World
Global issues, U.N., etc.
The Importance of Delight
On top of all of the planning factors that make a place great, David Roberts adds the element of delight.
Explaining Induced Traffic
Eric Jaffe at The Infrastructurist explains the non-intuitive reason why often removing freeways means less traffic.
Bicycles as an African Way of Life
Rural Africa is learning to embrace bicycles as a means of transportation.
Is the U.S. Green Building Council Too Powerful?
Architect Michael Liu asks, "Is it appropriate for a private fee-generating nongovernmental organization to assume what amounts to a regulatory role in the building industry?"
Livability Trumps Architecture at CNU19
At the 19th Congress for the New Urbanism, Planetizen's Tim Halbur finds a vibrant, active community of urban thinkers more interested in improving livability than in architectural principles.
Sustainable Skyscrapers
Fast Company lines up the greenest skyscrapers in the world, from the Pearl River Tower in Guangzhou, China to London's famous Gherkin.
New Google App: "Mapnificent"
A new google app, dubbed Mapnificent, allows you to choose a starting location and then see all the places that you can reach by public transportation within a specified amount of time.
The Food System's Negative Impact on Communities
In this food-focused installment of a series on "great places", Grist's Tom Philpott argues that food system as currently structured creates the opposite of great places.
Is Now the Time for New Urbanism?
As CNU 19 convenes in Madison, Wisconsin, Reporter Mike Ivey says that New Urbanism's brand of smaller homes and denser lifestyle may be finally finding its niche.
How Disneyland Got Its Monorail
Planner Sam Gennawey tracks the history of Disneyland's monorail back to a 1958 visit by Walt Disney to Wuppertal, Germany.
Argentina Gets Its First Bus Rapid Transit
Mauricio Macri, the mayor of Buenos Aires, inaugurated Argentina's first bus rapid transit system today, marking its first day of operation.
Urban Exploration Misinterpreted
Urban explorer and urban ethnographer Bradley L. Garrett argues that the act of urban exploration has become increasingly misunderstood, and misinterpreted through the lens of a recent popular fascination with ruin fetishism.
Laurie Olin: A Student of People
Landscape architect Laurie Olin says that to design well you have to be interested in how people behave. Johanna Hoffman gets in-depth with Olin about his design process.
New Jersey Gov. Scraps Rail, Invests in Mega-Mall Instead
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie defunded the construction of the ARC Tunnel (connecting NJ to NY via increased rail service), claiming that it was fiscally irresponsible. Now, Christie is using state funds to finance the construction of a mega-mall.
Designing the 'Cycle Space'
Architectural historian and urban planner Steven Fleming is expanding the study of cities and mobility by looking at how designers are reacting to bicycling and how bicycles are set to transform the way cities work.
How to Get People to Ride Transit
With car companies spending billions to promote their products, transit advocates have a lot to compete with. A new report from EMBARQ looks at how transit can rebrand and be sexy.
Tug-of-War Between Preservation and Progress
Rem Koolhaas laments the expansion of historic preservation, saying that inevitably "We will preserve things before they are even finished."
Why All the Fuss About Bikes?
Kasey Klimes says that the hype around bicycles isn't just sustainability, or health. It's that bicycles connect people to their neighborhoods and their communities in a more meaningful way.
Fanciful Bike Storage Mounts on Tall Buildings
Design firm Manifesto Architecture is proposing a unique vertical bike storage system that can take advantage of underused, slim spaces like alleys. Another neat aspect: the rack is powered by a stationery bike.
New Study: Sprawl Is Bad for Marriage Sustainability
According to a recent study in Sweden, long distance commutes (characteristic of sprawling suburbs) put a major strain on personal relationships and increase the chances of marriage ending in divorce.
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.
New York City School Construction Authority
Village of Glen Ellyn
Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
