Technology

Neighbors

Nextdoor Looking to Expands its Influence on Local Politics

A decade into its history, the hyperlocal social media site Nextdoor is looking for feedback and hoping to expand its reach before the 2018 and 2020 elections.

April 11, 2017 - Politico

Pacific Northwest

A New Earthquake Warning System for the Pacific Northwest

Oregon and Washington are implementing sensors that can detect and report an earthquake to communities with as much as a minute or two of warning.

April 11, 2017 - KUOW

BART Train

Can Public Transit Run on Solar Power?

California's Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) has recently been exploring ways to power its system using renewable energy sources, but is it really possible to power one of the state's "top 10 power consumers" with alternative energy?

April 11, 2017 - Doggerel

Pokemon

A Few Ideas for Planning and Governance in the Digital Age

The Guardian samples prominent examples of digital natives bringing new expectations for the use of technology to the public sector.

April 11, 2017 - The Guardian

Los Angeles City Hall

Sent A Strong Message, Los Angeles Leaders Respond With Planning Reforms

In the aftermath of the Measure S vote, members of the Los Angeles City Council have responded by pushing for expediting community plan updates and finding a sustainable source of funding for updating the region's plans.

April 4, 2017 - The Planning Report

Gas and Bikes

Gov. Jerry Brown and State Democratic Leaders Agree on Gas Tax Deal

Revised transportation funding legislation is needed to meet California's ballooning infrastructure deficit, but it needs a supermajority to pass, and it contains a fatal flaw for clean air activists.

April 3, 2017 - Streetsblog California

East Palo Alto

Can Silicon Valley Work for Bikes?

America's tech capital might be great at innovation, but innovation in bike transportation hasn't been a priority. Perhaps that's starting to change.

April 3, 2017 - Next City

man looking at computer screen

The Good and the Bad of Planning Websites

Students review municipal planning department websites in cities with more than 50,000 people to identify strengths and weaknesses. This post shares examples of the use of websites for information sharing and engagement.

April 3, 2017 - Jennifer Evans-Cowley

Downtown Denver

Study: Uber and Lyft Clog Roads, Steal Transit Riders

The findings of a recent study reveals the effects of transportation network companies to be the enemy of all forms of alternative transportation—far from the urban savior some hope they'll be.

March 31, 2017 - Streetsblog Denver

Fresno State

FresYes: How Fresno Fueled and Funded a Comeback

Recently termed-out Mayor Ashley Swearengin sits down for an exclusive interview about how she planned for high speed rail investments, championed sustainable water management, and took steps to rebuild the local economy.

March 30, 2017 - The Planning Report

Mobile Phones

Infrastructure for Distracted Pedestrians: Streetlights in the Ground

Responses to the new pedestrian infrastructure in Bodegraven are likely to say these crosswalk signals in the ground are victim-blaming or Millennial-coddling.

March 30, 2017 - World Economic Forum

Lyft

Can Rideshare Catch On Where It's Easy to Drive?

In medium-sized cities and suburban areas, it's simply easier to drive your own car in most cases. But shared rides might still have a chance to catch on.

March 24, 2017 - Mobility Lab

Old Timey Ticky Tacky

Could Algorithms Best Architects in Designing Variety for the Suburbs?

What if an algorithm could meet the needs of the economic system driving suburban housing development while also designing more diverse building types? One architect has already experimented with this provocative thought experiment.

March 23, 2017 - Co.Design

Autonomous Vehicle

Artist Creates 'Trap' For Self-Driving Cars

As an act of resistance, artist James Bridle used salt to draw a set of lines on a road that would, in theory, hold an autonomous vehicle in place.

March 22, 2017 - Vice Creators

Tappan Zee Bridge

A Better Way to Compare Cities

An online tool released three weeks ago by the Chicago Federal Reserve allows a more nuanced comparison between peer cities.

March 21, 2017 - Forbes

Austin Cycle

SXSW Attendees Troubled by Austin's Lack of Uber

What happens when SXSW stops being polite, and starts getting real?

March 20, 2017 - Next City

Airbnb

Airbnb Boosts Outreach to Landlords

What drivers are to rideshare companies, landlords are to Airbnb. In response to complaints, the company is upping outreach to its hosts.

March 18, 2017 - The Mercury News

AI, Machine Learning Coming to the Property Management Business

A new era of rental property management technology will have effects on both the landlord and the tenant side of the equation.

March 15, 2017 - Forbes

Red Light Camera

Ann Arbor's Futuristic Traffic Software

The networked sensors and signals in Ann Arbor give the city a coordinated way to respond to traffic.

March 13, 2017 - Wired

Queen-Spadina

The Wisdom of Engaging Nervous Cyclists

It was clear to the City of Toronto that engaging less confident cyclists that make up 60% of the population, yet seldom come to community meetings, might be the key to dramatic mode shifts in the city. Here's how it happened.

March 13, 2017 - Dave Biggs

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.