As China goes car crazy, a new crowdsourcing website seeks to address the needs of Beijing's lowly pedestrians and bicyclists, reports Nate Berg.
Apparently Beijing still does care for its iconic bikes. Despite recent city-building efforts that have focused on "building the highways and roads of a thoroughly car-dependent society," a new crowdsourcing website developed by Beijing Transport Research Center and the World Bank, "seeks to tap into the wisdom of Chinese
pedestrians and cyclists to identify areas in need of repair or
improvement in Beijing," writes Berg.
"It's a Chinese version of urban problem-spotting websites and apps such as SeeClickFix or FillThatHole.
By making it easy for people to identify problems and notify officials,
it's hoped that Beijing's website and mobile application will help make
the infrastructure of the city work not just for its motorists, but for
its still present pedestrians and bicyclists."
FULL STORY: China Crowdmaps Pedestrian and Cyclist Problem Areas
In D.C., Sidewalks Don’t Equal Walkability
In theory, sidewalks are what make cities walkable. But in Washington, D.C., many sidewalks are not accessible to the people who use them.
Opinion: A Surprising New Foe in the War Against Pedestrians
Allowing bikes on sidewalks pits cyclists against pedestrians, an advocate argues.
A Non-Cyclist's Case For Bike Lanes
I don't bike, but I still feel safer on streets with bike lanes. This essay explains why.
Florida Considers Legalizing ADUs
Current state law allows — but doesn’t require — cities to permit accessory dwelling units in single-family residential neighborhoods.
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.
Has President Trump Met His Match?
Doug Ford, the no-nonsense premier of Canada's most populous province, Ontario, is taking on Trump where it hurts — making American energy more expensive.
OKC Approves 7.2 Miles of New Bike Lanes
The city council is implementing its BikeWalkOKC plan, which recommends new bike lanes on key east-west corridors.
Preserving Houston’s ‘Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing’
Unsubsidized, low-cost rental housing is a significant source of affordable housing for Houston households, but the supply is declining as units fall into disrepair or are redeveloped into more expensive units.
The Most Popular Tree on Google?
Meet Rodney: the Toronto tree getting rave reviews.
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.
Florida Atlantic University
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service