Seven Apps to Improve Quality of Life in Cities

It’s no secret that more and more people are using smart phones to get the most out of their urban experiences—at home or while traveling. Guardian Cities lists some of the best urban apps and launches a contest to find the best apps worldwide.

1 minute read

March 11, 2014, 1:00 PM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Alex Hern provides a list of apps that “the Guardian Tech Desk can't do without, in our own cities and others.”

A few examples:

  • CityMapper “puts the combined efforts of four transit agencies to shame…” (i.e. New York, Berlin, London, and Paris). The app “uses public data to provide a best-in-class mapping app for getting you from A to B as quickly and cheaply as possible.”
  • London’s Best Coffee: “Blue Crow Media makes a number of apps that help very specific connoisseurs find their way around a city. As well as coffee apps for London and New York, it makes Craft Beer apps for the same two cities, and Burgerapp, which guides you to the best hamburgers in London.”

In a separate article, Guardian Cities announces the AppMyCity! competition to discover and “embrace any new app that improves your urban experience, connects people and makes cities more fun, vibrant and sustainable places.”

Tuesday, March 11, 2014 in Guardian Cities

Aerial view of homes on green hillsides in Daly City, California.

Depopulation Patterns Get Weird

A recent ranking of “declining” cities heavily features some of the most expensive cities in the country — including New York City and a half-dozen in the San Francisco Bay Area.

April 10, 2024 - California Planning & Development Report

Aerial view of Oakland, California with bay in background

California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million

Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.

April 11, 2024 - Los Angeles Times

Large blank mall building with only two cars in large parking lot.

Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House

If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.

April 18, 2024 - Central Penn Business Journal

Young woman and man seated on subway car looking at phones.

Google Maps Introduces New Transit, EV Features

It will now be easier to find electric car charging stations and transit options.

7 hours ago - BGR

Ohio state capitol dome against dramatic lightly cloudy sky.

Ohio Lawmakers Propose Incentivizing Housing Production

A proposed bill would take a carrot approach to stimulating housing production through a grant program that would reward cities that implement pro-housing policies.

April 19 - Daytona Daily News

Aerial view of Interstate 290 or Eisenhower Expressway in Chicago, Illinois.

Chicago Awarded $2M Reconnecting Communities Grant

Community advocates say the city’s plan may not do enough to reverse the negative impacts of a major expressway.

April 19 - Streetsblog Chicago

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

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.