Although the skateboard's been around for a while, recent modifications to traditional designs are targeting skateboards for an older, wealthier demographic.
Conor Dougherty reports on the newest trend in multi-modal commuting: skateboards. "Here in Silicon Valley, inventors are tinkering with a revolutionary transportation technology. It's called a skateboard," reports Dougherty with tongue—at least a little bit—in cheek.
"Witness a sampling of new electric skateboards and skateboard-like contraptions: There's the Boosted board, whose feisty motor can rocket up hills. Also the ZBoard, which is slower and wider but has big fat wheels to plow over pebbles and debris. Then there are oddballs like the Onewheel, a "self-balancing electric skateboard" that looks like a teeter-totter, works like a Segway and isn't really a skateboard."
But the new era of skateboarding isn't designed for your typical teen in a Ramones t-shirt: "None of this stuff is aimed at what you might call real skateboarders. Instead it is for the growing number of urban professionals who don't want to drive to work."
FULL STORY: No Longer for Punks, Skateboards Cater to Yuppie Commuters
Will Millennials Remake Suburbs in Their Image?
The "hipsterification" of cities is a well-known phenomenon. But as the millennial generation ages and settles down, will they import that same cultural ethos to locations more suburban?
What Millennials Want: A Multi-Modal City
A recent study finds evidence of an overwhelming desire by Millennials to live multi-modal, car-lite lifestyles. They're even prepared to move to find what they want.
Hipsters Flee as Invasion of the Baby Boomers Picks Up Speed
In the hip neighborhoods of Brooklyn, Seattle, and Denver, a silver tsunami is joining, and often forcing out, tattooed and mustachioed Millennials, as retiring Baby Boomers increasingly embrace urban living.
Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”
Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.
Why Should We Subsidize Public Transportation?
Many public transit agencies face financial stress due to rising costs, declining fare revenue, and declining subsidies. Transit advocates must provide a strong business case for increasing public transit funding.
Paris Bike Boom Leads to Steep Drop in Air Pollution
The French city’s air quality has improved dramatically in the past 20 years, coinciding with a growth in cycling.
Why Housing Costs More to Build in California Than in Texas
Hard costs like labor and materials combined with ‘soft’ costs such as permitting make building in the San Francisco Bay Area almost three times as costly as in Texas cities.
San Diego County Sees a Rise in Urban Coyotes
San Diego County experiences a rise in urban coyotes, as sightings become prevalent throughout its urban neighbourhoods and surrounding areas.
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.
Smith Gee Studio
Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization
City of Santa Clarita
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