Transportation

Meet the Geeks Re-Shaping D.C.

Planning nerd bloggers like David Alpert of Greater Greater Washington are finding that they can have significant influence in the world of D.C. planning and development.

September 2, 2010 - Washington City Paper

Why is Transit So Expensive to Build?

Glen Bottoms at The American Conservative attempts to answer the question.

September 2, 2010 - The American Conservative

The Bus Thief Who Just Can't Stop

Darius McCollum, 45, of New York, loves transit. He loves it so much, he has a habit of taking New York City subways and buses for a spin, and has been arrested about two dozen times for doing just that.

September 2, 2010 - The New York Times

Small Towns and Rural Areas Can Be Livable

Do urban areas have the monopoly on livability? Transportation 4 America says no, and presents 12 case studies to prove it.

September 2, 2010 - T4America

Bikesharing Coming Soon to D.C.

Capitol Bikeshare will launch in September with over a thousand bikes. ReadsetDC goes behind the scenes to see the bikes and infrastructure as it is assembled.

September 1, 2010 - ReadysetDC

The Big Digs of the 21st Century

Jerry Soverinsky picks the most ambitious transportation projects of the century so far, from a tunnel in Turkey to an ice road in Canada.

September 1, 2010 - AOL Travel

Bus Riders Union Blasts L.A.'s 30/10 Plan

A proposal in L.A. to use recently approved funding to push 30 years of transportation projects into the next decade has elicited a protest from the city's Bus Riders Union.

September 1, 2010 - Streetsblog L.A.

The Light Rail Diet

A new study from The Journal of Preventative Medicine says that drivers in Charlotte, North Carolina who switched to riding the Lynx Light Rail lost an average of 6 1/2 pounds.

August 31, 2010 - The National Library of Medicine

FedEx Testing Electric Tricycles for Deliveries

The global courier has transformed the way packages are delivered around Paris by deploying large eco-friendly tricycles that go beyond the curb.

August 31, 2010 - TheCityFix

London's Not-So-Super Cycle Highways

This Big City takes a ride on one of London's new bicycle Superhighways, and finds some room for improvement.

August 31, 2010 - This Big City

Heavy Rail to Link Denver and Airport

Work has begun on a long-sought rail line linking downtown Denver to the city's international airport.

August 31, 2010 - USA Today

Tolling Heads to Georgia Interstate

A toll lane is coming to a Georgia interstate highway -- a first for the state.

August 31, 2010 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The Economics of China's Mega Traffic Jam

The recent 11-day traffic jam in China was no fluke. As The Economist explains, the crushing congestion is little more than a real-world example of imbalances in supply and demand.

August 30, 2010 - The Economist

Fewer Cars in Bus-Only Lanes Creates Faster Headways

Enforcing no-car rules on dedicated bus lanes has been proven to increase bus efficiency in a bus rapid transit system in Indonesia.

August 30, 2010 - BeritaJakarta

Bike Lanes Make Streets Safer for Pedestrians

A new study from the New York City Department of Transportation shows that streets with painted bike lanes are 40% less dangerous for pedestrians, among other findings.

August 30, 2010 - Tri-State Transportation Campaign

Could General Stores Reduce Car Trips in The Suburbs?

Belinda Lanks details architect Frank Ruchala's scheme to bring general stores back into America's residential areas. He believes "a general store could work just as well in a (suburban) subdivision as it did in small villages a hundred years ago."

August 28, 2010 - Metropolis Magazine

The Question of Interstate 69

Next American City reviews a new book by Matt Dellinger about Interstate 69, the as-yet-unbuilt highway that could create a direct link between the Mexican and Canadian borders.

August 28, 2010 - Next American City

The Tangibility and Viability of L.A.'s 30/10 Plan

The Brookings Institution's Robert Puentes reports back on a recent discussion about Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's 30/10 plan -- the idea to cram 30 years worth of transit investments into 10.

August 28, 2010 - The New Republic

Cities Scramble to Prepare for Electric Vehicles

Electric cars sap a lot of electricity out of the grid, and many vehicles charging at once can cause unprepared cities to blackout.

August 27, 2010 - Boston Herald

Replacing Bike Sharing Infrastructure with Smart Phones

Bike sharing systems have been huge successes in cities like Paris and Barcelona. But due to their extensive infrastructure requirements, they're expensive to build. One man suggests a system run primarily by smart phones.

August 27, 2010 - Grist

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.

Community Development Director

City of Wisconsin Rapids

Professor of Urban Planning

Harvard University Graduate School of Design

Transportation Planner I

KFH Group Inc.

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.