United States

Developers Hack Conventional Office Spaces to Attract Corporate America

The decline of the 9 to 5 business district and changing corporate culture have landlords and tenants clamoring "to make their offices less square" and architects and planners eager to help transform conventional office spaces.

September 6, 2013 - Los Angeles Times

Amsterdam Bikes

College Campuses Embrace Bike Share

In order to differentiate themselves from other universities, some are offering perks to students, such as bike share programs or free bikes in exchange for not driving.

September 5, 2013 - The New York Times

London Skyline

Seven Skyscraper Design Fails

This week, sun rays bouncing off the "Walkie-Talkie" skyscraper in London have caused cars to melt and forced the city to ban parking in the area. Here are 7 other skyscraper design fails that have led to mishaps and disasters for cities.

September 5, 2013 - Future Cities

Walking While Distracted: Pedestrian Injuries Rise Amongst Teens

A study finds that 20% of high school students cross the street while being distracted by a digital device.

September 5, 2013 - WNYC: Transportation Nation

Car Dasboard at Night

What's Causing The Decline In Driving?

U.S. Public Interest Research Group does a state-by-state analysis of the decline in driving in an attempt to determine it's chief causes.

September 5, 2013 - Governing

New York Skyline Fisheye

How To Make A City Great

Respected consulting firm McKinsey & Company offers a detailed report on the steps city leaders around the world take to transform their cities into great places to live and work.

September 5, 2013 - McKinsey & Company

Cities Struggle with Spread of E-Cigarette Smoke Shops

The $1 billion electronic cigarette industry has boomed in the last year; Southern California cities, shell-shocked from the spread of marijuana dispensaries, are struggling to cope with the storefront businesses.

September 4, 2013 - The Los Angeles Times

Food Stamp Numbers Indicate Sharp Rise In Suburban Poverty

When you think about poverty, do you picture the suburbs? New data suggests that you should.

September 4, 2013 - The Atlantic

What's Behind Bike Share's Skyrocketing Growth?

Earth Policy Institute's bike share charts allow readers to compare bike share programs in the U.S., now numbering 34 with 18,000 bikes. As impressive as it is, a comparison with bike share programs abroad put the numbers in perspective.

September 4, 2013 - Earth Policy Institute

Image of an infographic: The Truth About Transit

Infographics: The Truth About Transit

Since it has struggled with aggressive transit foes over half-cent sales taxes and light rail, Charlotte, North Carolina's transit system is launching a campaign to dispel myths about transit with crisp, clear infographics.

September 4, 2013 - The Atlantic Cities

NYC's App Quest Generates Wealth of New Subway App Ideas

New York City's MTA is gearing up to wire all of its subway stations for cellular use, and has released the full list of application concepts created by developers for subway riders. The public can vote now -- what would make your ride better?

September 3, 2013 - WNYC: Transportation Nation

Cities and States Most Impacted by Early Deaths from Air Pollution

An MIT study finds 200,000 early deaths per year in U.S. are attributed to air pollution. The biggest source is vehicle tailpipes at 53,000. Most impacted state: California; most impacted city: Baltimore.

September 3, 2013 - MIT News

Los Angeles Traffic - The Newhall Pass

Is Los Angeles' Car Culture on a Collision Course with Economic Ruin?

Architect and planner Gerhard W. Mayer asserts that a city developed to accommodate cars is no place for paltry public transit offerings; Los Angeles needs major changes to its DNA if it wants to remain viable.

September 3, 2013 - The Architect's Newspaper

A New Idea To Save San Francisco Bay From Sea Level Rise

What do Google, Facebook, Yahoo, Intuit and many other tech companies in have in common? Their locations next o the San Francisco Bay could be underwater within 50 years as sea levels rise. The latest idea is a "Golden Gate Barrage".

September 3, 2013 - Xconomy

Have Planners Made the Gulf Coast Better Since Katrina?

In the eight years since Hurricane Katrina, the Gulf Coast states have made great strides in adopting new visions for their cities and towns. A new report outlines the recovery's progress, pointing to successes in housing and transportation.

September 3, 2013 - The Sun Herald

An Argument Against “Skyscraper Phobia” in the Big Apple

Kenneth T. Jackson of the New York Times expresses his opposition to recent density concerns in New York City, which he believes are compromising its future as the world’s greatest city.

September 3, 2013 - The New York Times

In Cash-Strapped Cities, Parents Create Inclusive Playgrounds

Federal requirements often aren't enough incentive for municipalities to create accessible playgrounds, so parent advocates are paving the way for kids with special needs to access playgrounds.

September 2, 2013 - NPR

Updating the Book on Parking Reform

A Donald Shoup devotee offers new insight into the problems and solutions associated with parking in Los Angeles and other cities. Urban Planning professor Richard Willson says it'll cost you, but parking systems are going to get more efficient.

September 1, 2013 - The Eastsider LA

An image of Transit Oriented Development in Saltillo Lofts, Austin, Texas

Retaining Affordable Housing Near Transit Just Got Easier

Changes to the criteria for evaluating applications for the federal New Starts program could have a significant impact on efforts to preserve and expand affordable housing in close proximity to transit.

August 31, 2013 - Rooflines

Empty Parking Lot

Friday Funny: America the Beautiful...Parking Lot

Satirical newspaper The Onion has released the results of a nationwide poll to determine what the country's residents associate with the word "America". Rather than apple pie, the flag, or baseball, the resounding choice was a strip mall parking lot.

August 30, 2013 - The Onion

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.

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.