Berkeley

Real-Time Multi-Modal Way-Finding—Displayed in the Public Realm

The TransitScreen service has been around since 2012, but it’s latest product, real-time displays of all modes of transportation, can display in the public realm, providing a whole new level of interaction with the city.

April 15, 2014 - Fast Co. Design

Image of an electric bike

What do you Get when you Cross "Car Share" with "Bike Share"?

Electric Bike Share! The new program is set to launch in famously hilly San Francisco and across the bay in Berkeley next spring. Unlike the region's bike share which just launched August 29, it will be administered by the non-profit City Car Share.

September 3, 2013 - The Daily Californian

'High-End' Berkeley Micro-Apartment Proposal Receives Chilly Reception

A five-story, 60 ft. building proposal in Berkeley, Calif. that would house 70 'high end' micro-apartments ranging from 307 to 344 sq. ft. was presented to the city's Zoning Adjustment Board, but commissioners and neighbors were not impressed.

August 29, 2013 - Berkeleyside

The Great 'What If': Cities Engage the Unbuilt

A spirit of reflection seems to be in the air across America this summer. Exhibitions in Chicago, the Bay Area, and Los Angeles catalog major projects that were never built and allow visitors to imagine what might have been.

August 17, 2013 - The Architect's Newspaper Blog

Progressive Incoherence in 'Radical' Berkeley

Everybody's a progressive in Berkeley, right? As recent struggles over land use make clear, it depends on what you mean by "progressive."

August 5, 2013 - Dissent

Telepgraph Avenue from UC Berkeley Campus 1981

The Swan Song of Telegraph Avenue?

Soumya Karlamangla profiles a once-thriving hippie mecca, hit by hard times and largely abandoned, even by the nearby student population. Is it down for the count?

November 21, 2012 - SF Gate

Historic U.S. Postal Buildings Threatened with Sale and Demolition

The U.S. Postal Service is selling 78 post office buildings, including the National Register listed Berkeley California Post Office building. 4,400 nationwide may be sold with many demolished. What can you do to save your favorite post office?

November 16, 2012 - UrbDeZine.com

Falsified Test Results Call Into Question the Safety of California's Roads and Bridges

Charles Piller reports on the investigation into suspect safety test results for roads and bridges across CA, including the new Bay Bridge, revealing a string of troubling data for which officials and critics are holding Caltrans accountable.

August 8, 2012 - The Sacramento Bee

A Prelude to More Equal Road Rights for Bikers?

The bicycle rights movement is on the rise as two new California laws give bike riders more equality on the road, reports Eric Jaffe.

March 16, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

Berkley Dumpster House Provides Basic Essentials and Some Bling

Berkley, California man Gregory Kloehn has taken the dumpster reuse culture to a whole other level with his dumpster house, writes Zak Stone for GOOD.

September 7, 2011 - GOOD Magazine

The Evolving Attitude of Environmentalists

Passage of a bill in Berkeley that allows taller buildings to be built in the city's downtown illustrates changing attitudes about development amongst environmentalists.

November 17, 2010 - San Francisco Chronicle

Environmentalists Torn Over Smart Growth

A Berkeley, CA growth initiative revealed the stresses that smart growth play on grassroots environmental organizations like the Sierra Club where members determine positions.

November 10, 2010 - The New York Times/Bay Citizen

FRIDAY FUNNY: NIMBY Robot Prepares to Save Berkeley

A Berkeleyan warms up his NIMBY robot to face the planning commission, in this xtranormal animation from Joshua Abrams of www.planningcollaborative.com. The robot is programmed for Berkeley, but he could be easily reprogrammed for other cities.

October 22, 2010 - YouTube

Berkeley's BART Tunnel Should Be Model For Peninsula Rail Opponents

San Mateo County, hotbed of opposition to high speed rail, including numerous lawsuits, might be better served by following the 1960s Berkeley example in passing a bond to tunnel the train through the impacted cities, suggests local editor.

August 12, 2010 - San Mateo Daily Journal

Underground Berkeley Bike Station Surfaces

...and expands almost nine-fold to be the nation's second largest. While not as proximate to the BART gates as the existing ten-year-old, 400 sq. ft station, it will be only be half a block away.

June 18, 2010 - Contra Costa Times

Bay Area Rediscovers the Creeks Under The Streets

A new proposal in Berkeley to daylight a portion of Strawberry Creek is the latest in a lineage of small interventions to bring buried portions of the urban watershed to the surface.

April 10, 2010 - Streetsblog San Francisco

A Green Mega Mansion?

Approved plans for a 10,000 square foot mansion in Berkeley, California have been classified "green" by the city's environmental rating system. Neighbors and environmentalists, however, say the house is hardly an environmental model.

March 12, 2010 - The New York Times

Vision Survives Public Process in Berkeley

John King is surprised to find that a bold plan for a public space has somehow squeaked through the Berkeley, CA planning process in an area between BART and campus.

February 9, 2010 - The San Francisco Chronicle

Berkeley's New Plan May Face Voter Approval

After a 7-2 approval by the City Council, Berkeley's new zoning plan may face a public vote. A signature drive by the two dissenting council members has gathered enough signatures to force the vote and is in the validation process.

September 2, 2009 - The Architect's Newspaper

Getting Solar Power Rolling

This profile from Miller-McCune looks at a Berkeley, California official who made use of a 100-year old funding mechanism to take the city solar.

June 25, 2009 - Miller-McCune

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.

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.