D.C. Poised to Strike Down Law That Blames Cyclists When They Are Struck
When cyclists and pedestrians are injured in traffic crashes in D.C., there's a big legal obstacle standing in the way of justice. That obstacle is a legal standard called "contributory negligence."
May 12, 2016
Zoning Reform Will Boost Housing Affordability and Walkability in D.C.
A change to D.C.'s zoning code will allow homeowners to build and rent out a basement apartment, or an apartment over the garage, without the long, expensive hassle of obtaining special permission.
May 11, 2016
How Can Cities Move More People Without Wider Streets? Hint: Not With Cars
How can cities make more efficient use of street space, so more people can get where they want to go?
May 10, 2016
How Boston Will Cut Transit Construction Costs Without Diluting Transit
Boston's 4.7-mile Green Line extension is supposed to bring light rail service to some of the nation's most densely populated neighborhoods, but skyrocketing construction costs have threatened to sink the project. After the price tag ballooned to $3 billion last year, about a 50 percent increase, the project was in danger of being cancelled altogether.
May 10, 2016
London’s New Mayor, Sadiq Khan, Pledges to “Accelerate” Cycling Progress
London bike advocates proved they were a political force to be reckoned under Mayor Boris Johnson. After cyclists demonstrated that they would not be satisfied with half-measures, Johnson started to make serious headway on safe bike infrastructure in his second term.
May 9, 2016
Paris Kicks Off Monthly Car-Free Sundays on the Champs-Élysées
It's been almost six months since Paris held its big car-free day, a jubilant event that temporarily cleared the air of poisonous diesel emissions and imparted a sense of how great streets could be without the constant roar of motor vehicles.
May 9, 2016
Historical Photos of St. Louis Capture the Great Violence of “Urban Renewal”
Some of these images, dug up by Alex Ihnen at NextSTL, almost look like a war zone. Buildings exploding. Entire city blocks reduced to ghost towns. Families out on curbs, carrying all their belongings in suitcases.
May 6, 2016
Using Stress Maps to Identify Gaps in the Bike Network
Here's an interesting way to evaluate how well a street network works for biking. Stephen Tu and Alex Rixey are mapping streets in Montgomery County, Maryland, based on how comfortable riders of different skill levels find them.
May 6, 2016
U.S. DOT Wants to Show America How to Heal Divides Left By Urban Highways
Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx opened up earlier this spring in a refreshingly personal speech about how highway construction in American cities isolated many neighborhoods -- especially black neighborhoods -- and cut people off from economic opportunity. Now U.S. DOT is following up with an effort to demonstrate how those wrongs can be righted.
May 5, 2016
It’s Not Rocket Science: If Streets Are Safe, More Kids Walk or Bike to School
Yesterday was national Bike to School Day, an event that shows kids what it's like to power their own way to school. The fact that we have a special day to promote what used to be part of the daily routine for many children also speaks to the way biking and walking have been marginalized on American streets.
May 5, 2016