The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Aerial view of busy NYC crosswalk with pedestrians and blurred traffic.

NYC Pedestrian Deaths Rose in 2024

The city’s Vision Zero efforts seem to have stalled.

January 5 - The New York Times

Graphic illustrating street with various lanes designed in Streetmix.

Reimagining Your Street

How to use free online tools to redesign your local streetscape.

January 3 - Urbanism Speakeasy via Substack

Close-up of white and black NO CAMPING sign on black iron fence.

Nevada Cities Pass Punitive Anti-Homeless Laws

State legislators rejected a proposed bill that would have enshrined a “Homeless Person’s Bill of Rights” in state law.

January 3 - Nevada Current

Large brutalist building and skyscrapers viewed from middle of wide street in downtown Houston, Texas.

Research Links Urban Design and Human Happiness

An emerging field of ‘neuroarchitectural’ research is revealing how building facades and urban design impact the human brain and body.

January 3 - Wired

Aerial view of Erie, Pennsylvania.

Opinion: Congress Should Expand the Opportunity Zone Program

The federal economic development program has brought over $100 billion in private investment to revitalize struggling communities.

January 3 - Governing


Close-up of CNC machine 3D printing a concrete house wall.

Oklahoma Lawmaker Looks to 3D Printing to Create Affordable Housing

Over a dozen U.S. states already permit 3D-printed homes, which can cost less and use fewer resources than conventional homes.

January 2 - Oklahoma Voice

Keeper of the Plains Sculpture/Bridge over Arkansas River, Wichita Kansas.

Wichita 2024 Bike Plan Calls for 80 Miles of New Bike Lanes

The city’s draft bike plan aims to connect more of its existing bike lanes, which often end abruptly.

January 2 - The Wichita Eagle


Oil well in Bakersfield, California.

Certified Carbon Credits for Orphan Well Remediation

The Well Done Foundation has launched 778,000 certified carbon credits to fund the plugging of orphaned oil and gas wells, reducing methane emissions while offering businesses and individuals a way to offset their carbon footprints.

January 2 - PR Newswire

Woman walking two small children across crosswalk.

How Urban Design Can Benefit Parents and Kids

Designing thoughtful, child-friendly public spaces can ease the burdens of modern parenting and offer safe spaces for children to learn self-reliance and resilience.

January 2 - Bloomberg CityLab

Large Walmart store with empty parking lot.

BLOG POST

How Smaller Supermarkets Could Transform American Communities

Bigger is not always better.

January 2 - Marcelo Remond

Close-up of person riding green and white Lime e-scooter.

NYC E-Scooter Program Threatened Despite High Ridership

Rental scooters in Queens and the Bronx provided close to two million trips in 2024, with many trips starting or ending near transit. Some city officials want to remove them.

January 2 - StreetsBlog NYC

Child looking up at Christmas lights in city at night.

BLOG POST

December Must-Reads: Top 10 Articles From Last Month

Making room for more housing, fixing broken sidewalks, and our favorite books of the year.

January 2 - Diana Ionescu

Close-up of yellow pedestrian crossing signal button with text "Push button for accessible signal" and diagram of person holding cane, indicating blindness.

Chicago Made Hundreds of Accessibility Upgrades in 2024

The city has improved over 200 bus stops and 400 of its nearly 3,000 intersections to make them safer for people with disabilities.

January 1 - City of Chicago

Large mature oak trees with sun filtering through.

Oak Survival in the Great Lakes: Adapting to a Changing World

Climate change is endangering oaks in the Great Lakes region by increasing their vulnerability to pests, diseases, and extreme weather, threatening their vital ecological role.

January 1 - Planet Detroit

Large group of cyclists on city street.

Bike Resolutions for the New Year

A list of ways people can enhance their biking experience, appreciate the joy of cycling, and support safer bike infrastructure.

January 1 - Momentum Magazine

Pedestrians in a busy city intersection with a cirty bus passing behind them.

FEATURE

Save Lives on Our Roads Using the Safe System Approach

Prioritizing safety and committing to the SSA framework can make a big impact in the effort to reduce traffic fatalities.

January 1 - Beth Wemple

Oil well pumpjack sillhouetted against a bright pink sunset sky.

Upcoming Conference Spotlights California's Orphan Wells

The 2025 Orphan & Idle Wells California Conference will address the environmental, economic, and public health challenges of abandoned oil and gas wells, focusing on remediation strategies, regulatory frameworks, and community-centered solutions.

December 31 - Energy Conference Network

White Waymo self-driving car on street in San Francisco, California.

Waymo Robotaxis Often Fail to Stop for Pedestrians

One journalist recorded more than a dozen instances of Waymo autonomous cars speeding by when he tried to cross the street.

December 31 - The Washington Post

Aerial view of wildfire damage in Lahaina, Maui.

$2.1 Billion Secured for Maui Wildfire Recovery and Resilience

Congress has approved federal funding to support Maui’s wildfire recovery, including housing, economic development, and infrastructure improvements while fostering long-term community resilience and preparedness.

December 31 - Hawaii Public Radio

Spikes on building designed to prevent people from sitting.

One Year Into Brazil’s ‘Hostile Architecture’ Ban

A recent law prohibits ‘defensive’ architecture designed to keep people away from buildings or public spaces.

December 31 - Next City

Post News

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.

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.