The hottest Urban planning Substack posts right now

Henry Grabar's book 'Paved Paradise' is likened to important urban planning works and sheds light on the impacts of parking policies.
The book discusses the significant role of parking in shaping urban landscapes and the conflicts it has spurred.
Through vivid storytelling and real-life characters, 'Paved Paradise' explores the complexities of parking policies and advocates for safer streets.

Urban planning involves interpreting data creatively to gain insights.
Data needs to be paired with stories to create meaningful information for decision-makers.
Analyzing parking data involves considering factors like size, usage, sustainability, and accessibility.

The new city California Forever lacks regional transit planning, which is a significant flaw.
The city focuses on good urban design, such as mixed-use buildings, bike lanes, and bus-rapid transit corridors.
Despite thoughtful transportation planning within the city, the project neglects regional transportation solutions, missing opportunities for better transit connectivity.

Norman Garrick highlights the need for cities that prioritize people on foot over vehicles going at high speeds.
He discusses the challenges of car dependency, especially in countries like Jamaica, and emphasizes the importance of transit, bike, and pedestrian planning.
Garrick advocates for creating car-light cities that are free from the dangers, noise, pollution, and costs associated with cars, focusing on designing for people's quality of life and low-carbon urban environments.

Barb Chamberlain emphasizes the importance of active transportation and the need for active listener polish in transportation leadership roles
She discusses the shift needed in how transportation policies are approached, highlighting the unintended consequences of certain decisions in the past
Barb Chamberlain advocates for deep listening, relationship building, and prioritizing community engagement to transform transportation infrastructure for the betterment of all

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Royal Park in Melbourne has design flaws and areas that feel unwelcoming to the public
Improvements suggested include adding housing, pedestrianizing roads, repurposing spaces, and creating more public amenities
The vision is to transform Royal Park into a more accessible, green, and inviting space similar to Central Park in New York

Sitting in traffic is a significant problem that needs addressing, especially in areas like Northern Virginia.
Congestion pricing could be an effective policy solution to address traffic congestion by pricing the externality of time wasted in traffic.
Dependency on cars for transportation poses risks like accidents and contributes to a sedentary lifestyle, emphasizing the need for better transit options.

Ambition in specific universities is influenced by parental expectations, cultural narratives, and peer reinforcement.
The next ambition market could be creating new cities and charter cities.
Considering building new cities and expansion projects may be a future direction as AI shifts work dynamics.

The statement from the Governor's spokesperson about combating climate change lacks substance and may not effectively reduce emissions.
Focusing on highway-widening projects might not be the most beneficial use of funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Empty, vague statements can lead to costly projects that might not benefit those in need.

Culdesac, a startup, attempted to create a car-free neighborhood but ended up providing parking lots and car-related amenities.
The focus on building parking lots ahead of residences in the project raised questions about priorities and sustainability.
The project's approach reflects a trend in startup culture to prioritize networking and grand visions over practicality and community integration.