Herb Caudill explains why the need to plan for a range of transportation modes and uses of space in urban environs is common sense - not part of a concerted assault on cars.
"The central fact about cars, from a planner's perspective, is that they
take up space. Lots of space. And this matters because space in cities
(a.k.a real estate) is scarce and therefore expensive." So says Caudill, who argues why the need for cities to rethink their relationship to the automobile derives from this simple fact, and not from a philosophical or moral argument against cars.
According to Caudill, our efforts over the past century to accommodate the growing space requirements of the automobile - with more freeways, more roads, and more parking - has failed for two primary reasons. "First," he says, "you can never build enough...Second, when you do make more space for cars you quickly start to
crowd out any other potential mode of transportation, especially
walking. All those parking lots and freeways and roads spread everything
else out so that the distances become too great for walking."
Because owning and driving an automobile isn't an option for everyone (in D.C., 1/3 of residents live in a car-less household), planning for the car effectively discriminates against a significant part of the population.
"So we have to take steps to increase the market share of
non-driving modes of transportation," concludes Caudill. "That's not a pro-car policy or an
anti-car policy, it's just a sensible response to the way the world is."
FULL STORY: Cutting dependence on cars isn't anti-car, it's common sense

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

Driving Equity and Clean Air: California Invests in Greener School Transportation
California has awarded $500 million to fund 1,000 zero-emission school buses and chargers for educational agencies as part of its effort to reduce pollution, improve student health, and accelerate the transition to clean transportation.

Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved to rescind funding for the Neighborhood Equity and Access program, which funds highway removals, freeway caps, transit projects, pedestrian infrastructure, and more.

From Throughway to Public Space: Taking Back the American Street
How the Covid-19 pandemic taught us new ways to reclaim city streets from cars.
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.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Ada County Highway District
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service