United Kingdom
London Experiments With Shared Streets
It may seem counter-intuitive, but "shared space" advocates say cars and bikes will get in fewer accidents if barriers and traffic lane markets are removed. London's Exhibition Road will open next month using this design concept.
Colossal Airport Master Plan "Transcends Appearance"
Foster + Partners reveal a utopian transit master plan so massive that it requires us to consider it "on a level that transcends appearance." The design seeks to streamline connections to the rest of the world through subterranean engineering.
Mixed Feelings About Proposed Private-Public Space in London
The plan to create a floating public space along the Thames is a great idea, writes critic Rowan Moore, but the proposed London River Park will suffer from its private ownership and management.
"Reverse Graffiti" Artist Illustrates How Dirty Our Cities Really Are
Grist profiles a British street artist who specializes in creating images on dirty urban spaces (like tunnel walls) by simply washing away the grime.
Prince Charles Wields Great Power - And Wealth
The Prince of Wales, as covered here and elsewhere, has gotten a reputation for using his position to meddle in architecture and planning decisions in the U.K. The report now is he extends that power far deeper into U.K. politics.
No New Skyscrapers, Says Planning Chief
London's chief planning officer says that after the current sequence of skyscrapers is built, it is likely that "...we will not see new ones planned."
Planners Working to Avoiding Transportation Disaster at Olympic Games
Olympic Planners have just ten months left to prepare for an anticipated 15 million trips a day during the event in an already congested city. So far, about 6.5 billion pounds ($10.2 billion) has been invested.
Rewarding Bikes and Peds for Leaving Their Cars at Home
How is the City of London incentivizing bike and ped commuters for helping improve the air? There's an App for that.
UK Launches Green Infrastructure Partnership
On Tuesday, the UK announced the creation of a green infrastructure program, intended to press planners and deveopers to infuse spaces with greenery. Writes Peter Walker, the benefits are beyond aesthetic--they're economic as well.
Nine Ideas to Boost Cycling in London
This Big City readers offer their ideas, from infrastructure-related to marketing, to encourage cycling among more casual riders in London.
"The Golden Age of Motoring is Over"
According to this article in The Guardian U.K., fewer and fewer young adults age 17-20 are seeking a driver's license and car ownership, signalling "peak car".
London's "Lego" Olympics
In order to lighten the footprint of the 2012 Olympics, Britain's architects and event planners are aiming to "reduce, reuse and recycle" venues so that they can be repurposed or taken down when the games are over.
Turning Old Gas Stations into Good Urbanism
Aurash Khawarzad looks at three projects that turned crude into gold, as old gas stations are quickly updated into a movie theater, a cafe and a restaurant.
London's Buses Hauls Twice as Many Riders Than The Tube
Surprisingly, London's bus network carries 6 million passengers to the Underground's 3 million. Facing serious cutbacks and fuel costs, Transport for London is working to reinvent the bus system.
Historic Preservation Group Throws Wrench in U.K.'s Streamlining
The U.K. government is determined to "simplify and speed up" the planning process at all levels, but the National Trust is staking ground against the measures, saying they would result in "Los Angeles-style" development patterns.
NYC Residents Suggesting Locations for New Bike Share Stations
Earlier this week, New York City officials announced a new bikeshare system that will be available to New Yorkers in 2012.
Historic Preservation vs. Planning Reform in the U.K.
With development-friendly reform sweeping through planning in the U.K., English Heritage is concerned the historic sites and greenfields will get swept away with little to no process.
Railing Issues in the UK
The benefits of building a new $52-million HSR that connects London to northern England are plausible but not persuasive, says The Economist.
Melbourne Ranked as Most Livable City
With high scores in five broad categories, Melbourne, Australia received the highest spot in livability rankings from The Economist's research unit.
Planning Rule Change Worries Locals in England
Changes to the planning system in England have locals and environmental groups up in arms.
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.
One Hundred Miles
County of Mendocino
planning NEXT
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
Montrose County
Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA)
The Pocatello Development Authority
