The Atlantic Cities

Mileage Tax the Newest Attempt at Addressing Traffic Concerns

Eric Jaffe reports that taxing vehicle-miles traveled (VMT) is getting a closer look in cities across America. But will concerns over privacy and government competence scuttle a promising path to reducing congestion and increasing revenue?

August 28, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

Redefining the American College Town

Richard Florida takes the end of summer, and impending awakening of campuses across the country, as an opportunity to explore which of America's metro areas have the largest higher education concentrations.

August 27, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

Hong Kong's Pedestrian Networks Redefine Civic Space

Nate Berg looks at how Hong Kong's unique pedestrian infrastructure of elevated walkways and underground tunnels has affected the city's use of public and private spaces, and shifted urban behaviors.

August 27, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

A Rorschach Test for City Skylines

In a photo essay, Thomas J. Sigler interprets what the skylines of some of the world's most prominent cities say about their character.

August 24, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

Are Cities Becoming as 'Dull' as the Suburbs?

With the world's supposedly fashionable neighborhoods "increasingly as banal, antisocial and plain dull as any suburb," Feargus O'Sullivan explains why he's perfectly happy to have ditched inner London for the burbs.

August 23, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

How Tall Can They Crawl?

Nate Berg asks what the practical limit is to the seemingly endless quest to design and construct the world's tallest building.

August 17, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

The World's Biggest Tweeters

Richard Florida looks at the results of a recent study of the world cities that tweet the most. While the top city might surprise you, it didn't surprise Florida's colleague at the University of Toronto.

August 17, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

America Walking More....And Less

A new report out from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finds conflicting trends in Americans' walking habits. What's clear, however, is that an astonishing 38% of adults have not walked more than 10 minutes straight in the last week.

August 15, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

Could Eminent Domain Offer a Life Raft for 'Underwater' Mortgage Owners?

Amanda Erickson explains how communities could wield the power of eminent domain to rescue residents with "underwater" mortgages, by condemning homes and allowing owners to refinance their mortgages and pay a new, lower rate.

August 14, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

Zurich's Parking Policy Evolution: Cap & Replace

Zurich underwent a major parking policy change for its downtown - from 'predict and provide' (i.e. parking minimums) to 'cap and replace'. When a new parking space is provided, a surface parking space is designated toward public plazas.

August 13, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

Are America's Cities Too Loud?

Recent articles on uncomfortably loud environments in New York and Los Angeles raise an interesting question - is noise pollution a necessary part of city living or is it a health hazard that should be addressed?

August 8, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

Where America Rocks Out

Nashville? New York? Austin? L.A.? Fans love debating which city has America's best music scene. Richard Florida brings an analytical eye to the question by investigating America's leading centers for musicians and the music industry.

August 6, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

India Encourages Monster Master Planning Effort

Planners in search of work might want to consider looking in India. As Nate Berg reports, the Indian government is hoping a new technology initiative will catalyze master planning efforts in 7,935 cities and towns across the country.

August 6, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

New Research Suggests Immersive Urban Parks Work Best

Looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the city in your neighborhood park? For a true mental vacation, head for the park with the densest vegetation, writes Eric Jaffe.

August 5, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

Economic Segregation Spreads Across America's Cities

Emily Badger looks at new data from the Pew Research Center that shows, "As Americans are growing farther apart on the income scale, we are also effectively moving apart from each other within cities, into our own economic enclaves."

August 2, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

Uncovering the History Behind Our Own Homes

Is your home historic? The Atlantic Cities challenges its readers to look at the history behind their own homes, providing a list of 10 things one can do to learn something new about the place we spend most of our time.

August 2, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

Home, Home on the Bridge

The habitable bridge, "out of favor since the Renaissance," is having a moment, as cities across America seek to "shift the task of mending the urban fabric toward the private sector," reports Henry Grabar.

July 31, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

NASA Images Depict Stunning Urban Growth

Animated GIFs provided by The Atlantic Cities show the dramatic growth of several global cities over the past four decades, as captured in photographs taken by NASA's Landsat satellite system.

July 29, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

To Fix Its Streets, China Turns to the Crowd

As China goes car crazy, a new crowdsourcing website seeks to address the needs of Beijing's lowly pedestrians and bicyclists, reports Nate Berg.

July 26, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

Is a Slime Mold Competing for Your Job?

Transportation planners who thought the current job climate couldn't possibly get worse may want to ignore this piece. John Metcalfe reports on studies that show slime is just as effective in planning the path of an urban rail system as humans.

July 24, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

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Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

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Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.