World

Global issues, U.N., etc.

Every City For Itself: Adapting to Climate Change

What cities are best prepared for climate change, and which will falter? Josh Stephens reviews Climatopolis: How Our Cities Will Thrive in a Hotter Future by Matthew Kahn.

April 7, 2011 - Josh Stephens

The Good and Bad of London's "Boris Bikes"

According to Joe Peach of This Big City, London public transit finally got something right with its cycle hire scheme, now known as "Boris Bikes."

April 7, 2011 - This Big City

Traffic Calming: Making Streets Safer

The concept of "traffic calming," in which urban streets are altered in order to make them feel slower for drivers is discussed in this video from Street Films.

April 7, 2011 - StreetFilms.org

Holland, Michigan's Heated Sidewalks Bring People Together

A small town in Michigan created a network of underground pipes to divert waste heat from its power plant to downtown streets and sidewalks. Today, the community benefits from sidewalks that remain clear and dry no matter how cold it gets.

April 6, 2011 - Metropolis Magazine

Transportation is Destiny

Transportation is destiny, and cities must adapt. Demography: ditto. Bill Barnes finds digs into a pile of "big think" planning books and pulls out a number of lessons for the future.

April 6, 2011 - Nation's Cities Weekly

Slum Appreciation Misguided

The slums of the world's megacities have been the subject of much admiration among urban thinkers recently. Joel Kotkin argues that adulation is misguided.

April 5, 2011 - New Geography

31 "Silver Bullet Solutions" for Urban Redevelopment

Rod Stevens, a business consultant specializing in urban ventures, compiled a list of the most common "silver bullet" solutions put in place by city leaders to address redevelopment over the past 60 years.

April 5, 2011 - Urbanophile

Raising the Status of Public Transit

A study that asked regular drivers in Boston and San Francisco to go car-free found that access to real-time mobile information was key to raising the status of public transit for study participants.

April 4, 2011 - Next American City

Visualizing Water in the Landscape

Water shortages are on the rise, and effective management of this dwindling resource is becoming increasingly important to cities. How architects and planners visualize water in the landscape plays a big role in how it is understood and managed.

April 3, 2011 - Places

The Commons Commodified?

The "commons" are increasingly falling into the hands of private owners, prompting Jay Walljasper to what it means to have commonly shared spaces in the modern world.

April 2, 2011 - Terrain

Climate Change and the Urban Water Crisis

As population growth and climate change set in, cities in developing countries will face major shortages of freshwater. A new report looks at how those cities could be affected and what preventive steps they should start taking.

April 2, 2011 - Grist

As Permitting Rebounds, Planning Department Forced to Replace Automated System With Human

Building permits have surprisingly picked up in the city of Townsville, Indiana, forcing the city's planning department to replace its automated telephone response system with an actual human staffer.

April 1, 2011 - Planetizen April 1st Edition

New York Bike Lane Advocates and Opponents Unite Against Shared Enemy: Pedestrians

Bicyclists and drivers in New York City have been at each others' throat in recent months as the city installs new bike lanes throughout the city. After many bitter words, the former foes have joined forces against a new enemy: people on foot.

April 1, 2011 - Planetizen April 1st Edition

Unable to Distribute High Speed Rail Money, LaHood Throws Awesome Party

As state officials turn down or return federal money intended for high speed rail projects, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood used this seemingly unwanted funding to throw an epic party in Las Vegas.

April 1, 2011 - Planetizen April 1st Edition

New Ben & Jerry's Flavor Released: Janette Sadik-Pecan

Ice cream maker Ben & Jerry's has released a new flavor inspired by New York City Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan.

April 1, 2011 - Planetizen April 1st Edition

Landscape Urbanists and New Urbanists to Settle Debate After Class, Behind the Gym

After months of debate over which ideology should guide the future of cities and urban development, New Urbanists and Landscape Urbanists at Harvard University are planning to settle the argument with a fistfight.

April 1, 2011 - Planetizen April 1st Edition

PR Consultant Re-Brands Shrinking City as 'Taking a People Diet'

With the recent announcement that Detroit's population has declined nearly 25% over the last decade, the city has hired a public relations specialist who promptly denied any problems in the city, arguing that it is simply on a "people diet".

April 1, 2011 - Planetizen April 1st Edition

Cash-for-Vote Scandal Rocks Top 10 Livable Cities List

Officials in Portland are accusing nearby Vancouver, British Columbia of bribing judges to buy their first place spot in a recent top ten list of the world's most livable cities.

April 1, 2011 - Planetizen April 1st Edition

9 Months After 9-Day Traffic Jam, A Baby Boom in Beijing

Nine months after a horrendous traffic jam clogged a Chinese roadway for 62 miles outside Beijing for 9 whole days, area hospitals have seen a fivefold increase in births.

April 1, 2011 - Planetizen April 1st Edition

Buses Add Car Racks to Ease L.A. Drivers' Uneasy Transition to Transit

Rising gas prices have pushed many in L.A. to ditch their cars in favor of public transit. But the switch has been tough for some car-tethered Angelenos, so the MTA has added car racks to its buses for those not ready to leave their cars behind.

April 1, 2011 - Planetizen April 1st Edition

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.