5 Telltale Signs You’re on the Stroad From Hell

Stroads are everywhere in North America—but since they don’t come with any labeling, this handy guide will help you identify when you’re on one.

Baltimore Wants Permanent Parklets

Baltimore’s department of transportation is considering making the city’s temporary outdoor dining “parklets” a permanent fixture.

News, Top StoryAsia MieleszkoJanuary 19, 2023parklet, Third Places, restaurants, maryland

The U.S. Is Running Out of Skilled Labor. Is It Gen Z’s Fault?

The U.S. needs more carpenters, plumbers, and other people in skilled trades and technical industries—and a lot of people are quick to point fingers at Gen Z for not picking up the slack.

Podcast, Top StoryStrong TownsJanuary 18, 2023podcast, upzoned

Will There Still Be Chinatowns in Utopia?

“Community character" is often invoked to support exclusion and discrimination, but there are also communities whose unique "character" matters—a lot. How (if at all) should local government support such places?

Herriges, Top StoryDaniel HerrigesJanuary 18, 2023local government, local regulation, race, housing policy, neighborhoods

Do It Afraid

To save our cities, we need to try new ideas, and that’s scary. But sometimes we must make scary decisions if we’re ever going to move into a stronger, more resilient future.

Owens, Top StoryTiffany Owens ReedJanuary 17, 2023local government, policy change, city government

These 4 Communities Are Leading the Way in Making Their Places Stronger

Today, we’re announcing the four communities hosting the inaugural Community Action Lab.

Top StoryStrong TownsJanuary 16, 2023announcement, Community Action Lab

Ruling: Oklahoma Turnpike Authority “Willfully” Misled Public to Force $5 Billion Expansion Project

The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority faces multiple lawsuits, with plaintiffs alleging its plans for an imminent turnpike expansion project not only lacked transparency, but were illegal.

News, Top StoryAsia MieleszkoJanuary 16, 2023transportation, infrastructure, oklahoma, DOT, highways, freeway widening, end highway expansion

Sketches of Shenandoah

A drive through Shenandoah National Park, and a look back at its 1930s creation, offers a glimpse into the early era of American car culture, when motoring was a recreational activity with a lighter imprint on the landscape.

Edward Erfurt, Top StoryEdward ErfurtJanuary 13, 2023car culture, history, rural, environment, parks

In This Housing Fight, It’s Conservative Politicians vs. Conservative Policies

One would expect a Republican governor to endorse free-market solutions on a local level, yet housing and zoning tend to scramble traditional political debates in unexpected ways.

News, Top StoryBen AbramsonJanuary 12, 2023Incremental Housing, housing, housing affordability, housing crisis, housing cost, politics, florida

5 Cities That Repealed Parking Minimums in 2022

In recent years, a rapidly growing number of cities across North America have begun repealing mandatory parking minimums. Here are a few highlights from 2022.

People Move to Places with Zoning Laws, Ergo Zoning Is Good?

Is there any way to make a case for exclusionary zoning? Today’s episode of Upzoned examines two recent articles that argue over the matter.

Podcast, Top StoryStrong TownsJanuary 11, 2023podcast, zoning, Incremental Housing, upzoned

This City Knows How to Talk to Residents!

This video about a recent street redesign project in Selkirk, Manitoba, shows just how cities should be communicating with their residents.

Roundabout Woes in North Denver

Design flaws in these Denver roundabouts are undermining their potential as tools for calming traffic.

Top StorySeairra JonesJanuary 11, 2023Roundabouts, safety, traffic engineering, colorado, transportation, safe and productive streets

Everything Is a Safety Improvement

…At least, according to the transportation professionals who advance harmful infrastructure projects in the communities they’re supposed to serve.

Top StoryAsia MieleszkoJanuary 10, 2023engineers, engineering ethics, end highway expansion, safety, infrastructure

Designing for Resilience: Policies Are Great, but Design Is What Will Change Your Life

Citizens and city leaders striving to pivot from car-based design to more resilient models of growth and development need to start planning our places with the end in mind—the “end” being everyday life, itself.

Owens, Top StoryTiffany Owens ReedJanuary 10, 2023urban design, biking, fragility, texas

Mike Hathorne: Where Does Decision-Making Need to Occur in Our Communities?

Commun1ty.one Principal and Strong Towns member Mike Hathorne joins the podcast today to talk about the concept of subsidiarity.

Podcast, Marohn, Top StoryStrong TownsJanuary 9, 2023podcast, local government, member commentary

Vaccines Reduce Auto Crashes...?

The Reckless Driver™ narrative reaches a whole new level of absurdity, associating reckless driving with failure to vaccinate against COVID-19.

Marohn, Top StoryCharles MarohnJanuary 9, 2023car crash, politics, Street Design, stroad, safe and productive streets, covid

The Power of Paint in Street Transformation

With some simple, low-tech tools, the street next to a neighborhood park can be transformed in a way that’s friendly to both city budgets and residents wanting to access the park.