Elevators

Close-up of New York City subway sign for Times Square 42nd St Station with colored dots indicating various train lines.

Report: NYC Transit Falling Behind on Accessibility

The city is lagging on meeting its pledge to improve accessibility across the system.

November 8, 2023 - BK Reader

Accessible elevator sign with arrow on a New York City subway platform

New York Must Make Almost All Subway Stations Accessible by 2055, Judge Rules

Another recent ruling is forcing the agency to accelerate its efforts to make all New York subway stations accessible to people with disabilities and mobility issues.

April 11, 2023 - The City

Accessible elevator sign with arrow on a New York City subway platform

MTA Uses Density Bonuses to Improve Accessibility

Under a new zoning law, New York City developers can receive density bonuses for building elevators and other accessibility upgrades for the city’s subway system.

August 15, 2022 - Queens Eagle

Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority

Did the CDC Toll the Death Knell for Public Transit?

It's official—the nation's leading public health agency would prefer that Americans drive alone to work to reduce exposure to the coronavirus. New CDC guidance call for government to subsidize drive-alone and single ride-share commutes.

June 2, 2020 - The New York Times

Observatory Elevator

Elevators Are Not the Villain

Even some defenders of urbanism fear buildings that are tall enough for elevators. This fear does not seem to be supported by New York infection data.

May 11, 2020 - Michael Lewyn

Los Angeles BRT

'The Future of Transportation Is Not About Inventions. It’s About Choices.'

While much attention is focused on new technologies, the potential of existing transportation modes has never been fully realized.

November 7, 2019 - Slate

New York Subway Stairs

$5.5 Billion Plan for More Elevators in the N.Y.C. Subway

The city’s subway system is lagging in station accessibility, but the MTA has a plan to add elevators to 70 stations.

October 10, 2019 - The New York Times

Elevator

Waiting for a Greener Elevator

Moving an 80,000-pound metal box means using energy, and elevators can account for 2-10% of a buildings energy use.

May 3, 2018 - Smithsonian Magazine

Wheelchair Accessible

New York MTA Will Spend $600 Million on Disabled Access Improvements

New York's Transit system has long lacked facilities to allow wheelchair users access to many of their stations.

May 3, 2018 - Crain's New York Business

Elevator

Behind Some of History's Most Powerful Urban Innovations

A series of pieces from Sidewalk Labs examines the history and context of vital urban "innovations." So far, elevators, sewers, and traffic signals have been covered.

September 14, 2017 - Sidewalk Talk

San Francisco

Houston and San Francisco: Urban Development Patterns Gone Awry

With the media rightfully pointing to Houston's sprawling urban development patterns that exacerbated the epic flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey, Paul Krugman also finds fault with cities where urban development is too tightly regulated.

September 5, 2017 - The New York Times - Opinion

Stunning Views of New York Offered from North America's Tallest Observatory

One World Trade Center's long-awaited observatory opened May 29. Located on floors 100, 101 and 102 of the tower, the 47-second elevator trip is as remarkable as the sites from the 1,250 foot high observatory.

June 1, 2015 - The Telegraph U.K.

Friday Funny: Pee Odor in Transit Elevator Got You Down?

This abbreviation may be coming to other transit elevators if it proves its snuff in Atlanta: UDD, short for Urine Detection Device. The sensors and the camera will force offenders to find appropriate places to relieve themselves, or risk arrest.

December 27, 2013 - WSB-TV - Atlanta

Can Elevator Innovation Keep Up With Developers' Mile High Ambitions?

Elevator technology developed in the 19th century made the advent of skyscrapers possible. Now that skyscraper construction is rebounding after the recession, can vertical transport systems keep up with developers' and designers' lofty visions?

January 4, 2013 - Bloomberg

Might High-Rises Become Uninhabitable?

Steve Mouzon argues that trillions being spent world-wide on skyscrapers could be lost as energy costs rise.

May 21, 2012 - The Original Green Blog

A Shopping Merry-Go-Round

Modern Mechanics Magazine featured a strange idea for circulating people throughout a shopping mall called the "Revolator" that moved people up and around in glass boxes so they could see into stores.

June 21, 2011 - Modern Mechanix

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.

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