Technology

Make Your Own Bike Lane

A new device called LightLane attaches to the back of your bike and projects a virtual bike lane behind you.

July 3, 2009 - H2OVisions

Ways to Retrofit the City

You don't have to tear a city down to make it green, according to this piece from the Boston Globe, which offers some emerging ideas.

June 29, 2009 - The Boston Globe

D.C. Bus Gets Real-Time Locator Application

A new web-based application that tracks the location of Washington D.C.'s Circulator bus has been released.DCist reports.

June 29, 2009 - DCist

Ownership of Bus Arrival Data Disputed

The story of how an iPhone application charting public transit arrival times led to as-yet-unanswered questions about who owns this public data -- or whether it can be owned at all.

June 29, 2009 - SF Appeal

City Styrofoam Bans Send Food Packaging Industry Scrambling

More than 30 cities and counties in California have passed some form of a ban on the use of polystyrene containers, and a new state law under consideration, AB 1358, would ban the use of polystyrene foam and non-recyclable food containers statewide.

June 29, 2009 - The Planning Report

Kunstler Says "Too Late" For High-Speed Rail

Returning from CNU, James Howard Kunstler reacts to a NY Times article about California's high-speed rail plans, and reflects on New Urbanism's shift away from traditional-neighborhood developments and into preparing for the 'long emergency'.

June 23, 2009 - Kunstler.com

Meter Maids Get New Tool

A new technology in use in Sacramento, CA snaps pics of cars' tires and compares them on the next sweep, increasing the number of time violators caught.

June 21, 2009 - The Seattle Times

The High Cost of Internet Access

The City of Sherwood, Oregon has invested $1.55 million in broadband fiberoptic cable, promising internet access for all and a system that would pay for itself. So far, it hasn't quite worked out that way.

June 18, 2009 - The Oregonian

Parkour Enthusiasts Rediscover The American City

While urbanists have long used the built environment as their playground, the French sport of parkour is connecting residents of America's cities to their surroundings in a new, if not extreme manner.

June 18, 2009 - Philadelphia Inquirer

Virtual Planning

An interview with Eric Gordon, who was part of a team that recently won a MacArthur grant for using Second Life as a community planning tool.

June 12, 2009 - Metropolis Magazine

L.A.'s Neighborhoods Defined and Mapped

After months of input on boundaries from readers, the Los Angeles Times has released its map of neighborhoods in the city.

June 4, 2009 - Los Angeles Times

LaHood To Learn From Spain On HSR

Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood is visiting Spain, hoping to glean some knowledge from the country's recent successes with high-speed rail.

June 1, 2009 - The New York Time - Energy & Environment

Smart Meters Will Save The World

Columnist Stephen Cunningham of the BBC believes that technology like smart meters in homes will provide the necessary reduction in CO2 to reduce global warming.

May 29, 2009 - BBC News

Global Challenges Require "Smarter Cities"

Chief Executive Officer of IBM Samuel Palmisano believes that "smarter cities" are key to a sustainable future, and so are the focus of three upcoming summits hosted by IBM.

May 25, 2009 - Huffington Post

Electric Cars are Coming!

We're sorry to be buzz kills. But we've heard this one before. Like in 1990. And 1910. Do the automakers have the juice this time?

May 25, 2009 - Salon.com

Making 'Smarter' Roads

States are hoping to use federal stimulus money to add technological advancements to their streets and highways to create "smart" roads.

May 23, 2009 - Stateline

Undergound Eyes Watch Water Use at Golf Courses

Underground water sensors that monitor and display moisture and soil conditions on computers are saving millions of gallons of water at golf courses.

May 22, 2009 - The New York Times

Obama to Announce Tougher Standards for Autos Tomorrow

The Obama administration has announced that it will issue new emissions and mileage requirements for cars and light trucks tomorrow to create a single national standard.

May 18, 2009 - The New York Times

Miami's New I-95 Express Lanes Enable Regional Bus Service

Regional bus service will commence for the first time between Miami and Broward County with the completion of the I-95 Express (HOT) Lanes. Recovery Act funds provided for new diesel-hybrid and articulated buses, GPS and shelters.

May 14, 2009 - Miami Herald

Electricity from Biomass More Efficient than Ethanol

A new study by researchers at the University of California, Merced suggests that using biomass to create electricity to power cars could be more efficient than using the same biomass to create ethanol to power cars.

May 11, 2009 - UC Merced

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.