Fifteen years ago, when I first started writing articles for this blog, those little yellow or red “doormats” at crosswalks—you know, the ones with the evenly dispersed raised bumps—were still a relative novelty. They were just beginning to become prevalent at sidewalk ramps leading to crosswalks. In 2025, I think most Americans have a vague
Returning back to my home turf after some time away—combined with other academic obligations—has forced me to rush through some briefer-than-usual blog articles so that I can still meet my May quota. Having become too dependent on greater Washington DC for inspiration, it’s a refreshing change to cover content outside of Maryland and Virginia. Therefore,
An intense month so far has kept me from the usual pace of blog articles, and a forthcoming 10-day period of travel will further impede me. But, at the end of the journey, I hope to have some amazing fodder in some states that have received little or no representation so far. Until then, I
Every little bit of construction counts! And, in smaller municipalities, what might pass as no big deal instantly seems momentous. Case in point: the multifamily development in the photos below would seem unremarkable and barely worthy of mention in a city the size of, say, Indianapolis. (Or even the suburb of Greenwood just to the
As one urban advocacy campaign sunsets, another rises. I’ve written multiple times—mostly before 2015—about the complete streets initiative: an effort to encourage municipal public works departments to design urban streets for all different tiers of users. In short, a “complete street” does not just feature vehicular lanes; it offers distinct bike lanes or grade-separated cycle
I strive to research my critiques of confusing public infrastructure as much as possible, so that these articles don’t assume the tone and tenor of a rant. Everyone at some point has encountered a situation in an unfamiliar city (whether big or small) that confuses and probably irritates him or her. It’s understandable to sound
In a scramble to meet my quota of articles before the end of November, I offer a simple ponder and an almost 360° view at a single intersection. A series of photos offers all that is necessary to conceive a small manufacturing city’s metamorphosis through the increasing prevalence of the automobile over the twentieth century.
Several weeks ago I featured the borough of Wilson, Pennsylvania—a small municipality in the Lehigh Valley region, where Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton are the most prominent cities. Wilson is adjacent to Easton and in most respects is culturally indistinct: at a certain point it incorporated as a separate municipality, but it shares Easton’s street grid,
On a recent impromptu trip, I stumbled across a mild technological innovation I had not seen before in the United States: a green glow, right at the edge of a sidewalk where I was about to cross a street—basically a feature within illuminated crosswalks. Apparently illuminated crosswalks are nothing new; the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
It’s been almost two years exactly since I featured various metal rods, rings, and ridges carefully positioned at select locations in various parks and civic plazas in Oakland and San Francisco. Aside from alliteration, these rods, rings, and ridges shared one ambition: to prevent people from engaging in certain undesirable activities at these public gathering
Fifteen years ago, when I first started writing articles for this blog, those little yellow or red “doormats” at crosswalks—you know, the ones with the evenly dispersed raised bumps—were still a relative novelty.
Returning back to my home turf after some time away—combined with other academic obligations—has forced me to rush through some briefer-than-usual blog articles so that I can still meet my May quota. Having
An intense month so far has kept me from the usual pace of blog articles, and a forthcoming 10-day period of travel will further impede me. But, at the end of the journey,
Every little bit of construction counts! And, in smaller municipalities, what might pass as no big deal instantly seems momentous. Case in point: the multifamily development in the photos below would seem unremarkable
As one urban advocacy campaign sunsets, another rises. I’ve written multiple times—mostly before 2015—about the complete streets initiative: an effort to encourage municipal public works departments to design urban streets for all different
I strive to research my critiques of confusing public infrastructure as much as possible, so that these articles don’t assume the tone and tenor of a rant. Everyone at some point has encountered
In a scramble to meet my quota of articles before the end of November, I offer a simple ponder and an almost 360° view at a single intersection. A series of photos offers
Several weeks ago I featured the borough of Wilson, Pennsylvania—a small municipality in the Lehigh Valley region, where Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton are the most prominent cities. Wilson is adjacent to Easton and
On a recent impromptu trip, I stumbled across a mild technological innovation I had not seen before in the United States: a green glow, right at the edge of a sidewalk where I
It’s been almost two years exactly since I featured various metal rods, rings, and ridges carefully positioned at select locations in various parks and civic plazas in Oakland and San Francisco. Aside from