Urban Explorers Pursue A Dangerous Hobby

Urban adventurers explore abandoned buildings, subway tunnels, and other forbidden places.

1 minute read

January 2, 2002, 12:00 PM PST

By Abhijeet Chavan @http://twitter.com/legalaidtech


"They illegally scramble, wriggle, tramp and shuffle their way into the inky blackness of steam and subway tunnels, shuttered factories and abandoned hospitals, prisons and missile silos...Their hobby is a horribly unsafe -- and potentially deadly...Undaunted, the explorers say the goal is to observe, not to vandalize. Their unofficial code: Look but don't touch...They chronicle excursions in online magazines (www.Infiltration.org is perhaps one of the best zines for enthusiasts.)"

Thanks to Abhijeet Chavan

Sunday, December 30, 2001 in The Washington Post

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

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

June 25, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Two people walking away from camera through pedestrian plaza in street in Richmond, Virginia with purple and white city bus moving in background.

Vehicle-related Deaths Drop 29% in Richmond, VA

The seventh year of the city's Vision Zero strategy also cut the number of people killed in alcohol-related crashes by half.

June 17, 2025 - WRIC

Two small wooden one-story homes in Florida with floodwaters at their doors.

As Trump Phases Out FEMA, Is It Time to Flee the Floodplains?

With less federal funding available for disaster relief efforts, the need to relocate at-risk communities is more urgent than ever.

June 16, 2025 - Governing

SEPTA Station

SEPTA Budget Slashes Service by 45 Percent

The Philadelphia-area transit agency is legally tasked with maintaining a balanced budget. Officials hope the state will come to the rescue with additional funding.

3 hours ago - Philadelphia Inquirer

Connecticut state capitol with gold dome and modern office buildings in background in Hartford, CT.

Connecticut Governor Vetoes Housing Bill

Gov. Lamont reversed his view on a controversial affordable housing bill that would have required municipalities to zone for set amounts of affordable housing to receive state funding.

4 hours ago - Housing Wire

"Street Subway - LIRR - Amtrak - NJ Transit" with Exit sign in front of stairway on subway platform at Penn Station with silver train stopped at right.

NJ Transit Trains Delayed by Extreme Heat

Breakdowns in the subway network’s HVAC system caused dangerously high temperatures on platforms, while heat-induced track expansion forced trains to slow down.

5 hours ago - News 12 New Jersey

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.