"Cities Alive," an attractive new report by Arup, one of the world's largest engineering firm, highlights the significant social, economic, environmental and political benefits of walking.
The new free report, Cities Alive, by Arup, one of the world's largest engineering and planning firms, describes why and how to create more walkable cities. Informed by specialist insight and multidisciplinary expertise from across their global offices, the report highlights 50 benefits of walking explored through 16 distinct indicative themes, and lists 40 actions that city leaders can consider to improve walking policy, strategy and design. These are informed by a catalogue of 80 international case studies that will inspire action and further aid cities in identifying and evaluating opportunities. It is a terrific, attractive document.
This is an example of the shift among professional organizations toward more comprehensive and multi-modal transport planning, which is particularly important in developing country cities where the costs of automobile dependency are particularly high, and most households will never own automobiles.
“...I truly believe that if you can change the street, you can change the world.” —Janette Sadik-Khan, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Transportation from 2007 to 2013
FULL STORY: Cities Alive: Towards a Walking World
The Vast Potential of the Right-of-Way
One writer argues that the space between two building faces is the most important element of the built environment.
The Natalist Case For Sprawl (And Why It Fails)
Some commentators defend anti-urban government policies such as exclusionary zoning on the basis that homeowning suburbanites have high birth rates. But this doesn't seem to be true in recent decades.
A Troubling Trend of Backlash to Bike Lanes
Some cities are going so far as to rip out protected bike infrastructure that took years of advocacy to build.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.
Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.
Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.
MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.
Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
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.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie