Category: Urban Systems

Why Decreasing Gas Usage Advances Indigenous Rights

Why Decreasing Gas Usage Advances Indigenous Rights

Why Decreasing Gas Usage Advances Indigenous Rights

02/07/22

“Why can decreasing natural gas usage advance Indigenous rights?”

Natural gas pipelines are vulnerable to leaks and stressful environmental impacts. Energy companies disproportionately place these networks on Indigenous territory because they are aware that they will face legal ramifications as a result of settler-colonial power structures. However, if people decrease their gas usage, there will be less demand for these pipelines, and Indigenous land will be pressured much less. This is Why Decreasing Gas Usage Advances Indigenous Rights.

Why Converting Parking Space Into Multifamily Housing Is a Great Way for Cities to Welcome Climate Refugees

Why Converting Parking Space Into Multifamily Housing Is a Great Way for Cities to Welcome Climate Refugees

Why Converting Parking Space Into Multifamily Housing Is a Great Way for Cities to Welcome Climate Refugees

02/06/22

“Why is converting parking space into multifamily housing a great way for cities to welcome climate refugees?”

Parking spaces can take up large portions of cities. And these areas are often made of impervious material that causes water to build up during flooding events. And worse, these spaces are not available when natural disasters occur. But one thing we can do is replace their footprint with multi-family housing. Not only does this take away a lot of climate vulnerabilities, but it also creates more room for newcomers to move in. This is Why Converting Parking Space Into Multifamily Housing Is a Great Way for Cities to Welcome Climate Refugees.

Why Bedrock Is a Great Foundation to Build Skyscrapers On

Why Bedrock Is a Great Foundation to Build Skyscrapers On

Why Bedrock Is a Great Foundation to Build Skyscrapers On

02/05/22

“Why is bedrock a great foundation to build skyscrapers on?”

Every building requires a foundation to be built upon. However, heavier buildings like skyscrapers will need a more solid foundation to support. So what kind of material would work for massive skyscrapers? Well, let’s think about it. We know that a pure hard rock would make things very easy to work with. So what if this could come in the form of solid bedrock? Well, this just so happens to be the case! Dense cities like Manhattan that contain heaps of bedrock are great examples of Why Bedrock Is a Great Foundation to Build Skyscrapers On.

Why Allowing Stores in Homes in Residential Areas Can Increase Quality of Life

Why Allowing Stores in Homes in Residential Areas Can Increase Quality of Life

Why Allowing Stores in Homes in Residential Areas Can Increase Quality of Life

02/04/22

“Why will allowing commercial operations in residential areas increase the quality of life?”

Small coffee shops, bookstores, and music venues are some of the biggest magnets for neighborhood livability. However, oftentimes zoning codes prevent these stores from being built in residential neighborhoods, preventing someone from turning their home into a small store. One way to solve this is to change zoning laws to allow stores in homes, giving entrepreneurs a chance to start! This is Why Allowing Stores in Homes in Residential Areas Can Increase Quality of Life.

Why Making Minimum Residential Building Sizes Can Make Housing More Affordable

Why Making Minimum Residential Building Sizes Can Make Housing More Affordable

Why Making Minimum Residential Building Sizes Can Make Housing More Affordable

02/03/22

“Why can making minimum residential building sizes smaller make housing more affordable?”

The bigger a house is, the more likely it will be more expensive. If minimum residential sizes in a neighborhood require large lot sizes, then it will probably be more expensive to live there. But with the rising housing crisis and the ongoing dearth of construction, such a steep requirement for building new housing is something that must be overcome. Instead, communities should look into making minimum residential sizes smaller so more housing can be built and people can have more freedom to live. This way, supply goes up and costs go down. This is Why Making Minimum Residential Building Sizes Can Make Housing More Affordable.

Bike Sharrows

Bike Sharrows

Bike Sharrows

02/02/22

“How can we mark that cars should share the lane with bicycles?”

Separating bicycles from riders is a great way to ensure cyclist safety. However, sometimes this is not possible to achieve. So how can we do the best we can given the circumstances? Well, what if we were to simply mark the part of the road where cyclists are supposed to ride? This would be a relatively affordable and easy to implement procedure and help automobiles know that they should look out for bicyclists. These Bike Sharrows can be found in cities all over the world, wherever there are bicyclists.

Separated Bikeways

Separated Bikeways

Separated Bikeways

02/01/22

“Why might it be a good idea to separate bicycles from automobile traffic?”

Bicycle riders always face the possibility of being hit by a car when they share a lane with them. For this reason, urban planners have devised Separated Bikeways that allow for bicycle riders to ride in their own lane without cars. These hold the potential to save countless lives and make our cities a much better place to live.

Bike Boulevards

Bike Boulevards

Bike Boulevards

01/31/22

“How can we design bike routes through mainly residential neighborhoods?”

Biking is a great activity. It can burn calories, bring people together, and reduce traffic all while being sustainable for the planet. Sometimes, people may want to do this activity in their own neighborhood. So how can we accomplish this? Well, let’s use our urban planning mindset to find out. We know that using signs, pavement markings, and lower traffic speed and volume limits can minimize the amount of traffic coming in and make it safer for bicycles. So what if we were to implement all of these together? Well, this is how Bike Boulevards are formed and is one of the ways that we can make our residential communities safer for biking.

Bike Routes

Bike Routes

Bike Routes

01/30/22

“How can we design extremely enjoyable bike paths?”

Biking can be a really pleasant activity. From the fast motion to the wind on your face and everything in between. City planners have taken note of this, and have seen that some bike paths are extra enjoyable. As a result, they have decided to create dedicated Bike Routes that allow people to move through these extra nice parts.