As they reflect on a year of exciting advances in urbanism, and look forward to the next, the writers at The Atlantic Cities discuss the most loathed trends they hope will die in 2013.
While many of the trends discussed by the writers have been with us for several years, if not decades, there's always hope that the new perspective brought by the new year will bring elected officials, public agencies, the courts, planners, and guerrilla urbanists to their senses. Below are just a couple of the smart suggestions to help "stop the (urbanism) madness and start getting real in 2013."
Sara Johnson targets "fancy" bike lanes: "There are ideas to heat, elevate, and elaborately paint bike lanes. What we really need are consistent and safe networks of lanes, not flourishes and finishing touches before we've completed the system. (See this list of what bikers really want.)"
Amanda Erickson bares her claws for what has to be the snuggliest trend in guerrilla urbanism - yarn bombing: "We're all for beautifying public spaces. But yarn bombing is little more than a nuisance. It gets wet and grimy after the first rain storm, insulating perfectly functional handrails and bike racks in a tube of mildew and mold. And for what -- covering up perfectly attractive tree trunks with twee stripes? Do trees really need to be any more beautiful?"
Is there a trendy term, practice, or policy you think has outlived its usefulness? Let us know in the comments below.
FULL STORY: Urban Trends We Hope Die in 2013
Coming Soon to Ohio: The Largest Agrivoltaic Farm in the US
The ambitious 6,000-acre project will combine an 800-watt solar farm with crop and livestock production.
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
U.S. Supreme Court: California's Impact Fees May Violate Takings Clause
A California property owner took El Dorado County to state court after paying a traffic impact fee he felt was exorbitant. He lost in trial court, appellate court, and the California Supreme Court denied review. Then the U.S. Supreme Court acted.
Dallas Surburb Bans New Airbnbs
Plano’s city council banned all new permits for short-term rentals as concerns about their impacts on housing costs grow.
Divvy Introduces E-Bike Charging Docks
New, circular docks let e-bikes charge at stations, eliminating the need for frequent battery swaps.
How Freeway Projects Impact Climate Resilience
In addition to displacement and public health impacts, highway expansions can also make communities less resilient to flooding and other climate-related disasters.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
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.