Big Houses and Long Commutes, Not Smart Phones, Eroded Community
Suburban sprawl, car culture, growing home sizes and shrinking families have changed our sense of community. The smartphone is the symptom, not the cause, of social erosion.
Category: urbanism
Sold On Space: The Great American Lie
“Go West Young Man…” a statement that set the tone for a century of suburban sprawl.
From Nuisance To Cool: Cars And Scooters Share Similar Stories
Easy access and financial investment have changed the perception of e-scooters. One hundred years ago, the same thing was happening to cars.
The Portable City
Tomorrow’s urban core will feature smaller, flexible space that appeals to the local small business instead of the national chain
Why I’m Obsessed With Longboarding
Weather you’re cruising around your community or making a beer run to the convenience store, longboarding is a great way to explore your community and focus your mind
The Movie “Office Space” and the Story of Suburban Boredom
This cult classic movie highlights the mundanity of sprawling, car-centric, chain retail suburban life
When Streets Were Equitable
A remastered video of 1906 San Francisco shows what streets were meant to do
Your City Isn’t Special
Your city has a rich history… but highlighting that alone won’t make you a destination. Blend a historic past with a new urban narrative!
The American Automobile And Racial Exclusivity
The “Pay To Play” cost of the automobile might be the most racially exclusive component of American society
The Brunch Urbanist
For several decades, young white Americans have enjoyed the growth in our cities without understanding the racial, economic and cultural complexities of our urban history
Micro-Tourism In A Pandemic America
Now is the perfect time for us all to explore our own backyards
New Rochester Cycle Track: Pretty Great, 5 Years Late
Rochester New York’s newest Cycle Track is a welcomed additive… but its execution might be a little out of step with the progress of the surrounding environment
Is It Still OK To Get Excited About Your City?
With the pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement, the infrastructure and history of American cities are rightfully being questioned more than ever. Can we still get excited about their future?
Will Mobility Become More About Choice Than Necessity?
As more Americans work from home and use home delivery, a higher percentage of car trips will be made by choice instead of necessity. How will this impact space in our communities?
What Do Americans Love More Than Car Access? Partying.
While a proposal to shut down a small street in Utica was denied, the support for the closure shows a shift in American priorities