Self Driving Cars
Expectations, Uncertainties, and Policy Choices for Self-Driving Cities
A guide to where things stand on this most promising — but highly uncertain — technology.
7 Jul
Sidewalk Talk
urban data
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.
6 Jun
Features
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.
6 Jun
prototype
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.
5 May
Q&A
A vision of city transportation, circa 2043
A Sidewalk Talk Q&A with forward-looking transport scholar David Levinson.
2 Feb
Vision
Announcing Coord: The integration platform for mobility providers, navigation tools, and urban infrastructure
By connecting app developers to services such as parking, tolls, and bike-share, Coord can unlock a seamless trip experience for people in cities.
2 Feb
15 Innovations That Shaped the City
Street Grids: A City’s Indelible Footprint
Far from a static layout, the grid creates the conditions for new travel modes, adaptable infrastructure, and sustainable growth.
12 Dec
15 Innovations That Shaped the City
GPS: The Technology That Envelops Our Cities—and Brains
Location-based services have transformed much of urban life, from taxis to dating, with far more change to come.
12 Dec
15 Innovations That Shaped the City
GTFS: The Promise of Data-Driven Public Transit
Standardized transit data is a harbinger of a future where the fastest way to get around doesn’t require a private car.
11 Nov
15 Innovations That Shaped the City
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.
10 Oct
15 Innovations That Shaped the City
Safety Bicycles: How Pedals Powered Urban Change
The affordable — and, more importantly, rideable — new design provided unprecedented freedom of movement.
10 Oct
15 Innovations That Shaped the City
Shipping Containers: A Big Box Full of Contradictions
Containerization transformed everything from the urban labor force to suburban shopping.
9 Sep
15 Innovations That Shaped the City
Traffic Signals: Catalyst of Car-Driven Cities
Traffic lights did make city intersections safer for cars, but they came at the expense of pedestrian freedom.
9 Sep
Smart City Challenge
Sidewalk and the city of Columbus are exploring ways to reduce infant mortality by improving transportation options.
8 Aug
Blog Post
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.
6 Jun
Open-Source Tool
A first step toward creating a digital planning laboratory is populating it
Introducing Doppelgänger, Model Lab’s open-source population synthesizer.
6 Jun
Blog Post
A key to democratizing urban solutions is building better models
By relying on sharper data, new approaches to modeling can lead to faster policies and greater consensus.
4 Apr
Blog Post
The next-generation intersection helps all modes share the street
Emerging traffic technologies promise to improve safety while moving everyone — not just drivers.
3 Mar
MAP DEMO
How the L train shutdown will impact your commute
Our NYC Transit Explorer shows how long it takes to get anywhere in the city by bus or subway. Even during L-mageddon.
2 Feb
GUEST POST
The transformative potential of real-time transportation coordination
By Kevin Webb
1 Jan