Sustainable Cities Exclusive posts, articles, and infographics

5 of the Best Social Sustainability Blog Posts of 2011

December 26, 2011 by This Big City
with 347 views

A sustainable city requires more than just a sustainable built environment. Social sustainability is critical, something This Big City often focuses on. Here’s 5 of our best blog posts on social sustainability published in 2011: True Love & Congestion: The Social Effects of Congested Cities Referencing a 1966 Argentinian novel and... [read more]

Visual Adventures of the Urban Bicycle

November 7, 2011 by Chuck Wolfe
with 776 views

Today, across the world, in multiple contexts, the allure of the bicycle knows no bounds.Commencing with the atmosphere of Florence, at night above, the images presented here provide multiple examples of the urban bicycle in practice, whether whimsical, functional or historical. In European cities, original, wooden velocipedes are... [read more]

Capturing the Instant City

October 19, 2011 by Richard McGill Murphy
with 210 views

A review of "Instant City", NPR journalist Steve Inskeep's new book about Karachi. [read more]

How City Gates Define Urban Space

October 11, 2011 by Chuck Wolfe
with 428 views

The city gate of old: form follows functionIn a time of urbanization, "arrival cities" and metropolitan regions with multiple urban centers, should a city provide an entry differentiating itself from its barrios, suburbs and exurbs?If so, what form should this entry take, or should it have any form at all?The signature, historic, feature... [read more]

Inexorable Rise Of Urbanization Increases The Need For Sustainability

October 4, 2011 by Nitya Jacob
with 241 views

The crystal ball says the future is bright if politicians, scientists and businesses work together. In an ideal world, politicians take a problem and change it into an opportunity. Businesses provide the capital and processes. Scientists deepen our understanding of society and develop the technology required. In a rapidly urbanizing... [read more]

The Future of India's Cities

September 27, 2011 by Nitya Jacob
with 289 views

There is a great concern that India is urbanizing too rapidly for its own good, that this change in demographics is driven by deprivation in the countryside. India will soon have too many big cities to manage sustainably unless it changes its urban governance paradigm drastically, and soon. Sure, the rate of population growth has increased, and India has added more people to cities than villages in the latest census. But mega-cities are an enormous opportunity for the country’s population. Their combined economic output exceeds the gross domestic product of many countries, even in the developed world. [read more]

The Importance of Place to Sustainability

July 12, 2011 by Kaid Benfield
with 200 views

I find that I am almost always thinking about the quality of places. Hanging out with the likes of David Dixon, Victor Dover, and Steve Mouzon will do that to you. And I am especially thinking about places - as a concept - this week, because on Friday I was told that a presentation on NRDC’s sustainable... [read more]

Interview: Digging Into The US-Canada Sustainable Cities Index

July 8, 2011 by Carissa Wodehouse
with 292 views

Photo: Denver, Courtesy Siemens

Siemens recently released their US and Canada Green City Index in partnership with the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), surveying 27 cities--including 5 Canadian-- in 9 categories of environmental performance. “It's certainly apparent to us that cities are really stepping up and doing most of the work with respect to sustainability”... [read more]

Rethinking Redevelopment Law to Make Sure that Cities Actually Redevelop

July 6, 2011 by Brian Biglin
with 267 views

It is time to redevelop the law on urban redevelopment. The current scheme allowing the same bulldozing that occurred during the era of slum clearance undercuts the revitalization of cities in any fashion, let alone a sustainable and organic one. [read more]

Standing in the Way of Smart Growth

May 26, 2011 by Jacquie McCarnan
with 402 views

Can small communities put aside their personal agenda's for the greater good and embrace the benefits of a smart growth development or are we to be held hostage by the select few who fear change of any sort and are always willing to be very vocal about it? [read more]

Deutsche Bahn and Siemens partner for world’s most advanced train network

May 11, 2011 by Laurent Martin
with 671 views

On Monday, Germany’s state-owned rail operator Deutsche Bahn and Siemens AG confirmed an order for 300 of the most advanced high-speed trains in the world. In what amounts to a Hail Mary pass, the beleaguered Deutsche Bahn is pouring EUR 6 billion into 250km/h ICx train service through 2030, which they hope will restore DB’s... [read more]

Germany disappears under concrete

May 11, 2011 by Helmuth Ziegler
with 165 views

With 357,111 square kilometers Germany is a small country. And every day nearly 100 hectares (247 acres) of its surface disappear under new roads, buildings, parking lots and industrial areas. A process with many negative consequences: The sealed areas are completely lost as habitats for animals and plants. Roads cut the living zones and... [read more]