Public art can play such an important role in our lives, raising our spirits, making us laugh, bringing out the best in us, reminding us of who we are and the values we share, and sometimes art has this effect on us even when we don’t know the entire story. Here are a few stories … Read more
Picture your daily commute to work. Wake up, get into your car, sit in traffic for an hour, listen to bad talk radio and get to the office late because you couldn’t find parking. Now imagine this: wake up, jump on your bike, and meet your friend at the bike path which is conveniently located … Read more
The public realm, at its best, generates joy. You can see it in the children jumping up and down, in the embrace and tender kiss of a young couple, in the desire to sway, to dance together, in the smiles between strangers as, with burning eyes, they acknowledge a shared experience. In this mutual acknowledgement … Read more
Fiscal conservatives and politicians have fought tooth and nail to try to delay the construction of high-speed rail, arguing that the overall cost would far exceed the benefits. But what if high-speed rail could generate billions of dollars for the economy in a brief amount of time? What if the cost of construction could be … Read more
How well does our transit system connect where people live to where the jobs are? Not at all well, according to a new Brookings Institute report, Missed Opportunity: Transit and Jobs in Metro America. While most urban jobs are near transit, most employees are not. The report presents a comprehensive database that provides the first … Read more
Suzanne H. Crowhurst Lennard, Ph.D. (Arch.) It is common today to talk about health only in terms of physical health. The “Active Living” program is often considered the solution to all health problems. In fact, even as cities enact “Active Living” programs to solve obesity, they discover the programs are ineffectual if the society is … Read more
It is common today to talk about health only in terms of physical health. The “Active Living” program is often considered the solution to all health problems. In fact, even as cities enact “Active Living” programs to solve obesity, they discover the programs are ineffectual if the society is fragmented or the individual is marginalized. … Read more
Cities across the US are learning to bike-share. On March 14th, the Portland City Council submitted a request for a proposal to find a vendor to install and operate a bike share program. “Bike-share will be a great addition to North America’s most bike-friendly city. It’s a simple, attractive alternative to making quick trips by … Read more
It almost goes without saying that transportation options are different depending on where you live. If you live in a small town, there's a good chance you can get around without having to own a car. Maybe you have to drive to a grocery store on the outskirts, but hopefully you live in a place … Read more
On March 14th, the Portland City Council submitted a request for a proposal to find a vendor to install and operate a bike share program. “Bike share will be a great addition to North America’s most bike-friendly city. It’s a simple, attractive alternative to making quick trips by car” Portland Mayor Sam Adams stated on … Read more