North America
Seattle's Answer to Affordable Housing
Zach Patton details the effects of Seattle's zoning regulation which allows for the construction of "backyard cottages." These cottages, writes the author, are a viable way to increase urban density and provide affordable housing.
A New Way to Listen to Cities
A new website offers a compelling way to understand cities through sound. It combines audio feeds from city police radios with ambient music.
Defending New Urbanism
New Urbanism has been given a bad rap, according to co-founder Andres Duany. In this piece for Metropolis he sets the record straight.
Better Resource Management Helps Cities Go Sustainable
"Integrated resource management" practices could help cities operate more sustainably, according to this piece from Miller-McCune.
Will New Development Make it Better, or Worse?
Development, or no development? Nathan Norris writes that untouched landscapes always rate highly in comparison to development proposals, so it is important to use visual tools that can help quantify the tradeoff and find ways to compensate.
The False Debate Between Cities and Suburbs
The debate over urbanism often pits suburbs against urban areas. But the real debate is about walkable areas versus car-dependent ones, according to Christopher Leinberger.
The Burden of Understanding Placemaking
Scott Doyon laments his growing knowledge of what makes great places because of how overly aware it makes him of bad planning and design.
The Auto Industry's Smear Campaign on Cycling
An article posted on DC Streets Blog claims to explain the relationship between ad dollars from the automotive industry and the media's "bike backlash."
Next Great Investment? Electric Vehicle Chargers
Rocco Pendola discusses the potential for electric vehicles to emerge as a meaningful mode of alternative transportation in the United States.
Slow Down, Autobahn
A new proposal in front of the European Commission would put speed limits on the autobahn to reduce carbon emissions, and ban gasoline and diesel powered vehicles by the year 2050.
Toronto Set to Launch Bike-Sharing Program
BIXI, a bicycle-sharing program that first launched in Montreal, is due to launch in Toronto in May.
Reusing Broken Concrete as a Method of Sustainable Construction
NYC is reusing materials from a construction site in Queens to redesign the area's streetscape with pedestrian safety in mind.
The Contradictions of Regulating Temporary Spaces
As popularity of "temporary urbanism" initiatives rises, there are increasingly efforts to regulate these sites. Jonna McKone of TheCityFix analyzes the trend.
Are The Olympics Truly Beneficial to Cities?
After having a hard time financing their Olympic Village, Vancouver, which was home to the 2010 Winter Olympics, has begun an new campaign to attract residents to the developments.
Obama's "Better Building Initiative"
Elisa Wood says that Obama's recently introduced initiative will spur innovation among high-tech companies, as well as the usual architects, builders, and energy-efficiency companies.
Sprawl Repair? Downtown Retail?
Joel Kotkin said today that cities no longer need outside help. The day before, Bill Fulton talked about growth without population growth. This story focuses on strategies for cities to use land plans as business plans.
TTI's Urban Mobility Report Flawed, Says Critic
The Texas Transportation Institute just released its 2010 Urban Mobility Report, which is a standard reference in the road-building industry -- and is seriously flawed, says Joe Cortright.
First Nation-Wide Count of Parking Spaces
A new study estimates there are at least 500 million off-street parking spaces in the U.S. This represents 0.5% to 12% of estimated lifecycle energy consumption and greenhouse emissions, and 24% to 81% other air pollutants.
Brrr, Where's my Bikeshare?
Garrett Bradford of TheCityFix.com explores why bikesharing systems in, like those in Denver, the Twin Cities, and Montreal go into hibernation over winter and re-emerge anew in springtime.
New Study Builds Case for Pay-As-You-Drive Auto Insurance
The more you drive, says a new study, the more you are at risk of getting in an accident. So if how much one pays for car insurance was linked to mileage, there would be a significant reduction in driving - and fender benders.
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.
New York City School Construction Authority
Village of Glen Ellyn
Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
