Transportation

Bike Buddies Turn Commute Into Workout

T.J. Kelly was finding it difficult to squeeze in exercise, and looking at his rising commute costs. A new co-worker helped him turn his commute into a workout.

July 2, 2008 - Wall St. Journal

Dar es Salaam Invests in Public Transit

With crippling traffic congestion, the Tanzanian city of Dar es Salaam has pooled $158 million to improve its public transportation system -- adding new service, stations, and walkways.

July 2, 2008 - The East African

The Bronx Debuts BRT

Wired rides the Bronx's new Bus Rapid Transit, and determines that "rapid" is in the eye of the beholder.

July 1, 2008 - Wired

Eight Options on Table for Seattle's Alaskan Way Viaduct

State, county, and city officials revealed eight new options for dealing with Seattle's Alaskan Way Viaduct, a damaged double-decker inner city freeway.

June 30, 2008 - The Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Amtrak Struggles To Meet Skyrocketing Demand

With unprecedented demand, Amtrak is hampered by years of neglect. The agency is unable to handle all the new customers resulting from high gas prices and plane tickets and is struggling to replace aged equipment and pay for increased fuel costs.

June 28, 2008 - The New York Times

Town Removes All Traffic Signals

Bohmte, Germany is following the lead of an EU program called "Shared Space", which recommends that cities remove traffic signals and find ways to encourage cars to share their space with pedestrians and bicyclists.

June 28, 2008 - ABC News

Detroit Auto Critic Reviews New Ride -- the Bus

Joe White, who reports on the auto industry in Detroit, steps out his car and reflects on the city's mixed history of transit. To get the full picture, he tries to ride the bus himself.

June 27, 2008 - Wall St. Journal

People Mover

This article from Next American City looks at escalators -- the expensive, energy-intensive, and often under-used transportation mode.

June 27, 2008 - The Next American City

Bucky's Sustainable Planet

Inventor, visionary, and architect Buckminster Fuller used design to tackle problems including homelessness and environmental degradation.

June 26, 2008 - Democracy Now!

Transit Ridership Creates New Problem -- Clogged Parking Lots

Maryland's transit parking lots are overflowing into nearby neighborhoods, as buses, park-and-rides, and even their long-derided light rail, fill up.

June 26, 2008 - The Baltimore Sun

Will Free Rides Make Firm Believers In Transit?

Transit agencies around the U.S. offered free rides on a single day, and large crowds follow. But observers aren't sure they'll stick around when they have to pay again.

June 26, 2008 - San Jose Mercury News

The Rebirth of the Electric Car

In a bold move likened in this article to the Apollo program, General Motors is throwing everything it has into the development of the Volt, a revolutionary plug-in electric hybrid.

June 25, 2008 - Atlantic Monthly

Would Starbucks and Designer Interiors Get You to Ride Transit?

Toronto's Metrolink brings together city and transportation planners to brainstorm the transit of the future.

June 25, 2008 - The Toronto Star

Paris Plans Green Car Sharing System

Following on the success of its bike-sharing system, Paris is planning to unveil a citywide green car-sharing system.

June 24, 2008 - The Guardian

Freeway Expansion Leads to Increased Traffic

A year after a new freeway was completed in Southern California, traffic data shows increased use. Officials plan to widen the freeway to handle the increased load.

June 24, 2008 - The San Bernardino Sun

Despite Streetcar Skeleton, Chicago Leans Towards BRT

Transit officials in Chicago are calling on the city to rebuild its historic streetcar system. Rails still exist on many streets, but city officials are leaning away from streetcars and towards bus rapid transit.

June 24, 2008 - Chicago Sun-Times

One Blight Down, One To Go

In this op-ed piece, Kevin C. Phelan and Yanni Tsipis argue that Boston's 'Big Dig' has only fought half the battle, calling for a more proactive approach to building over the city's other auto sewer, the Massachusetts Turnpike.

June 24, 2008 - The Boston Globe

New Orleans Streets Updated

This story from NPR looks at a new bike lane in New Orleans, and other efforts the city is taking to update its street infrastructure.

June 23, 2008 - NPR

Traffic Signs Driving Us to Distraction

Traffic signs on American roadways are so numerous and so distracting to drivers that they are having the opposite effect intended, writes John Staddon.

June 23, 2008 - Atlantic Monthly

Hate Your Long-Distance Commute? Then Move

A recent L.A. Times series suggests that we should build more Southern California freeways for long-distance commuters, and prevent additional job development in employment-heavy areas. Bill Fulton suggests a different approach.

June 23, 2008 - California Planning & Development Report

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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A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.