West Virginia City Offers Doctor’s Notes So Commuters Can Avoid Road Closure

When a vital commuter route was scheduled for a 90-day closure, this city made the most of the situation by encouraging would-be commuters to spend time in downtown, instead.

Community Stories, Top StorySeairra JonesAugust 30, 2023commuting, Third Places, west virginia, downtown

Developing With Affordability in Mind

This Dallas citizen developer is creating housing that’s maximizing profit—not for himself, but for the community—by funneling individuals from the foster care system into homeownership.

Top StoryAsia MieleszkoAugust 30, 2023Incremental Housing, homeowners, developers, small scale developers, walkability

Induced Demand and the Highway Interchange (Part 2)

There is currently a mandate in the new Ohio budget bill that an interchange must be built between Brunswick and Strongsville. But odds are, it’s only going to make traffic problems in the area worse.

Top StoryJustin BoeyAugust 29, 2023induced demand, end highway expansion, local conversations, highways, congestion

3 Approaches to Transit That Didn't Break the Bank

Building transit in the U.S. is oftentimes exponentially more expensive than anywhere else in the world. But what if there was a better way?

Top StoryAsia MieleszkoAugust 29, 2023public transportation, Local-Motive Tour, transit

Becoming Resilient Starts With Building Relationships Where You Are

Becoming resilient isn’t magic. It’s hard work that starts with knowing our neighbors.

Owens, Top StoryTiffany Owens ReedAugust 29, 2023community, resilience, neighborliness, neighborhoods, Social Isolation

Walkable City Design Is Critical for Economic Health

On this episode of the Strong Towns Podcast, author Tristan Cleveland goes in depth about why cities struggle to retrofit their car dependence, and what could actually be done to create change.

The Fastest Way To Remove Parking Mandates: Change One Word

By changing a single word in its parking code, Norman, OK, was able to slow the spread of parking lots and remove a major barrier to entry for small developers.

ODOT: You Need To Fund Portland’s Billion Bollards Club

A billion bollards! That’s what we called for back in 2021—and one Strong Towns Local Conversation is answering the call. Now the Oregon Department of Transportation just needs to get onboard.

Induced Demand and the Highway Interchange (Part 1)

Adding an interstate exit will not fix congestion issues for this highway in Ohio. Here’s why.

Top StoryJustin BoeyAugust 25, 2023induced demand, end highway expansion, local conversations, highways, congestion

Supporting Cycling Goes Beyond Infrastructure

Cultivating a culture of cycling takes more than just installing bike lanes. Here are some initiatives across the country that aspire to make moving around on two wheels a more intuitive choice.

Top StoryAsia MieleszkoAugust 25, 2023bikeability, safe and productive streets, bike share, bikes, bike infrastructure

Connect the Dots: What Google Maps Reveals About Dangerous Streets

Google Maps: “Let me tell you where the next freeway will be without telling you where the next freeway will be.”

Strong Towns Local-Motive: How To Use Social Media To Build a Movement and Create Change

There are some pretty big content creators in the urbanist world who have utilized social media to spark change. Here’s how you could become one of them.

Top StoryStrong TownsAugust 24, 2023Local-Motive Tour

Displaying Death Tolls on Highways Isn’t Making Anyone Drive Any Safer

A recent study shows that highway signs encouraging people to drive safer actually induce more crashes by distracting drivers.

Top StoryAsia MieleszkoAugust 24, 2023safe and productive streets, texas, department of transportation, car crash

We Sold Our Car Five Years Ago. Here’s Why It Works for Us.

Going car-free (or car-lite or car-less) isn’t an option for everyone, but for some, it can work. Here are the upsides Emma Durand-Wood’s family has seen from selling their car.

Emma Durand-Wood, Top StoryEmma Durand-WoodAugust 24, 2023car-lite, car dependency, canada

Transportation Meltdown: Children on the School Bus Till 10 p.m.

Kentucky’s largest school system recently had to cancel classes due to a disastrous overhaul of the bus system—but they’re not the only ones struggling with student transportation issues.

Podcast, Top StoryStrong TownsAugust 23, 2023upzoned, children, buses, schools, suburban development pattern

Removing Parking Minimums Is Just the Start

Hartford, CT, was the first city in the U.S. to repeal parking minimums. So…why is its downtown still 22% parking lots?

Everyone Involved Was Following The Law

Illegal driving, reckless driving, and unsafe driving are three different things. Most drivers don’t intuit the difference, but our system and our traffic engineers should if they want to help prevent deadly outcomes.

Herriges, Top Story, TrendingDaniel HerrigesAugust 23, 2023car crash, safe and productive streets, children, traffic engineering, Law

California Bicycle Advocates Call on Elected Leaders to Address Real Causes of Deadly Collisions: Road Design

In the wake of a 15-year-old bicyclist’s death, bicycle advocacy organizations from across California have come together to release a joint statement demanding safer streets.

Shipping Container Village: Canadian Port City Gets Creative With Revitalization

This creative use of shipping containers has brought new life—and new opportunities for the local economy—to a dreary, vacant parking lot in downtown Saint John, NB.