Europe

With $1.1 Billion Investment, Eurostar Ratchets Up

Competition in Europe's high speed rail market just got more intense, as Eurostar announced an investment of $1.1 billion to expand rail service from London to Amsterdam and Geneva. To the victor go the spoils!

October 8, 2010 - AltTransport

Bike Path From London to Paris Could Be Smoother

The BBC tries out a new bike route connecting London to Paris and finds room for improvement.

October 5, 2010 - BBC

Photographing a Decade of Difference in East Germany

After a trip through Eastern Germany in 1990 photographing blasted out buildings from World War Two, photographer Stefan Koppelkamm's second trip ten years later revealed vastly renovated places -- to his disappointment.

October 1, 2010 - Der Spiegel

Could Classic Hill Towns Be a Model for Town Planning?

In classic hill towns, people showed innovation and dynamic placemaking--lessons learned for urbanism in the new century, says Chuck Wolfe.

September 27, 2010 - myurbanist

Future Olympic Host Working Around the Clock

Sochi, Russia, is set to play host to the Winter Olympics in 2014. Preparations are fast underway, with construction work happening practically around the clock.

September 26, 2010 - The Voice of Russia

'Zombie Buildings' Plague Spain's Economy

The burst of the housing bubble is still causing major economic turmoil in Spain, where 1.5 million "zombie" housing units sit empty.

September 22, 2010 - The Wall Street Journal

'Self-Regulating' Traffic Lights Reduce Waiting Time

Researchers in Europe are experimenting with a new kind of traffic light that better responds to traffic by monitoring the actual amount of cars on the road and estimating how long lights should stay green.

September 21, 2010 - Gizmag

A Week of Biking Joyously

On a fact-finding mission to the Netherlands, a delegation of California public officials marvel at the promise of bicycles for 21st Century transportation. Jay Walljasper gives this personal account of the trip.

September 16, 2010 - Jay Walljasper

Despite Expenses, Athens Enjoys Transit Legacy of 2004 Olympics

The 2004 Olympics in Athens burdened the city with underutilized venues and deep debt. But the event also vastly improved pedestrian and public transportation.

September 15, 2010 - Next American City

EU Blasts France's Expulsion of Gypsies

The conservative government led by French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been deporting hundreds of Gypsies, the nomadic people who number in the thousands in France. EU officials have called the move "a disgrace".

September 15, 2010 - The New York Times

Suburbs Go Head To Head With The City

"With cities worldwide busy repurposing their industrial districts and docklands as upmarket housing and waterfront retail centres, the suburbs need to find a new competitive edge," writes Sarah Murray.

September 12, 2010 - Financial Times

Subway (and Subway Riders) To Heat Apartment Building

Heat emitting from riders of the Paris Metro and from the subway trains will heat 17 apartments in a new system debuting in France.

September 9, 2010 - Popular Science

Exporting Suburbanism

Developing countries have begun importing Western-style pro-sprawl urban planning policies, often to their detriment. Kuala Lumpur and cities across the communist world are examined.

September 7, 2010 - Market Urbanism

Paris, City of Bees

The BBC reports that there is a surge in urban beekeeping in Paris, with 400 hives and growing within the city limits.

September 7, 2010 - BBC News

Extensive Rapid Transit System Planned For Paris' Outer-Ring Suburbs

An extensive 96-mile network of rapid transit lines connecting Paris' poorer outer-ring suburbs, on hold since it was proposed a year ago because of its considerable cost, takes a step closer to realization.

September 3, 2010 - the transport politic

Five Levels of Public Space

HafenCity is a district in Hamburg that is being built with flooding in mind. One way the development prepares for rising waters is having several layers of public space that can be used, creating a model for cities facing global warming.

September 3, 2010 - WorldChanging

FedEx Testing Electric Tricycles for Deliveries

The global courier has transformed the way packages are delivered around Paris by deploying large eco-friendly tricycles that go beyond the curb.

August 31, 2010 - TheCityFix

Finalists Chosen in Redesign Bid for Decommissioned Airport

Six finalists have been chosen in a bid to redesign Berlin's decommissioned Tempelhof Airport. The airport is currently open as a park, but the city wants a more formal redesign.

August 31, 2010 - Der Spiegel

Seeking That Neighborly Feeling

The new HafenCity district under construction in Hamburg, Germany, is one of the largest urban developments underway today. Some worry that its newness and bigness aren't prime conditions for harboring neighborliness.

August 27, 2010 - Der Spiegel

A New Ethic for Urban Reinvention

In a unique collaboration, an American lawyer and a Venezuelan architect merge thinking on holistic design, planning and regulation

August 23, 2010 - myurbanist

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.