Sidewalk Talk

Outside the box truck: Innovations in delivery that could change our cities

In this Sidewalk Talk Q&A, researcher Anne Goodchild explains how simple ideas like lockers and cargo bikes could make our neighborhoods more “lovely, green, quiet, and livable.”

Expectations, Uncertainties, and Policy Choices for Self-Driving Cities

A guide to where things stand on this most promising — but highly uncertain — technology.

The real benefits of real-time transit data

A Sidewalk Talk Q&A with researcher Candace Brakewood on all the ways it improves our lives — and its role in a potential car-free urban future.

Where new mobility and traditional transit are actually getting along

Pinellas County is home to perhaps the most advanced “micro-transit” system in action: a fleet of ride-hail vehicles that feeds into the bus system while reducing costs and expanding job access.

Toronto by public transportation — from Point A to anywhere

Our open-source Toronto Transit Explorer shows how long it takes to reach any part of the city by taking public transit, cycling, or walking.

A vision of city transportation, circa 2043

A Sidewalk Talk Q&A with forward-looking transport scholar David Levinson.

Traction Motor: Putting the Mass in Mass Transit

By giving rise to powerful new streetcar and subway systems, Frank Sprague's electric motor forever changed commuting and urban development.

Safety Bicycles: How Pedals Powered Urban Change

The affordable — and, more importantly, rideable — new design provided unprecedented freedom of movement.

Shipping Containers: A Big Box Full of Contradictions

Containerization transformed everything from the urban labor force to suburban shopping.

Sidewalk and the city of Columbus are exploring ways to reduce infant mortality by improving transportation options.

Driving costs are hidden. Revealing them could help reduce traffic

Navigation apps that show the true cost of a trip might nudge people into making a different decision.

The next-generation intersection helps all modes share the street

Emerging traffic technologies promise to improve safety while moving everyone — not just drivers.