation by 250,000 acre feet.
5 New England states march closer to 800 megawatt wind energy project
Securing federal approval for the project may be complicated under the Trump administration, which has historically been hostile towards domestic wind power.
Baltimore to break ground on $50 million Transit Priority Project
The project will bring faster bus trips, safer streets and better bike connections to Baltimore.
Airbnb launches $250 million 'last-dollar financing' housing accelerator, makes first investment in Austin
The company will put $6.4 million towards affordable housing development in Texas’ capital.
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.
Eagle County Government
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Nashville Planning Department
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
Journal of the American Planning Association