Around the Block
The Case for a Tax on Parking Lots
Parking lots make cities less walkable, bikeable, and transit-friendly. They crowd out space for housing. But with a parking lot tax, incentives change and using parking as a placeholder becomes a lot less attractive.
January 18, 2017
Seattle Just Canned Its Bike-Share System. What Went Wrong?
If Seattle is going to give bike-share another try, it will have to learn from this experience. The Pronto system started off small and never scaled up. And that mandatory helmet law really didn't help.
January 17, 2017
The Injustice of Subsidizing Jobs People Can Only Reach By Driving
The more far-flung the jobs in a region, the fewer are accessible via transit, biking, and walking -- or even a short, inexpensive car commute. And yet, in many states, economic development policies still contribute to long, burdensome commutes, especially for people who can't afford cars.
January 13, 2017
Anticipating a Big Year for Transit Expansion in 2017
About 80 major new transitways will be under construction across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, reports Yonah Freemark in his annual roundup.
January 12, 2017
The Wait for the Bus Feels Longer If Your Stop Is Near Heavy Traffic
A pleasant waiting environment can make transit trips seem shorter, while traffic and pollution make waits seem longer than they really are, according to a new study.
January 11, 2017
New York’s New Economic Strategy for Buffalo: More Light Rail
After Andrew Cuomo's previous economic development strategies became embroiled in a federal corruption probe, big corporate tax breaks are out, and investments in transit and walkability are in.
January 10, 2017
No, Giant Shared Ubers Aren’t About to Solve City Traffic Problems
MIT researchers got a ton of press for a mathematical model that showed sharing for-hire vehicles could replace 85 percent of New York City's taxi fleet. But their conclusions were built on shaky assumptions, says economist Joe Cortright.
January 6, 2017
With Louisville’s Gargantuan New Interchange Comes a Profound Loss
Spaghetti Junction cost billions of dollars, wiped out 30 storefronts, and severed the connection between downtown and the waterfront for at least another generation.
January 5, 2017
Despite Cold, Portland’s New Mayor Biked to Work on First Day
It was 25 degrees, and it wasn't a photo op.
January 4, 2017
Buffalo Becomes First Major U.S. City to Eliminate Parking Minimums
Parking minimums make cities less walkable and less affordable. While many American cities are scaling them back, Buffalo is the only one to eliminate them citywide.
January 3, 2017
