China

Climate Challenge: Not Enough EVs or Too Many SUVs?
Both are problems, but globally, sports utility vehicles sales are proliferating far faster than cars, be they electric or petrol-powered, posing a major challenge for governments committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Two New High-Speed Rail Lines Open in China
It was a big day for high-speed rail…in China.

China's Climate Change Paradox
President Xi Jinping wants China to replace the U.S. as the world's leader in fighting climate change, yet emissions from China are projected to increase at a higher rate than any other major emitter, according to the Global Carbon Project.

Breaking: Mega-Companies Expected to Merge to Stay Competitive in the Rail Industry
Alstom and Siemens are close to a merger in a move calculated to help the companies compete against the Chinese state-backed company CRRC.

Maglev: Now Arriving in Beijing
Maglev trains are often touted for their performance in difficult conditions and their use of electric power.

China to Ban Gas and Diesel Car Sales to Spur EVs
Electric vehicles (EVs) have a bright future in the world's most populous nation and largest auto market, unlike those powered by oil. That was a ministry chief's message at an auto forum on Saturday.

The Pros and Cons of Concrete
A versatile building material with a long pedigree, concrete also has associations with ugliness and totalitarianism. Its reinforced variety, widely used today, can conceal a costly flaw.

AVs and Real Estate - A Guide to Potential Impacts
AVs are more than a transportation issue and will have significant impacts on real estate. Expect AVs to affect parking, sprawl, housing prices, and transit.
Beijing's First Public-Private Partnership for Transit
A streetcar project connecting Beijing with the suburb of Shunyi is newsworthy from several angles.

Impacts of AVs and E-Commerce on Municipal Budgets
A new report from Urbanism Next/SCI takes you through a city’s budget—both revenues and expenditures—and describes the areas that will be affected as AVs become commonplace and e-commerce takes on an even larger role in retail
A Subway Station in the Middle of Nowhere
Chongqing train station has become famous in China for its extremely isolated location, but its construction illustrates the ambition of the country’s building spree.
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.

Next From China: Bikeshare Without the Station
Led by the companies Mobike and Ofo, so-called "dockless" bike sharing is all the rage in Chinese cities. Unlocked by app, the bikes can be left anywhere for the next user to pick up. There have been some hiccups.

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.

Friday Eye Candy: A Solar Farm Shaped Like a Panda
A solar farm shaped like a panda recently began pumping electricity to the grid in Shanxi province, China.
Volvo Makes History in Embrace of Electric Vehicle Technology
In a major announcement that could shake-up the auto industry, Volvo Cars declared it will initiate a gradual divorce from autos solely powered by internal combustion in two years. The Chinese-owned company wants to reduce its environmental impact.

A New Government Planned Mega-City Shapes Up Next to Beijing
Planners for the Xiong’an New Area hope to cure the ills of "megacity disease"
China's New Train Doesn't Need Rails, Isn't a Bus
Chinese railcar-maker CRRC allowed the public a glimpse at its new "Autonomous Rail Transit" last week. The ART is more than just a bus.

China Exporting its Infrastructure Expertise
China is building roads, tunnels, planning trains and power plants outside its borders to bolster its influence.

Driving School Operating on the Roof of an Unfinished Factory
A driving school in China was shut down after photos of student drivers cruising around its location (a factory roof) raised concerns online.
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
City of Moreno Valley
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