We're looking forward to another stimulating year of news, commentary, and professional development. But before the calendar turns to 2014, we wanted to take a look back at our most popular blog posts, exclusive articles, and news items from 2013.
As Planetizen enters its 15th year, we're looking forward to bringing you another stimulating year of news, commentary, and professional development. But before the calendar turns to 2014, we wanted to take a look back at our most popular blog posts, exclusive articles, and news items from 2013.
It's an exciting time for those of us in the planning, design, and development community and we hope we've been able to help inspire your work, introduce you to new ideas, teach you a new skill or tickle your funny bone over the past twelve months. Thanks, as always, to our esteemed contributors, partners, and readers for another great year!
In case you missed them, here are Planetizen's most popular pieces of 2013:
Blog Posts
- Density Done Well, and Not Just Downtown
- The Most Important Urban Design Decision Vancouver Ever Made
- Good Urban Parks and Our Wellbeing
- Yes You Can (Get Groceries Without A Car)
- There's a Planning App for That
- Who Should Pay for Transportation Infrastructure? What is Fair?
- Mythbusting: Exposing Half-Truths That Support Automobile Dependency
- Density Reduces Driving (Even At Pretty High Densities)
- Critiquing the "Urban Mobility Report"
- Writing a Statement of Purpose for Graduate Education
Exclusive Articles
- Top 10 Websites - 2013
- The 100 "Best" Books on City-Making Ever Written?
- Top 10 Books - 2014
- Why Do Certain Retail Stores Cluster Together?
- Top Trends 2012-2013
- A Plan To Shrink Detroit (Well)
- Who Teaches Planning?
- BRT: Cities Get on Board with Better, Reliable Transportation
- Taking the Guesswork out of Designing for Walkability
- Graduating Into the Workplace: Perspectives from Recent Planning Grads
- 30 Must-See Architecture Documentaries
- Using Geodesign to Model the Complex Intersection of Land Use and Climate Change
- The Next Reality TV Stars: 'The Planners'
- Replacing the Gas Tax: Two States Choose Different Strategies
- New Tool Facilitates Stunning City Comparisons
- Is This the World's Most Beautiful Urban Street?
- Why Your Solar Panels Are Likely Facing the Wrong Direction
- New Jersey Drops VMT Fee for EV Fee
- Gas Tax Debate: USA Today vs. Rep. Earl Blumenauer
- Gas Tax or VMT Fee? Experts Debate How to Fund Transportation

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

Congressman Proposes Bill to Rename DC Metro “Trump Train”
The Make Autorail Great Again Act would withhold federal funding to the system until the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), rebrands as the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA).

The Simple Legislative Tool Transforming Vacant Downtowns
In California, Michigan and Georgia, an easy win is bringing dollars — and delight — back to city centers.

The States Losing Rural Delivery Rooms at an Alarming Pace
In some states, as few as 9% of rural hospitals still deliver babies. As a result, rising pre-term births, no adequate pre-term care and "harrowing" close calls are a growing reality.

The Small South Asian Republic Going all in on EVs
Thanks to one simple policy change less than five years ago, 65% of new cars in this Himalayan country are now electric.

DC Backpedals on Bike Lane Protection, Swaps Barriers for Paint
Citing aesthetic concerns, the city is removing the concrete barriers and flexposts that once separated Arizona Avenue cyclists from motor vehicles.
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.
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)
