World

Global issues, U.N., etc.

Chevy Bolt

Are Reports Predicting a Future of Electric Vehicles Exaggerated?

David Yager, an oil industry consultant, writes that recent reports predicting electric vehicles will eventually outsell those with internal combustion engines are vastly exaggerated, notwithstanding national bans on future sales of such cars.

August 3, 2017 - Business Insider

Dharavi Slum

Bad Housing Policies Worsening Slums Around the World

Richard Florida argues that policies in cities around the world are making it harder on those most in need of housing.

July 31, 2017 - CityLab

Tailpipe

Another Nail in the Coffin of the Internal Combustion Engine?

Is the movement away from gasoline and diesel-powered cars unstoppable? In response to air pollution litigation, the British government announced on July 26 that sales of gasoline and diesel vehicles would be banned by 2040.

July 31, 2017 - The New York Times

Autonomous Vehicles and Streets: A Guide to Potential Impacts

As the arrival of autonomous vehicles (AVs) becomes more of a reality, cities need to start considering how this new technology will affect streets and street networks. This brief guide provides an overview and resources on this topic.

July 29, 2017 - Urbanism Next Blog - Sustainable Cities Initiative

Urban Solar Power

A Toolkit for Reaching 100 Percent Renewable

The Global 100% Renewable Energy campaign is one voice encouraging cities to adopt entirely renewable sources of energy. It recommends decentralized energy systems like rooftop solar.

July 28, 2017 - Citiscope

Ventura County

Preserving the Rural Landscape with Agrarian Urbanism

We don't usually think zoning when considering farmland preservation, but Hazel Borys shares are a few thoughts that may help.

July 28, 2017 - PlaceShakers

Bike woth sound system

Bikes That Talk in a World of Self-Driving Cars

The question of whether self-driving cars will make streets and roads a safer place for humans depends on whether technology can protect the most vulnerable users.

July 25, 2017 - National Public Radio

Adams Morgan District

To Learn About a City, Visit Its Neighborhoods

Tourists are often drawn to downtown museums, sightseeing tours, and high-end restaurants. But if these travelers want to truly understand a city’s full story, they may need to take a bit of a detour.

July 25, 2017 - Tara Lerman

Climate Change

An Interactive Map of the World's Climate in 2100

A new map presents two scenarios: the temperature in 2100 if recent emissions trends continue unabated, and the temperature in 2100 with moderate emissions cuts.

July 21, 2017 - Climate Central

No Self-Driving Cars Without Hyper-Local Maps

While the fame and the glory might go to the first companies that bring self-driving cars to the market, the companies that provide the detailed, constantly changing maps will make a lot of money.

July 20, 2017 - PC Magazine

Here Today, Gone Tomorrow, Here the Day After That

Have NIMBYs and YIMBYs arguing in your neighborhood? Scott Doyon talks residential development.

July 20, 2017 - PlaceShakers

Sunset Plaza

The Secrets of 'Place Making' Success

Some well-meaning urbanists try a place-making-in-a-box approach. Their efforts would resonate more if they took the neighborhood’s history and culture into account.

July 18, 2017 - Streetsblog LA

Transportation Network Company

Uber Hoping to Mend Relationship with Drivers by Offering Equity, Tips

Uber drivers may be offered equity in the company if a company plan goes through.

July 18, 2017 - Business Insider

Urban Forests

Comparing the World's Urban Tree Canopies

Seattle provides plenty of shade for residents to enjoy in the summer months.

July 17, 2017 - The Stranger

Toll Roads

Defending Road Pricing from Public Opinion

Access Magazine takes a deep dive into congestion management, explaining the reasoning behind a publicly unpopular strategy: road pricing.

July 17, 2017 - Access Magazine

Tesla

The Era of the Electric Vehicle is Approaching

A new report from Bloomberg New Energy Finance predicts that due to a plunge in battery prices and improvement in battery technology, electric vehicles will be cost-competitive with gasoline vehicles in eight years. By 2040, they will outsell them.

July 17, 2017 - Bloomberg BusinessWeek

Report Predicts the End of Individual Car Ownership

The first report from independent think tank RethinkXL predicts that by 2031, 95 percent of U.S. passenger miles traveled will be served by on-demand, autonomous electric vehicles owned by companies providing transport as a service.

July 14, 2017 - San Francisco Chronicle

Artificial Intelligence Unlocks the Secrets of Neighborhood Change

Researchers at MIT and Harvard believe that their computer vision system (i.e., artificial intelligence) helps reveal fundamental characteristics of neighborhood change.

July 14, 2017 - MIT News

Google Self-Driving Car smaller

The High-Stakes Race to Deliver the First Car that Drives Itself

A new report provides a stark reminder of the stakes for businesses (setting aside the public right of way of other public interests) in the race to be the first to go self-driving.

July 13, 2017 - Bloomberg

Oil

Interior Secretary Issues Order to Expedite Drilling on Public Lands

Secretary Zinke's order is part of the "energy dominance" agenda of the Trump Administration to make the U.S. a major energy exporter. The order will reduce the time needed by the Bureau of Land Management to process permitting for new wells.

July 10, 2017 - The Washington Post

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.