Last year more than 9,000 sidewalk sheds dotted New York streets, protecting public safety and inspiring universal frustration.
The sidewalk sheds accompanying new construction have long been a thorn in the side of New York residents. While mandated to protect pedestrians from potential falling objects, they're widely considered obtrusive and unsightly.
Toronto and New York projects are experimenting with an alternative shed designed by Urban Umbrella, which won a design competition convened by former Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Made of recycled steel, translucent plastic, and LED lights, the product "looks like an umbrella unfolding and allows natural light to hit sidewalks that would normally be darkened and narrowed by traditional sheds," Amanda Fung explains in Yahoo Finance.
It's not the first attempt to aestheticize the sidewalk shed—Zaha Hadid designed one in 2015—but most previous options haven't been cost-effective. Urban Umbrella's model is still more expensive than a standard shed, but creators say the price is dropping as projects in Boston, Québec, and Vancouver join the trend.
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New York City's Sidewalk Shed Epidemic
A 1980 law protecting pedestrians from falling debris has spawned a labyrinth of sidewalk sheds: the covered walkways that often support scaffolding. Many of these "temporary" structures linger for years.
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The original tile and brick sidewalks now pose safety hazards and don’t fully serve modern accessibility and mobility needs.
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Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”
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The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.
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A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Baltimore Ordered to Improve Sidewalk Accessibility
The city is one of many to face lawsuits for failing to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
This Toronto Suburb Has More Bus Riders Than Columbus, Ohio
Brampton, Ontario used gradual improvements in service to prove that if you build it, they will ride.
Paris Bike Boom Leads to Steep Drop in Air Pollution
The French city’s air quality has improved dramatically in the past 20 years, coinciding with a growth in cycling.
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Planning for Universal Design
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