Recent Streetsblog NYC posts about Urban Design

Image: Agéncia d'Ecologia Urbana de Barcelona

Barcelona’s Superblocks: A “New Urban Model” to Reclaim Streets for People

By Brad Aaron | May 3, 2017 | 4 Comments

In the U.S., the term “superblock” conjures up the excess of urban renewal and the breakdown of walkable street grids. But in Barcelona, a different type of superblock is making streets more hospitable and humane.

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Get a Glimpse of Barcelona’s “Superblocks” in Action

By Angie Schmitt | Feb 13, 2017 | No Comments

Barcelona is making headway on its "superblocks," clusters of nine city blocks where car traffic is restricted and public space is expanded. This BBC video shows how a superblock functions: Most of the street space is reserved for walking and biking, while motor vehicles are limited to narrow, indirect rights-of-way.

A template for two-way street design with pedestrian medians, protected bike lanes, transit lanes, and other elements from the "Vision Zero Design Standard." Image: Transportation Alternatives

TA: Vision Zero Demands Bolder Street Designs From City Hall and DOT

By David Meyer | Jan 3, 2017 | 11 Comments

The de Blasio administration needs to redesign streets more thoroughly if it's going to reach the goal of eliminating traffic deaths, Transportation Alternatives says in a new report.

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Simple, Creative Ideas to Build a Better Bus Stop

By Angie Schmitt | Oct 1, 2015 | No Comments

Waiting for the bus can be a pain. To make transit more appealing, nothing beats frequent service, but studies have shown that if you’re going to wait, small improvements like shelters and information about when the next bus is coming can make the wait feel shorter. That was a big impetus behind “Trick Out My Trip,” an […]

This Map Shows Where de Blasio Wants to Reduce Parking Mandates

By Stephen Miller | Sep 23, 2015 | 20 Comments

In February, the Department of City Planning outlined the broad strokes of how the de Blasio administration will seek to change the rules that shape new development in New York. After eight months of public meetings and behind-the-scenes work, City Hall’s proposals were released this week. The documents reveal details of how the city wants to handle parking minimums in […]

Eyes on the Street: Williamsburg’s “Lively,” “Beautiful” New Garage Wall

By Stephen Miller | Aug 21, 2015 | 14 Comments

An apartment building in Williamsburg perfectly illustrates how parking minimums in New York’s zoning code make the city’s streets and sidewalks worse. Last year, a joint venture of Alex. Brown Realty and Largo Investments finished construction on a 33-unit rental project at 281 Union Avenue in Williamsburg. The seven-story building, roughly the same size as its neighbors, has something those older buildings don’t: 17 parking spaces. […]

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