Those who met Enrique Penalosa at our national meeting in San Diego last spring know that he is unapologetically pro-urban, pro-pedestrian and anti-car.  We recently ran across a series of videos featuring Enrique's thoughts on a car-free world, investing in public space and cities as a means of achieving equality… more

There is something lovely about this map.  It maps the summer smells of New York.

Pittsburgh has been featured in headlines across the country for its impressive story of urban renewal. This recent article highlights Venture Outdoors, an organization that takes advantage of the distinctive assets available in Pittsburgh.  With the city's center at the convergence of three rivers and surrounded… more

As a preview to the work CEOs for Cities is launching on the future of cities next month at our VELOCITY salon in Grand Rapids, GOOD Magazine asked for a primer piece, which was published late last week on the GOOD blog. It's capturing quite a bit of attention… more

This BBC article highlights how mobile phones are being used to gather new data on behavioral patterns. 

Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the research tracked the use of mobile phones to establish information on friendship networks.more

Portland has become the epicenter of a new dining trend highlighted in Bon Appetit. 

Mobile street food carts have found a receptive audience in the city where the offerings “have been elevated from pedestrian fare to destination dining.… more

Today, I had an opportunity to interview Kirsten Kaufman, who calls herself Portland's Bicycle Realtor.  She is a real charmer, a working woman with three young sons who enjoys her life that is mostly car-free.  She admits to having a van, but she only gets it out "once or twice… more

With home prices bottoming out in many areas nationally, people are looking for any way to get more for their homes. For some, there is a ray of hope….walkability. A new study says that if you want more dough for your house (tell us if anyone says no) it helps… more

Although the exact date of its invention is debated, the bicycle is almost 200 years old.  So why all the excitement now?

Boston has become the latest city to venture into street bike rentals.  Streetsblog reports that the city has awarded a contract to the same company that launched… more

James Wagner, president of Emory University, makes a compelling case today in the Atlanta Journal Constitution on how universities are key contributors to a city's growth.  He cites their sustained impact, their role as large employers, and their ability to attract, develop and retain talent.

Wagner adds, "And unlike… more

Many urban leaders long for light rail.  Many make the trip to Portland and come away with visions of the line they will build in their own cities.

The problem is, though, they forget to ride the buses that connect to the light rail lines.  They forget to drive Portland's… more

Maybe there is a happy ending to the New Orleans story after all.  A recent article in the New York Times reports that young visionaries in the Big Easy are busy promoting their city's post-Katrina burgeoning entrepreneurial ecosystem that they say makes it a breeding ground for launching new businesses… more

I remember my reaction the first time I encountered a security scanner at City Hall in Memphis.  I was furious.  I had once worked on the third floor of this building in the CAO's office.  Besides, this was my City Hall.  I paid for it with my tax dollars.  I… more