One Billion Bollards

If the federal government wants to fund transportation, skip the megaprojects. Start with a billion bollards.

#SlowtheCars, Marohn, Transportation, Urban Design, Walkability, Top StoryCharles MarohnJuly 26, 2021Safety, Pedestrian Safety, public safety, transportation, pedestrians, #PedestrianUnfriendly

Kansas City Residents Demand Safer Streets

The 85th percentile rule makes it hard to ensure safe streets, so residents of northeast Kansas City took matters into their own hands.

One Centuries-Old Trick Can Solve Your City’s Problems

Does YOUR city have problems? Learn how to solve them with one WEIRD, simple trick!

Transportation, Walkability, Top StoryBill LindekeJuly 13, 2021walkability, biking, Streets.MN, pedestrians, transportation

The Bottom-Up Revolution is... Making Cities More Bike- and Walk-Friendly

Michael Kelley is helping to make Kansas City a place where getting around is easy and affordable for everyone.

Podcast, Taking Action, The Bottom-Up Revolution, Success Story, Bikeability, Walkability, Top StoryStrong TownsJuly 8, 2021The Bottom-Up Revolution, Kansas City, taking action

A Tale of Two Walks: Part 2

Our walk together continues on Fairfax Boulevard, where we encounter a much different (i.e., less friendly) pedestrian experience.

Roads and Streets, Urban Design, Walkability, Top StoryAddison Del MastroJuly 7, 2021walkability, Addison Del Mastro, pedestrians, car culture, Virginia

A Tale of Two Walks: Part 1

Let’s take a walk together down two different streets, and observe what car-oriented places are like from the viewpoint of a pedestrian.

Roads and Streets, Urban Design, Walkability, Top StoryAddison Del MastroJuly 6, 2021walkability, fine-grained, Addison Del Mastro, pedestrians, car culture, Virginia

How Dutch Cities Restored the “Freedom to Roam”

Five decades ago, Delft made some urban planning decisions that granted children the freedom to freely and safely wander the streets of their city.

Bikeability, Infrastructure, Roads and Streets, Success Story, Transportation, Urban Design, Walkability, #SlowtheCars, Top StoryMelissa Bruntlett & Chris BruntlettJune 29, 2021Netherlands, Delft, bikeability, bike infrastructure, history, #SlowTheCars

The Bottom-Up Revolution is... Building Active Towns

John Simmerman founded Active Towns to help cities think about and create more opportunities for physical activity within neighborhoods.

Podcast, Taking Action, The Bottom-Up Revolution, Success Story, Top Story, Bikeability, WalkabilityStrong TownsJune 17, 2021The Bottom-Up Revolution, John Simmerman, active transportation, public health, taking action

5 Reasons Why Walking Your City (Most Likely) Sucks

Although many of us agree that walkability makes sense for countless reasons, few of us actually walk the cities where we live. Why? Because it sucks.

#SlowtheCars, Walkability, Transportation, Roads and Streets, Member Post, Top Story, OwensTiffany Owens ReedMay 18, 2021walkability, sidewalks, Pedestrian Safety, pedestrians

Want to build a strong town? Make it work for people with disabilities.

Significant effort should be dedicated to creating more accessible built environments—because doing so benefits people of all abilities.

Infrastructure, Member Post, Public Space, Urban Design, Walkability, Top StorySteve WrightMay 7, 2021disability, Infrastructure, walkability, Justice, #PedestrianUnfriendly

When "Easy to Maintain" Shouldn't Be the Goal

Cities should take responsibility for getting the factors right that make public spaces lovable and worthy of care.

#SlowtheCars, Herriges, Maintenance, Mistakes A Town Makes, Public Space, Walkability, Top StoryDaniel HerrigesApril 1, 2021trees, Florida, sidewalks, #SlowTheCars, prosperity

Most “Pedestrian Infrastructure” Is Really Car Infrastructure

Houston’s “Energy Corridor” gets a pedestrian makeover, but just one thing seems to be missing: Pedestrians.

#SlowtheCars, Walkability, City Observatory, Top StoryJoe CortrightFebruary 1, 2021Pedestrian Safety, pedestrians, pedestrian crossing, Houston, Texas, #SlowTheCars, Joe Cortright, City Observatory, walkability

Boring Buildings, Great Places

Good urbanism can save bad architecture any day—if your goal is to create a place worth being and maintaining and belonging to.

Herriges, Urban Design, Walkability, ArchitectureDaniel HerrigesJanuary 20, 2021architecture, walkability, Tokyo, urbanism, Japan

College Campuses Are Designed at Human-Scale. Our Cities Can Be Too.

Many college campuses are designed to be walkable and human-scaled. But living in a great neighborhood like that doesn’t have to end at graduation.

Urban Design, Walkability, Top StoryCollin SloweyJanuary 6, 2021college, urban design, walkability, auto-oriented

Best of 2020: An Ordinary Intersection

An accidental photo essay courtesy of Street View provides us a look at the appallingly low standard for what we expect people who walk in suburbia to put up with.

Herriges, #SlowtheCars, Walkability, Best of Blog, Top Story 2Daniel HerrigesDecember 17, 2020walkability, #SlowTheCars, safety, pedestrian safety, Orlando, Florida, Best of 2020

Lo mejor de 2020: Una intersección ordinaria

Un ensayo fotográfico accidental, cortesía de Street View, nos proporciona una mirada al nivel espantosamente bajo de lo que esperamos que aguanten las personas que caminan por los suburbios.

Herriges, #SlowtheCars, Walkability, Best of Blog, Top StoryDaniel HerrigesDecember 17, 2020walkability, #SlowTheCars, safety, pedestrian safety, Orlando, Florida, Best of 2020

The Bottom-Up Revolution is... Empowering Churches to Connect with Their Neighborhoods

Here’s why everyone benefits when faith communities connect their mission and story to their physical place in the neighborhood.

Podcast, Taking Action, The Bottom-Up Revolution, Success Story, Walkability, Neighborhoods, Top Story, Member Post, FaithStrong TownsDecember 10, 2020The Bottom-Up Revolution, churches, proxi, member story, Faith Featured, taking action

The Bottom-Up Revolution is... Working Together to Make a Street for People

How one urban advocate helped transform a downtown street into a pedestrian-friendly public space— plus tips for how you can do the same in your own city.

Podcast, Taking Action, The Bottom-Up Revolution, Success Story, Walkability, Top Story, Roads and StreetsStrong TownsDecember 3, 2020The Bottom-Up Revolution, streets, open streets, Canada, local business, downtown, taking action

The Bottom-Up Revolution is...Residents Fighting Back Against a Highway Project

One vision is for a place where people can walk, bike, and spend time (and dollars at local businesses). The other is for a busy road expansion that will move a lot of traffic. Hear how two Strong Towns advocates are fighting the good fight in Erie, PA.