New York

Measuring Brainwaves to Map the Stress Level of Bike Routes

Anyone who uses a bike to navigate their city knows that every ride has stretches that are much more stressful than others. A new project collects data from brainwaves to map the stress levels of bikers in New York City.

February 8, 2015 - Wired

Examining Rail's Safety Record after Metro-North's Worst Crash

A column in The Week argues that notwithstanding Tuesday's horrific crash of a Metro-North train that killed five passengers, rail is a much safer mode than driving. However, rail deaths are increasing.

February 8, 2015 - The Week

Poking around the New York Subway for Germs

Researchers from Weill Cornell Medical College have spent the last 18 months scouring the New York Subway in the search for a DNA profile of the system. They even created a map of the 15,152 microbes they found.

February 6, 2015 - Science Daily

The Return of the Ferry to the Big Apple—to All Five Boroughs

Ferries, New York City's first commuter mode, will return big-time if Mayor Bill de Blasio gets his way. Judging by how well the proposal in his February 3 State of the City address was received, he will.

February 6, 2015 - The New York Times - N.Y. / Region

Parks—or Playgrounds for Billionaires?

New York may be the most famous example of the parks becoming the most conspicuous signifiers of neighborhoods for the haves, versus the have-nots, but Inga Saffron hopes that cities everywhere can find ways to even the playing fields.

February 4, 2015 - The New Republic

Metro-North Train Slams into SUV at Railroad Crossing; Six Dead

The commuter train had left Grand Central Terminal on Tuesday evening and hit the Jeep at a grade crossing in Valhalla, Westchester County at 6:30 pm. Five passengers died in the lead car of the train which was engulfed in flames from the impact.

February 4, 2015 - Transportation Nation

Mayor de Blasio Stresses Affordable Housing in State of the City Address

In his State of the City Address on Feb. 3, the New York City mayor made it clear that his overriding priority is affordable housing. He targeted six neighborhoods in all five boroughs where development will be required to include affordable housing.

February 4, 2015 - New York Observer

New York Homeless Population Grows Amid Shortage of Services

The New York Daily News focuses on the de Blasio Administration's efforts to combat a growing number of homeless in New York City.

February 2, 2015 - New York Daily News

A Policy Change for Special Needs New Yorkers

The Brooklyn Development Center will close Dec. 31. The closure of the state facility is part of a long term goal of deinstitutionalizing the developmentally disabled and integrating them in the community in group homes.

February 2, 2015 - The New York Times - N.Y. / Region

Pedestrian and Bike Improvements Coming to Brooklyn's DUMBO Neighborhood

The New York City Department of Transportation is moving forward with a series of pedestrian and bike infrastructure improvements in a neighborhood built in the shadow of some of the city's most highest profile transportation infrastructure.

January 30, 2015 - StreetsBlog NYC

Inequality and Informality in New York

For a MoMA exhibition about urban inequality, Brooklyn architects SITU Studios documented informal housing in New York.

January 29, 2015 - Arup Connect

Times Square Historic

From Times Square: How Many Pedestrians Is Too Many Pedestrians?

Times Square stakeholders have begun to raise the specter of "too much of a good thing," as the crowds flocking to Times Square threaten to squeeze the life out of the place.

January 29, 2015 - New York Times

Nor'easter a Dud for New York City, But Not New England

What was hyped as one of the worst Nor'easters to hit New York City left Central Park with less than six inches of snow. However, New England and Long Island were not spared. NYC subway, buses, and rail shut down, and driving bans took effect.

January 28, 2015 - The New York Times

Critic Finds Merits in Brooklyn Public Library Redevelopment Plans

Two proposals for library makeovers in Brooklyn tie into a larger narrative about development, and architecture, in New York City.

January 27, 2015 - New York Times

Statistics Show NYPD Enforcing Vision Zero Pedestrian Safety Initiative

The law enforcement results are in from the first year of Vision Zero policy in New York City.

January 27, 2015 - StreetsBlog NYC

On New York's Shadow Transportation System: 'Dollar Vans'

The New Yorker has published an interactive feature in New York's shadow transit system—the network of so-called "dollar vans."

January 25, 2015 - The New Yorker

Community Gardens are Collateral Damage in New York's Affordable Housing Plans

Here's a head scratcher: in its ambition to meet the affordable housing goals of Mayor Bill de Blasio, the Department of Housing Preservation and Development has proposed the redevelopment of 15 community gardens on city-owned property.

January 24, 2015 - Brownstoner

Chicago, IL

Urban Millennials Stuck in the Three Largest U.S. Metros

For a variety of economic reasons in addition to urban preferences, young people are not leaving the country's three major metropolitan areas: New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago, and that's not good for the nation's economy nor the individuals.

January 23, 2015 - The Wall Street Journal

New York MTA Increases Transit Fares to Fund Capital Investments

The latest fare increase for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority comes against the backdrop of record ridership and a $15 billion funding gap for the system's five-year capital plan.

January 23, 2015 - New York Times

Friday Funny: Brooklyn Gentrification Gets the Saturday Night Live Treatment

A Saturday Night Live skit satirizes the change that has come to Bushwick, Brooklyn.

January 23, 2015 - Salon

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

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.