Transportation

Memphis Pedals Cycling as Economic Salve

One of the America's most unhealthy, auto-centric cities has seen the light - the handlebar headlight that is - with a push to improve its bicycling infrastructure as a means of economic development.

January 1, 2013 - The New York Times

A Modest Proposal for Protecting L.A.'s Pedestrians

Commentator D.J. Waldie laments the stunning health hazards for L.A.'s pedestrians, and proposes five solutions to make the city safer for those on foot.

January 1, 2013 - KCET

A New Year's Eve Call to Action for Urbanists

We've known for decades the better ways to do things, for greater urban health, sustainability, resiliency, vibrancy and economic success. So this year, let's resolve to have the will and skill to get past the short-term politics, the rhetoric, the market momentum, and the financial self-interest that has kept our better solutions from being realized.

December 31, 2012 - Brent Toderian

Redesign of Bay Area's El Camino Real is a Royal Pain

One road, two counties, 19 cites - that's what and who is involved in a far-reaching plan to redesign El Camino Real, the first paved road in California, from Daly City in northern San Mateo County to San Jose in the heart of Santa Clara County.

December 31, 2012 - San Francisco Examiner

In South Africa, Imagining Bicycles as a Vehicle for Empowerment

Bicyclists are hard to come by in South Africa. Two authors have gone in search of the reasons why a country with "so much poverty, often unwalkable commuter distances, and poor public transportation," lacks a larger bike culture.

December 31, 2012 - Los Angeles Times

Tactical Urbanism: A Look Back at 2012

From guerrilla wayfinding to future-tising, these are my top five, perhaps lesser known, highlights of a banner year for Tactical Urbanism.

December 30, 2012 - Mike Lydon

'App Breakthrough' Benefits NYC Straphangers

Friday marked a milestone in the effort to bridge the gap between NYC's century-old subway system and emerging technologies; "a leap forward for a service that has lagged behind its peers both at home and abroad in adopting new technologies."

December 29, 2012 - The Wall Street Journal

From Housing Planes to People: Repurposing Success Stories

As cities across the world look to convert aging and obsolete airfields to new uses, a growing body of repurposing success stories show "how problematic properties can be successfully converted," reports Christine Negroni.

December 29, 2012 - The New York Times

Union Street Public House

Removing Sidewalks to Make Room for Peds

WAMU's Michael Pope reports on an Alexandria, VA's plan to level the playing field for bikes, pedestrians and cars by taking out curbs.

December 28, 2012 - WAMU

China High Speed Rail

World's Longest High-Speed Rail Line Opens

The opening of the 1,200-mile Beijing to Guangzhou high-speed rail line marked the latest milestone in "one of the world’s largest and most ambitious infrastructure projects." The longest such segment in the world takes only 8 hours to traverse.

December 27, 2012 - The New York Times

New York's MTA Seeks New Leader

Joseph Lhota, the chairman and chief executive of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, has announced his resignation at the end of this year. Who will be next to lead the nation's largest public transportation system?

December 27, 2012 - The New York Times

Midwestern Drought Threatens the Mississippi River

The Mississippi River handles $7 billion in trade as one of the world's largest navigable inland waterways. A Midwestern drought has brought the river to water levels so low that they threaten to shut down shipping, reports John Schwartz.

December 27, 2012 - The New York Times

Trainjacking America's Finance Industry

Acela has improved connectivity along the Northeast Corridor, but is that actually a good thing? Aaron M. Renn argues that high-speed rail has actually hurt America by giving the finance industry a stranglehold over fiscal and monetary policies.

December 26, 2012 - New Geography

Proximity Trumps Mobility: Smart Growth Maximizes Accessibility

The increased proximity provided by more compact and centralized development is about ten times more influential than vehicle traffic speed on the number of destinations that people can reach within a given travel time.

December 26, 2012 - Journal Of The American Planning Association

How Smart Is Smart Parking - And For Whom?

Parking enforcers, not motorists in search of available parking, may be the main beneficiaries of 'smart parking' technology as they have the ability to immediately spot parking spaces where vehicles have overstayed their time limits and by how long.

December 26, 2012 - The New York Times - Business Day - Technology

Can Narrow Lanes Improve Traffic Congestion?

Comparing wide versus narrow lanes, Kenneth A. Small and Chen Feng Ng examine the relatively unexplored design of building more compact roads to alleviate traffic congestion.

December 26, 2012 - Access

Biometric Monitors: Coming to a Driveway Near You

Might your car one day serve as a mobile doctor's office? If research into biometric monitoring being conducted by carmakers comes to fruition, your car may soon be able to tracks your stress and blood sugar levels, and more, reports Bob Moon.

December 25, 2012 - American Public Media: Marketplace

'Cycle to Work' Scheme Subsidizes Bikes for Brits

Sarah Goodyear reports on how Britain's 'Cycle to Work' scheme has decreased carbon dioxide emissions, and transformed the lives of individuals such as Toby Field.

December 24, 2012 - Atlantic Cities

Why is Little Being Done to Prevent Railroad Deaths?

An investigative series by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch exposes the obstacles to preventing pedestrian railroad accidents - now the leading cause of death on the rails. Authorities are unable to tackle the problem and railroads are unwilling.

December 24, 2012 - St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Einstein's Bike Shop

Bicycling: Good for the Brain and the Body

The physical benefits of cycling are well known, but researchers are just beginning to understand how riding a bike benefits our brains, writes Simon Usborne.

December 22, 2012 - The Independent

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

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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.