Europe
Barcelona Buys Building to Prevent Tenant Evictions
One apartment building — and its tenants who faced eviction — became a potent symbol of the city’s growing housing crisis.
Estonian Capital Launches Noise Reduction Action Plan
European Union cities are required to create ‘noise maps’ and strategic plans for reducing environmental noise.
River Seine ‘Teeming’ With Life
Decades of restoration efforts are yielding positive results as dozens of species of fish return to the once-polluted waterway.
Spain Moves to Regulate Short-Term Rentals
Calls for regulation at the national level have prompted lawmakers to consider limiting tourist rentals amidst a growing housing crisis.
E-diggers Pave Way for Cleaner, Greener, Quieter London
London power workers are trialing zero-emission electric diggers that remove more than 200 tonnes of CO2 emissions and 75% of noise pollution from their work in the capital.
Innovative Water Towers Popping Up in Sweden
Swedish cities are encouraging designers to dramatically reimagine the humble water tower.
Cycling Doubles in Paris After Infrastructure Improvements
The city’s efforts to improve its bike infrastructure are paying off in spades.
Detecting Invasive Species Early Through Citizen Science
Community science platforms like eBird and iNaturalist enhance early detection of invasive species, complementing professional surveillance and highlighting the need for stronger collaboration between the public and official authorities.
Barcelona Metro Uses Regenerative Braking to Power Stations, Charge EVs
Energy created when trains brake is harnessed to power the trains themselves, station infrastructure, and street-level electric car chargers.
New HSR Train Conects Paris and Berlin
Officials hail the new route as a symbol of the friendship between two of Europe’s most important economic powers.
Robotaxis Wreak Havoc on Urban Transit
In cities across the United States, robotaxis, championed by companies like Waymo and Cruise, are a marvel of modern technology and a flashpoint for debate over their place in urban transit.
France Tightens Restrictions on Short-Term Rentals
The vacation rental market is shouldering part of the blame for rising housing costs, particularly in popular tourist destinations.
Paris Creates Limited Traffic Zone in City Center
Most vehicles will be barred from entering a 5.5 square kilometer zone to limit traffic, noise, and pollution.
Report: European Rivers Are in Trouble
Some of the continent’s most important rivers are suffering from overuse and pollution.
EU's New Rider Directive Poses Challenges to Cash-Strapped Delivery Platforms
The European Union has adopted a new directive aimed at improving working conditions for platform workers and increasing transparency. This new directive goes beyond Spain’s Rider’s Law, aiming for a harmonized set of standards across the E.U.
Madrid Uses Transit System for Parcel Delivery to Cut Emissions
A new pilot program uses trains to deliver packages at off-peak hours, lowering emissions from trucks.
Sustainable Urban Design: A New Tool and Approach on The Talking Headways Podcast
Discover how the Sustainable Urban Design Framework helps planners create livable, sustainable communities. Nico Larco from the University of Oregon explores a new tool and book in the latest “Talking Headways” podcast.
EU Speed Limiter Law Kicks In
All new cars sold in Europe and Northern Ireland will include speed limiting tech, among other new safety features.
Barcelona to Phase out All Short-Term Rentals
The city plans to stop issuing new or renewal licenses by 2029.
New App Pays Users to Report Illegally Parked Cars
A Swedish company is leveraging the power of crowdsourcing and the gig economy to enforce parking laws.
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.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
