New York

Should Buses Be Free?

Mass demonstrations in Brazil over the past week were sparked by increases to bus fares. But what if buses were free? The Economist makes the argument that, to improve service and decrease congestion, we should study making buses and subways free.

June 21, 2013 - The Economist

15 Innovative Policies Any City Would be Wise to Steal

A new report prepared to inspire NYC's next mayor examines 15 'game-changing reforms' that have been implemented in cities around the world, and could be adapted to help solve New York's most pressing challenges.

June 20, 2013 - Center For An Urban Future

'Rest Stop for the Urban Age' to Hit NYC Streets

How many times have you hunted in vain for a place to charge your phone for a few minutes while running between errands? Hunt no more. An experimental, and elegant, solar-powered cell phone charging station is set to hit the streets of New York.

June 18, 2013 - Fast Company Co.Design

Empty MARC Train

Commuter Rail Lines Multiply, But Where Are the Riders?

Despite a flurry of new commuter rail lines in operation, ridership increased a mere .5% during a record year for transit. Worse yet, some of the newer lines saw the greatest decreases. The answer: increase service to attract riders.

June 18, 2013 - Governing Magazine

Who Deserves Blame for New York's Parks Disparity?

Many assume that the affluence of the surrounding neighborhood determines the health of New York City's parks. According to Lisa W. Foderaro, elected leadership, rather than location, determines which parks in the city are better maintained.

June 18, 2013 - The New York Times

Turning an Eye on Big Brother

Ever wonder just how many prying eyes are watching you as you amble down a city street? A new app seeks to develop a comprehensive catalog of Big Brother's presence by documenting the locations of security cameras covering a city's public spaces.

June 17, 2013 - Fast Company Co.Exist

NYC Building Code Gets Sandy-Inspired Rewrite

Last week, Mayor Bloomberg proposed sweeping changes to New York City's building code to better prepare the city's built environment for the increasing threats of rising seas and extreme storms that Hurricane Sandy made clear.

June 16, 2013 - The New York Times

New Signs for New York City Beaches in Sandy's Wake

New York City is marking its continued recovery from Superstorm Sandy with redesigned beach signs.

June 14, 2013 - Atlantic Cities

Sequester Cuts Menace New York's Most Vulnerable Residents

A looming $205 million budget shortfall due to sequester-related federal funding cuts have the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) preparing to make drastic cuts to staff and programs.

June 13, 2013 - Crain's New York Business

Launch of Chicago Bike Share Delayed Again; Are Citi Bike's Problems to Blame?

It turns out New York isn't the only large city struggling to get its heralded bike-share system off the ground. Chicago's rush to launch Divvy has hit a snag, delaying the program's launch by two weeks.

June 13, 2013 - WNYC: Transportation Nation

Ada Louise Huxtable Remembered at Metropolitan Museum of Art Tribute

Architects and architecture critics from across the nation gathered in New York last week to remember the first lady of architecture criticism, Ada Louise Huxtable, who died in January.

June 13, 2013 - Architect

New York Plans $20 Billion Battle Against Climate Change

On Tuesday, Mayor Bloomberg outlined an ambitious $20 billion plan to adapt New York City's infrastructure and built and natural environments to respond to the threats of rising seas and extreme storms.

June 12, 2013 - The New York Times

Finding Room for a Million More New Yorkers

New York City's population is expected to grow by one million residents by 2040. But where can housing be built to accommodate all these new residents? A new report from a Columbia University think tank identifies the most promising candidates.

June 11, 2013 - The Wall Street Journal

Big Egos and Fat Wallets Drive New York Skyscraper Boom

The Empire State Building's place in New York City's skyline is set to be challenged by several new residential towers, as the city experiences a height hysteria not seen since the heady days of the late 1920s.

June 10, 2013 - The New York Times

Station Fail: Citi Bike's Major Malfunction

Software problems delayed the launch of New York City's bike share program for nearly a year. Now that the system has launched, technical problems persist. Will they threaten its success?

June 6, 2013 - Reuters

Taxi of Tomorrow Hits New York City Streets

The long-awaited "Taxi of Tomorrow", which was specifically designed for use in New York City by Nissan, got a workout on the city's streets this week in advance of the fleet's arrival in October.

June 6, 2013 - The New York Times

Abandonment, Authenticity, and Transgressive Placemaking

Kelly Bennett writes on the connections between authentic places, abandonment, and a new wave of placemaking.

June 5, 2013 - Citiography

Citi Bike Rack

What's Behind The Wall Street Journal's Odd Anti-Bicycle Rant?

Since it appeared online over the weekend, a humorously odd 5-minute diatribe by Wall Street Journal editorial board member Dorothy Rabinowitz has spread like wildfire. J.K. Trotter considers the possible sources of her anti-bicycle vitriol.

June 5, 2013 - The Atlantic Wire

Bloomberg Unveils Post-Sandy Rebuilding Program

This week, Mayor Bloomberg announced the launch of NYC's comprehensive effort to assist homeowners effected by Superstorm Sandy. The NYC Build It Back program will offer avenues for homeowners to restore, rebuild, relocate, or get reimbursed.

June 4, 2013 - Crain's Business New York

On the Limits of Social Change Through Design

Ginia Bellafante looks at the fate of a public housing project conceived with much fanfare in the early 1970s by progressive architects following the theory of 'Defensible Space' authored by architect and planner Oscar Newman.

June 3, 2013 - The New York Times

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.