#3: Paid to Cycle, Forced to Biodiversify, and Banned from Smoking
Welcome to the third 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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Belgian employees can now earn up to €810 annually by cycling to work.
England’s 2024 law mandates a 10% net gain in biodiversity for all new building projects.
As robotaxi business models face scrutiny, driverless buses emerge as a compelling alternative, poised to address driver shortages and urban congestion more effectively.
A U.S. high school is considering replacing its traditional yellow school buses with local public transportation.
Basel Musharbash explores "Did a Private Equity Fire Truck Roll-Up Worsen the L.A. Fires?"
Photographer Trevor Traynor's "Newsstands" series captures striking images of newsstands worldwide.
Reena Mahajan reflects on the 100-year legacy of car-centric urban planning, tracing its roots to a 1925 Los Angeles ordinance that banned jaywalking and reshaped cities worldwide.
Toby D. Couture highlights how electric motorcycles are reshaping urban transport in Africa by increasing driver incomes, lowering costs, and reducing pollution. He references this article.
Across Asia:
Osaka, Japan, the nation's third-largest city, has banned smoking, including vaping, on all streets ahead of the 2025 World Expo.
Mumbai, India, has approved Metro Line 8, a rail line connecting two major airports via a public-private partnership.
Bangkok, grappling with severe urban air pollution, has closed hundreds of schools and initiated free public transport to mitigate the smog crisis.
Videos, Podcasts, and Books:
“The State of Strong Towns 2025” reviews the movement's progress and future, including a successful community effort Sacramento, California to end single-family zoning.
The U.S.-focused publication Next City marked its 100th episode by releasing a list of its 10 most popular episodes.
“How Carmel, Indiana Hid Parking Garages for Walkability, and How They Afforded It” explores how the town significantly enhanced walkability by replacing parking minimums with municipal garages funded through innovative financial strategies.
Ross O’Ceallaigh, host of the “Green Urbanist Podcast,” is launching a new series focused on urban rewilding.
In “Why New Urbanism May Not Age Well,” Charles Marohn of Strong Towns discusses how new urbanist developments are essentially creating an improved version of suburban neighborhoods.
The book “Messy Cities: Why We Can't Plan Everything” is now available for preorder.
The book "The Urban Revolution - Is a Fun Sketch" offers an accessible approach to understanding architecture, cities, and urban complexities. Available now.
Jobs:
Token Transit, which builds a public transportation fare distribution, collection, and management system, is hiring a customer success manager. Fully remote or based in San Francisco. $158,000 salary.
Climate Mayors, a network of U.S. mayors committed to climate action, is hiring a program manager to coordinate initiatives supporting member cities. Fully remote. $80,000 salary. Apply by Feb. 17.
WE ACT for Environmental Justice is hiring a senior project manager to lead community engagement efforts for the EJNYC Plan and drive environmental justice initiatives across New York City. Located in New York City. $105,000 salary.
The AMS Institute is hiring a program developer for its Urban Energy Systems program. Located in Amsterdam. Apply by Feb. 16.
Events and deadlines:
Colombian urbanist Gil Penalosa is hosting a free webinar with Hélène Chartier, a former adviser to Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, titled “The Best Climate Activist Is a Good Urban Planner” on Feb. 4.
The Urban Institute is hosting a free event, "Manufactured for the Future: Building a Climate-Resilient Manufactured Housing Stock," on Feb. 4.
All Things Urban is hosting a free webinar, “Open Source Data & QGIS: A Starter Guide for Urbanists,” covering how to integrate OpenStreetMap data into urban projects. Taking place on Feb. 11.
The 2025 Strongest Town Contest, which recognizes towns that are developing safe, inviting, and financially resilient communities, is accepting nominations until Feb. 16.
The Cities & Health editorial team, in partnership with the International Society for Urban Health (ISUH), invites contributions for a special issue on "Urban Environments at the Frontline of Climate Breakdown and Health," focusing on climate resilience, health integration in urban policies, and the impacts of infrastructure and extreme weather on equity. Submissions are due by Feb. 28.
What did you love? What did we miss? Let us know in the comments below.
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Top view of building with trees, 2018. Source: Unsplash
In Belgium, there is not always a fixed limit on the cycling allowance. It depends on the collective labor agreements (CLAs) negotiated at the company or sector level.
In the company where I am a union representative, we have a bicycle allowance of €0.27 per kilometer for commuting by bike (each way) between home and the workplace, based on the shortest reasonable route. However, contrary to some misconceptions, this amount is not capped at €810.
Since 2023, there has been a fiscal limit on tax-free bicycle allowances, initially set at €3,500 per year and now increased to €3,610. This means that only the portion exceeding this threshold is subject to taxation.
Through effective CLA negotiations, we have successfully promoted cycling by introducing a bicycle allowance and an advantageous bicycle lease program for our employees. As a result, the percentage of employees commuting by bike has grown from less than 3% in 2014 to an impressive 34% in 2024. And yes, we do have a few colleagues who cycle close to the fiscal limit!