Data

How (and Why) to Start a Local Data Intermediary
A new guide helps communities set up groups that can help analyze their neighborhood data and put it to good use.

Asking the Right Questions About Equity In Bikeshare
The way we measure the success of bikeshare systems could be giving us the wrong idea about their impacts, and about the transportation needs of low-income areas.

DataUSA: An Intuitive Tool for Public Data
A collaboration between Deloitte, Datawheel, and MIT has produced an intuitive aesthetically-pleasing gathering point for public data in the United States. Specific locations and industries boast easy-to-read profiles.

Why Do People Drive When They Don't Want To?
City Observatory digs into the history of a Chicago suburb to answer the question: "Why don't people who say they'd like to take transit actually do it?"
Sidewalk Labs Launches Urban Technology Blog
Alphabet's Sidewalk Labs announced the launch of Sidewalk Talk — a blog and forum for urbanists and technologists to converse and collaborate.
Making Sense of Median Rent Statistics
Amid the ubiquitous, and inconsistent, reportage on rising rents and housing prices, a guide from City Observatory helps point readers toward the most accurate numbers.

U.S. DOT Making a National Transit Map
Transportation Secretary Antony Foxx called on local transit agencies earlier this month to share data to be used in building a comprehensive map of the nation's transit lines.

Los Angeles Debuts Open Data Visualization Tool
Containing more than 500 open datasets, GeoHub lets users access the wealth of data Los Angeles makes available. The tool is also intended to help employees from different city departments work together.
The Social Progress Index and the Long History of Searching for the 'Social'
We would do well to withhold our praise of another seemingly new composite index such as the Social Progress Index.

Meow We're Talking: Ranking Cities by Number of Cat Ladies
Nielsen Scarborough released new market data this week that revealed the cities with the highest percentage of single women who live along with at least one cat.
How the Census Will Improve Race and Ethnicity Data for 2020
At the halfway point in the ten-year Census window, the Census Bureau undertakes research into how to improve its data collection for questions of race and ethnicity.
Housing Market Recovery Still Lagging for Minority Borrowers
The recovery from the housing crisis of the Great Recession has proven uneven in more ways than one. One not insignificant feature: less lending to minority homebuyers.
Debunking the Data Behind Seattle's 'Explosion of Demolitions'
According to an article by The Urbanist, some Seattle publications might have been caught telling people what they want to hear, rather than offering clear perspective on the building trends of the city.
'ManyCities' Uses Mobile Phone Data to Visualize Human Activity
A new online visualization tool makes it easier to read and understand data about mobile phone usage in four cities around the world, including Los Angeles and New York.

Mapping the Country's 38 Million Epic Commutes
The Wonkblog team puts new American Community Survey data to good use.

A Central Hub for Open Data
Designed by researchers at the University of Chicago, the Plenario platform gathers all available open data for a specific area. Then it presents the data in an easy-to-use format.
Bay Area Leads the Nation in Reducing Solo Commuters
According to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey on commuting to work, one subregion in the Bay Area can claim accolades for having achieved the largest drop in solo-commuting from 2006, scoring the third lowest drive-alone rate in 2013.

U.S. Census Releases 2013 Commute Data Goodies
The U.S. Census has released data from 2013 that offer planners the most up-to-date data available about where Americans work and how they commute.
The Congestion Impacts of Transportation Network Companies Are Still Unclear
There are two schools of though t when it comes to whether Uber and other companies like it are making traffic better or worse. A new study by new York City will endeavor to clear the air.

Bikes Have the Attention of the Ford Motor Company
The age-old conflict between cars and bikes finally has the attention of one of the giants. Ford's Info Cycle project mounts sensors on street bikes to map out how multi-modal city travelers move around.
Pagination
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