Transportation
Cairo Opens Design Competition for Its New Pedestrian Center
Cairo is revising its downtown area into a "pedestrian friendly plaza." Egyptian Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif will expand the successful 'daytime pedestrian zones,' and has launched an international design competition to produce a master plan.
Too Many Traffic Lights
Architect Arrol Gellner says that traffic engineers use traffic lights far too often when a simple stop sign works better and is much less expensive.
Underground Berkeley Bike Station Surfaces
...and expands almost nine-fold to be the nation's second largest. While not as proximate to the BART gates as the existing ten-year-old, 400 sq. ft station, it will be only be half a block away.
The Sorry State Of Indian Rail
The sorry state of India's government-owned railways, both rail and freight, are hampering India's progress. Unlike China's authoritarian approach, politics in the world's largest democracy appears to be a major obstacle to modernization.
The Most Agressive Mayoral Transit Advocacy in America
Jarret Walker writes on Mayor Villaraigosa's 30/10 plan and why Los Angeles is a "smart long term bet" as a sustainable city.
India's Transportation Infrastructure Not Keeping Up
Aging and under-maintained rail and transportation infrastructure in India could severely stifle the country's development, according to some critics.
Vancouver Debuts Two-Way Bicycle Lane
The new bike lane is fully separated from car traffic and runs downtown on Dunsmuir Street, and is being tested for the next six months for viability.
Auckland's Privatized Transit a Warning for Toronto
As part of their "free advice" to Toronto's next mayor, that city's business lobby group the Board of Trade is recommending that the city privatize its public transit services. Bad idea, says Jim Stanford.
Does 'Grand Theft Auto' Make People Bad Drivers?
A new study says that videogames like Grand Theft Auto that encourage reckless driving may make it more likely that one would drive recklessly in the real world.
New Bike Lanes Hope To Eliminate 'Dooring' Factor
Actually, dooring (motorist or passenger exiting car opens door on passing cyclist) might still occur, but the driver would have to watch for passing cars, not cyclists, as the bike lane would be placed between the parked cars, buffer and the curb.
L.A.'s Bold Transit Moves
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's plan to cram 30 years of transit projects into one decade is gathering steam in Washington -- and other cities are watching closely.
TOD Commands A Premium In Denver
Apartment seekers are willing to pay more for places next to transit, says a market analysis by Grubb & Ellis. Proximity to transit was the #1 factor in their decision.
High-Speed Rail Will Mean 150,000 New Jobs
A new report from the U.S. Conference of Mayors says that the added connectivity from high-speed rail will create 150,000 new jobs and $19 billion in new businesses by 2035.
Transit Aid: The Operating Vs. Capital Dilemma
Transit advocates are used to battling the 'road lobby', but this article reports on a clash between small and mid-sized transit agencies (who want more flexibility) against the larger ones, as well as the main transit lobbying organization, APTA.
50mph Speed Limit Would Cut CO2 By 30%, Says New Study
Reducing the speed limit to 50 mph, say researchers, would create the tipping point where taking transit or modes other than driving will become more attractive and therefore save CO2 emissions.
Transit Oriented Development in Los Angeles a Tricky Issue
A debate is simmering in Los Angeles between transit planners, developers, urban planners, and community activists about the future of transit-oriented development.
Landscaping Opportunity at The New Bay Bridge
John King is encouraged by the nascent plans for a "fantastical" new landscape at the eastern end of the Bay Bridge. The Bay Area has a chance to create something as "lasting and bold" as the high line in New York or Chicago's millennium park.
New Urbanist Ideas Can Improve Public Health
"A once radical idea - that health and urbanism are so deeply entwined that investing in the latter may improve the former -- is beginning to find broad adoption," concludes Fast Company. Greg Lindsay charts the realization of this relationship.
Minneapolis Launches Public Bicycle Share
Minneapolis follows Denver in launching it's public bicycle sharing program today. The bicycles will provide a fast, convenient and carbon neutral means of getting around and are based on the highly successful Parisian scheme.
City Wants $630,000 to Study Streetcar Plan: Student Does It For $987
Daniel Jacobson, an undergrad at Stanford, developed a thorough study recommending everything the City of Oakland would need to build, run and finance a streetcar through its downtown.
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.
City of Wisconsin Rapids
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
KFH Group Inc.
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
