United States
Federal Government to Enforce Accessibility Guidelines
Local agencies will soon be tasked with adhering to federal right-of-way accessibility rules: comprehensive guidelines for accessible streets and sidewalks.
Year in Review: The Stories That Defined Urban Planning in 2021
Part two (of two) of Planetizen's review of 2021 collects the biggest stories and storylines of the year from the wide world of planning.
Amazon Plans Further Expansion
On the heels of building its HQ2 facility in Arlington, Amazon continues to expand its hubs in cities spread out across the country.
Remote Workers: The New Supercommuters
Workers who moved away from their jobs during the pandemic are adjusting to longer commutes as employers start asking them to return to the office.
Your Date With Omicron
“All of us have a date with omicron,” Dr. Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, told The Associated Press on Dec. 20, adding "...and the best way you can encounter this is to be fully vaccinated.”
New Philly Bike Racks Blend Form, Function, Fire Hydrant Access
The clever designs serve multiple purposes—providing more bike parking while getting cars out of illegal parking spaces.
Study: Housing Market Instability Requires Robust Policy Response
A report from the Urban Land Institute calls for a multi-faceted approach to stabilizing the housing market and protecting tenants and homeowners.
The Great American COVID Testing Failure
Americans who want to know if they are infected with the coronavirus are waiting hours to get tested and not finding rapid tests for at-home testing. Health experts had presented a plan to the administration in October to avoid this crisis.
Tesla Reverses on Video Games for Drivers
Tesla's rollout of video games that can be played by drivers on the center consoles of the automakers cars has quickly turned into a recall.
What Can Lessons From Traffic Safety Teach About the Covid Response?
Finger waggings aren't effective for pedestrian safety—so why should they work for public health? A "safe system" approach, created for traffic safety in Sweden, offers a model for improved pandemic public health outcomes, according to this opinion.
O'Toole, Cato Institute Part Ways
Randal O'Toole, who resisted contemporary progressive planning trends by supporting the unfettered expansion of automobile infrastructure and single-family residential development, is no longer employed by the conservative-leaning Cato Institute.
Architecture and Design Awards for the Best and Worst of 2021
Two influential and erudite design critics continue an annual tradition.
Can't Drive 55: America's Dangerous Love of Speeding
While most Americans agree that speeding is a threat to public safety, dysfunctional laws and inadequate enforcement perpetuate a culture of tacitly sanctioned high-speed driving.
Report Links Housing Growth and Climate Resilience
Data from three U.S. metro areas show a failure to address land use and sprawl as a key factor driving climate change.
Video Games on Tesla Screens? Not So Fast, Say Safety Regulators
The Passenger Play video feature available in most Tesla cars has caught the attention of regulators at the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.
Outdated Grid Can Stymie Renewables
As more wind and solar plants get built in remote locations, utilities must figure out how to transport and store energy over increasingly vast distances.
Gig Workers Demand Data Transparency
Access to data for gig workers can provide a valuable source of information and bargaining power in a traditionally opaque and risky industry.
Busting the 'Urban Exodus' Myth, Again
New numbers from the Census Bureau show that fewer Americans moved in 2020 than ever before, belying dire predictions about the death of cities and the hollowing out of urban neighborhoods.
Federal Vax-or-Test Mandate for Large Employers Reinstated
Judges of the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals decided, 2-1, to allow the Biden administration's vax-or-test mandate for private sector employers, removing a stay placed on the OSHA rule by the Fifth Circuit. Enforcement begins Feb. 9.
This Is Your Brain on E-Scooters
A survey from scooter operator Spin indicates that e-scooter users experience a boost in relaxation and positive feelings after a ride.
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.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
Planetizen
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
