Transportation

From Bust to Boom: Bankrupt City's Home Prices Skyrocket

Before Detroit's bankruptcy, Stockton held the ominous title of largest city in the U.S. to go bankrupt. Unlike Detroit, it was largely tied to the foreclosure crisis. Home prices have jumped 30% in the last year. What caused the turnaround?

September 26, 2013 - The Sacramento Bee

Portland Cycling

Will Portland Lose its Status as America's Bike Commuting Champion?

While bike commuting is gaining nationwide, it's actually dropping in Portland which has held the enviable title of tops in bike commuting for large cities since 2005. Minneapolis and Seattle, #2 and #3 respectively, are gaining, warns BikePortland.

September 26, 2013 - BikePortland

Why Transit Is Only Marginally Important to Transit-Oriented Development

In addition to some interesting findings regarding the relative benefits of investment in bus rapid transit, a new report from ITDP reached some fascinating conclusions concerning the factors most important to maximizing transit investment.

September 26, 2013 - The Atlantic Cities

In Five Short Years, High-Speed Rail Revolutionizes Chinese Transport

Five years after it opened, it looks like China's bet on high-speed rail is paying off. The system has increased mobility and worker productivity and stimulated development in areas near stations. The country will continue to expand the system.

September 25, 2013 - The New York Times

Finally, California Has a Safe-Passing Law!

Good news for all cyclists riding on Calif. roadways came from Gov. Jerry Brown on Monday when he attached his signature to a bill making it law that drivers give bicyclists at least 3 feet of space when passing from behind - only took him 5 years!

September 25, 2013 - Los Angeles Times - Opinion

Studying the Moments Before Collisions to Help Prevent Them

An unprecedented study is tracking the behavior of drivers in the U.S. using cameras and sensors to observe how they interact with their vehicle and the road. Researchers hope to better understand the causes for collisions, and how to prevent them.

September 24, 2013 - Governing

New York Borrows from Disneyland to Revamp Its Subway Stations

What does the "Happiest Place on Earth" have to teach the "Capital of the World"? How to better manage the flow of people, for one.

September 24, 2013 - The New York Times

Small Cities Show Bike Share Isn't Just for the Big Boys

While the successes, and travails, of bike share systems in cities like New York, Washington D.C., and Chicago get most of the attention, several smaller cities across the U.S. have managed to establish such systems without much fanfare.

September 24, 2013 - Momentum Magazine

Latina Bicycling Group Challenges L.A.'s Macho Cycling Culture

The Ovarian Psyco Cycles Brigade is making inroads in changing Los Angeles's male-dominated cycling culture and altering traditional concepts of Latino women.

September 23, 2013 - Los Angeles Times

Ghost bike in New York

Are the Dangers of Cycling Over-Hyped?

It goes without saying that cycling entails a degree of risk - but are they unduly discussed to the point that it reduces ridership? Cyclicious blogger Richard Masoner gave the issue thought when he heard of a cyclist fatality in a familiar area.

September 23, 2013 - Cyclicious

Should We Pay People Not to Drive?

Build more lanes, improve operations, let cars do the driving: Are these the best ways to reduce traffic congestion? Richard Mudge thinks a more effective route may be to offer financial incentives to keep people off the roads.

September 23, 2013 - Eno Brief Newsletter

Cities Hit Back at 'Patent Troll'

City transit authorities are fighting back against a notorious non-practicing entity, or patent troll.

September 22, 2013 - Future Cities

Wanted: Funding Source for Transit Investment in Canada’s Largest City

Additional sales taxes, increased property taxes, and a tax on commercial parking spaces are just some of the 11 funding options being considered to pay for a long overdue transit expansion in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

September 22, 2013 - The Toronto Star

Skagit "Miracle" Bridge Opens on I-5 in Washington

In this editorial, The News Tribune takes aim at the WA State Department of Transportation - in a complimentary way - at the speed and efficiency in which it handled the collapse of the Skagit River Bridge on May 23. The replacement opened Sept. 15.

September 22, 2013 - The News Tribune

waterfront road in Paris transformed into pedestrian and lounging space

Paris Tests a New Approach to Urban Space

Any visitor from America would think that Paris had found the solution to creating great public spaces and taming the automobile. But the city's new approach to urban space suggests city leaders and residents feel otherwise.

September 21, 2013 - PPS: Placemaking Blog

Traffic Jam

What Causes Traffic?

You're probably thinking "Way too many cars on the road, duh!" But the real answer is a bit more complicated, and counterintuitive. Tom Vanderbilt explains in a 20-minute presentation.

September 21, 2013 - The Atlantic Cities

New Data Shows Substantial Bump in Bicycle Commuting

Have you noticed more cyclists on the streets around you during your commute to work? New data from the U.S Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) confirms that all those investments in bike infrastructure are paying off.

September 20, 2013 - The League of American Bicyclists

Welcome to the Age of "Driving Light"

As a nation, we are driving less, but we are increasingly stuck in traffic. What explains this paradox? Using Portland as an example, where driving peaked in 2004, Joseph Rose attempts to explain with lots of help from transportation experts.

September 20, 2013 - The Oregonian

Rideshare Industry Gets a Lift With New California Regulations

On Wednesday, California became the first state in the nation to adopt rules for ridesharing. Several cities (including New York, L.A., and D.C.) have struggled to tame the bourgeoning industry amid protests by entrenched taxi interest groups.

September 20, 2013 - Los Angeles Times

Are America's Cities Doing Enough to Protect Pedestrians?

Though more and more cities realize that walkability and livable streets are essential to their prosperity, their approach to pedestrian safety is often lacking. The slow pace of policy change isn't fast enough for the victims of "accidents".

September 19, 2013 - The Atlantic Cities

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.