Too often, national parks and other recreational spaces in the United States are difficult or impossible to access without a car. Some parks are working to change that.

In a piece in Millennial American Dream republished in Streetsblog USA, Michael Moore describes how Rocky Mountain National Park and Glacier National Park provide exemplary models for providing parks access to people who don’t own cars via bus shuttles.
By providing convenient transportation options, these parks reduce traffic congestion, minimize pollution, and make it easier for visitors to access hiking trails and attractions. Implementing similar shuttle services in popular US parks could significantly enhance accessibility and alleviate parking woes.
Moore also suggests making more in-park lodging, such as European-style hiking hostels, available to tourists to reduce the need to drive in and out. Additionally, parks can reduce economic barriers by providing affordable gear rentals and boosting connectivity to public transit. “Establishing reliable bus and train connections from major US cities and airports to lesser-known parks is crucial for achieving better access and dispersing visitor flow,” Moore writes.
Parks access shouldn’t be limited to people who own cars. “Implementing transit connections, alternative transportation options, in-park accommodations, small cabin hostels, refreshment options, gear rentals, and long-distance transit links can transform the way we experience nature in the US.”
FULL STORY: Making Hiking Accessible Without Cars

San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.

The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.

Has President Trump Met His Match?
Doug Ford, the no-nonsense premier of Canada's most populous province, Ontario, is taking on Trump where it hurts — making American energy more expensive.

Honolulu's Iwilei Center Plans for Redevelopment Into Mixed-Use Space
Striving to expand affordable housing options for Oahu residents, Honolulu's Department of Land Management requests to redevelop the Iwilei Center into a mixed-use space.

Biketown Lives
Despite public perception of its decline, Portland’s bike share system is alive and well.

‘Stockholm Tree Pit’ Saves Dying Urban Trees
After noticing that two-thirds of its trees were dying, Stockholm developed a new planting method to protect trees surrounded by concrete.
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 Edmonds
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research