Hace aproximadamente 6 años, mi madre cruzaba la avenida Loy Alfaro por el paso cebra en el semáforo correcto y un auto la atropelló. Afortunadamente solo se fracturó la muñeca. Comúnmente mi madre realiza sus actividades diarias por el barrio y la ciudad sin auto y muchas veces se ha caído debido a las veredas rotas y otras ha esperado buses que nunca le paran, como si la ciudad no la entendiera o no estuviera hecha para ella.Y ustedes, ¿cuántas veces han sentido que la ciudad no fue hecha para ustedes. En ...

گستافلو در رمان مادام بواری در ابتدای اون رمان دانشآموز تازه وارد به کلاسی رو کلاهشو توصیف میکنه توصیف این کلاه تقریباً دو صفحه از اون رمان طول می‌کشه. امروز که حدود ۱۷ سال از نوشتن اون رمان می‌گذره، هنوز طرفدارانش موفق نشدن به نتیجه مشترکی در تجسم اون کلاه برسن. هرچه بیشتر طلاح شده نتایج دورتر شده شاید دلیلش اینه که فلوبر که در ظاهر به شکل اول شخص جمع کلاه رو توصیف کرده توصیف کلاه توصیفی از طرف تمام همکلاسی‌ها یک روایت جمعیه که ترکیبیه از تمام این تکصداها ها و این تکداها هیچ‌وقت در تجسم هیچ‌کس به یه کلاه ت ...

Urban Development & Planning - Current urban development prioritizes cars over people, leading to isolation and hindering natural interactions [9][11][12] - Sprawling suburban development leads to economic dead zones and inefficient land use, with 30% of residential space potentially unused [8][9] - Zoning laws and parking requirements often make walkable, mixed-use developments illegal, hindering small businesses and community interaction [18][19] - Reclaiming spaces for people, such as parklets and pedestrian zones, can increase property values, tourism, and improve traffic flow [29][31] - Walkable neighborhoods generate five times more tax revenue per dollar than typical suburban strip malls, and retail space fetches a 90% premium [36] Environmental Impact - Suburban homes use four times as much water as urban residences due to lawns and non-native plants [23] - Sprawling development disrupts ecosystems and water systems, particularly in vulnerable environments like the Mojave Desert [21][22] - Cities spend three times as much per household to provide basic services in sprawling suburbs compared to densely populated areas [26] - The average American spends 55 minutes daily driving and $12,000 annually on car expenses, creating an economic burden [27] Social & Economic Considerations - Car-dependent sprawl contributes to social isolation and mental health issues, as exemplified by Las Vegas ranking as the second loneliest city in America [15] - Collision density, fostered by inward city growth, promotes innovation and economic growth through chance encounters and shared spaces [16] - Third places (coffee shops, parks, plazas) are essential for mental health and economic vitality, but often made impossible by zoning laws [17][18]

Urban Planning Goals - China's Communist Party aims for cities to be "liveable, beautiful, resilient, civilised and smart" by 2035 [1] Implementation Challenges - Implementing the ambitious urban plan might be harder than it sounds [1]

Urban Development Challenges - Many Chinese cities face issues like sprawl, smog, and gridlock [1] - China's leadership aims for a new urban development approach focused on creating more pleasant cities [1] Policy & Strategy - The new approach prioritizes quality of life over massive expansion [1] - Implementing this new approach will be challenging [1]

Urban Planning & Climate Resilience - London can learn from Seville on heatwave management [1]

Urban Planning & Design - The core issue in urban design is walkability, which has been a focus of city planning for thousands of years, but is often neglected in North America due to a disconnect between planners and residents' needs [6][7][8] - Car dependency negatively impacts safety and comfort, contributing to a lack of independent mobility for children and a young driving age, despite the fact that vehicle collisions are a leading cause of death for young people in the US [13][14] - The rise of suburbs in the 1950s, driven by the baby boom and post-World War II desires for space and safety, has led to car-dependent communities with significant flaws [11][12] - Mixed-use developments, like Chinatown, which integrate residential and commercial spaces, are common in Europe and Asia but rare in North America, offering a unique character and identity to a city [23] - The concept of induced demand suggests that building more roads actually increases traffic, as people shift to driving due to perceived convenience [32][33] Historical Context & Visionary Ideas - Walt Disney's original concept for Epcot was intended to revolutionize city design by prioritizing pedestrians and creating a central commercial district with underground transportation [18][20] - Victor Gruin, the inventor of shopping malls, originally envisioned them as community-building spaces similar to European shop-lined streets, but his vision was altered to focus on consumerism [25][26][27] Solutions & Future Vision - The industry should focus on creating cities that are safe, useful, comfortable, and interesting, as highlighted in the book "Walkable City" [10] - The industry should consider implementing one or two-way roads with integrated bike lanes, ample crosswalks, and transit lanes connecting the city center to surrounding residential areas [35] - The industry should promote mixed-use streets with locally-owned businesses to create unique character and reduce the need for driving [22][24] Transportation & Mobility - In the 1950s, over 50% of students walked to school, compared to less than 13% today, highlighting the decline in pedestrian-friendly infrastructure [15]

Risk Assessment - One in six Texans, approximately 16.67%, lives or works in a flood hazard area [1] Policy & Planning - Politicians need to improve planning for increasingly inhabited low-lying plains [1]

Community Development & Urban Planning - Advocates for incremental improvements in communities through small, resident-led actions, contrasting with large-scale "mega projects" often favored by politicians [1] - Mega projects often fail to build a sense of community or engage average citizens, leading to a lack of investment and weaker social ties [1] - The "Strong Towns Method" involves observing community struggles, identifying the smallest actionable step, and repeating the process [2] - Post-World War II community planning shifted towards large institutional investors and governments planning entire subdivisions, hindering individual adaptation and fostering isolation [2] - Small actions by a collective of residents can lead to significant community changes [2] Housing Crisis & Solutions - Bloomington Normal faces a housing shortage of at least 4,500 units, projected to potentially grow to 16,000 units in 10 years [2] - A small percentage of homeowners renting out spare rooms or building additional units could democratize the response to the housing crisis [3] Community Engagement & Revitalization - Community engagement activities, such as trash pickups, foster interaction and identification of local problems [3] - Documenting and displaying the history of old homes can create a sense of common identity and encourage community investment [3] - Community land trusts can assist elderly or disabled residents with DIY projects, restoring pride and safety [4] Economic Development - Renting out a VFW post kitchen to startups lowers the barrier to economic participation, enabling small restaurants to test menus and grow their brand [6][7] - Allowing patrons to bring their own food to a bar can foster community and potentially sustain a food truck, promoting economic resilience [8][9]