Traffic Calming

Downtown Houston pedestrians

Houston's Pedestrian Death Problem, Explained

The city's roadways were built to prioritize fast-moving traffic, not safety. With a new Vision Zero plan, that could change.

August 5, 2021 - Houston Chronicle

Pennsylvania

Philadelphia Street Mural Aims to Slow Cars and Improve Pedestrian Safety

Part of a larger safety and beautification plan, the mural is designed to slow down drivers and bring a 'sense of hope' to the neighborhood.

August 3, 2021 - Philadelphia Inquirer

Adams Morgan pedestrian zone during COVID-19 pandemic

The Slow Streets Reckoning

Slow streets programs provided a quick short-term solution and paved the way for some permanent street closures and realignments. Now, these programs are getting a second look as community groups react to the changes.

January 19, 2021 - Bloomberg CityLab

Tin Pan Alley in London

Traffic Reductions in Outer London's 'Mini-Hollands' Curtail Vehicle Ownership

An analysis of areas designated as "low traffic neighborhoods" shows a decrease in vehicle ownership rates, a promising sign for the traffic-choked metropolis.

December 17, 2020 - Findings

'Vision Zero 2.0' Launched When Vision Zero 1.0 Didn't Save Any Lives

Toronto has gone back to the drawing board for more effective strategies and tactics for reducing traffic fatalities after its first attempt failed to produce any measurable results.

July 18, 2019 - The Star

Traffic Safety

When it Comes to Road Diets, Evidence Doesn't Matter

Drivers are a powerful enough lobby to overcome all evidence of the need to redesign streets for safety. Examples from Maryland and Virginia provide the latest case studies in Vision Zero futility.

June 25, 2019 - Greater Greater Washington

Queens Boulevard

The Negligence Law Revolution That Wasn't

In 2017, New York's highest court held that cities could be held liable for failure to adopt traffic calming policies. Why hasn't this ruling led to safer streets?

March 3, 2019 - Michael Lewyn

Street Makeover On the Way in Portland

The work of the Portland Bureau of Transportation on NE Tillamook Street is a perfect example of how a little bit of money can go a long way for traffic safety.

March 2, 2019 - Bike Portland

Historic Produce Terminal Strip District

Major Street Redesign Coming to Pittsburgh's Historic Strip District

Five blocks in Pittsburgh's Historic Produce Terminal Strip District will gain wider sidewalks, public spaces, and traffic calming according to a recently released final design concept.

February 20, 2019 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Oslo Street

What Happens When a Downtown Becomes Nearly Car-Free?

"Parking spots are now bike lanes, transit is fast and easy, and the streets (and local businesses) are full of people."

January 28, 2019 - Fast Company

Opinion: Make Austin's Accidental Scooter Lane Permanent

Austin scooter traffic is rising, so why not make room for them?

October 2, 2018 - Austin On Your Feet

Ohio

Tactical Urbanism Comes to Euclid, Ohio

Volunteers in Cleveland suburb, Euclid, undertook a traffic calming and beautification project on one of the city's downtown streets.

September 26, 2018 - Cleveland Plain Dealer

Protected Bike Lane

The Vancouver Model of Traffic Safety Includes Trees

Vancouver combined environmental goals and traffic safety goals.

August 10, 2018 - Sightline Institute

Residential Traffic Calming Project Hits Roadblocks in D.C.

Concerns about congestion or parking aren't the only obstacles to street reconfiguration projects intended to improve traffic safety.

May 30, 2018 - Greater Greater Washington

Bike Lane in Philadelphia

Op-Ed: Philadelphia City Council Shouldn't Be Able to Block Bike Lanes

The Philadelphia Inquirer Editorial Board pushes against a proposed bill that increases City Council oversight of new bike lanes. Traffic calming, the Inquirer argues, requires a citywide approach.

March 21, 2018 - The Philadelphia Inquirer - Philly.com

Highway Speed

California Bill Sets Its Sights on Lower Speed Limits

A proposed bill in the California State Assembly would make it easier for local jurisdictions to set lower speed limits, sidestepping the controversial 85th percentile rule.

March 6, 2018 - Streetsblog California

University of Pittsburgh

University of Pittsburgh Settles for Pedestrian Improvements on Adjacent Street

The university wanted to limit a section of Bigelow Boulevard to pedestrians, but the city pushed for a compromise: better crosswalks and traffic calming features. Now the challenge is finding the funds.

November 28, 2017 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Vancouver, British Columbia

Federal Highway Administration Bureaucrat Says Rainbow Crosswalks Are a Liability

An administrator for the Kentucky division of the Federal Highway Administration informed the city of Lexington that its rainbow crosswalk does not meet federal safety standards.

November 22, 2017 - Lexington Herald Leader

Marvin Braude Bike Path

Los Angeles Councilmember Chooses the Side of Traffic Safety

Los Angeles Councilmember Mike Bonin sent a clear message to commuters upset about traffic calming projects in his district: "We don’t have to lose one more precious life."

June 23, 2017 - Los Angeles Council District 11

Demonstration Project

Resources for Creating a Pop-Up Traffic Calming Demonstration

A how-to guide for concerned citizens and tactical urbanists interested in slowing down traffic in their community.

April 12, 2017 - Strong Towns

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.