New York

New Scorecard From NY DOT: Driving in Decline, Safety Improvements Work

New York City's second annual Sustainable Streets Index adds a wealth of data in support of green transportation and street safety.

March 26, 2010 - Streetsblog

Sadik-Kahn Comes to Car-centric L.A.

NY DOT head Janette Sadik-Kahn spoke in Los Angeles earlier this week to a adoring crowd, with advice on how to make room for bikes and pedestrians.

March 26, 2010 - The Los Angeles Times

Traffic Survey Paints Picture of New York City Congestion

Through a survey of New York City taxis with GPS tracking devices, the city has created a database of speeds and routes that gives them a clear picture of the state of traffic in the city.

March 26, 2010 - The New York Times

How New York Crowned the Car

Detroit may have been the Motor City, but New York City was where the car became king, according to a new book and exhibit which look at the history of the automobile in New York in the early 1900s.

March 26, 2010 - The New York Times

NYC Transportation Head Offers Advice to LA

This video from Streetfilms shows excerpts from a recent speech in Los Angeles by New York City Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan, who had some advice for the traffic-plagued California city.

March 24, 2010 - Streetsblog

20mph Zones Saving Lives in London

Over the last decade, London has established more than four hundred 20 mph zones across the city. The 10mph decrease has had a significant effect on the number of fatalities.

March 23, 2010 - Streetsblog

Expanded Brookyln Bridge Park Debuts

9.5-acres of the planned 85-acre expansion of Brooklyn Bridge Park opened at Pier 1 yesterday. Curbed NY has pictures.

March 23, 2010 - Curbed

A Lot of Rezoning, But Little Growth

A new report from the Furman Center finds that the effect of the 100+ rezonings under the Bloomberg administration is minimal, with upzonings and downzonings almost canceling each other out.

March 22, 2010 - The New York Times

The Urban Farms of New York

In the Bronx, Brooklyn, and even the Upper East Side, rooftop farming is making inroads. The City Greens profiles a handful of these urban pioneers.

March 19, 2010 - The City Greens

'Dooring' Claims Bronx Cyclist

It's yet another anecdotal reason for cyclists to bike well clear of the 'door zone' - and engineers and planners to ensure that cyclists have room to do so. Megan Charlop's bicycle ricocheted off a car door directly into the path of a city bus.

March 19, 2010 - Daily News

Political Skirmishes Delaying Ground Zero Construction

New York City's Ground Zero has sat as an empty hole for years. Though infrastructure work is underway, politics are holding the rebuilding back, according to this interview with New Yorker architecture critic Paul Goldberger.

March 19, 2010 - National Public Radio

The Rise of NORCs

There are senior-living and retirement communities all over the U.S., but a new breed of housing for the elderly is emerging in cities across the world: the Naturally Occurring Retirement Community, or NORC.

March 18, 2010 - Urban Omnibus

Should the World Trade Center be Rebuilt?

After years of debate and negotiation, the redevelopment of the World Trade Center site finally appears to be going forward. But there is considerable doubt as to its economic viability, writes Eliot Brown.

March 17, 2010 - New York Observer

'Smart Meter' System Not Popular With New York Landlords

In an effort to track and reduce energy use, large buildings in New York City have been eligible for a system that monitors energy use by the hour. But few building owners have signed up.

March 11, 2010 - The New York Times

Turning Illegal Basements into Affordable Housing

Most of the new housing units being occupied in New York City are illegal basement spaces. Bringing those spaces up to code could create thousands of units of affordable housing in the city.

March 11, 2010 - Urban Omnibus

The Inside Story of Sign Design

Slate continues its series on wayfinding with the little-known story of the symbolic conflicts among the U.S., the former Soviet Union and Japan over how to direct people in a time of crisis.

March 10, 2010 - Slate

Long Island Can Build Up, Or Out

That's the conclusion of a new report by The Long Island Index. Equal development can be achieved by building into the island's last greenfields or upwards from infill opportunities like underused parking lots.

March 9, 2010 - Grist

When's the Next Subway? Look Up.

Electronic next train signage has come to the New York Subway. Three experimental systems are currently being tested throughout the system, but locals say the kinks are still clearly being worked out.

March 8, 2010 - The New York Times

How New York City Crafted its 34th Street Busway

The Transport Politic details the City of New York's plans for a citywide busway on 34th Street.

March 8, 2010 - the transport politic

Critiquing the Architectural Critic

This piece from Design Observer takes a pointed and critical look at the work of New York Times architecture critic Nicolai Ouroussoff and finds much to be desired in his work.

March 7, 2010 - Design Observer

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.