• The State of Coronavirus in America

    The way the virus has hit states and regions of the country differs greatly. The State of Coronavirus in America looks at divergent health impacts, including varying acceleration and hotspots.
    The coronavirus affects every city and town in many ways—and communities won’t begin to understand the extent of its impacts until the immediate crisis is over. My aim is to present facts on the coronavirus pandemic in a way that clarifies the crisis to readers, and, along the way, sheds light on...Read more

  • Why we need ‘sociable distancing’

    The false duality between dense public spaces and isolated private ones misses the complexity of all the diverse—and relatively safe—urban places in between.
    One of the long-term dangers of the coronavirus pandemic is that it may well exacerbate the worst tendencies of modern sprawl: all of the encapsulated, sedentary, car-dependent habits that have left us increasingly isolated and less healthy . One of the great opportunities of this episode, however...Read more

  • Facts don't support the ‘density is dangerous’ narrative

    Ultimately, this crisis will highlight how much we need to come together in the real world, and cities are a big part of that.
    Over the last two weeks there’s been a lot of speculation that cities are more dangerous places during the coronavirus pandemic—and some have concluded that cities will change and suburbs will become more popular to make communities safer in the years to come. New York State Gov. Andrew Cuomo said...Read more

  • Aging population needs walkable, bikeable cities

    Seniors have the most to gain from pedestrian and cycling improvements—yet they often feel threatened by changes that provide alternatives to driving. Here are ways to include seniors in active transportation planning.
    The first time someone accused me of being “ableist” I was shocked. I was advocating ways to make downtown more walkable, including pedestrianizing some streets. I view walkability as a means to provide access for all abilities. Yet here someone was telling me, “not everyone can walk, you know.” I’...Read more