Uber

Massachusetts Approves Initial Regulations for Transportation Network Companies

Transportation network companies like Uber and Lyft took a major step toward legal recognition in Massachusetts.

January 6, 2015 - The Boston Globe

Vintage Taxi

Uber and Lyft Are Dragging Traditional Taxi Companies Into the 21st Century

Rideshares like Uber and Lyft have been under attack for their brash approach to local regulations and laissez-faire pricing schemes, but they've also pushed traditional taxis to dramatically improve their service in a very short span of time.

January 5, 2015 - Shane Phillips

Sign of the Times: Trulia Partnering with Uber

A new technology partnership between Trulia and Uber will allow house hunters to easily access a ride from Uber when they find a home they want to visit.

January 5, 2015 - Uber Developer Blog

The Year's Worst Apps for Urban Living

Along with the annual barrage of "best of lists for 2014" comes an entry from the "worst of" lists—CityLab's "awkward to awful" apps aimed at urbanites.

December 30, 2014 - CityLab

Uber Expands to Lower-Density Florida Coastline Despite Controversies

The popular ride share service Uber launched service in Brevard County, Florida last week, a sign that the company is not putting the brakes on growth while it confronts difficult issues.

December 16, 2014 - Florida Today

Tough Week for Uber on the West Coast—Three Cities File Injunctions

Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Portland all filed suit against Uber recently hoping to bring the transportation network company in conformity with public safety regulations.

December 12, 2014 - Los Angeles Times

Two-Car Garage

Goodbye Two-Car Household; Hello Rideshare and Carshare

A new study from KPMG predicts that the U.S. will go from a majority multi-car household to one where only 43% of households have more than one motor vehicle by 2040, and rideshare and car-share, along with demographic changes, will play key roles.

November 21, 2014 - CNBC

Cities Passing Up Opportunity to Amass Uber's Valuable Data

The legalization (or illegalization) process of Uber throughout the country allows city governments to leverage a data exchange with the company, but too many municipalities are passing up this momentous opportunity.

October 31, 2014 - The Washington Post

Economists Give Uber and Lyft a Resounding Thumbs Up

A recent survey of the Initiative on Global Markets Economic Experts Panel found clear and broad support for the economic benefits of transportation network companies.

October 2, 2014 - The Initiative on Global Markets

How to Make the Sharing Economy Work for Governments

Gabe Klein discusses some of the merits and challenges of forging private-public partnerships between disruptive companies and government entities.

September 4, 2014 - Urban Land Magazine

Lyft

Comparing the Price of Uber and Car Ownership

Kyle Hill compares the cost of exclusively riding Uber to owning a car in the car-centric city of Los Angeles.

September 3, 2014 - TechCrunch

Lyft Line, UberPool: Carpooling Features to Compete with Mass Transit

A new tier of service for Lyft launched today, allowing customers traveling in the same direction to share a ride. The new product follows a similar release earlier this week by Uber.

August 7, 2014 - Forbes

Benefits of Uber in Philadelphia: Reduced Drunk Driving

While much of the concern of how to regulate transportation network companies like Uber, Lyft, and Sidecar comes down to questions about safety and access, recent findings show that the apps have reduced DUI arrests in the City of Brotherly Love.

July 9, 2014 - PlanPhilly

Transportation Network Companies Struggling with ADA Compliance

Ted Trautman provides a thorough investigation of the actions (or lack thereof) of transportation network companies to provide access for customers with special needs.

July 3, 2014 - Next City

On the Endangered Value of Taxi Medallions

Emily Badger focuses on the signifier at the middle of the ongoing battle between taxi companies and transportation network companies like Uber, Lfyt, and Sidecar—the taxi medallion.

June 24, 2014 - The Washington Post - Wonkblog

Chicago Regulates Uber and Lyft—but Not Enough to Satisfy Taxi Companies

The Chicago City Council passed an ordinance to regulate companies like Uber and Lyft, but taxi cab companies and their political supporters believe the policy set by the Emanuel Administration doesn't go far enough.

May 29, 2014 - Chicago Tribune

First State Legislature to Regulate Uber and Lyft: Colorado

Ivan Moreno reports for the Associated Press on the Colorado Legislature's approval of a bill to regulate transportation network companies like Uber, Lyft, and Sidecar.

May 21, 2014 - AP via Denver Post

Mobile Version of Google Maps Releases New Features

The popularity of Google Maps is well-documented, and as more users are using the software on their phones (remember when you had to print maps before you left your home or office?), Google's recent updates includes a bunch of new mobile features.

May 8, 2014 - Gizmodo

Is the Sharing Economy Succeeding Because the Real Economy is Struggling?

Money, not trust, is the driving force behind the willingness of so many people to open their doors to the sharing economy, according to one writer.

May 1, 2014 - New York Magazine

Lyft

Veto Kills Uber and Lyft Regulation Exemptions in Arizona

While many states are rushing to figure out how to regulate transportation network companies like Uber, Lyft, and Sidecar, Arizona came very close to exempting the companies from the taxi and limo regulations.

April 25, 2014 - Phoenix Business Journal

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.

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.