In Praise of Neighbors

National Good Neighbor Day is just around the corner, and it’s a good opportunity to reflect on how important it is to work with your neighbors if you want to build a better community.

Emma Durand-Wood, Top StoryEmma Durand-WoodSeptember 21, 2023neighborliness, neighborhoods

It’s Long Past Time To Ban Pretextual Stops—Take It From a Public Defender

Police pretextual stops, in which traffic police pull people over as an excuse to search them, should no longer be allowed.

Top StoryDan EichingerSeptember 20, 2023policing, enforcement, law enforcement, traffic stops

New PROWAG Guidelines a Major Advance for ADA (and All Pedestrians)

The culmination of a 24-year process, these new guidelines promise to make American towns and cities safer and more predictable for users of all abilities.

News, Top StoryBen AbramsonSeptember 20, 2023disability, safe and productive streets, pedestrians

Ottawa to Walkers: Drop Dead

Ottawa’s “jaywalking” campaign is putting pedestrians in an impossible catch-22.

Herriges, NewsDaniel HerrigesSeptember 20, 2023safe and productive streets, Crash Analysis Studio, canada, pedestrians, safety

Neither a Canal nor a Natural Stream: It’s Time We Returned Our “Stranals” to Proper Rivers

Waterways today are engineered systems that are more orderly than natural rivers, but they are increasingly dumb.

Top StoryDean KlinkenbergSeptember 19, 2023water, infrastructure, fragility, transportation, infrastructure spending

Local Conversations Across North America Are Looking at Their Towns on Two Wheels

Portland’s “bike bus” swept headlines last year, showcasing how biking can be a safe, viable, and fun way to commute to class. Here are similar efforts being spearheaded by Local Conversation groups.

Community Stories, Top StoryAsia MieleszkoSeptember 19, 2023bikeability, local conversations, bikes, children, safe and productive streets

Don’t Ban Cars; Ban the Car Monopoly

The key to transportation reform is to add options, then let people choose.

Owens, Top StoryTiffany Owens ReedSeptember 19, 2023car culture, car dependency, transportation, public transportation

The Arguments for Speed Cameras…and Why They Don’t Hold Up

On this week’s episode of the Strong Towns Podcast, host Chuck Marohn responds to some of the commonly cited arguments in favors of speed cameras.

Podcast, Top StoryStrong TownsSeptember 18, 2023podcast, safe and productive streets, speeding, traffic engineering, enforcement

Speed Cameras Are Not the Answer

Speed cameras are not even part of a solution to street safety. They are a dead end.

Marohn, Trending, Top StoryCharles MarohnSeptember 18, 2023safe and productive streets, traffic engineering, enforcement, speeding, safety

Ending Minimum Parking Requirements Was a Policy Win for the Twin Cities

In Minneapolis and St. Paul, parking reform has helped increase the overall supply of homes, reduce the cost of construction, and shift the cities toward a less car-centric design.

How to Use Optical Narrowing to Make a Street Safer

Drivers tend to unconsciously regulate their speed based on visual cues. By taking some simple steps to narrow a street visually, we can make it less dangerous.

Edward Erfurt, Top StoryEdward ErfurtSeptember 15, 2023safe and productive streets, Street Design, stroad, speeding, psychology

The Bottom-Up Revolution Is…a Lifelong Educator Advocating for Active Transportation

On this week’s episode of The Bottom-Up Revolution, we chat with lifelong educator and advocate for bikeability and active transit, Gary Oddi.

Podcast, Top StoryStrong TownsSeptember 14, 2023The Bottom-Up Revolution, california, bikeability, active transportation, advocacy

“Walkability Just Isn’t Thought About Seriously” and Other Insights From Civil Engineer Chris Miller

We talk with licensed civil engineer and safety analyst Chris Miller about his perspective on a fatal crash in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Top StoryAsia MieleszkoSeptember 14, 2023Crash Analysis Studio, safe and productive streets, local conversations

The Downside of Upgrades

Buses are great, but not if the surrounding infrastructure doesn’t support people getting to their bus stop on foot.

Emma Durand-Wood, Top StoryEmma Durand-WoodSeptember 14, 2023transit, buses, pedestrians, safe and productive streets, infrastructure

Saying Yes to All Types of Housing in Your Community

Many American cities are facing a housing crisis, but here’s how you can advocate for policy changes to spur the development your community needs.

Top StoryBen AbramsonSeptember 13, 2023Local-Motive Tour

San Francisco’s “Robo-Taxis” Are Causing More Than Headaches: They’re Hurting People

Autonomous vehicle companies have expanded operations throughout San Francisco. What are the results so far? Multiple crashes, first responders blocked on their way to emergencies, and a whole host of other incidences.

News, Top StoryAsia MieleszkoSeptember 13, 2023self driving cars, safe and productive streets, car crash, california, technology

The Fatal Flaw in 1970s-Style Environmental Laws

For the second time, a group of Minneapolis residents—enabled by existing law—have halted implementation of the city’s Minneapolis 2040 plan over its supposed environmental impact. Here’s why they’re doing more harm than good.

Herriges, Top StoryDaniel HerrigesSeptember 13, 2023environment, climate, minnesota, Law, Incremental Housing

Waterways: Overbuilt, Fragile, and Misunderstood in the Infrastructure Landscape

Waterways are misunderstood, but probably not for the reason you’re thinking.

Top StoryDean KlinkenbergSeptember 12, 2023water, infrastructure, fragility, transportation, infrastructure spending

How Many More Lives Need To Be Lost for Cities To Act Faster

An advocacy group was able to respond immediately to make this intersection in San Francisco safer, following a deadly crash—so why can’t the city do the same?