Richard Florida opines that among many factors in the most walkable neighborhoods, "[who] our neighbors are, and how similar or different they are from us, matters too."
"Who our neighbors are, and how similar or different they are from us," affects urban mobility according to a recent post by Richard Florida. The implication is that how identity shapes travel patterns needs to be considered in planning and placemaking.
"The bottom line? They found that gay men who lived in neighborhoods with more same-sex couples – the closest proxy for what counts as a 'gayborhood' – traveled significantly less than both their straight neighbors and gay men living in other city neighborhoods."
Florida's analysis moves onto why planners should be concerned with neighborhoods of affinity: "...the study demonstrates quite effectively why planners, city-builders and place-makers need to take the fabric of the community into account when they consider how people choose where to live, work, and spend their free time."
FULL STORY: Gay Men Living in 'Gayborhoods' Travel Shorter Distances Than the Average Person

Rethinking Redlining
For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.

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

California High-Speed Rail's Plan to Right Itself
The railroad's new CEO thinks he can get the project back on track. The stars will need to align this summer.

US Senate Reverses California EV Mandate
The state planned to phase out the sale of gas-powered cars by 2035, a goal some carmakers deemed impossible to meet.

Trump Cuts Decimate Mapping Agency
The National Geodetic Survey maintains and updates critical spatial reference systems used extensively in both the public and private sectors.

Washington Passes First US ‘Shared Streets’ Law
Cities will be allowed to lower speed limits to 10 miles per hour and prioritize pedestrians on certain streets.
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.
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions