Published by Francesca Perry on November 25th, 2016 Commutes that cause panic attacks – but the kindness of a village community. Jakarta’s residents tell us what life in the city is really like – and why they have such a love/hate relationship with the Indonesian capital. Throughout our live week of in-depth reporting on Jakarta, we’ve…
Stephen Eide || Summer 2016 The New York City region faces what might be called “First World problems” in infrastructure: how to invest more in tunnels, transit, aviation, and the like to keep pace with growth. In a world of considerable but not limitless resources, billions of dollars hinge on the distinction between attractive projects and essential…
By Chris Turner, Published on July 8th, 2016 Calgary is like any other Canadian city that grew outwards, not upwards. But led by progressive mayor Naheed Nenshi, the oil-rich, car-friendly city has become an unlikely leader in the battle to limit urban sprawl. On 14 June 2016, as it does once a month, the entire…
By Kate Abbey-Lambertz, Published 07/20/2016 How catching Pikachu could give you a taste of Parisian street life. The streets, parks and sprawling strip malls of America’s cities and suburbs have become infested with a new urban species: the “Pokemon Go” player. Ambling about with phones held aloft, these specimens have their eyes glued to their…
We are living in a time of unprecedented opportunity and upheaval in transportation. Rapidly emerging technologies are creating new, far more efficient ways for people to get around. And while there has been justified excitement around electric and autonomous vehicles, there are also other important factors changing the face of transportation: mobile technology and transit…
BY JENN STANLEY , PUBLISHED JUNE 8, 2015 There are many ways to map a city: a basic street map, a neighborhood breakdown, by demographics. Now, thanks to researchers from the academic and technology worlds (Yahoo), we have something a bit different: the smell map. The authors of “Smelly Maps: The Digital Life of Urban Smellscapes”…
BY JAN GEHL, JEFF RISON AND JULIA DAY PUBLISHED AUGUST 31, 2015 COPENHAGEN — PUBLIC controversy has returned to haunt Times Square. This time, it is the presence of body-painted, topless women, who call themselves “desnudas,” and are accused of polluting the public space by “aggressive panhandling.” Heeding calls from his police chief to tear…
BY ERIC JAFFE, PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 4TH, 2015 For two Western powers with comparable wealth, democratic governments, legacy car companies, long histories of massive highway investment, and a shared affection for David Hasselhoff, the United States and Germany have followed dramatically different trajectories when it comes to automobile reliance. In the chart below, we list the…
A post-automobile world? 