An annual analysis of global cities assesses public transit, technology, and sustainability.
An analysis from the Oliver Wyman Forum and the University of California, Berkeley ranks San Francisco at the top of its Urban Mobility Readiness Index, which assesses “how well people and goods can move through a city and to surrounding population centers.”
As Magdalena Del Valle explains in Bloomberg CityLab, “Other cities in the top five, including Paris, Munich and Amsterdam, saw robust public transportation systems and strong universities that collaborate successfully with the private sector.”
The analysis looks at dozens of metrics related to sustainability, public transit, and technology. Singapore ranked first in public transit, while Helsinki led in sustainable mobility.
According to del Valle, a heightened focus on technology in this year’s analysis pushed U.S. cities to the top of the list despite their poor performance in public transit and bike and pedestrian infrastructure ratings. “San Francisco, which landed in 24th place in public transit and 18th in sustainable mobility, scored points for its EV adoption and the infrastructure it is working to set up for air taxis. Similarly, New York rose to eighth place from 12th last year, and Boston and Los Angeles made it into the top 15.”
FULL STORY: San Francisco, Paris Named Best Cities for Urban Transportation
Report: Transportation Equity Requires More Than Electrification
Lower-income households often lack the resources to buy electric cars, signaling a need for a more holistic approach to improving mobility and lowering transportation costs.
Study: Automobile Dependency Reduces Life Satisfaction
Automobile dependency has negative implications for wellbeing. This academic study finds that relying on a car for more than 50 percent of out-of-home travel is associated with significant reductions in life satisfaction.
Public, Private Transportation Systems Offer Free Election Day Rides
From transit agencies to ride-hailing, bike share, and car rentals, transportation companies are encouraging people to vote by offering free and discounted rides to polling locations.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
Montreal’s Gorilla Park Repurposes Defunct Railway Track
The park is part of a global movement to build public spaces that connect neighbors and work with local elements to serve as key parts of a city’s green infrastructure.
Art in Action: USC Event Calls for an Urgent Green Energy Transition
The El Respiro / Respire event at USC uses a large-scale human geochoreography to demand an urgent and equitable transition to green energy, blending art, activism, and community engagement to amplify the message of climate justice.
Safe Parking Programs Help People Access Housing
The safety and stability offered by Safe Parking sites have helped 40 percent of unhoused San Diego residents who accessed these programs get into permanent housing.
Study: Single-Staircase Buildings Pose No Additional Risks
Zoning codes have long prohibited single-stair residential buildings due to safety concerns, but changing that could lower the cost of construction and allow for more flexible housing designs.
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.
North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA)
Economic & Planning Systems, Inc.
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research