The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Tools to Protect Cyclists from Street Harassment
Moving vehicles and open doors aren't the only threats to the safety of cyclists. Gay men, women and transgender bikers often contend with harassment and threats of assault. Nonprofit groups in D.C. and elsewhere are working to empower them.
Commuter Train Derailment in the Bronx Kills Four
What caused the Metro-North train to derail Sunday at 7:20 a.m. is not known, though the train operator pointed to faulty brakes. 63 of the 100 to 150 people onboard were injured, 11 critically, in the city's deadliest train crash in two decades.

Downtown L.A.'s Residential Revolution
A plan to build 1,500 rental apartments where six parking lots now sit is just the latest sign of the insatiable demand for housing gripping downtown Los Angeles.
Looking for Your Ideal Community? Try This New Census App
Dwellr is a new app from the Census Bureau that matches the top 25 U.S. cities and towns to your lifestyle preferences. And unlike other recent federal technology rollouts, this one seems to work pretty well.
New York Has it Both Ways on Natural Gas
Plentiful natural gas produced from neighboring Pa. makes it easier for New York City buildings to comply with a regulation to convert dirty heating oil burners to use cleaner fuels like natural gas while the state has a six-year fracking moratorium
New Visualization Tools Simulates Street Designs in 3D
Having a hard time selling a street re-design to skeptical stakeholders? Try “Unity3D Visualization”, a design simulation tool created by a Portland-based video game designer that lets viewers interact with proposed environments in three-dimensions.
A Look at the Remarkable Career of Laurie Olin
The tenth entry in the Cultural Landscape Foundation's award-winning Pioneers of American Landscape Design series features the renowned landscape architect Laurie Olin, recent winner of the National Medal of the Arts.
Transit Tax Break Under Threat
If Congress doesn't take action by the end of the year, a tax break that subsidizes the purchase of transit tickets at the same rate as workplace parking will be chopped nearly in half.
Canadian Home Affordability Declines
New research by the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) indicates that the percentage of average household income required to cover home payments has increased in the last two quarters as a result of both higher prices and interest rates.

Completion of D.C. Subway Expansion has Commuters Wondering: "Where Will I Park?"
When four new stops along Metro's Silver Line open soon in northern Virginia, a familiar sight will be missing: a sea of commuter parking. While smart growth advocates applaud the omission, some commuters and nearby residents are concerned.
VMT Fee "Inevitable", Claims Minnesota DOT Chief
MnDOT Transportation Commissioner Charles Zelle needs to fill a $12 billion gap over the next 20 years. The most common question he's asked: "Can it be done without raising fees or taxes?" He stopped by The Mankato Free Press for an interview.
Can Parking Apps Help Save the Mall?
Across the United States, brick-and-mortar stores are engaged in an existential war with online retailers. The newest weapons in the battle for customers are technologies that make the search for a parking spot a cinch.
Friday Funny: Join the Party Bike Revolution
Ever feel like the bar-on-wheels revolution is passing you by? Fear not, your opportunity to become a part of the party bike industry is here.
$1.6 Billion Shopping Center Planned for Riot-Scarred Section of London
Following successful developments in Stratford and Shepherd’s Bush, Westfield, joined by new partner Hammerson, will build another shopping centre in south London's riot affected town of Croydon.
10 Lessons From 'Un-Smart' Cities
Technology company Ericsson has published its 2013 list of the world's cities with the best information and communications technology (ICT) networks, but there are also good things happening in the cities with the least developed networks.
Cincinnati Streetcar Showdown Set for Monday
A critical City Council vote over the future of Cincinnati's streetcar is scheduled to take place on Monday, the day after Mayor-elect John Cranley's swearing-in.
Transit, Biking and Walking are Big Winners in Pennsylvania Gas Tax Increase
Gas tax increases can mean more road funding, period, particularly where constitutional restrictions prohibit spending gas tax revenues on other modes, as exists in Pa.; yet all modes will benefit from the 28-cent gas tax increase legislation.
An Edible Urban Winter Wonderland
Now that pesky Thanksgiving Day is nearly over, we can merrily move on to the true focus of the holiday season: Christmas. And what better way to kick off the march to December 25th than to visit the world's largest gingerbread village.
Confronting Our Culture of Overconsumption
Just in time for America's "annual season of excess", Lee Epstein looks at the well hidden consequences of our insatiable appetites.
Pagination
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Ada County Highway District
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
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.