Cyclist wins a "race" across Philadelphia, beating a car and city transit in fight through morning traffic.
"Sparked by national Bike-to-Work Week, the Bicycle Coalition for Greater Philadelphia held its fourth annual 'Commuter Race' across the heart of Philadelphia during the morning rush hour."
"The contestants began at 45th and Spruce Streets, in West Philadelphia, at 8 a.m. with the goal of being first to the finish line at the Municipal Services Building, in the heart of Center City."
"While the bicyclists knew that their guy would win, his finish time - 10 minutes, 47 seconds - was 4 minutes better than they expected. Finishing second, about 10 minutes behind, was a driver from Philly CarShare. The bus ride took almost 40 minutes."
"Coalition member Alex Doty said the cyclists always win races like this -- and get in some exercise -- and cities win through the reduction of pollution and traffic."
"'When I bicycle commute, it changes a part of the day that is usually one of tedium and turns it into something that is joyful,' Doty said. 'I miss it when I don't do it. I don't think many other people miss their commutes.'"
FULL STORY: Bicyclist beats motorist and straphanger in race to City Hall
How Commutes Influence Happiness, Health
More evidence is piling up that commuting by anything but private automobile can increase happiness, social capital, and health.
Why I Gave Up the Bus...For a Bike
In August, I moved into a high density apartment complex just 1.5 miles from my office and a five minute walk to a bus stop. One of the central advantages of the building's location was its access to alternative transportation modes. While I could park my car for "free" (the real cost is built into the lease), I was interested in keeping it parked as much as possible. Now, after nearly three months of experimentation, I'm ready to give up the bus, and the reasons are central to understanding the future of transit in the US.
Philadelphia Leads the Largest Cities in America for Bicycle Mode Share
A new report from The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia shows that Philadelphia's bicycle mode share is more than double that of Chicago's (the big city with the second-greatest share).
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.
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.
Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.
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.
Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
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 Albany
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