A survey of the quickly broadening reach of data about the movement of traffic reveals the next step necessary to achieve congestion nirvana: unfettered access to private cell phone data.
"The proliferation of granular data on automobile movement, drawn from smartphones, cab companies, sensors and cameras, is sharpening our sense of how cars travel through cities," according to a new post by Henry Grabar for Next City.
The article proceeds to whiz through a survey of the groundbreaking troves of data that have emerged in recent years, citing specific examples and explaining in common sense terms how the new data is changing the thinking of researchers, businesses, and government.
But even that data is only a percentage of the benefits available if individual cellphones are fully enabled to share data about traffic and mobility, according to Grabar. Grabar compares cellphones to taxi or municipal bus data in making this point: "Using individual cellphones would have a far greater impact. AirSage, which has exclusive rights to location data from two major U.S. wireless carriers, offers real-time, geographic information on one-third of Americans."
The catch, according to Grabar, is for Americans to willingly give up private data on their whereabouts.
FULL STORY: Would You Share Private Data for the Good of City Planning?
Failing to Account for Induced Traffic, Even When the Public Demands It
Induced traffic occurs when new highway capacity speeds up traffic, allowing travelers to drive further, increasing sprawl. A review of major highway project plans finds that most fail to accurately account for induced travel effects.
How Not to Measure Traffic Congestion, Redux
The 2015 Inrix Traffic Scorecard provides less useful information about traffic problems than previous editions, as discussed in this City Observatory Commentary.
Multiple Lawsuits Aim to Save NYC Congestion Pricing
Environmental and transit advocacy groups, along with the MTA, are suing USDOT over its recent crusade to end the cordon pricing program.
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