#14: Congestion Pricing Success, Helmet Controversy, and Circular Construction Database
Welcome to the 14th issue of Urbanism Now, our weekly newsletter curated with brief and insightful urban ideas from around the world to inspire action where you (c)are.
This newsletter is curated by Maria Paula Moreno Vivas and Ray Berger. Learn more on our About page.
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Let's get started:
NYC bus drivers intentionally crawling at 5 MPH to keep up with timetables wasn’t on my bingo card for this year. It’s part of New York City's congestion pricing program, which, after 100 days, shows significant success with reduced traffic, fewer delays and injuries, and increased transit use.
Politicians kicked off a controversial campaign to protect children by giving them
bulletproof vestshelmets instead of… improvinggun policytransportation infrastructure.Paris has significantly improved air quality over 20 years, reducing PM 2.5 by 55% and nitrogen dioxide by 50%.
Germany has launched its first comprehensive building materials database using 3D scans to boost circular construction and slash demolition waste.
Challenging Western-centric urbanism models through their work, particularly in Asia, urban designers Mariko Sugita and Yukako Ishikawa discuss their studio, for Cities, which champions playful, context-specific, and citizen-driven approaches.
A study across six global cities found housing densification acceptance hinges more on political views regarding regulation than physical proximity, challenging the dominant NIMBY narrative.
Henry Grabar announced a new book project, "Under Construction," which will explore the complexities of building multifamily housing. He’s seeking people to talk about what it’s really like to build stuff in the American city.
Videos, podcasts, and books, and socials:
“My Visit to Shenzhen & It's Advancements in Transportation and Surveillance” - utopia or dystopia, TechAltar gives a fairly balanced overview of delivery drones, self-driving cars, surveillance, and more.
“Why American Trucks Are so Big” explains how tariffs and regulations cause an explosion in truck sizes.
“VTA's San Jose BART Extension - The Worst New Transit Project in the US” - a case of form over function.
Jobs:
Jas Bhalla Works seeks an urban designer for its London studio.
New York City's Mayor’s Office of Environmental Coordination seeks a deputy director to oversee environmental reviews, manage project managers, and assist with office administration and policy development. $105k - $135k salary.
Housing California seeks a regional organizer for Southern California to grow its Residents United Network member base and advance state-level housing policies through grassroots organizing and leadership development. $75k - $80k salary.
Cosmopolis Centre for Urban Research is hiring a part-time management assistant to support the Master Urban Studies program and the research group. Apply by May 1.
Caltrain seeks a government and community affairs officer to manage communications for capital projects, focusing on government and community relations. $103k - $155k salary. Apply by May 4.
The California Policy Lab seeks a researcher for the California College Data and Policy Project to analyze education data and advance equity initiatives. $73,000 to $151,000 salary. Apply by May 8.
The Knight Emerging City Champions fellowship, a program by 8 80 Cities and the Knight Foundation offers training and networking for individuals implementing community projects in the U.S. Apply by May 28.
Events and deadlines:
Women Walk at Midnight, a global movement empowering women to reclaim urban spaces, hosts their next nighttime community walk in Cape Town, South Africa. The walk brings women together for conversations and connection while challenging perceptions of safety in public spaces. April 24.
Learn about 'EcoResponsive Design', a nature-led master planning framework addressing housing demand and environmental crises. The webinar presents a 4-step strategy and case study for creating sustainable places. April 25.
BetaNYC is hosting an online "Open Data Journeys" event to teach participants how to use the NYC Open Data Motor Vehicle Collisions dataset to better understand their community. April 28.
The Housing Action Coalition is hosting its 19th Annual Spring Symposium on housing resilience. May 14.
The State of the Map 2025 conference, the annual OpenStreetMap event, seeks presentation proposals for its hybrid conference in Manila and online. OSM Science submissions are due May 18.
Urban Future 2025, Europe's largest conference for sustainable cities, brings together urban innovators for sessions, workshops, and field trips in Łódź, Poland. The event features 60+ conference sessions, networking opportunities, and guided city tours. May 21-23.
Eurocities Conference will be hosted in Braga, Portugal this year, bringing together European urban leaders to discuss "Stronger Cities, Fairer Europe." The event features sessions on EU funding, housing solutions, and the new City Heroes award, alongside youth leadership programs. June 4-6.
What did you love? What did we miss? Let us know in the comments below.
As always, please share with a friend!
Right-hand turn signal on a Burley Piccolo attached to a Yuba Mundo cargo bike. Source: Marks Stosberg
