This is easily the best idea we've seen all day. Eric Jaffe profiles TaxiTreats - "the latest attempt to capitalize on the captive nature of most urban travelers."
"Welcome to the era of TaxiTreats — a touchscreen, credit-card only vending machine that may someday soon offer cab passengers everything from energy drinks, hand sanitizer, mints and gum, pain relievers, and prophylactics," writes Jaffe.
"The idea got legs last spring at the Next Idea initiative governed by [New York City's] Economic Development Corporation. TaxiTreats won $17,500 in seed money and half a year of office space in the city."
"Last week," he adds, "EDC announced that TaxiTreats has parlayed that seed money into $1 million in angel funding from investors including The Richport Group, which is chaired by pop singer Marc Anthony."
Although the technology, which is estimated to cost $2,000 to install, has yet to be approved by the city's Taxi and Limousine Commission, TaxiTreats CEO Brian Shimmerlik "believes some cabbies will install the devices as early as this summer."
Read the full story: Coming Soon to a Cab Near You: Vending Machines?
The Brooklyn-Queens Streetcar Plan Won't Die
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Cobblestones vs. Bike and Pedestrian Improvements Controversy in Brooklyn
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New York City to Reduce Truck Emissions by Investing in Freight Rail Infrastructure
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Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour
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Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River
Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.
Chicago voters approve permanent festival grounds, penalty for vacant property owners
Currently, major summer and fall festivals take over public parks for weeks at a time, drawing criticism from nearby residents
NYC votes to cut outdoor dining red tape, speed up permitting
New York City also voted to allow the Department of Transportation to begin work on urgent projects before notifying elected officials.
California appears to reject Prop. 45
The proposition would have expanded the projects that qualify for a streamlined environmental review, effectively paring down the California Environmental Quality Act.
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.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority