I recently spent a weekend in Oklahoma City. I stayed in Bricktown where I weaved around the construction of their new streetcar line and ventured out into nearby downtown neighborhoods and several residential areas. It was my first time in the city and I was […]
Improving Dallas Through Small Things
I’m a big fan of the Polis blog. I haven’t found any other collaborative blog that touches on so many interesting global planning and development issues. An article in their archive compared universal social policies with targeted programs. Should education, health care, and other human […]
Music Cities
Nashville has recently become an economic mecca for young professionals looking for jobs out of college, but before its development boom it was mostly known for its music. Nashville started one of the first major music radio stations in 1925 which featured a live broadcast called the […]
The Death of Retail and the Redevelopment of Malls
Depending who you listen to, brick and mortar retail is either in its final breaths or is simply in a creative shift away from traditional department stores. Either way, things are changing and the death of retail as we know it offers many sustainable redevelopment opportunities. Many […]
Cycling Safety and Protected Bicycle Facilities
The University of Westminster recently released a cycling safety study which used travel surveys to predict future cycling crash hot spots. By recording rider information on near misses, non-injury incidents and qualitative perceptions of safety, Rachel Aldred and Sian Crosweller showed that slower cyclists experience roadways […]
Shared Mobility and Complete Streets
The American Planning Association recently put out a comprehensive guide on shared mobility. You’re most likely familiar with the concept: Short term access to a mode of transportation on an as-needed basis. Think Zipcar, Uber, bike share, product or food delivery services, and soon, self-driving […]
4 to 3 Lane Road Diets: Safer, Cheaper, Amazing
Not enough credit is given to 4 to 3 lane road diets. They can be a relatively low cost way to calm traffic, reduce crashes and provide bicycle lanes all in one resurfacing project. 4 lane roads attempt to accommodate higher traffic volumes and left […]
Should Transit Be Free?
I stumbled on an article the other day which asked a question I never really considered: Should transit be free? I began to dig around and found a whole network of free transit advocates. Several cities around the world have abolished transit fares, usually with […]
Janette Sadik-Khan and Transforming Dallas Streets
The highlight of the Dallas Festival of Ideas this weekend was seeing Janette Sadik-Khan speak. As former NYC DOT commissioner, she was instrumental in the design and installation of protected bike lanes, public plazas, Vision Zero policies and the redesign of many streets into more […]
How To Be Car Free In Dallas
When I moved from Baltimore to Dallas, many people told me I’d have to buy a car in order to survive here. Taking a quick look at a map of DFW, I thought they were right. The metro sprawls in every direction. Much of the […]