Europe

Friday Funny: Flex Your Way to a Free Subway Ride

As Russia prepares to welcome to world to the 2014 Winter Olympics, subway riders in Moscow are being treated to a free trip. The only caveat: You'll need to complete 30 squats to earn your ticket.

November 15, 2013 - CBS News

Pro-Car Campaigns Target Copenhagen Election

Copenhagen's bike-friendly policies have become the envy of the world, but some of the city's residents are unhappy with anti-auto "discrimination". Opposition parties are hoping to ride that discontent to victory in next week's local elections.

November 12, 2013 - The Copenhagen Post

The Super Typhoon and Climate Change

The head of the Philippines delegation at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Warsaw suggests climate change is responsible for Typhoon Haiyan. Is he right? Quartz investigates the connection.

November 12, 2013 - Quartz

Amsterdam Will Harvest Urine for Green Roofs

As part of a campaign for International Water Week, Amsterdam's water corporation, Waternet, will use struvite from donated urine in order to fertilize the city's green roofs.

November 10, 2013 - Future Cities

What Does it Take to Play Paris's Biggest Stage?

Not just anyone can (legally) perform for the millions of passengers who ply Paris's mammoth subway system every day. Liz Alderman looks at the competitive process to land a highly coveted, and potentially lucrative, permit to play Paris Métro.

November 6, 2013 - The New York Times

Ambitious Network to Cover 40% of Hamburg in Green

Imagine being able to traverse a major city surrounded entirely by bikes, pedestrians, and green spaces. That vision is poised to become reality in Hamburg within the next two decades as the city pursues plans for a vast Grünes Netz (Green Network).

November 6, 2013 - The Guardian

Copenhagen Looks in its Attics to Find More Density

As migration puts growth pressure on Denmark’s largest city, Copenhagen is promoting the conversion of under-utilized attics into apartments as a way to create new housing while maintaining the city's built form and character.

November 1, 2013 - The Copenhagen Post

Bikes Beat Cars As Europeans Vote With Their Wallets

In 25 of the 27 European Union members for which data is available, bikes are outselling new cars, research conducted by National Public Radio has found. Though many European cities are known for their bikeability, the buying pattern is a new trend.

October 30, 2013 - NPR

New Rail Tunnel is First to Join Two Continents

On the 90th anniversary of the founding of modern Turkey, officials realized a vision dreamt by an Ottoman sultan by inaugurating a rail tunnel beneath the Bosporus to connect Asia and Europe. Critics have questioned the tunnel's safety.

October 30, 2013 - The New York Times

Is Your Commute Killing You?

Though research has been piling up on the adverse health impacts connected with driving long distances every day, it turns out that no matter how you travel to work, "having a job far from home can undermine health."

October 29, 2013 - The New York Times

Bulgaria's Bad Air Highlights European Pollution Problem

A new report by the European Environment Agency points to progress in cutting the continent's air pollution problem. However, up to 98% of Europe's urban residents are exposed to hazardous air, and in places like Bulgaria the danger is acute.

October 15, 2013 - The New York Times

people eating ice cream on sidewalk seating

The Next Big Thing: "Sit-able Cities"

Supported by imagery of human urban conduct, Chuck Wolfe argues that walkable is good, but sit-able is better—and that "it’s time for the next big focal point and the next big idea, the 'Sit-able City'."

October 14, 2013 - myurbanist

Fracking Finds Few Takers in Europe

As hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, transforms America's energy sector and environmental policy, Europe has been reluctant to embrace the drilling technique. Will this reluctance harm the continent's economic growth and emission curbing efforts?

October 13, 2013 - The New York Times

How Do You Plan a City for the Next 90 Years?

Planners in Copenhagen are bringing new meaning to the concept of long-term planning. A 10-person team is focused solely on envisioning how the city will adapt to the next 90 years of climate change.

October 9, 2013 - The Guardian

Man riding bike in New York with City Harvest cargo compartment attached

Bikes Emerge as a Viable Alternative for Urban Freight

It may be hard to image fleets of cargo bikes replacing the large polluting trucks that tear up our city streets. But a European Union project estimates that the majority of freight in 322 cities studied could be moved by cargo bike.

October 8, 2013 - Treehugger

One Czech City's Approach to DIY Bike-Share

While many big city bike-share systems hit potholes, one Czech city has experienced success with an entirely different – and more DIY – ‘micro-scheme’ approach fostered by a network of cafés.

October 3, 2013 - The Atlantic Cities

Can a Cultural Makeover Clean Up France's So-Called Crime Capital?

Marseille has sought to maximize its year as European Cultural Capital to jumpstart a transformation of the notoriously rough-and-tumble port city. But will new initiatives provide enough momentum to dislodge old habits and stereotypes?

October 1, 2013 - Art Info

Theft and Vandalism Threaten One of World's Largest Bike-Share Systems

With 12,000 docking stations, Paris' expansive Velib system is the envy of cities across the world. But last year it lost 9,000 bikes to theft or vandalism. Its admirable ambition is threatening the functionality of the entire system.

September 27, 2013 - The Atlantic Cities

Copenhagenizing Moscow

A new report by Danish firm Gehl Architects presents recommendations for transforming car-cluttered Moscow. A compact city center along with a strong desire for change are potential building blocks for a human-friendly and sustainable city.

September 25, 2013 - Cities for People

10 Cities Most at Risk From Natural Disasters

Natural disasters affect millions of people each year, and cost between $60 billion and $100 billion worldwide. Here are the 10 global cities most at risk.

September 25, 2013 - Future Cities

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.

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.