#69: Pothole ARTivism, Mapping Biometric Surveillance, and Colorado Codifies Bike Safety

Welcome to the 69th 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!

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Let’s get started:

• Citizens used spray paint to highlight neglected potholes, prompting local governments to make repairs and inspiring similar “ARTivism” in Sofia, Bulgaria. What tactical urbanism have you seen in your community?

• A map of NYC stores and venues using biometric surveillance was released by the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project to track the spread and advocate for a ban on such technologies.

• Colorado just made it illegal to stop, stand, or park in bike lanes, punishable by fines up to $100. The legislation also updates official language, replacing the term “accident” with “crash” to better reflect the severity of bicycle-involved collisions.

Videos, podcasts, books, and socials:

• A podcast episode brings together four authors of recent books to discuss the political economy of the private rental sector, housing injustice and the renaissance of tenant organizing across the Global North.

Jobs:

• Citizens Housing & Planning Council is hiring a policy analyst/researcher in New York City to conduct rigorous research and analysis on housing and planning policy. $70k - $80k salary. Apply by May 29.

• The Dutch Cycling Embassy is hiring international internship program participants to promote Dutch cycling expertise worldwide from its Utrecht, Netherlands, office. Interns will work on projects related to urban mobility and planning. Apply by June 12.

• CALSTART is hiring a senior director, innovative mobility to lead strategy and execution across zero-emission personal mobility, last-mile delivery, and school mobility, focusing on equitable access and clean air. $140k - $178 salary.

• The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is hiring a planner/senior planner to support campus planning initiatives, including developing long-range land use plans, master plans, and space utilization studies.

• ETH Zurich’s Institute of Technology in Architecture is hiring for numerous roles, including assistant, research associate, architect/civil engineer, postdoctoral researcher, research assistant, software engineer, intern and PhD positions.

Events and deadlines:

• Humankind is offering a “Mastering Urban Mobility Change“ course for city makers and practitioners to learn frameworks and methodologies for accelerating human-centric urban mobility transitions and engaging communities. The four-session online course costs €250. May 20.

• Three faculty members are launching a free, hybrid research workshop for young scholars interested in cities, urban systems, real estate, and urban economies. The workshop offers direct faculty mentorship to develop original research ideas. Apply by May 29.

• The DAAD EPOS Scholarship offers a fully funded master’s degree in sustainable development management in Germany for students from developing countries. Recipients receive 992 euros monthly, plus insurance and travel allowances. Apply by June 1.

• Inclusive Abundance Initiative has launched a request for policy proposals for its ‘Abundance Agenda,’ a federal policy menu aiming to tackle scarcity in areas like housing, jobs, and energy across America. Apply by June 5.

• The first Global Convening on Informal & Shared Mobility (GloCon) will bring together global leaders, policymakers, and innovators in Bangkok this October to discuss the role of informal and shared mobility systems. Early bird registration is open through June 15.

• The Project Seminar in Applied Urban Research is seeking partner organizations to propose urban challenges for students to research. Proposals are welcome from citizen associations, urban planning departments, NGOs and other public, civic or private organizations. June 30.

• The Urban Studies Journal has issued a call for papers for a special issue on “Operationalizing Southern Urbanism(s) in Uncertain Times,” inviting contributions that show what it means to operationalize southern urbanism 2.0 today. Abstracts are due Aug. 1.

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What did you love? What did we miss? Let us know in the comments below.

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A painted pothole. By: Image Not Found