What we are reading today

"These are all at the same scale: one square mile. Compare the block sizes and intersection density in Portland to those in Irvine. Compare the orthogonal grid in San Francisco and the modernist simplifications of Irvine to the complex mesh of pedestrian paths, passageways, and alleys comprising much of the circulation network in Rome."

from: http://geoffboeing.com/2017/01/square-mile-street-network-visualization/

and: http://www.seeker.com/compare-city-street-grids-one-square-mile-at-a-time-2186104568.html




"To improve our cities, Penalosa says, we need to pay attention to four "pillars"— walkability, bikeability, public spaces, and public transportation." 

from: https://www.fastcoexist.com/3064369/two-words-would-make-our-cities-more-livable-pedestrians-first

"The women had a much more varied pattern of movement," Bauer recalls. "They were writing things like, 'I take my kids to the doctor some mornings, then bring them to school before I go to work. Later, I help my mother buy groceries and bring my kids home on the metro.'" Women used public transit more often and made more trips on foot than men. They were also more likely to split their time between work and family commitments like taking care of children and elderly parents. Recognizing this, city planners drafted a plan to improve pedestrian mobility and access to public transit. Additional lighting was added to make walking at night safer for women. Sidewalks were widened so pedestrians could navigate narrow streets. And a massive staircase with a ramp running through the middle was installed near a major intersection to make crossing easier for people with strollers and individuals using a walker or a wheelchair."

http://www.citylab.com/commute/2013/09/how-design-city-women/6739/

Walkability

"What makes a neighborhood walkable?

• A center: Walkable neighborhoods have a center, whether it's a main street or a public space.
• People: Enough people for businesses to flourish and for public transit to run frequently.
• Mixed income, mixed use: Affordable housing located near businesses.
• Parks and public space: Plenty of public places to gather and play.
• Pedestrian design: Buildings are close to the street, parking lots are relegated to the back.
• Schools and workplaces: Close enough that most residents can walk from their homes.
• Complete streets: Streets designed for bicyclists, pedestrians, and transit."

from: https://www.walkscore.com/walkable-neighborhoods.shtml

New York view

"Times Square, New York, USA. A view from below"

from: https://brightside.me/article/100-best-photographs-without-photoshop-46555/

What's in a name?

"A street is a road but a road isn't always a street. A road can also be an avenue or a boulevard—it's the general term for anything that connects two points. From there, the names of roads can be shaped by their environment and/or the form of the road. A drive is a long winding road that can be shaped by mountains or a lake. Place is a narrow road with no throughway. And just as there is no rule book to building a city, these roads and other don't always correspond with their described classifications."



"As Edwards emphasizes, there are exceptions, but here are a few of the meanings behind the most common names:

• Road — Anything that connects two points. 
• Way — A side street off a road.
• Street — A public way with buildings on both sides. These often run perpendicular to avenues.
• Avenue — Also have trees or buildings on both sides.
• Boulevard — A wide street in a city with trees or greenery on both sides. There's generally a median in the middle of a boulevard.
• Lane — A narrow road, often in a rural area.
• Drive — A winding road that has its route shaped by natural features such as a lake or mountain.
• Terrace — A road that runs along the top of a slope.
• Place — A road with no throughway.
• Court — A road with no throughway that ends in a loop or cul-de-sac.
• Plaza or Square — An open public space that's surrounded by businesses or streets."

from: https://www.thrillist.com/news/nation/whats-the-difference-between-roads-street-avenues

also: http://lifehacker.com/the-difference-between-streets-boulevards-avenues-an-1789115850

Beautiful public spaces

"Public space can improve the lives of an area's inhabitants. To find more, we reached out to urban designers and planners around the world. They told us about spaces that have been game-changers for cities, that inspired them to go into the field, and that they simply find stunning."

from:
http://www.businessinsider.com/beautiful-public-spaces-according-to-designers-2016-12

New study about bike shares

"Here's a remarkable fact: Not a single person has died using bike share in the United States."

"Bike sharing has seen explosive growth since 2007, with systems in at least 94 cities and more than 35 million trips taken. There have been some serious injuries, yes. But — knock on wood — we've seen zero US deaths from bike sharing so far1. Contrast this with the overall estimated cycling fatality rate of 21 deaths per 100 million trips."

from: http://www.vox.com/2016/4/3/11349856/bike-share-safety

Food by the numbers

"By 2050, the world's population will likely increase 35 percent. But is growing more food the only option—or even the best? National Geographic investigates the challenges and solutions to feeding everyone on our planet."