A new service in St. Paul and Minneapolis will assist riders at both ends of their rides.

Frederick Melo reports on a new ride-hailing service for disabled and elderly travelers. The program will start operations in the Twin Cities this month, through an app called "MO."
"That’s 'MO' as in mobility, the lifeblood of the aged and infirm. Think of [John Doan’s] general benefit corporation, Mobility 4 All, as an Uber for folks who need someone to walk them from their doorstep to a vehicle at pick-up, and from the vehicle to the lobby of their destination at drop-off," writes Melo.
Doan calls MO "the kinder, gentler ride-service" that helps people travel beyond door-to-door end points. He recognized the need for the specialized service after his brother was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and dementia, which severely limited his mobility and made travel on public transit difficult.
If the pilot program is successful, Doan plans to expand the service to Phoenix later this year or early next year, notes Melo.
FULL STORY: St. Paul company develops Uber-like service for disabled passengers

Manufactured Crisis: Losing the Nation’s Largest Source of Unsubsidized Affordable Housing
Manufactured housing communities have long been an affordable housing option for millions of people living in the U.S., but that affordability is disappearing rapidly. How did we get here?

Americans May Be Stuck — But Why?
Americans are moving a lot less than they once did, and that is a problem. While Yoni Applebaum, in his highly-publicized article Stuck, gets the reasons badly wrong, it's still important to ask: why are we moving so much less than before?

Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.

Updating LA’s Tree Rules Could Bring More Shade to Underserved Neighborhoods
A new USC study finds that relaxing Los Angeles’ outdated tree planting guidelines could significantly expand urban tree canopy and reduce shade disparities in lower-income neighborhoods, though infrastructure investments are also needed.

California's Canal Solar Projects Aim to Conserve Resources and Expand Clean Energy
California’s Project Nexus has begun generating electricity from solar panels installed over irrigation canals, with researchers and state agencies exploring statewide expansion to conserve water and boost clean energy production.

HHS Staff Cuts Gut Energy Assistance Program
The full staff of a federal program that distributes heating and cooling assistance for low-income families was laid off, jeopardizing the program’s operations.
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