Old vs. Young. Criminal vs. Dog. Pedestrian vs. Passenger. The thorny issue of who should be saved when autonomous vehicles encounter danger only has one solution: better urban design.
Urban Design by Corporation
From Facebook to Uber to electric scooters, corporations are demanding we change our behavior to adapt to their profit-driven technology. This is nothing new, but why do we continue to let it happen?
Ignore the Data on Gentrification
As the Economist recently showed, gentrification is about more than just the economics of shuffling people around housing units. Unfortunately, it was the magazine’s complete disinterest in addressing the complexities of the issue that proved the point.
Savannah Offers Yet Another Example of Why Good Urban Design is Important
An abundance of asphalt and concrete increases air temperatures locally, which can exacerbate the effects of heat waves and generally cause unpleasant conditions. This is known as the urban heat island effect and it can be true for both sprawled suburbs and dense cities. Savannah’s beautiful green spaces offer a prime example of how the benefits of dense development can be achieved while mitigating or eliminating the urban heat island effect.
Weekly Links: The EPA Loves the NHL, Snow Leads to Better Urban Design, and Atlanta’s World-Class Traffic
A weekly roundup of interesting stories from around the country. The National Hockey League is not just one of the biggest buyers of green energy among sports leagues, but among all US companies. Philadelphia created better designed streets simply by looking at where cars drive in the snow. And a stress-relieving simulation of traffic moving through various types of intersections.
If Buckhead’s the Jewel of Atlanta, Why Does it Feel So Dull?
Buckhead has sometimes been referred to as the Jewel of Atlanta, though this title is severely threatened by its increasingly underwhelming user experience. Its lack of vibrancy, identity, and walkability make the neighborhood a shining example of poor urban design and undercut its ability to attract residents and businesses. In its attempt to remain relevant, Buckhead should look to Miami’s Brickell neighborhood, Virginia’s Tyson’s Corner, and Atlanta’s Midtown neighborhood.
To Wear, or Not to Wear: The Tragedy of Helmet
Pro-helmet and anti-helmet advocates both make compelling arguments in the quest to make cycling safer. While better urban design principles would fundamentally solve the safety problem, courts may find that cyclists have a duty to wear a helmet.
Policing Our Way Toward Walkability
While building large infrastructure projects is needed, the enforcement of basic traffic laws is an essential, and often overlooked, element of good transportation networks.