United States

How to Rekindle America's Love Affair with the Car

The Daily Show's resident "problem solver" John Hodgman offers his advice on renewing America's "love affair with the car": eliminate public transit and bomb foreign auto makers. [Video]

April 9, 2009 - The Daily Show

Transportation Reauthorzation Bill Is MAP-21

"Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century", or MAP-21, follows the path of predecessors SAFETEA-LU, TEA -21, and ISTEA. In this press release by the Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works, Chairman Barbara Boxer of CA launches the bill.

April 9, 2009 - U.S. Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works

Using Pollution to Fight Global Warming

The Obama administration is entertaining proposals for using 'geoengineering' to fight global warming, including shooting pollution into the upper atmosphere to reflect back the warming rays.

April 9, 2009 - The Wall St. Journal

Tent Cities As 'Informal Urbanism'

High Country News reports on Fresno's infamous Taco Flat in this 4-pager. Seattle's Nickelsville and Portland's Dignity Village are held up as better examples of squatter settlements. Architecture and 'informal urbanism' of tent cities is examined.

April 9, 2009 - High Country News

A Vehicle For The Times

While auto sales are in the toilet, bicycle shops are having a banner year. The Infrastructurist reports on the pedaling revolution.

April 8, 2009 - Infrastructurist

Linking Health to the Built Environment

This video lecture calls on builders, architects and planners to work with the medical and scientific communities to better explore how the built environment affects public health.

April 8, 2009 - National Building Museum

How to Make Pedestrian-Friendly Streets

GOOD Magazine illustrates what makes a street pedestrian-friendly, from bollards to bulb-outs.

April 8, 2009 - GOOD Magazine

Homelessness on the Rise

The results from a nationwide homelessness count submitted to HUD in January reveal that many cities are showing a dramatic surge in the need for services to the homeless.

April 7, 2009 - USA Today

New Study Warns Against Privatizing Roads

The U.S. PIRG Education Fund has released a study of privatized toll roads across the United States, and concludes that they pose 'a long-term threat to the public interest.'

April 6, 2009 - U.S. PIRG Education Fund

Banks Abandoning Foreclosed Homes

In cities across the country, banks are ditching out on foreclosed homes, giving more worries -- and bills -- to homeowners.

April 6, 2009 - The New York Times

Will Congress Follow California's Lead on Climate?

A recent panel at the VerdeXchange Conference in Los Angeles featuring discussion by Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Oregon) and former Speaker of the California Assembly Robert Hertzberg on the state's role in influencing federal climate change legislation.

April 6, 2009 - The Planning Report

Obama Announces Federal Highway Administration Pick

Former Arizona Department of Transportation director Victor M. Mendez has bee chosen by the Obama administration to head the FHA.

April 5, 2009 - The Arizona Republic

Time for Real Estate to 'Get Real'

Ventura, CA, City Manager Rick Cole Op-ed argues for a comprehensive paradigm shift in the real estate and development industries.

April 5, 2009 - The Planning Report

From Cul-De-Sac to Commune

How do you turn a cul-de-sac into a commune? It's easier than you think, according to this piece from NPR.

April 4, 2009 - NPR

Friday Funny: Building the Nation Out of the Crisis

This piece from The Onion presents the incredibly simple solution to the nation's economic troubles: build more houses.

April 3, 2009 - The Onion

The Presidential Focus on Cities and Metros

Urban policy is looking to be a major element of President Barack Obama's administration. Though it hasn't quite taken shape yet, this piece argues it's a good sign for cities and metropolitan regions.

April 3, 2009 - Governing

Climate Change Bill Introduced to Congress

The Waxman-Markey bill doesn't apportion the revenues received from the sale of carbon credits, a key issue yet to be decided. Renewable electricity, greener cars, low carbon fuels, and a carbon reduction goal are all parts of this comprehensive bill

April 3, 2009 - The New York Times

The City Makes a Comeback

Nicolai Ouroussof uses four cities--New Orleans, Los Angeles, The Bronx, and Buffalo--as case studies on how America's urban areas, long neglected, can once again be great.

April 2, 2009 - The New York Times

Reclaiming Milwaukee: John Norquist on the Politics of Urbanism

In the second part of this Streetsblog interview, CNU President John Norquist discusses his tenure as mayor of Milwaukee and the politics behind making cities more transit-oriented and walkable.

April 2, 2009 - Streetsblog

Affordable Housing Gets $32 Million

The MacArthur Foundation has announced it will give $32 million in grants and loans to preserve and create affordable public housing through HUD, in addition to the $4 billion allotted to the agency from the stimulus bill.

April 2, 2009 - Architectural Record

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.