#19: Seoul's Linear Parks, OpenStreetMap Games, and Velomobile Commons
Welcome to the 19th 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.
Thank you for your interest and support. If you find this newsletter useful, please forward it to a friend!
Let's get started:
Real-world data from OpenStreetMap is powering simulation games like City Bus Manager and Global Farmer, enabling players to manage public transport or farms in real-world locations and fostering engagement with urban issues.
Super Nuclear had a great post about Mars College, an annual, temporary off-grid community in the Bombay Beach, California desert where artists, technologists, and others gather January to March for collaborative projects, communal living, and experimentation in tech, art, and sustainability.
An interdisciplinary project examines Colombia’s “vertical peripheries,” exploring how market-based housing policies reshape city edges and daily life as many struggle with inadequate housing and debt.
Jonne Silonsaari's research argues that "velomobile commons" extend beyond road space, encompassing shared socio-cultural resources like meanings, skills, and community engagement crucial for fostering equitable cycling. This action-oriented study in Amsterdam suggests that recognizing and cultivating these broader commons, beyond just infrastructure, is key to achieving truly inclusive cycling cities.
West Palm Beach, Florida, has launched MiCa, a free driverless electric shuttle to transport people around its downtown core.
Videos, podcasts, books, and socials:
“Seoul's Linear Parks That Replaced Urban Highways” details how Seoul successfully converted former elevated highways into linear parks and pedestrian walkways, significantly reducing motor vehicle traffic and revitalizing urban areas.
Brian Greenlees animates train lines and bus routes over satellite imagery, blending maps and timetables to tell the story of each city’s public transit system.
“24 Hours in an Illegal, Car-Free Community” shows how Culdesac in Tempe, Arizona challenges traditional urban design by focusing on walkability and mixed-use spaces without dedicated parking, promoting pedestrian access and modern amenities over car dependency.
Jobs:
Superwien Urbanism ZT GmbH is seeking urban consultants residing in Mexico for an international project proposal on sustainable urban development and territorial resilience.
C40 is hiring a senior manager, Climate & Migration to work with the Mayors Migration Council on urban responses to climate migration across a global network of cities. $76,745 salary. Apply by June 5.
Metabolic, a non-profit in Amsterdam focused on bringing regenerative economic principles into practice, is hiring a project manager. Apply by June 15.
The University of Toronto Scarborough is offering a postdoctoral fellowship to research the socio-political impacts of AI-driven battery materials discovery, examining effects on extractive economies, scientific labor, and supply chains. The position pays C$70,000 per year. Apply by July 15.
Events and deadlines:
Strong Towns is hosting a livestream showcasing six "Housing-Ready Cities" and featuring local leaders who have successfully enacted housing reform. May 29.
Join a webinar with Charles T. Brown discussing his book "Arrested Mobility," which explores how structural racism and White supremacy restrict mobility for Black Americans and how unrestricted movement benefits all. June 4.
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!
Cheonggyecheon stream in downtown Seoul, South Korea. Source: Ayyeee Ayyeee