For many cities, the grid of the streets and transit systems were likely laid down long before the buildings grew up around them, thanks to the rigor of planners and engineers who knew best. But as cities transition in ways that challenge the century-old plan, they need new and quick ways to improvise connections between areas of growth. These are known as "desire lines."
Tennessee lawmakers tried to make Nashville’s buses illegal, a dude pissed in a reservoir and Portland has to flush 38 million gallons of water, and—let’s say it all together—the rent is too damn high. This is your weekly look at What’s Ruining Our Cities.
More cities are making their data available, both in the name of political transparency and to allow residents to help chip away at civic problems. This lovely-looking chart measures 36 cities by how many civic datasets—from crime to transit to zoning—they’ve released to the public.
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The number of Californians who walk, bike, or take transit on an average day has doubled in the last decade, according to a new study by Caltrans. Also notable: More people in their 20s and 30s are not getting their licenses at all. [Los Angeles Times]
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Apple has just shipped iOS 7.1, which brings a number of small enhancements and some considerable performance improvements to older devices, but now the way is clear for iOS 8, and already the rumor mill has started cranking. 9to5Mac, which generally has reliable information for first-hand reported rumors, revealed today a couple of details about Apple’s next big mobile OS, which should… Read More
The annual Armory Show has kicked off here in New York City, showcasing art from around the world, though perhaps still most widely known for its controversial 1917 show, when Marcel Duchamp displayed a repurposed urinal as art and the minds and morals of the art world collectively exploded.
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If you’ve ever ridden a Citibike (or any similar bike-share bicycle) you know: those suckers are heavy. And, if you’ve ever ridden up anything near an incline, you know that heavy bikes absolutely suck on hills. Wouldn’t it be great to just push a button instead?
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The crank and clang of subway turnstiles is abrasive and annoying at the best of times. But James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem fame wants to make those noises better.
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I stumbled on this photo while writing last night’s post
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NYC’s East Side Access Project continues apace, and these recent images, taken last month by MTA photographer Rehema Trimiew, show a whole new view of the mind-boggling underground caverns now being constructed beneath Manhattan. From raw walls of exposed geology to this, the space is finally taking on the look and feel of architecture.
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