Oak trees and street scenes painted on the support pillars of the I-10 overpass on Claiborne Avenue remind New Orleanians that the street was once a tree-lined commercial corridor. Today, the neighborhoods surrounding Claiborne Avenue are a portrait of disinvestment and decay, a decline coinciding with the erection of the I-10 elevated expressway that looms [...]
As a part of its plans to invest in sustainable transportation, Montreal has built several bicycle lanes over the years. However, traffic signals for bicycles have yet to follow in many neighbourhoods. Although there are traffic lights directed towards drivers and pedestrians, traffic signals on many streets do not “speak” to cyclists. While traditionally cyclists [...]
Like many global cities, Buenos Aires has more than one airport serving the transportation needs of its citizens. But the main international airport Ezeiza, located almost forty miles from the city center, lacks many of the so-called “ground services” – a term used in Airport Planning for defining all of the economic movement surrounding airport [...]
Kane County, IL, like most developing counties across the United States, faces a significant challenge in addressing the issue of mounting traffic congestion. One of Kane County’s major thoroughfares, Randall Road, has been epitomizing this issue. As traffic congestion becomes more and more of a problem on Randall Road, the Kane County Division of Transportation [...]
Becoming a new urban cyclist can be extremely intimidating. But armed with some basic knowledge, anyone can become a confident urban cyclist. In the midst of speeding cars, semi trucks, unregulated intersections, and ignorant motorists, situations can go from bad to worse in a matter of seconds. The safest way to go about cycling in [...]
New York City, above others, has defined itself through an evolving scholarship connected to its rapidly changing street life. This broad conception of street life has been widely debated and discussed from the standpoint of urban theorists and activists such as Jane Jacobs and William H. Whyte, whose respective works, The Death and Life of [...]
In a period of rapid urbanization, many cities are faced with the challenge of reconciling seemingly contradictory objectives. One of the most pressing of these challenges is the imperative to conserve valued and significant buildings and streetscapes of the past whilst providing the infrastructure for modern, efficient, and sustainable public transport. The experience of the [...]
Why has downtown Miami’s Bicentennial Park been closed for the past few years? Because city officials, architects, and construction crews are working tirelessly on the city’s most exciting new bayside destination: Miami’s Museum Park. During the next two years, Bicentennial Park will reemerge as Museum Park, with two new museums and a reimagined transit stop. [...]
Vancouver, British Columbia can only be described as picturesque; mountain framed and seaside, the city begs to be photographed and experienced by tourists and locals alike. Along with the gorgeous scenery and temperate climate has arisen a high demand for real estate in the downtown peninsula, which has gradually resulted in a real lack of [...]
Montreal is awash with bicycling advocacy groups. In recent months another group has formed: the Montreal Bike Coalition, an initiative of the Mile End neighbourhood community organization “Ruepublique” (literally, public street). The Bike Coalition aims to connect all the grassroots cycling organizations and citizen cyclists, with a focus on utilitarian cycling, while not replicating the [...]
As discussed in a previous post, Revamping the Riverfront, residents of Colorado like to stay active. Whether it is public or private open space, skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, kayaking, or another outdoor activity, Colorado doesn’t lack opportunity. Recently, the town of Buena Vista has taken steps to strengthen its local trails system. First, one must realize [...]
Carpooling became more popular in Athens, Greece due to frequent public transportation strikes in recent years. For example, on January 17, 2013 metro workers went on strike, which continued for over a week. On some of these days workers of other public transportation methods (bus, tram, etc.) also went on strike. Consequently, the only solution [...]
It’s Friday afternoon in Chicago. Michigan Avenue is buzzing with the excited throngs of shoppers, loving couples glide around the ice rink in Millennium Park, and annoyed motorists sluggishly make their way through the sea of vehicles on the Kennedy Expressway. Rush hour traffic has plagued Chicago motorists for decades, and the problem seems to [...]
Spokane, WA is one of the most car-centric and sprawling cities I know. It’s also where I fell in love with cycommuting, or commuting by bicycle. Commuting or running errands by bicycle is possible without much or zero supporting infrastructure; you just need to choose your path wisely. If you know the basics of cycling [...]
The League of American Bicyclists has been working over the past ten years to “identify the DNA” of bicycle-friendly cities. The League does not simply put out a list of the most friendly cities, businesses, and universities in the nation, but provides education on the important components of that DNA they have identified. The annual [...]
As the prices of gas skyrocket and a sustainable lifestyle is ever so important to adopt, alternative forms of transportation are key in our society, although sometimes a challenge to implement. Lincoln has stepped up to this challenge however, and truly exhibited how urban planning, paired with branding techniques, can create a buzz as well [...]
Phoenix, Arizona is extremely auto-dependent, in part because of its low-density urban design and its vast road networks. The city must realize that light-rail will not serve all of the neighborhoods in greatest need of affordable public transportation, but rather, it must increase bus facilities in the metro area. Currently there is a bus station for [...]
After forty-eight hours in a city, you usually have an idea about whether you enjoy it, or if you just want to leave. This time frame may allow for a walk through the city’s center and, perhaps a visit to a few well-known attractions or landmarks. On a visit to Ecuador’s commercial center and principal port Guayaquil, you [...]
With increasing urban density, cities are being forced to find sustainable alternative solutions to problems of transportation in urban centers. In cities like Hong Kong, where urban density remains a major issue, creative projects have dramatically changed the urban landscape. The Mid-Levels is a residential area built on the steep slopes of Victoria Peak. It [...]
With the continuing onset and prevalence in obesity and diagnosed diabetes among adults, as well as children in the United States, active living is becoming an integral factor for all levels of urban planning – city, county, and statewide. What once used to be a mundane occurrence, physical activity has become completely disassociated from our [...]
