Government / Politics

Data and Maps Aiding Police

Geomapping data is helping police in cities address problem areas, improve unsafe intersections and improve overall efficiency.

May 20, 2011 - Governing

Public Space Key in Arab Unrest

At the center of ongoing protests and uproar in the Middle East, iconic and historical public spaces hold political clout.

May 20, 2011 - Time Magazine

Rule to Allow More Street Furniture in Mumbai

Developers in Mumbai will be allowed to build street furniture and sell advertising space on it as part of their projects, in accordance with a new law in the city.

May 20, 2011 - NDTV

London Weighs Transportation Concerns as Olympics Loom

Transportation is increasingly seen as a major concern as London prepares to host the 2012 Summer Olympics. As crowds fill the city, many wonder whether it will be able to handle the load and keep everyone moving.

May 19, 2011 - The Guardian

Arena Promises Turn to Burdens for Small Cities

Construction of a multi-use event arena in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, was supposed to be a boon for the city. But when events dried up, costs mounted and a big building became a big mistake.

May 19, 2011 - The New York Times

While Others Struggle, L.A. County Moves On Transportation Projects

While cities throughout California and the rest of the nation struggle to afford even their most basic services, L.A. County's moving ahead with more than $4 billion in transportation projects.

May 19, 2011 - Los Angeles Times

U.S. Lags Globally in Transportation, Infrastructure Investment

The U.S. is falling behind other nations in keeping up its transportation systems and infrastructure, according to a new report from the Urban Land Institute.

May 18, 2011 - The Washington Post

Bikes to Get Buck in New Portland Budget

Portland Mayor Sam Adams has pledged to increase the amount of money dedicated to bicycle planning and bicycle infrastructure from 4% to 17% in the city's next budget.

May 18, 2011 - The Oregonian

Tight Timeline A Challenge for Doha Metro

Doha wants to have a fully functioning metro rail system in place by the time Qatar hosts the 2022 World Cup, but the tight deadline of the event has some officials worried the system won't be complete in time.

May 18, 2011 - Gulf Times

Real Estate of the Rich and Tyrannical

With Bin Laden's Abbotabad hideaway still in the news, Rob Bear takes us on a tour of despot's palaces and hideaways.

May 17, 2011 - Curbed LA

An Urban Protest Movement Arises in Beirut

A new anti-sectarian political movement has emerged in Lebanon challenging the government. It is mimicking the successful urban strategies of ongoing Arab revolutions, like the occupation of public spaces.

May 17, 2011 - Mashallah News

To Beat The Backlash, Expand The Bike Network, Say Planners

Bike lanes have become one of the most controversial topics in all of New York City. For cycling to take hold, the city needs to make sure all groups have equal access to cycling, say a team of Hunter College grad students.

May 17, 2011 - Streetsblog

Emergency Avenue

Your streets could be killing you -- or at least making it harder for emergency services to reach you in times of need.

May 17, 2011 - Medill National Security Zone

Investigation Uncovers String of HUD Failures

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has supported roughly 700 affordable housing projects around the country that have never been completed, some stalling out for over a decade.

May 16, 2011 - The Infrastructurist

Gandhinagar Endangered: A Capital's Plan Dismantled

Prakash M Apte, a planner in India, brings us this in-depth and fascinating look at the history of town planning in Gandhinagar, which was developed with an "egalitarian ethos," says Apte, but now it is at risk of becoming "just another suburb."

May 16, 2011 - Prakash M Apte

Making Good Design a National Priority

A growing number of nations are instituting design standards and architecture policies to help make good design a part of the national strategy.

May 16, 2011 - Architect

Architect/Planner-Turned-Councilman Offers Thoughts on City's Future

An architect takes a seat on the Wet Hollywood City Council, and offers his thoughts on density and parking in the city and where things went wrong.

May 16, 2011 - Architect

The Spectre of Death and Speeding

New speed limit signs will alert drivers that they are going to fast by showing them an image of a skeleton -- an image intended to warn drivers that their speeding could kill.

May 16, 2011 - Transportation Nation

Houston Roadway Would Fuel Growth, Harm Migratory Birds

Plans to build a parkway around Houston will help ease traffic and spur growth in the region, but it will also run right through a key stopover point for millions of migrating birds.

May 15, 2011 - Next American City

Overflow Plant Aims to Reduce Sewage Contamination

A new sewage plant has opened in New York that hopes to reduce the amount of sewage overflow when storms overwhelm the city's combined sewage and stormwater system.

May 14, 2011 - The New York Times

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.