Art Golab reports on Mayor Rahm Emanuel's plan to make Chicago "the bike friendliest city in the country," which the mayor hopes will attract and keep high tech companies and their workers. The best part? The entire city benefits!
Cyclists, rejoice! This past Sunday, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced plans for a network of protected bicycle lanes that he hopes will appeal to local tech company workers who favor cycling over driving and have been fleeing the city for more bicycle-friendly areas. The mayor stated that once the project is completed, he hopes "the type of companies that have been leaving for the coast will stay in the city of Chicago."
The proposed project will include buffered bike lanes and bicycle signals to ensure the utmost safety for cyclists and drivers. Writes Golab, "by the end of the year, Chicago will have 22 miles of protected bike lanes, bringing the total to 33 miles. The cost," according to the city Transportation Commissioner Gabe Klein, "is about $140,000 a mile."
Other street infrastructure projects in the works in Chicago include a new "Neighborhood Greenway" on Berteau Avenue Between Lincoln Avenue and Clark Street on the North Side, and a "road diet" expansion of pedestrian and bicycle areas along part of South Chicago Avenue on the South Side.
FULL STORY: More bike lanes planned for city

Americans May Be Stuck — But Why?
Americans are moving a lot less than they once did, and that is a problem. While Yoni Applebaum, in his highly-publicized article Stuck, gets the reasons badly wrong, it's still important to ask: why are we moving so much less than before?

Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25,% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.

Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.

San Diego Swaps Parking Lane for Kid-Friendly Mini Park
The block-long greenway will feature interactive play equipment and landscaping.

Tracking the Invisible: Methane Leaks From LA’s Neighborhood Oil Sites
Environmental advocates are using infrared technology to monitor and document methane leaks from neighborhood oil sites, filling regulatory gaps and pushing for stronger protections to safeguard community health and the climate.

Montana Bill Promotes Parking Reform
A bill before the Montana state senate would bar cities from requiring more than one parking spot per new housing unit.
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.
Caltrans
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
City of Cambridge, Maryland