#16: London's Cycling Boom, Jane Jacobs Illustrated, and Driverless Trucking Debuts.
Welcome to the 16th 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:
London's latest traffic survey shows a 57% increase in cycling since 2022 and a 34% decline in motor vehicles since 2017, driven by cycle infrastructure and policies like congestion charges. Active travel now constitutes three-quarters of all trips, with cycling projected to overtake car use within two years. Meanwhile in the U.S. …
Aurora launched commercial driverless long-haul trucking routes between Dallas and Houston, Texas. Don’t worry too much, the single self-driving truck has only traveled 1,200 miles without a human.
A library in the UK has launched a shared wardrobe scheme allowing residents to borrow quality secondhand clothes for free.
A landmark legal settlement aimed at lowering real estate commissions and housing costs is being undermined by realtors using workarounds. How did lawmakers not see this coming…?
The Urban Mycelium presents an illustrated story of Jane Jacobs, a visual tribute to the urbanist who fought for people-centered cities and inspired generations of planners worldwide.
Videos, podcasts, books, and socials:
“Why Isn’t There Public Transit from the Airport to Disney World?” explores Orlando’s transit challenges and promising new visions involving a Brightline rail extension.
Many government buildings in Chandigarh, India, are intentionally tilted to reduce heat gain. Instagrammer blessedarch shows how these angled structures aren’t just aesthetic quirks, but strategic adaptations to the region’s harsh climate.
In “How Can Cities Fix Big Box Stores?” City Beautiful digs into the challenges plaguing the US.
The city of Surrey (near Vancouver) is trying to create a new downtown and partnered with the YouTube channel About Here to create “Why Do Cities Create New Downtowns?”
Jobs:
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:
The DC Mobility Innovation District seeks innovative solutions and non-financial support from private-sector partners via a Request for Information. Focus areas include first/last mile transport, e-mobility charging, safe streets, event congestion, and curb management to improve mobility in Washington, D.C. Submissions due May 7.
Next City hosts a webinar exploring alternative models like cultural land trusts and guaranteed income for artists to support cultural spaces and workers amid rising costs. May 8.
State of the Map Latam 2025 invites presentation and workshop proposals for its conference in Medellín, Colombia, focusing on OpenStreetMap applications and community in Latin America. May 9.
A free webinar explores how cargo bikes can decarbonize last-mile delivery and reshape urban logistics, featuring experts from cargobike.jetzt, UPS, and the City of Bremen. May 20.
What did you love? What did we miss? Let us know in the comments below.
As always, please share with a friend!
Yellow Truck. Source: Blue Hound