• Have coronavirus shutdowns prompted an epidemic of reckless driving?

    A pattern of more traffic deaths on less crowded roads may instead highlight an ongoing problem: Poorly designed urban thoroughfares.
    That Guy finally got his way. The one who weaves between lanes tailgating whichever driver he can intimidate the most, then revs the engine as he whizzes by just to cut you off: it's his world now. Reports from many cities indicate a surge in aggressive speeding, and with it, automobile crashes...Read more

  • San Francisco makes downtown artery car-free

    Banning of cars is the first step in a streetscape reconstruction of the city’s major thoroughfare.
    The busiest section of the busiest street in San Francisco became car-free in the past week. Market Street is a major shopping street and an employment center through the central business district. Private cars, including Uber and Lyft, were permanently banned on a 2-mile-long section of the...Read more

  • The cost of an extra foot

    Our cities desperately need professional engineers to realign their values to reflect those of the broader society, and we can start by making streets no wider than they need to be.
    Civil engineers generally have a conservative disposition. I’m not talking politics but their way of approaching the world. My fellow engineers tend to dress conservatively, keep a low profile, and avoid social situations, especially where they will be the focus of attention. I’ve experienced few...Read more

  • Why choose a grid?

    The decision of a city in Texas to plan for new growth using a grid of streets has inspired readers and makes a lot of sense.
    The recent article on Bastrop, Texas, struck a chord with a lot of readers. The city of about 9,000 people southeast of Austin has adopted a street grid for growth—one of the few cities that have taken that step since 1950. Bastrop is applying the grid in unique and flexible ways. The goal is to...Read more