Registrations for Edmonton’s 2025 Jane’s Walks are now open! I’ll be leading a walking tour of the grounds of the Alberta Legislature. (It shows as sold out, but I am generally open to a few extras.) But there are SO many other great great free tours to take! https://janewalksyeg.wordpress.com/ #yeg #Edmonton #JanesWalk #urbanism #UrbanPlanning #ableg #yegdt
“How to make cars disappear without banning them” https://www.urbanismspeakeasy.com/p/how-to-make-cars-disappear-without
/by @boenau
#LTNs #TrafficSafety #urbanism
____
One of the reasons I love walking through the neighbouring borough to where I live are the LTNs. I wish my own borough would try it too.
It's crazy how normal we think it is, that twice in a day (early morning, still sleepy, and after work, already tired) half the population gets into and controls heavy machinery that kills hundreds of thousands of people every year.
EDIT: Typo
Strong Towns ABQ Monthly Meeting
Orpheum/Homewise Offices, Wednesday, April 16 at 06:00 PM MDT
Strong Towns ABQ Chapter on Instagram: "
Join us for Strong Towns ABQ’s April Meeting! We’re teaming up with the City of Albuquerque Sustainability Office for a workshop on how to shape local policies for a stronger, more sustainable city. 
Land Use & Transportation Greenhouse Gas Inventory How YOU can influence city & regional decisions! Let’s learn, ask questions, and make an impact together!"
Paris Proves the Power of Pedals: How Cycling Helped Cut Pollution in Half
"Over the past two decades, the French capital has undergone a remarkable transformation — and cyclists are riding at the heart of it. A recent report by Airparif, the independent organization that monitors air quality in the Île-de-France region, delivered the kind of news that would have seemed unimaginable 20 years ago: between 2005 and 2024, levels of nitrogen dioxide and fine particulate matter — two of the most harmful pollutants to human health — have been slashed by 50% and 55%, respectively."
https://momentummag.com/paris-proves-the-power-of-pedals-how-cycling-helped-cut-pollution-in-half/
#ArtNouveau brooch,
by Henri Vever 1905
This devant de corsage (1905) is the work of Henri Vever. Its first owner was the first director of the Musée des Arts Décoratifs. In a letter, the jeweler explains that irregular Mississippi pearls were chosen to create the most realistic chrysanthemum blooms possible
By #ArtDecoAndArtNouveau
#Architecture #Design #Style #Nature #Art #Artist #Photo #Photographer #Urbanism #City #Village #Staircases #History #Histoire #Abandoned #AbandonedPlaces
A round-shaped interior doorway with an #ArtDeco design from the 1930s.
Credit: Helen Pitia
By #ArtDecoAndArtNouveau
#Architecture #Design #Style #Nature #Art #Artist #Photo #Photographer #Urbanism #City #Village #Staircases #History #Histoire #Abandoned #AbandonedPlaces
This will be a horrible scenario for Philadelphia:
Those and other cuts totaling 45% of SEPTA service would be implemented in two phases, starting this fall — if the Pennsylvania legislature doesn’t pass Gov. Josh Shapiro’s latest proposal to increase state aid for mass transit systems.
#philly #philadelphia #transit #pennsylvania #trains #urbanism
https://www.inquirer.com/transportation/septa-budget-announcement-bus-subway-cuts-20250410.html
Friday Links 25-05
Many podcasts this week. I really loved the one with Cyndi Lauper.
I did enjoy the one with Kent Beck and basically all the engineering and leadership ones.
https://christof.damian.net/2025/04/friday-links-25-05.html
#leadership, #engineering, #environment, #urbanism, #friday, #fridaylinks, #links
When the housing crisis crashes into the underfunded public school system: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-09/parramatta-macquarie-boys-high-school-housing-sydney/105117922 #education #housing #urbanism #auspol #nswpol
"An abandoned school in Parramatta earmarked for housing should be converted into a new school to service the area's booming population, locals say.
"Macquarie Boys Technology High School and the residential care facility at Rydalmere were both shut down in 2009, leaving the 19-hectare plot of land abandoned.
"In 2018, the former state Liberal government announced it would turn the land at Rydalmere into a new primary and high school, but it stalled.
"The current government was looking to transform the site into a residential and commercial precinct, and was searching for developers to build about 2,300 homes on the site by 2028.
…
"Parramatta councillor Kellie Darley said she was concerned that, at present, schools in the area would not be able to accommodate the city's growing population."
Personally, I think a vertical school on part of the site would fill the need for more schools in the area, while leaving most of the site free for more housing.
And there's a fantastic example nearby: https://www.schoolinfrastructure.nsw.gov.au/projects/a/arthur-phillip-high-school.html
I'm not into parkour myself—I'm not nearly dexterous or fit enough. But I'm definitely all for more dedicated parkour spaces being rolled out across our cities.
The only part I'm less sold about is putting it under a busy motorway. Especially given there are far better locations in the area, particularly in Parramatta Park!
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/sydney-has-a-new-playground-but-it-s-not-for-little-kids-20250409-p5lqfe.html #urbanism #parkour #auspol
"As parkour videos continue to go viral online, the City of Parramatta is jumping on the trend with the opening of its first parkour-themed playground on Thursday.
"Hidden under [the M4 motorway], the new park is part of a pilot program to transform about 1000 square metres of dead space into a multipurpose park.
"Although open to people of all ages, the space – known as Junction Street Plaza – is aiming to get teenagers “off the screen” and back outdoors, said Parramatta Lord Mayor Martin Zaiter.
"'A lot of the playgrounds you have in Parramatta and other LGAs cater for the very young, and there is that gap, and I think that this plaza here is just fantastic for teenagers and above,' Zaiter said.
"'We want to make it more appealing especially for teenagers who sit there on their screens to get out from indoors and to go and do something outdoors, so this is a great option for them.'"
Canadian Liberal Leader Mark Carney proposes doubling annual home construction to nearly 500,000 units through a new public/private entity, Build Canada Homes (BCH), to finance and oversee affordable housing projects.
#canada #urbanism #urbanplanning #housing
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/carney-double-pace-home-building-1.7497947
#YouTube roads enthusiast Jon of Auto Shenanigans is "confused- or is it conflicted?" about #London's "Absolutely Average £2.2 BILLION #SilvertownTunnel"
#roads
#urbanism
#transport
https://youtube.com/watch?v=r85YruCVMTs&feature=shared
Fantastic advocacy work by @walk_sydney on reforming the NSW Roads Act, so our streets are for people and not just cars: https://walksydney.substack.com/p/reforming-the-roads-act-walksydney #auspol #nswpol #politics #urbanism
"We want a Roads Act that guarantees freedom to move — especially for children, older adults, people with disabilities, and everyone in between. That means recognising walking as a fundamental right and delivering streets that are safe, inclusive, and accessible.
"We also made the case for a Commissioner for safe and inclusive streets — someone with real power to hold road authorities accountable, require crossings and footpaths, and ensure safety is never compromised.
"The Roads Act Review is a chance to reimagine how our streets serve people. We’re optimistic and we’ll keep pushing to make sure this opportunity delivers real, lasting change."
Considered to be an #ArtDeco Masterpiece. City Hall of Buffalo, NY. Completed in 1931
By #ArtDecoAndArtNouveau
#Architecture #Design #Style #Nature #Art #Artist #Photo #Photographer #Urbanism #City #Village #Staircases #History #Histoire #Abandoned #AbandonedPlaces
The service will mirror KTMB's Komuter networks, providing fast, frequent rail options to southern commuters.
Travel time between Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru will be slashed from seven hours on a diesel train to just 3.5 hours on the new electric trains, which are capable of speeds up to 140 km/h.
@ckent @nickzoic @jessta That 3–5 storey range is a good happy medium. Especially if there's shops or cafés on the ground floor.
Having looked at apartments lately, it's amazing the difference that bigger room sizes, a wider living room, and a larger balcony can make.
I think there's also an underserved need for more 3 to 4 bedroom apartments.
And in terms of housing affordability, 4 bedrooms might make housing more affordable for people.
How?
Because many people — especially younger people — share an apartment.
So even if the apartment costs $1000 per week, if it's shared between four housemates, that works out to just $250 each per week.
Australia spends $714 per person on roads each year – but just 90c on walking and cycling. Ahead of the Federal election, email your local candidates to tell them to change this: https://www.betterstreets.org.au/emailcandidates #auspol #urbanism #cycling #walking
From Better Streets:
"Better Streets is calling for a major boost in active transport funding ahead of the 2025 federal election. Right now, the Australian Government spends just $0.90 per person—we're pushing for $15 per person per year over the next decade (for more information check out the article in The Conversation).
"We’re urging all political parties to commit to $400 million annually for walking and cycling infrastructure, funding:
Safe, connected walking and cycling networks in 15 regional cities
Comprehensive networks of Cycling “Superhighways” and pedestrian crossings in major capitals
E-bike subsidies, like successful programs in Tasmania & Queensland
Enabling kids to walk and bike to school
A dedicated unit within the Australian Government to oversee the active transport program
"Help us make it happen! Read our Open Letter and email your local candidates." 
