Technology

Singapore Electric Bus

What’s the Fairest Way to Deploy Electric Buses? Ask This Open-Source Map

While the deployment of electric buses can help mitigate the air quality impacts of public transportation, transit authorities often face budgeting constraints that center cost reduction rather than equity—until now.

August 17, 2021 - Next City

Electric Vehicle Charging

Sacramento Plans for Electric Vehicle Infrastructure

The city wants to install a network of more than 3,000 charging stations, with a focus on underserved communities.

August 9, 2021 - Sacramento Bee

Mapping Coronavirus Infections

How Mapping Tools Played a Role in Understanding COVID-19

A new episode of the Geospatial Revolution Project assesses how scientists used digital mapping tools to think about the pandemic.

July 27, 2021 - The Map Room

Uber Autonomous Vehicle

Who's at Fault When Self-Driving Cars Kill People?

As more autonomous vehicles hit the road and inevitably cause crashes, courts will have to contend with a complex web of responsibility when ruling on wrongful death cases.

July 26, 2021 - Pittman, Dutton, Hellums, Bradley & Mann

Smart City

Report: Cities Falling Behind on Security and Accessibility in 'Smart City' Tech

While cities around the world are introducing tech tools to improve services and increase their efficiency, many have failed to implement appropriate privacy and security protocols.

July 22, 2021 - Smart Cities Dive

Radar Speed Sign

Virginia to Launch Innovative New Anti-Speeding Pilot Program

The state of Virginia's new traffic safety program will focus on speeding as fatal factor in automobile collisions and could eventually provide a model for similar programs around the country.

July 20, 2021 - The Virginia Mercury

Tennessee

A Big New Crop of Cities Achieves 'What Works Cities' Certification

The Bloomberg Philanthropies certification program has added 16 cities to its growing list of cities committing to the use of data for improving municipal programs and services.

July 19, 2021 - Smart Cities Dive

Young man cruises on by on an empty Grand Ave. in the heart of Los Angeles.

E-Bike Sales are Booming in the U.K. and U.S.

As more people buy e-bikes for regular commuting and transportation, cycling advocates are calling for cities to beef up investment in safe infrastructure.

July 15, 2021 - Treehugger

National Parks

How the National Park Service Uses GIS

A new book demonstrates how the National Park Service uses GIS technology to meet its mission and showcases a selection of maps used for effectively managing national parks.

July 13, 2021 - ESRI

Image of 1958 advertisement showing a flying car

Jarrett Walker on Flying Cars

Walker contemplates the implications of the science fiction staple that continues to fascinate and engage writers and technologists.

July 12, 2021 - Human Transit

Port Authority of Allegheny County

Pittsburgh Launches Comprehensive Mobility as a Service App: Move PGH

The Move PGH pilot program is being credited as a major step forward for the integration of personal technology and shared transportation.

July 12, 2021 - Streetsblog USA

Bikeshare and murals

Five Years Later, 'Smart Cities Challenge' Promise Unfulfilled

The "Smart Cities Challenge" paid Columbus, Ohio $50 million to kick start a revolution of urban technology. The revolution never arrived, according to a recent assessment by Wired writer Aarian Marshall.

July 7, 2021 - Wired

Electric Scooter Share

Planning for New Mobilities: Preparing for Innovative Transportation Technologies and Services

New mobilities—emerging transportation technologies and services—have tantalizing potential. They allow people to scoot, ride, and fly like never before. However, they can also impose surprising problems. How should communities prepare?

June 30, 2021 - Todd Litman

Social Media Apps

Introducing Urbanist TikTok

It was only a matter of time, and we're probably well behind the times, but the social media platform du jour, TikTok, has a lot to offer the discerning urbanist.

June 29, 2021 - Greater Greater Washington

Los Angeles, California

Introducing the New Planetizen Website

Planetizen has a whole new look.

June 25, 2021 - James Brasuell

Electric Cars

American Jobs to Build Electric Vehicles Excludes Miners

Mining jobs needed to produce the metals for processing into battery parts used to build electric vehicles in America will not be developed in the U.S. but in Australia, Brazil and Canada, mainly to avoid battles with environmentalists.

June 2, 2021 - Reuters

Twitter Headquarters

Big Tech Flirts With Community Development

Facing calls to invest in racial equity, companies like Netflix, Twitter, and others have recently pledged millions in new financing for affordable housing, small businesses, and other community development projects. Will they stick around?

May 14, 2021 - Shelterforce Magazine

Electric Cars

Bill Requiring Zero-Emissions Car Sales by 2035 Passes New York Legislature

The bill also calls for increased investment in charging infrastructure and financial incentives for consumers.

May 10, 2021 - Smart Cities Dive

California

'Indirect Source Rule' Would Clean Up Warehouses in Southern California

Dr. Joe Lyou, CEO of the Coalition for Clean Air, walks through the legal necessity of South Coast AQMD's proposed Indirect Source Rule, which aims to accelerate the transition to zero-emission technologies and fleet electrification.

May 6, 2021 - The Planning Report

Outdoor Recreation

Friday Funny: The Onion Skewers Elon Musk (Again)

Elon Musk, a favorite target of satirists and urbanists alike, is once again the subject of The Onion's withering pen.

April 23, 2021 - The Onion

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.