Inside Bloomberg's $1 Trillion Infrastructure Plan
Drawing on his time as New York City mayor, Michael Bloomberg proposes handing power and money to urban leaders as part of his Democratic presidential bid.
Out of Darkness, Light Rail!
In an era of austere federal funding for urban public transportation, light rail seemed to make sense. Did the little trains of the 1980s pull their own weight?
Bernie Sanders Wins Endorsement From the Internet’s Premier Urbanist Meme-Makers
In backing the Vermont senator, the popular Facebook group “New Urbanist Memes for Transit-Oriented Teens” is leveraging some offline political clout.
Behind the Gains in U.S. Public Transit Ridership
Public transportation systems in the United States gained passengers over the second and third quarters of 2019. But the boost came from two large cities.
How the On-Demand Economy Reshaped Cities
Since 2010, a slew of on-demand companies and technologies have managed to use consumer data to transform the commercial significance of urban living.
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The Maps That Made You, Dear Readers
From CityLab’s mailbag: Here are the personal stories about how maps shaped your lives.
Why Kansas City’s Free Transit Experiment Matters
The Missouri city is the first major one in the U.S. to offer no-cost public transportation. Will a boost in subsidized mobility pay off with economic benefits?
The Bankrupt American Brands Still Thriving in Japan
Cultural cachet, licensing deals, and density explain why Toys ‘R’ Us, Tower Records, Barneys, and other faded U.S. retailers remain big across the Pacific.
Most Electric Scooter Riders Are Men. Here's Why.
Most users of micromobility devices like dockless scooters and e-bikes are young men. Fixing that gender gap may take more than just adding safety features.
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MapLab: The Power of Counter-Maps
A biweekly tour of the ever-expanding cartographic landscape.
What Happens When a City Tries to End Traffic Deaths
Several years into a ten-year “Vision Zero” target, some cities that took on a radical safety challenge are seeing traffic fatalities go up.
The Future of the Streetlight Might Be in the Past
A new competition from the L.A. mayor’s office invites designers to reimagine the rich history of civic illumination and create next-generation streetlights.
MapLab: Killer Apps
A biweekly tour of the ever-expanding cartographic landscape.
Navigation Apps Changed the Politics of Traffic
In an excerpt from the new book The Future of Transportation, CityLab’s Laura Bliss adds up the “price of anarchy” when it comes to traffic navigation apps.
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MapLab: Census, Sense Us
A biweekly tour of the ever-expanding cartographic landscape.
What’s Missing From Apple’s $2.5 Billion Housing Plan
Apple is the latest tech giant to commit funds to California’s housing crisis. But experts say the largest barrier to housing is not money; it's political will.
California’s Wildfires Are Not a Morality Tale
The fire-scorched state’s history has long been marked by calamities. But its latest disaster did not come to teach Californians a lesson.
It’s Getting Riskier to Walk and Bike After Dark
The last decade has seen a gruesome rise in nighttime traffic fatalities for walkers and bike riders, with no conclusive explanation.
Uber’s Beef With L.A. Is Bigger Than Data
The ride-hailing giant is convinced that L.A.’s data-tracking tool is violating state privacy laws. But the stakes for its business go further.
California Contemplates a Dark and Fiery Future
A fresh round of wind-fanned wildfires and planned power outages is darkening the fate of Pacific Gas & Electric, the state’s largest electric power utility.