#18: Designing Cities for Families, Uber's Fixed Routes, and Perceptions of Regional Neglect
Welcome to the 18th 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:
“Designing Cities for Families”, a recent series by Alexandra Lange, explores how urban design and architecture affect parents and kids.
Uber is launching "Route Share," a new feature offering fixed-route shuttles (aka buses) along busy corridors in major U.S. cities.
Bram van Vulpen's research on "Perceptions of Regional Neglect" reveals that even in the Netherlands - small, affluent, and with strong welfare systems - rural communities experience significant "place recognition gaps."
Public psychological reactance to system-level policies is significantly higher during the planning phase than after implementation. As such, it suggests that emphasizing societal gains can help policymakers build support for policies
Cork City is transforming fragmented urban initiatives into a cohesive placemaking vision. By empowering officials to experiment and innovate, the city shows how meaningful spaces can be created when community values and local identity guide urban development.
The Substack Corner:
A San Francisco couple's simple initiative of having weekend “stoop coffee” on their sidewalk blossomed into a thriving neighborhood community. Consistent, low-effort actions and the utilization of public spaces can build strong local networks and a sense of belonging.
Chuck Wolfe reflects on the evolving definition of "urbanism," arguing that the current focus on housing and transportation is too narrow and neglects experiential, historical, and humanistic dimensions, advocating for a broader perspective on understanding and shaping cities.
Ryan Puzycki compiled a reading list featuring more than 80 Substack publications about urbanist topics, including transportation, housing policy, real estate, and urban politics. The list highlights writers and resources valuable to anyone interested in cities.
Paul Salama argues that automating rote government procedures, like environmental permitting, while preserving human judgement for complex decisions would lead cities to faster and more equitable outcomes and enable “Abundant Government.”
Videos, podcasts, books, and socials:
“Why L.A.’s Train Can Take 4x Longer Than Driving” (it’s decentralized density is a challenge)
“San Francisco to Seattle by Public Transit Only - Day 1” documents the challenging journey with some entertaining commentary.
Jobs:
Human Rights Watch is seeking an associate for its Americas Division to provide administrative and research support for human rights work in Latin America. Apply by May 22.
The City of Oakland's Housing & Community Development Department is seeking a housing development coordinator IV to manage its portfolio of affordable housing properties and development pipeline. Salary $123k - $151k. Apply by May 25.
Eurocities is hiring a Project Coordinator for NetZeroCities to expand the reach of their climate action portal. €46,000 - €50,000 (Belgium) or €39,000 - €42,600 (Spain) salary. Apply by May 26.
Erasmus University Rotterdam seeks a research officer/academic assistant to support international climate policy research projects with UN Environment, focusing on subnational governments. The 12-month Rotterdam-based role offers a €35,000 - €47,000 salary. Apply by May 27.
Metabolic, a non-profit in Amsterdam focused on bringing regenerative economic principles into practice, is hiring a project manager. Apply by June 15.
Events and deadlines:
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.
Results For America is sponsoring a webinar to discuss how tenant screening protections are helping renters overcome eviction records and discriminatory background checks. May 21.
The London School of Solarpunk is offering a 4-week program in Hackney for individuals interested in transforming the city through energy, art, and activism. May 24 to June 14.
The California Transportation Foundation (CTF) and Caltrans are offering scholarships to students planning careers in transportation, including engineering, planning, and environmental sciences. Apply by June 30.
What did you love? What did we miss? Let us know in the comments below.
As always, please share with a friend!
Multicolored Pillar at the Park. Source: Mattia Firenze