United States

Mark Stryker writes on Grand Rapids' ArtPrize, a citywide art competition that awards prize money based on public vote, and has been a boon to artists and the local economy. It is now inspiring other cities to host their own such events.

September 18, 2012 - Detroit Free Press

All too often when we think of 'transportation,' especially transit, our thoughts are overtaken by visions of public transit. Yet, private transit also plays a key role.

September 18, 2012 - Urban Land Magazine

Cities across America have been revitalizing their waterfronts for decades with new parks and development replacing heavy industry. But, a new breed of advocates is going one step further, and pushing for a time when people can just jump right in.

September 17, 2012 - Salon

A $37 billion program to modernize America's air traffic control system, and "transform global aviation" is "way behind schedule and over budget," reports Ashley Halsey III.

September 17, 2012 - The Washington Post

New census data released last week made national headlines for its grim news on America's historically high levels of poverty. However, a new paper reads between the lines, and concludes that the country is making progress in reducing poverty.

September 16, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

A new study to be published in the fall issue of the Journal of Rural Health finds evidence that rural Americans are more likely to be overweight than their urban cohorts, reports Mary MacVean.

September 16, 2012 - Los Angeles Times

Angie Schmitt reports on a recent study which found that bicycle infrastructure is a good predictor of ridership for bike-share programs.

September 16, 2012 - Streets Blog

NYT Economic Scene columnist Eduardo Porter makes a strong case against the new 54.5 mpg by 2025 fuel efficiency standards, arguing instead for higher gas taxes. Critiquing the piece, Reuter's economics blogger, Felix Salmon calls for both measures.

September 15, 2012 - The New York Times - Business Day

Finally, something Red and Blue America can agree on! A new poll published this week by the NRDC shows support for local investment in transit to reduce traffic crosses the country's wide political and geographic divides.

September 14, 2012 - Streetsblog D.C.

Sure, they may be doing so for purely financial reasons, but across America, big box stores are leading the way in embracing renewable energy sources, reports Diane Cardwell.

September 14, 2012 - The New York Times

A growing list of cities are banking their economic development on the medical and educational sectors, which have consistently grown over the past few decades. Aaron Renn examines why overreliance on eds and meds is problematic.

September 13, 2012 - New Geography

As Generation Y-ers (or Millennials) reach maturity, some question the generation's ongoing adoration of the city, and whether it will continue as they begin to marry and raise children.

September 13, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

The National Association of City Transportation Officials, representing fifteen major American cities, released the second edition of its Urban Bikeway Design Guide on Sept. 6. It includes a new chapter on bicycle boulevards.

September 13, 2012 - Streetsblog Capitol Hill

On this sombre anniversary, we bring you an article that was published last year by Kaid Benfield, looking at the legacy of 9/11 for community & the built environment.

September 11, 2012 - Switchboard

Can community building deliver more jobs than trying to lure back an industrial sector that's been leaving the U.S. for decades?

September 11, 2012 - PlaceShakers

Will Doing wonders why, at the Democratic National Convention last week, the challenges facing cities, and the benefits they bring to the country, were never mentioned.

September 10, 2012 - Salon

From coast to coast, cities across the United States are experiencing a rise in bicycling. Local governments are leading the peloton, with cycle-friendly policies and increases in government funding spurring a municipal pedal pursuit.

September 10, 2012 - The Economist

The Democratic and Republican presidential candidates could not have more different approaches to climate change. Mitt Romney joked about it in his acceptance speech at the Republican convention while President Obama vowed to reduce carbon pollution

September 10, 2012 - Environment & Energy Publishing (E&E) Public Version

Chasing the widespread interest in city living, developers are exporting mixed-use urbanism to the suburbs and exurbs as "town center" projects, prompting Jonathan O’Connell to ask if "a city can be a city if it’s built in the middle of a cornfield."

September 10, 2012 - The Washington Post

German photographer Christoph Gielen has trained his artistic eye on America's suburbs, capturing aerial images of sprawl "in all its geometric glory" in order to "startle the viewers," reports Ariel Schwartz.

September 9, 2012 - Fast Company Co.Exist