World
Global issues, U.N., etc.

Walkability: Good Money After Bad
"We're investing in walkability," always sounds like an encouraging tagline from local governments...or does it?
'Threading the Needle' of Environmental Sustainability and Social Justice for Cities
This blog is part of the World Resources Report (WRR) series. The WRR looks at cities as drivers of economic and social opportunity, and simultaneously as areas with concentrations of poverty, environmental degradation, and inequality.
Estimated Cost Savings of 10 Percent of People Riding Bikes: $24 Trillion
The mode share for bikes in urban environments around the world currently sits around 6 percent. A new report out of a university located in one of the most bike-friendly cities in the country quantifies the benefits of 10 percent mode share.
Morro Bay Could be Home to West Coast's First Offshore Wind Farm
If a Seattle company gets its way, in a few years there will be 100 floating wind turbines about 15 miles off San Luis Obispo County on the central California coast, generating about 1 gigawatt of electricity.

Asian Subways Are the Busiest
Rankings from the International Association of Public Transport have Tokyo on top, followed by Beijing and Shanghai. New York comes in seventh.

Can Climate Change be Addressed by Halting Drilling on Federal Lands?
A production-side approach to tackling climate change is the basis of new legislation by Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.). The "Keep it in the Ground Act" would prevent new drilling for any fossil fuel on federal lands or renewal of nonproductive leases.

Report: Cutting Urban Emissions Could Save $17 Trillion
Research from the Global Commission on the Economy and Climate recommends an emissions reduction program that might pay off big in the long term. Inter-city exchange and transit planning are key strategies.

Ten Innovations for the Cities of the Near Future
The World Economic Forum offers a reminder of just how drastically things could change, and soon, in cities.

The Future of Mapping is Going Indoors
Cartographers have a new world to map, as technology opens up the interiors of malls, museums, and other large spaces to online exploration.
A Robot to Go the 'Last Mile'
Contrary to one some urbanists believe, some of the advancements of the new economy might better serve less dense, even suburban, environments. Example: a delivery robot created by the co-founders of Skype.
A Negative Review of 'Vision Zero'
The 'Vision Zero' movement to eliminate pedestrian deaths is fantastic. It is helping cities around the world create better, safer streets. The name and its embrace of absolutes dooms cities to failure.
Making Places Where People Persevere
Of all the sub-topics in urban planning and design, the ones likely to generate the most anxiety are those where land use planning intersects with economic development. Ben Brown ruminates.
7 Costumes for the Most Contemporary Form of Transportation: Hoverboards
Depending on your opinion, hoverboards are some combination of expensive, annoying, or futuristically cool. Maybe these costume ideas will help you sort out your feelings on the matter?
Porchfest: Your Guide to a DIY Community-Building Good Time
Scott Doyon shares his thoughts on last week's Oakhurst Porchfest. Potentially useful for anyone looking to launch their own version.

World Demand for Oil to Increase in 2016
It's the best of both worlds for OPEC as cheap oil prices increase demand while high-cost rival oil producers are forced to close down wells according to an OPEC study released Oct. 12. And it was all planned.

Today's Cartographers Are Database Engineers
Modern maps are visual representations of millions of points of standardized data.
Toyota Targets 2050 to Eliminate Carbon Emissions
Automakers are ramping up the production of fuel-cells vehicles—so much so that Toyota predicts the end of the conventional engine by the year 2050.

The 27 Typical Patterns of Urban and Suburban Development
Most cities around the world can be broken down into 27 typical patterns of development, according to the work of a researcher at UC Davis.
United Nations and World Bank Unite for Sustainable Urban Development
The United Nations agency for urban development, UN-Habitat, has announced a partnership with the World Bank to implement several Sustainable Development Goals focusing on urban sustainability, safety, inclusiveness, and resilience.

Comparing How People in 12 Global Cities Ride Their Bikes
The workout-tracking app Strava provided generous access to its data to allow a compare and contrast exercise in how people ride bikes in 12 of the most famous cities in the world.
Pagination
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.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
Custer County Colorado
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont