Social / Demographics

With Tourism Down, Japanese Cities Question Their Attractions

Japan is struggling to lure tourists, which is causing officials there to rethink how they market their cities and what sorts of attractions they should be offering.

May 8, 2010 - The New York Times

Learning From Cleveland's Healthline BRT

With a plan to distribute $775 million in federal funding for urban bus projects, Next American City's Yonah Freemark suggests using it to fund projects like Cleveland's Healthline BRT.

May 6, 2010 - Next American City

Security Cameras to Invade Manhattan

In the wake of an attempted car bombing in New York City's Times Square, officials are calling for the expanded use of security cameras throughout Manhattan.

May 6, 2010 - Agence France Presse

America in 2050: More Decentralized

The U.S. is expected to grow by more than 100 million people over the next 40 years, and much of that growth will occur in urban areas. Joel Kotkin says that this growth will highlight the inefficiencies of centralized power.

May 5, 2010 - Governing

Why the Census Needs Adjustment

The Census is going to be wrong, according to this column from The Washington Post. Statistical adjustments help get undercounts closer to reality, but many opponents prevent their use.

May 5, 2010 - The Washington Post

Kids in Train-ing

Trains across the former Soviet Union have peculiar staff: kids. Wired's Autopia blog explains.

May 1, 2010 - Wired

Planning to Improve Public Health

Public health was an early impetus for better urban planning. But over the years, it has faded into the background. This piece from Miler-McCune looks at how health concerns are moving their way back into mainstream planning.

April 29, 2010 - Miller-McCune

Won't Somebody Think of the Children?

Kids make up a big part of city populations. But often the built environment doesn't reflect a world planned with children in mind. This post from Polis looks at an effort to put children's needs back in the minds of planners.

April 29, 2010 - POLIS

Immigrants Twice as Likely to Bike

New research shows that recent immigrants are twice as likely to ride bicycles as other Americans. Though the health impact is beneficial, the ridership is less likely to continue in the second generation.

April 29, 2010 - Miller-McCune

Building A Bio-Med Hub in Cleveland

Fast Company's annual list of innovative cities takes a look at Cleveland, which has struggled with population loss but emphasized its identity as a center for health care industries.

April 28, 2010 - Fast Company

The Emerging Arts Center of Texas

Fast Company's annual list of innovative cities highlights Dallas as an emerging hub of culture.

April 27, 2010 - Fast Company

People's Needs and Placemaking

Leonardo Vazquez, AICP/PP, proposes a new way of looking at placemaking through the lens of the 4 basic human needs (a framework from the field of psychology).

April 26, 2010 - PDI Advisor

The Campaign for Subway Etiquette

Graphic designer Jay Shells has created a set of 10 official-looking posters suggesting better etiquette in the New York City subway. Suggestions include not wiping barbecue sauce on pole and not clipping your fingernails on the train.

April 24, 2010 - Animal New York

Stats Systems to See Upgrade in Federal Budget

This post from The New Republic explains how the federal budget includes plans to upgrade some of the varied parts that track statistics in the country.

April 24, 2010 - The New Republic

Comparing San Francisco's Tenderloin and L.A.'s Skid Row

This blog post from Governing explores the similarities between San Francisco's troubled Tenderloin district and Los Angeles' Skid Row-adjacent Spring Street corridor, and why one struggles and the other has found some developmental success.

April 23, 2010 - Governing

Community Design for Public Health

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are getting in the urban design racket with a new guide to community design that focuses on how urban form can affect public health.

April 23, 2010 - LAND

Kotkin Ranks Best Cities for New Jobs

In a survey developed by Pepperdine's School of Public Policy for New Geography, Joel Kotkin says the results are depressing. Only 13 metro areas saw any job growth in the last year.

April 22, 2010 - New Geography

From Bedroom Communities to Jet Engine Communities

More and more people working in the San Francisco Bay Area are opting for cheaper housing outside the region. Some are going way outside the region, commuting by airplane from Portland or Seattle.

April 22, 2010 - The Wall Street Journal

The Story Behind Suburban Poverty

Next American City talks with the Brookings Institution's Elizabeth Kneebone about the growth of poverty in suburban areas.

April 21, 2010 - Next American City

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.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.