💡 Fresh stories: The Price of Walking & 12 more
December 13, 2023 Edition
Curated by Konveio
In this week’s newsletter, you’ll uncover new insights on how planners can help create healthier cities, plan for equity in our communities, and learn how Dallas is paving the way for better human-centered infrastructure.
Don’t hesitate to reach out with recommendations, we’re always looking for your input!
Lauren Sibley
EngagingCities Editor
Featured Story
The Price of Walking
The low rates of walking in North America can be attributed to years of inadequate investment in pedestrian infrastructure. But recently we have started to see an increase in people’s desire for walkability. Despite the strong consumer demand for walkable neighborhoods, current transportation planning often fails to provide suitable alternatives. To address these shortcomings, planners must take the lead in advocating for change.
— Shared by Conroy J.
Amplifying Progress
EngagingCities shares stories by our network of community builders that collaboratively plan for a brighter, cleaner, and more equitable tomorrow.
Featured stories from the last two weeks:
🔥 Hot Takes
🎤 Is Your City Harming Your Health?
City structure plays a significant role in shaping public health outcomes. Cities are hotspots for many things not the least of which is noncommunicable health problems like obesity and mental illness. While these issues have multiple causes, the design of cities is an often overlooked factor. To address these complex health issues, city planners are now focusing on creating urban spaces that prioritize the needs and well-being of individuals, emphasizing the concept of the "human scale."
— Shared by Lois M. Collins
🎤 Drive-Thru Problems - How Fast Food Staples are Causing Traffic Chaos and Frustrating Urban Planners.
— Shared by Nathaniel Meyersohn
🎤 10 Cities to See on a Bike - Exploring the transformative power of sustainable urban design in Copenhagen through Penn State's study abroad course.
— Shared by Amelia Wyckoff
🎤 Urban Design from UX Perspective - Designing Cities for Humans: Why User-Centered Approaches are Essential for Urban Planning.
— Shared by Reet Agrawal
📝 Insights
💡 Planning for Equity
The goal of planning for equity is to challenge practices that disproportionately hinder certain segments of the population. Planners must acknowledge the historical and ongoing role of the planning profession in perpetuating discriminatory practices. Significant progress has been made by developing programs and establishing diversity committees to address equity, diversity, and inclusion issues within the profession.
— Shared by Peter Geraghty
💡 Transforming Travel - E-Bike Enthusiast Revolutionizes Commuting and Exploration with Custom-Built, Sustainable Machines.
— Shared by Christopher Lepant
💡 Lessons from Europe - How urban retrofits, circularity, and energy transition drive environmental resilience and green jobs.
— Shared by Claire Hargrove
💡 Smart Planning - Revolutionize Traffic Management and Surveillance with Vehicle Tracking and Counting using Computer Vision.
— Shared by Muhammad Rizwan Munawar
🥳 Success Stories
✅ The Dallas Loop
Many cities around the United States have a less than hospitable climate for bicyclists. Dallas is one of the most dangerous, and the construction of the Dallas Loop is making a huge step in creating a safe environment for biking. Not only does the plan call for improved biking conditions, but it emphasizes the importance of infrastructure for non-motor modes of transportation. By following this example we can change the structure of our cities and encourage people to drive less.
— Shared by Jennifer Pascal
✅ Kansas City's Transformation - From Smart Transportation to Thriving Neighborhoods, Get Ready for an Urban Renaissance.
— Shared by Cassandra W.
✅ Revitalizing Downtown - The Phenomenal Transformation of Allentown's Downtown in Just 10 Years.
— Shared by Steve Bamford
✅ From Airfield to Urban Community - Exploring the Remarkable Transformation of Toronto's Downsview.
— Shared by Anna L.
🗓 Upcoming Events Mark your calendars
Webinar: 7/27 AI: The Next Frontier for State and Local Governments Shared by CivStart
Do you have interesting resources, events, etc. to share?
Send us your tips to hello@engagingcities.com
