Walkable Streets

Copenhagen Street

The Century-Old Call for Open Streets

Historical reports from the Regional Plan Association show that car-free streets is an idea almost as old as automobiles themselves.

August 7, 2022 - Regional Plan Association

Downtown North Little Rock

Resurrecting the Classic American Main Street

In an interview, urbanism scholar Emily Talen discusses what it would take to restore "main street principles" to American towns and cities. Understandably, small retailers play a big role.

March 30, 2018 - Sidewalk Talk

St. Paul Skyway

Minneapolis Skyways Headed for Minneapolis Landfills?

New codes intend to make skyways more accessible for all Minneapolans, but some say that no improvements can go far enough to make Minneapolis as walkable and lively as it would be without them.

December 6, 2016 - Next City

Beg Button

In Support of the Right to Cross the Street

Benjamin Ross argues that the walk signal is a fundamentally flawed approach to creating walkable streets and shareable roadways—making walking slower, less convenient, and more dangerous.

May 23, 2016 - Greater Greater Washington

New York Street

Guide to Improved Street Designs: Pay Attention to Precedent

What does a successfully multi-modal and livable street look like? There are examples all over the world, if you're paying attention.

April 25, 2016 - CityLab

Chicago Planning Meeting Turns Against Cyclists, Walkability

This week, the Illinois DOT kicked off a set of public meetings to "redefine" Chicago's Lake Shore Drive. At the first meeting, a decidedly pro-car and anti-bicyclist sentiment crept into the comments.

August 8, 2013 - Chicago Tribune

Walkable Streets: Considering Common Issues

Generalist Geoff Dyer delivers his walkability design tactics magnum opus on PlaceShakers. His years of practical experience are conveniently condensed for your consumption.

March 11, 2013 - PlaceShakers

What's Wrong With America's Streets - And How To Fix Them

Ben Goldman reports on a new illustrative guide, Sustainable Street Network Principles, published by the Congress for New Urbanism, that seeks to educate planners and officials on how to create successful streets and neighborhoods.

January 27, 2012 - Streetsblog D.C.

How Far Will People Walk?

Planners have embraced "1/4th of a mile" as the official distance that people are willing to walk to take transit. But why is that the measure, and is it accurate?

May 1, 2011 - Human Transit

Support Builds For Highway Removal in Saint Louis

St. Louis Post-Dispatch editorial board formally endorses the removal of elevated and depressed lanes of current I-70 ROW to reconnect city and arch grounds.

March 3, 2010 - St. Louis Post Dispatch

A Different Kind of New York Street Conversion 100 Years Ago

While New York City is currently taking space away from automobiles and giving it to pedestrians and cyclists, the New York City of 100 years ago was doing exactly the opposite. And it was a popular idea.

June 30, 2009 - The New York Times

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Websites

The best of the Internet—since 2002.

Top Apps

Planning apps for a brave new world.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

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.